Seek The Power of The Holy Spirit Always - Charles Banna

Seek The Power of The Holy Spirit Always - Charles Banna

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The Promise of Salvation and the Holy Spirit

Jesus Saves, Not Just Forgives

Most of us know the New Testament opens with a promise of the Messiah saying that Jesus is going to come. You shall call his name Jesus and he shall save you from your sins. Saving you from your sins is different from forgiving your sins. Forgiveness is okay. You did something and God says okay I forgiven you. But saving you is something that we have heard like for example my son disobeyed me by falling into a ditch deep ditch and I say okay you disobeyed okay I forgive you by what did I do? I forgive but did I save him? No. When I go down, pick him up and lift him up from the pit that is saving. That is what Jesus has promised.

Scripture Reference:

• Matthew 1:21 - "She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."

John the Baptist’s Prophecy

And the second important promise that Jesus made to his disciples or rather John the Baptist said about Jesus about his ministry is written here in Matthew chapter 3 verse 11. I want to speak on this today because many people do not have the assurance of the baptism in the Holy Spirit.

Scripture Reference:

• Matthew 3:11 - "As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire."

The Church’s Origin and Growth

Founding Through the Holy Spirit

And you know this church started because of that when God baptized brother Zach and brother Ian with the baptism of the Holy Spirit when they were ministering in a Baptist church which doesn't believe in that and God baptized them in the Holy Spirit and they started speaking about it and the Baptist church and some other denominations they don't believe in that They believe that it all seized in the first century with the apostles and they asked them to leave the church and they left and they didn't know what to do and they met in their house kept praying and meeting and the Lord added little by little people and it was becoming difficult to contain in brother Zach's house and we have to find a place God provided for that.

Expansion by God’s Grace

And we built one floor after another which could accommodate about 350 400 people altogether. But still that was not sufficient cuz God was expanding the ministry. And then God gave us this place and we by the grace of God continued 50 years this month.

Jesus’ Baptism and the Trinity

Jesus’ Humility in Baptism

And here John the Baptist speaks about Jesus. He says in verse 11 of chapter 3 of Matthew, he says, "As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove his sandals." See what a humility that John the Baptist had. I am not fit to remove his sandals. And he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. And this is John the Baptist, his forerunner prophesying about Jesus. And then we read little later on that Jesus also came for baptism. Baptism is as we know and as we understand from scripture is always for sinners not for saints.

The Trinity Revealed

And for your information since creation there has not been a single person who is born a saint. Everyone is born a sinner and everyone needs repentance and forgiveness and need to be baptized. Baptism is not a old covenant word. You don’t find that word in the old covenant. It is a new covenant word starting the new testament starts with repentance and baptism and faiths. And he says that Jesus will baptize us in the Holy Spirit. And then later on down a few verses we read in the same chapter Jesus also comes and stands in the queue to be baptized. And what will other people think of Jesus standing in the queue? Everybody is coming and confessing their sins to John the Baptist. The soldiers are coming and common people are coming and tax collectors are coming and they’re confessing their sins and he’s advising them what to do and they’re repenting and then he’s dipping them and baptizing them. And when Jesus is standing there, people must have thought, “Oh, this man claims to be a perfect son of God. There must be some hidden sin in him. That’s why he’s standing in the queue.” Jesus couldn’t care less for that. He stood because he said, “We need to fulfill all righteousness at this moment.” When John refused to baptize him, he said, “Permit me at this time that in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” He was quoting Old Testament reference where things needed to be washed and then anointed by the oil. So he was quoting that and then after John the Baptist was convinced Jesus got baptized and then we say as he came out of the waters of baptism the heavens opened and he saw the Holy Spirit descending as a dove coming upon him and a voice out of the heavens came saying this is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased. In this verse dear brothers and sisters you will see the trinity the father is speaking the son is being baptized and the holy spirit descends upon him. And those who deny the trinity, I can prove to them from the first page of the Bible to the last page of the Bible. Everywhere it is there. I wonder how they deny that.

Scripture Reference:

• Matthew 3:16-17 - "As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.’"

Jesus’ Ministry and Promise of Power

Jesus’ Ministry Begins

And then after being baptized in water and the Holy Spirit, Jesus began his ministry at the age of 30. And he was 30 years old and he began his ministry. He went around the Sea of Galilee. There were fishermen like Peter and Andrew, James, John. They were brothers and few others. He went and called them. Even Matthew who was a tax collector. Jesus called them. They immediately dropped everything and followed him because they had such confidence in Jesus.

The Promise of the Holy Spirit

And Jesus also promised his disciples before he left this earth that they will also be baptized like he was baptized in the power and fire of the Holy Spirit with which he did what a normal man couldn’t do. He did things which God wanted him to do on this earth and he accomplished that and said on the last day it’s finished. So for that he has promised to give power to live a victorious Christian life defeating sin, Satan and the flesh. So that we can live in victory always, not once in a while, not up and down Christian life, but a consistent Christian life so that we can live for the praise and glory of God. Brothers and sisters, this is our birthright.

Scriptural Encouragement to Ask for the Holy Spirit

Ask, Seek, Knock

And I would like to share a few verses this morning along this line. Jesus said in Luke 11 verse 9-10, I say unto you, ask and it shall be given to you. Seek and you shall find. Knock and it shall be open to you. Ask, seek and knock and it’ll be given and you shall find it. It’ll open. And verse 10, Jesus said, “Everyone without exception, all of you who are eager, hunger, and thirst, all of you.” It says, “Everyone who asks receives.” Jesus didn’t say only the wholehearted will receive. Only those who fast and pray will receive. Only those do some penance will receive. No, he says only thing is ask. Everyone who asks receives and he who seeks finds and to him who knocks it shall be opened.

Scripture Reference:

• Luke 11:9-10 - "So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened."

The Father’s Generosity

And then he says, “Now suppose one of you fathers is asked by your son for a fish or our children come to us and ask daddy or mommy, I’m hungry. Give me something to eat. What will we do? Even if there is nothing, we will do something in cook and give them something to eat to fill their tummy. And he says, “If your son asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake instead of a fish, will he? Or if he is asked for an egg, he will not give him a scorpion, will he? If you then being evil fathers means the best father on this earth is evil compared to the heavenly father. That is the meaning of this. If you evil fathers know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your heavenly father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?”

Scripture Reference:

• Luke 11:11-13 - "Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"

Persistence in Prayer

So this is very clear my dear brothers and sisters. The Lord wants you to ask and seek and knock. He said earlier about a parable about a man who was asleep in the middle of the night. One friend of his comes and knocks at the door and the friend finds out that he has not eaten and he didn’t have anything to serve. Then what will he do? He goes to his neighbor’s house and knocks. And that neighbor says, “I’m sleeping with my children. and I cannot come out and give you. Please don’t disturb me. But he didn’t care for that. He kept on banging away at the door until that man got fed up and he opened the door and he said, “Come and take as much as you want.” And he gave him as much as he wanted. So because of his persistence, Jesus said he received it. So also you continue don’t just ask once and say I didn’t receive. The other day I heard of somebody who said for the last 40 years I’ve been praying for the baptism in the Holy Spirit I have not received. And somebody told him in next 40 years also you pray brother you will not receive because you’re not believing because believing is more important than receiving.

Scripture Reference:

• Luke 11:5-8 - "Then Jesus said to them, ‘Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, “Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.” And suppose the one inside answers, “Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.” I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity he will surely get up and give you as much as you need.’"

Jesus’ Commission and Promise

And Jesus also said in the same book Luke chapter 24 just before he ascended to heaven Jesus said in Luke 24:47-49 he is commissioning the disciples he’s telling them go and preach repentance of forgiveness of sins it should be proclaimed in Jesus’ name to all the nations beginning from Jerusalem and behold I am sending forth the promise of my father that is the holy spirit upon you but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high. Jesus just told them before he ascended to heaven, he said, “Stay here until you are baptized in the Holy Spirit.”

Scripture Reference:

• Luke 24:47-49 - "And repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high."

Waiting for the Holy Spirit

You see Jesus also didn’t venture into his public ministry even though he lived such a holy life all his life 30 years and heard the father’s validation saying this is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased. Mind you, until that day, Jesus had not spoken one sermon, not did one miracle, not healed one person for 30 years. Only after the baptism in the Holy Spirit, he started its public ministry.

The Promise of Power

And then Jesus also said in Acts 1 verse 5, Acts chapter 1 verse 5, you know that well-known verse. This again is just before ascending to heaven. Jesus said again here to the disciples. He said in verse five, “For John baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” He’s telling them, you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit shortly. And then in verse 8, he says, “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and even to the uttermost part of the world.” And when Jesus promised the Holy Spirit, what did he promise? He promised you shall receive power, not tongues, not some emotional experience, not some electric shock down your spine or some shaking or some experience. He didn’t say that. He said you shall receive power.

Scripture References:

• Acts 1:5 - "For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit."

• Acts 1:8 - "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

The Power in Action

And how do you know that you receive power? You will know that when you receive the Holy Spirit, the things that you are scared to do, you will do it in the power of the Holy Spirit. The disciples who were scared and hidden under closed doors. On the day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit came upon them and baptized them, they threw open the doors and came out and preached to the crowd that were wondering what is happening here. And then Peter stands up and speaks to them. and just a short sermon of 10, 15 minutes, 3,000 Jews who could not be saved when Jesus was alive. And those people who killed and crucified Jesus were convicted because of the power of the Holy Spirit. And 3,000 people got converted that day by one single message.

Scripture Reference:

• Acts 2:1-4, 41 - "When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. … Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day."

The Role of the Holy Spirit in Christian Life

Jesus’ Farewell Words

See, even while Jesus was with his disciples, we go back to John’s gospel 14. He says these are chapters which Jesus spoke just a few hours before he went to the cross. He’s speaking to them as it were some farewell words. And in chapter 14 of John he says in verse 13-16 and whatever you ask in my name that I will do that the father may be glorified in the son. If you ask me anything in my name I will do it. If you love me, you will keep my commandments. This is very important, brothers and sisters. Read it in its context. It doesn’t say if you love me, you shall keep my commandment. That becomes a command. But here he says, if you love me, you will keep my commandment out of love. Joyously, spontaneously, willingly, you will keep my commandments because next verse. And I will ask the father and he will give you another helper that he may be with you forever.

Scripture Reference:

• John 14:13-16 - "And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever."

Commandments Are Not Burdensome

So that by the help of the Holy Spirit and his power and enabling you will be able to keep my commandments. And sometimes we wonder why God’s commandments are so heavy and burdensome. The same John who wrote this towards the end of his life he writes in 1 John 5 verse three I think he says God’s commandments are not burdensome how can he say that because he has experienced that by the power of the holy spirit that’s why he says god’s commandments are not burdensome because he has given me the power of the holy spirit by which I am able to keep his commandments.

Scripture Reference:

• 1 John 5:3 - "In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome."

The Holy Spirit’s Permanent Presence

So this is not a one-time experience. He said he will be with you forever. I mean the Holy Spirit is not going to make a shunting trip between heaven and earth. When you are okay, he’s with you. When you sin, he leaves you. It’s not like that. He says he will be with you forever. That means you can grieve him by disobedience, but he will not leave you. But if you repent and set things right immediately, the fellowship is restored. So he will be with you forever.

Called to Bear Lasting Fruit

And in the same chapter he also says in chapters I mean verses 15 and 16. He says, “No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing, but I have called you friends. For all things that I have heard from the father, I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you.” In the KJV version it says I have ordained you. That’s very important. It says Jesus himself has ordained his disciples that they should go and bear fruit that your fruit should remain. You see the purpose for which God gives the Holy Spirit to us is so that we may grow one thing spiritually and mature and also bear fruit. I’m not talking about apple, bananas and mangoes. All these fruits what you see they have shelf life. They will rot within few days or weeks. But he is telling that the fruit that you will bear because of the Holy Spirit will remain remain till when the end of our days because we are going to take those fruits with us.

Scripture Reference:

• John 15:15-16 - "I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you."

The Fruit of the Spirit

That is in Galatians 5:22 onwards it’s written the fruit of the spirit these are the fruit ninefold fruit that the lord Jesus is speaking about love joy peace patience kindness goodness faithfulness gentleness and self-control and these are the things that the Holy Spirit produces in us. Not miracles or some external things that that many people glory in, but these this these are the things that the Holy Spirit produces in us when we are filled with the Holy Spirit and walk in the spirit and walk in the light as he is in the light.

Scripture Reference:

• Galatians 5:22-23 - "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law."

Walking in the Light

What is the meaning of walking in the light as he is in the light? means that there is no darkness in my life. That means there’s no hypocrisy in my life. That I am not living a double life. I’m living a life inside and outside. I am the same. Whether I’m at home or I’m in the office or I’m on the road or I’m with my friends, good friends or bad friends, I’m the same. I don’t change colors according to chameleon depending upon the surroundings. That is walking in the light. The moment you are aware that you have thought or said or done something that the Lord doesn’t like that has hurt him or grieved him, I immediately go to the Lord and ask for forgiveness or go to people and ask for apology and set things right between God and men. That is what Paul said in Acts chapter 23 and Acts chapter 24. He said, “I have always made it a point to maintain a clear conscience before God and men up until this day,” he said. And that’s how he lived.

Scripture References:

• Acts 23:1 - "Paul looked straight at the Sanhedrin and said, ‘My brothers, I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience to this day.’"

• Acts 24:16 - "So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man."

The Day of Pentecost and Continuous Filling

The Fulfillment on Pentecost

And it is not a one-time experience, my dear brothers and sisters. You go back to Acts chapter 2, what Jesus had promised, he sent on the day of Pentecost. And it says in verse four, “And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit was giving them utterance.” See this is the climax you can say that they experienced by by being with Jesus. Jesus Christ came and he promised the Holy Spirit and he said when I go I will send the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit could not come until Jesus was glorified. Jesus said that in John 7:38. He said, “He who is thirsty, come unto me and drink. For he who believes in me out of his innermost being shall flow rivers of living waters.” And this he was speaking about the Holy Spirit who had not been given because Jesus had not been glorified yet. And after Jesus went, he said, “I will send the Holy Spirit.” And the Holy Spirit came on the day of Pentecost in verse two and filled they were all filled with the Holy Spirit.

Scripture References:

• Acts 2:4 - "All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them."

• John 7:38-39 - "Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them. By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified."

Repeated Filling of the Holy Spirit

And we read as we keep reading the book of acts you will notice nine times the same disciples were being filled again and again. So what I would like to say is this is not just once for all experience that we go through. Some people say yes I was baptized in 1995 August whatever date it is and they glory in that but how are you today brother? How is your life today? Are you walking in the light? Are you walking in victory? Are you gaining more ground? Are you overcoming more and more sins in your life and being cleansed? Is Satan progressively being crushed under your feet or it’s the other way around? For many people it for some people it may be other way around because they backslide. They think, “Oh, I made a decision way back 25 years ago and I confessed my sins. I am saved within quotes. I am saved. No, my sins are forgiven. I’m on my way to heaven.” We don’t believe in that kind of doctrine. We believe that he who endures to the end shall be saved.

Scripture Reference:

• Matthew 24:13 - "But the one who stands firm to the end will be saved."

Salvation and Good Works

And many people quote Ephesians 2:8, “You are saved by grace through faith, by grace alone, not by works.” Many people hang on to that, but they forget what is written further down in verse 10. You are God’s workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works. They forget that we are not saved by gra. We are saved only by grace. That’s true. None of us does anything good to be saved. We none of us is saved because of our good deeds. But you are saved by grace alone. So that you may like verse 10 says you may do good works thereafter and compare that with John James 2:17 where he says it’s not by faith alone it is also by works that you are saved that means I don’t get saved because I do some good things no because God had saved me already despite my sins when I confessed. Now God has given me and enabled me through his Holy Spirit to do good. It says about Jesus, Jesus went about doing good all around because of the Holy Spirit. So that is the purpose for which the Holy Spirit is given to us.

Scripture References:

• Ephesians 2:8-10 - "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

• James 2:17 - "In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead."

• Acts 10:38 - "How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him."

Continuous Filling

And then further it says we need to be continually filled with the Holy Spirit. It is as I said it is not once for all experience. It’s a continual ongoing experience. We need to ask the Lord like the Lord to told us to pray. Give us this day what? Our daily bread. Why did Jesus not teach us to pray, Lord, give us this month’s ration? He never asked us to pray that prayer. And even the Israelites in the wilderness, they had to go every day out in the morning and gather the manna for their sustenance. He didn’t give them monthly ration so that they can go and store it up and use it up every day. He wanted them to receive from the Lord and be in touch with the Lord. So in the same way the Lord wants us to come to him on a daily basis and ask him for our daily bread, spiritual bread, I’m speaking about the word of God, the power of the Holy Spirit.

Scripture Reference:

• Matthew 6:11 - "Give us today our daily bread."

The Holy Spirit in Tough Times

And we read in the book of Acts further I was telling about that not only on the day of Pentecost in chapter 2 they received the baptism in the Holy Spirit. You read up until chapter 19, they received the Holy Spirit’s fullness nine times over and over again. Whenever they found themselves in a situation, in a tough situation, they went to the Lord in prayer. And then it says the Lord filled them with the Holy Spirit. In some place it says there was an earthquake and things like that many things happened.

Scripture Reference:

• Acts 4:31 - "After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly."

The Holy Spirit as Helper

So the Holy Spirit is given as a helper to us to help us to come alongside to help us and to strengthen us in our weakness. In chapter 8 verse 26 of Romans, we read that because we do not know how to pray, the Holy Spirit himself makes intercession for us with groanings too deep for words. So that is probably unknown tongues. The we do not know what the Holy Spirit is praying on our behalf. We do not know and but the Holy Spirit does that and that is how we get help and we are helped.

Scripture Reference:

• Romans 8:26 - "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans."

Be Continually Filled

And Ephesians 5:18 it says be being filled with the holy spirit it is not just be filled with the holy spirit once it’s actual rendering in the original is be being filled with the Holy Spirit on a daily basis.

Scripture Reference:

• Ephesians 5:18 - "Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit."

Believing Before Receiving

Faith Precedes Receiving

And Jesus said many people think that seeing is believing but Jesus his interpretation was different. He says in Mark 11, some of us know this verse. I quote this verse many times to those who come and ask me about the Holy Spirit baptism. I point them to this verse which Jesus said in Mark 11:24. Therefore, I say unto you, all things for which you pray and ask, all things that you pray and ask, believe that you have received them and they shall be granted to you. In other translation, it says, “When you pray, believe that you have already received it and you shall have it. It is not that I first have it and then believe it. That is how the world goes. That is how we all naturally do. After receiving, we believe yes, I got it. But when I pray, because I know that God is a good father, he will not deny me what I ask according to his will.

Scripture Reference:

• Mark 11:24 - "Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours."

Praying According to God’s Will

The same John says in his epistle, if we ask anything according to his will, we know that our petitions are granted. It means our answers are granted.

Scripture Reference:

• 1 John 5:14-15 - "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him."

The Promise for All Generations

So the promise of the Holy Spirit is for you and for your children and for your children’s children. Peter said that in chapter 2 verse 38 onwards in Acts.

Scripture Reference:

• Acts 2:38-39 - "Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.’"

Encouragement to Persevere

So my dear brothers and sisters, don’t get discouraged. Don’t think that you are outside the will of God and outside the kingdom of God. It is meant only for some special deluxe edition of Christians and not for me. It’s not so. It’s for everyone who is listening to me this morning. Don’t get disheartened and discouraged. Pray to your heavenly father who is a good father, million times better than the best father on this earth and he will give you what he has promised. He will not deny you. And he will keep his promise.

Evidence of the Holy Spirit

Transformation as Evidence

And if we say that we have received and if we don’t see any change in our life and it’s been the same year after year then my dear brothers and sisters you need to really recheck and see whether you got the genuine one or fake one. The genuine Holy Spirit baptism will make you more and more like Jesus. He will transform you little by little, day by day in every way.

Avoiding Leakage of the Holy Spirit

And there are few ways that we can lose or leak out the fullness of the Holy Spirit. Brother Zach I remember very long back many years ago that has stuck in me in my mind. He said the spirit-filled believers leak through their mouth. If you do not know how to keep your mouth shut, where you should keep your mouth shut, then that’s the shest way of losing the power of the Holy Spirit. Speak when you are supposed to speak and keep quiet when you need to keep quiet unnecessarily. Don’t open your mouth and you know blurt out and try to defend yourself. When Jesus was humbled and humiliated and mocked and beaten and all that he went through, insulted, he didn’t open his mouth, but when it concerned the glory of God, he stood against them and drove them out of the temple.

Scripture Reference:

• Isaiah 53:7 - "He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth."

Living a Separated Life

So my dear brothers and sisters, keep your tongue under control. And don’t live a loose life because somebody else is living like that. Cuz that’s another way of losing your power like Samson did. He was anointed with the Holy Spirit many a time to do many mighty things. But when he slowly began to backslide, the power slowly began to depart from him. And one day he thought he will break those ropes like he did earlier. He tried to do that. It says sad words there that he didn’t know that the Holy Spirit had left him.

Scripture Reference:

• Judges 16:20 - "Then she called, ‘Samson, the Philistines are upon you!’ He awoke from his sleep and thought, ‘I’ll go out as before and shake myself free.’ But he did not know that the Lord had left him."

Complete Obedience

Brothers and sisters, don’t you do that. Don’t you take your divine separation from the world lightly and don’t get mixed with them. and partial disobedience. Obedience like Saul did the king did partial disobedience. God told Saul, “Go and finish off all the Amalekites.” He spared some. God was not happy about that. When God tells you to do something, do it cheerfully and completely and not partially.

Scripture Reference:

• 1 Samuel 15:22-23 - "But Samuel replied: ‘Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has rejected you as king.’"

Avoiding Self-Indulgence and Greed

And then about self-indulgence, not being drunk so much with wine, but be filled with the Holy Spirit. The Bible says be filled with the Holy Spirit is a command. It is not a suggestion. God is commanding you and me to be filled with the Holy Spirit every day. and greed for money like Balaam did, like Judas did. They lost out. Both of them were chosen by God in the beginning. But they both lost out eternally.

Scripture References:

• Ephesians 5:18 - "Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit."

• 2 Peter 2:15 - "They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Bezer, who loved the wages of wickedness."

• Matthew 26:14-16 - "Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests and asked, ‘What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?’ So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver. From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over."

Humility and Prayer

And then pride is another thing that can drain you because it says God gives his grace or the Holy Spirit to those who humble themselves but God resists the proud. God becomes our enemy. And then the neglect of prayer is another way. Jesus said, “Men ought to pray always.” Luke 18 verse one. But the more you neglect your prayer life, then you’re becoming weaker and the more you neglect feeding yourself on the word of God, you’re becoming weaker and weaker.

Scripture References:

• James 4:6 - "But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: ‘God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.’"

• Luke 18:1 - "Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up."

Living by Faith

Faith Like a Child

Just try and see how how strong you’ll be next Sunday. trust in his word, in his truthfulness and ask him like a little child for bread. Lord, give me this power. I cannot live this Christian life without the power of the Holy Spirit. Don’t wait for some feeling, some experience to happen, but receive by faith. Just like if I ask you today, how do you know that you are saved? How do you know that your sins are forgiven? You will immediately tell that I believe. I believe the word of God. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all our unrighteousness. And I did that my part and God did his part of forgiving me. I believe that my sins are forgiven.

Scripture Reference:

• 1 John 1:9 - "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."

Daily Dependence on the Holy Spirit

In the same way, ask the Lord and thank him for hearing your prayers and go in faith believing that he has answered your prayers today and trust him. And it is not once for all experience. Ask on a daily basis. Lord, give me this day the power of the Holy Spirit to live a godly life, a life that I fear you and hate sin and come closer and closer to you every day, every moment of the day. Lord, make me more like you until we meet face to face. May the fruit of the Holy Spirit increase in me progressively every day so that I will not be a barren person, fruitless person, but that I will bear fruit and that my fruit will remain.

Scripture Reference:

• John 15:16 - "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you."

Closing Prayer

Prayer for Transformation

Lord Jesus, we thank you for your faithfulness. Thank you that you said he who comes to me I will never cast him out. Lord Jesus no matter how our life is no more no matter how what a bungle how we have bungled our life. Lord, you know every thing about us. Our heart, our mind, our thoughts, our attitudes, our emotions, our feelings, everything, Lord, you know, everything is laid bare before you with whom we have to do. We pray that you’ll have mercy on us. Forgive us, Lord, in the precious blood of Christ. cleanse us, wash us and fill us with the Holy Spirit so that our lives will change from today. There will be a complete turnaround that we will not be the same as we came here. Lord, we pray that you will continue that work in us both to will and to do of your good pleasure. May your name be hallowed and honored and glorified because of your goodness and mercy towards us. Help us not to take your grace in vain but to fear you and reverence you and live in the fear of God all day long. Lord Jesus, we pray this in your precious name, believing that we have received it. In your name we pray. Amen. Amen.

Scripture References:

• John 6:37 - "All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away."

• Philippians 2:13 - "For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose."