Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Walking in the Power of the Holy Spirit

In the beginning of our Christian walk most of us are like lawnmowers. We have some "horsepower", but not a lot of it. We can get the job done, but we may need some "push" behind us. Most of us as new Christians are learning about our relationship with God. Sometimes we need a few rules to give us some guidelines. Time and discipleship result in growth, and a closer walk with God.





But hopefully there will come a time in our life and relationship with the Lord when we find the need for more of Him in our life. We know we cannot get everything accomplished by ourselves. We desire a more full commitment to God and we want more of Him. We want to walk in more power as we allow the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us. A bulldozer is more what we have in mind. More "horsepower" for bigger jobs.

Acts 1:8
but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth."


Acts 2:1-4
1. And when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 2. And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent, rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. 4. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.




I have heard these two scripture passages explained that this was just for the 1st Century Christians: that it was a one time event, to initiate the Holy Spirit and to empower those Christians for spreading the gospel. These are scripture that are "God breathed" and they are just as needed for today as in the early New Testament times.

There are two schools of thought in this area of being "filled with the Holy Spirit". Some feel that at salvation we are given the fullness of the Holy Spirit and it is with maturity that we grow in Him and let the Holy Spirit develop us.

The other belief is that Salvation and the Baptism of the Holy Spirit are two separate experiences. Whichever your belief, it is clear that we need to walk in the "fullness of the Holy Spirit" however it is that we get there.

I'll just take a minute and give you my experience. I had always been taught the former way of thinking. The problem was I just wasn't getting anywhere with my spiritual growth. I was learning about the Lord and my knowledge was increasing but there was no power for victory in my daily life. I was still a "lawnmower" no matter how I looked at it. I had a desire for a closer walk with Jesus, but I still knew I was lacking because no matter how hard "I" tried I just couldn't make much progress. I began down a road seeking the Lord for His fullness. I didn't know what it was called. I wasn't seeking doctrine, or theology, or denomination. I was just seeking God and needed Him in a way that was life changing and powerful. I was on a quest for this for about a year. I was going through a time of family issues that were causing me to seek God in a new and more intense way. Prayer and Bible reading became a huge focus in my life. I didn't know how to "get" this dimension, but I knew I had to have it. At one point after a major crisis, I got to a place of deep brokenness and surrender. I totally gave my life up to the Lord. I let Him have it all. It was in the middle of the night on my bathroom floor that I prayed and sobbed and gave it all over to Him. I was already a born-again believer, so this was not "salvation". I was not a backslider, so this was not "rededication". I experienced the Holy Spirit in a new and powerful way.

I will never forget that experience, because when I got up, my spirit was changed, I felt the power of the Holy Spirit move through me with a force and power like I had never imagined. It was completely different from anything I had experienced in the past. I was filled up to overflowing with His peace, love, power, joy, and enthusiasm. I was changed. And my life changed. I could "hear" God's voice in a new way, my focus was clear and strong, and He began to give me the "gifts of the Spirit".

Now, this was my experience. I heard Pat Robertson explain the Baptism of the Holy Spirit in this way and this comes closest to how I feel and the experience I had. Take a bottle and fill it up with water over time. That is our salvation experience and process of being filled with the Holy Spirit. And yes, it is a process. Now take that full bottle and throw it into the ocean. That is the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. Immersed in His great love and Presence accompanied with empowerment, by the Holy Spirit.

Do you long for a deeper walk with Jesus? Do you want a deeper prayer life and more intimacy with the Holy Spirit? Do you need to change, but don't know how? Have you tried over and over to walk in love for others but cannot get there? Being filled to overflowing with the Holy Spirit is the only way. Seek God for Him in His fullness, be relentless in your pursuit of Him. He will lead you in receiving Him in power. Ask God to give you whatever He has for you, nothing held back. He will do it.

love, in Jesus,
Debra

10 comments:

  1. This is what I too seek...That intimacy of feeling His presence at all times!
    Thank you Debra! What a beautiful study this morning!
    Blessings to you dear friend!
    donna

    ReplyDelete
  2. A number of years after receiving Christ as my Savior, I felt there must be something 'more' to this Christianity thing. I remember through really seeking God on this, I came to the realization that Jesus was absolutely my "Savior" but not my "Lord". In other words, I trusted Him for salvation, but I did not trust Him as the 'land-LORD' (one who owned and managed) my life.
    I had a dream in which I kept hearing the word "Dunamis". I woke and told my husband and we looked it up to find it meant "Divine or miraculous power, ability and strength."
    I knew God was trying to tell me something. So I simply asked Him to fill - baptize - consume me with His 'Dunamis' power to enable me to live my life closer to His heart and be more productive for Him.
    My relationship with God came alive to me that day. I 'heard' His voice through His Word which literally became my food and water. I began to hunger and thirst after Him and long to spend time with Him. But I also began to 'know and see' things about people that others couldn't and didn't. I began to 'dream' things and 'hear' things in the night that prompted me to pray. I began to be prompted to 'say and do' things as He instructed.
    I never wanted to go back to the way things were.
    Good analogy of the bottle and the ocean. Great post!

    ReplyDelete
  3. MUST..MUST..MUST walk in HIS spirit!
    Hugs,
    andrea

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hi Gals, glad to hear comments this morning, and Deb, yes, my experience is like yours. Hearing from God to know how to pray prophetically for others, God telling me where to go and what to do, 24/7 prayer, prophetic writing, which is what this Bible Study is. Praying for the sick, things I had never thought about before, then became my lifestyle. And you're so right, there's no going back!

    Donna, You're at the place you need to be. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is received by faith just like salvation. Ask Him for it and then believe you will receive.
    Good to hear from you, dear friend!

    Hi Andrea, faithful and supportive friend, God has given you the gift of encouragement and I'm always blessed by knowing you've been here!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hello all,
    I realized in reading today's lesson that- although somewhat of a novice in my perception and understanding, I have experienced moments. hours, days of this when I have let go and let God.
    It all starts there, doesn't it.

    I can almost imagine God shouting 'just let go Laura!'.

    That letting go creates an instantaneous unselfishness that then opens the door for thinking of/praying for others.

    Thank you Debra,

    Laura

    ReplyDelete
  6. I meant to click on your decorating blog, but clicked wrong, or maybe I should say right, I think I had the Holy Spirit when I believed, but it can come to fullness only when we are surrendered totally, anyway I enjoyed hearing your story and way of explaining and reading scripture. Thanks, Lezlee

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hi Debra,

    I love this post! Thank you for sharing your experience. I am seeking Him more and more and find that when I really put Him first and ask Him for help, everything else comes secondary. I feel l closer to God but never really thought about the Holy Spirit as much - thanks for letting me think on it. Still pretty new at putting at letting His will be my will :-)

    Take care
    Elizabeth

    ReplyDelete
  8. Debra, sometimes I feel like the lawnmower...being pushed and at other times more like the bulldozer...going at it with all my might. There in is the problem. I need more of the power that comes straight from the throne room of heaven! Nice post!

    ReplyDelete
  9. "God Breathed" is it. Amen. Read 1 and 2 Timothy (they're short, but so nice to read)- They came to mind as I read this newest post of yours, the first paragraph in particular I think... So nice what you've written. Really, as always. Your Blog: It's part of The Great Commission...

    Thanks for your devotion and love.
    Ciao~

    ReplyDelete
  10. Holy Spirit...Oh...My Holy Spirit...
    not only a force...not only a feeling...
    HE is my LORD...

    Psalms
    23:1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
    23:2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
    23:3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
    23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
    23:5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
    23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

    He restoreth my soul....
    He restoreth my soul....
    LORD, please... Holy Spirit, please...please restoreth my soul....

    ReplyDelete

I love to hear from you. Please leave a comment, big or small.