Receiving the Holy Spirit

Some Christians live their entire lives thinking that they have the Holy Spirit, however, they have not truly received it in fullness and power.

"As all things pertaining to life and godliness have been given to us by His divine power, through the knowledge of Him who called us by His glory and excellence" (2 Peter 1: 3).

For years I have claimed to be filled with the Spirit. I have testified that I have been baptized in the Spirit. I have preached that the Holy Spirit empowers me to witness and that he sanctifies me. I have prayed in the Spirit, spoken to the Spirit, walked in the Spirit and listened to his voice. I truly believe that the Holy Spirit is the power of God.

I can take you to the place where I was filled with the Spirit, at eight years of age. I still remember my tears and the cry of my heart for the Lord. I remember the incredible vision of Christ that I received and remember the passion for Jesus that resulted from that moment. The Holy Spirit has been my friend and comforter ever since.

Sometimes I wonder if Christians today in day they are not up to the believers of the Pablo's times.

Something seems to be failing in the church today. We all know that the Christians of the first century faced great afflictions. They endured severe trials, difficult times, persecutions that were life or death; but they did not fall under the pressure.

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Paul says that the Thessalonian church endured the loss of their homes and possessions, all their belongings. However, these believers were not shaken by experience. He attributes his strength to the power of the Holy Spirit: "For our gospel did not come to you in words only, but also in power, in the Holy Spirit and in full assurance, as you well know what we were among you for your sake. And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, receiving the word in the midst of great tribulation, with joy of the Holy Spirit "(1 Thessalonians 1: 5-6).

Paul then describes the testimony that came because of their joyous resistance. "In this way you have been an example to all the believers of Macedonia and Achaia, because the word of the Lord has been spread out from you; and not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place your faith in God has spread, so that we have no need to speak at all "(1: 7-8).

"This is the direct war against the elect of God. It is about a frantic enemy overcoming the faith of the saints, making them lose all trust in God. Many believers have become paralyzed in their faith and others are already defeated. Your faith has been shipwrecked. They became so discouraged that they finally gave up.

"When I look at what is happening in our country, nobody can contradict me. The devil has vomited from his mouth a river of iniquity. He has put a flood of afflictions against the people of God, and many are being carried along by that current.

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Beloved, God allowed each of Paul's trials. And that led the apostle not to trust in himself, but to trust fully in the Holy Spirit to set him free. The Scripture says: "And having finished all things stand firm" (Ephesians 6:13). We are told, in essence: "You have discharged all your human strength. You have tried to solve your own problems and you have reached the end of yourself. Now let God do everything. He will achieve your liberation by the Spirit that lives in you. "

Paul is talking about something more than giving a passive sigh like, "Oh, I'll trust God with this." No, he talks about being so impotent, so resigned, that you have to depend on a "God who raises the dead . "(2 Corinthians 1: 9). His conclusion was: "Only God has the power to free me from this impossible situation (death). Only his Spirit can resurrect a new form of liberation. "