THE HOLY SPIRIT

21 WHEN ALL THE PEOPLE WERE BAPTIZED, IT CAME TO PASS THAT JESUS ALSO WAS BAPTIZED; AND WHILE HE PRAYED, THE HEAVEN WAS OPENED.
22 AND THE HOLY SPIRIT DESCENDED IN BODILY FORM LIKE A DOVE UPON HIM, and a voice came from heaven which said, “YOU ARE MY BELOVED SON; IN YOU I AM WELL PLEASED.”

READ: Luke 4:1; John 14:26; 16:13-15

• If Jesus could not do without the Holy Spirit in His earthly ministry, you also would need the Holy Spirit much more to succeed on earth, as a believer in Christ.

• Who Is the Holy Spirit?
  Holy Spirit is the third person in the order of Godhead. This same God manifested as God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
• Operations of the Holy Spirit
  a. Holy Spirit is the believers' best companion, the believers' senior partner (John 14:16,17).
  b. The Holy Spirit teaches, leads, comforts and reminds us all we have been taught (John 16:13-15).
  c. A Christian would not be able to live a successful Christian life without the help the Holy Spirit (John 14:18,26).

• Salvation of soul
After being genuinely saved, that is, being reconciled to God (2 Corinthians 5:18), you need the ministry of the Holy Spirit in your Christian journey.

• What the Holy Spirit does:
  a. The Holy Spirit resides on the inside of those who acknowledge Jesus as their Lord and Saviour (1 Corinthians 3:16).
  b. The Holt Spirit comforts believers in Christ (John 16:17; 1 Corinthians 1:4).
  c. The Holy Spirit leads the believers; teaches, guides, protects, and preserves them (Romans 8:14).
  d. He teaches to make profit (John 14:26; Isaiah 48:17).

• The Holy Spirit is (Isaiah 11;12):
THE Spirit of the LORD,
THE Spirit of wisdom
THE Spirit of understanding
THE Spirit of Counsel
THE Spirit of might
THE Spirit of knowledge
THE Spirit of the fear of the LORD

• The Holy Spirit manifests Himself in seven folds (Isaiah 11:2 (KJV).
• You need to be subjective to the leadership of the Holy Spirit. Thus, If you would experience open heaven, you would need the help of the Holy Spirit (Luke 3:21).
• Know that by physical strength shall no man prevail (1 Samuel 2:9). It is not by power nor might, not by human strength or ability, but by the Spirit of the Lord—the Holy Spirit (Zechariah 4:6).
• Successful Christian living is by the help of the Holy Spirit.

• You need
I. Genuine encounter with Holy Spirit.
Acknowledging Him and having a communion or fellowship with Him is of paramount importance.

II. Submission to the leadership of the Holy Spirit.

• You had to acknowledge Him, asking Him to guide and lead you. You take instructions from Him and allow Him to lead you in all your endeavours. The essence of His being on the inside of you is to guide and help you in the affairs of your life: "FOR AS MANY AS ARE LED BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD, THESE ARE SONS OF GOD" (Romans 8:14 NKJV).

III. Communion or fellowship with the Holy Spirit.

• You dialogue with the Holy Spirit, asking Him questions, and receiving answers from Him.
• You carry Him along in all you wanted to do. You might be a believer who speaks in tongues but not having any intimacy with the Holy Spirit.
• The speaking in tongues is for edification. Dialoguing with Him is when you come to Him with the matters of your life that are bothering your mind and you wanted to be enlightened—when clarity or guidance or direction is needed.
• You fellowship to discuss, share your burden, and having a rapport together with Him.
• Do you do this, having a dialogue or conversation, in your relationship with the Holy Spirit? If you do not, I will admonish you to start doing it. You would need a concrete fellowship or communion with the Holy Spirit to excel in your Christian journey in life.

IV. Partnering with the Holy Spirit.

• This is when you allowed the Holy Spirit to have the say-so in the affairs of your life; ministry, home or marriage, career, and everything that pertains to you. He is interested in all, If you would allow Him.

V. Depending on the Holy Spirit for a result oriented prayers: "LIKEWISE THE SPIRIT ALSO HELPS IN OUR WEAKNESSES. FOR WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT WE SHOULD PRAY FOR AS WE OUGHT, BUT THE SPIRIT HIMSELF MAKES INTERCESSION FOR US WITH GROANINGS WHICH CANNOT BE UTTERED" (Romans 8:26 NKJV).

• Let the Holy Spirit give you utterance in your prayers.
• Pray often in the language of the Holy Spirit—praying in tongues (1 Corinthians 14:2; Jude 20).
• Praying in the Spirit, tongues, edifies or builds you up in the faith (1 Corinthians 14:4; Jude 20).

VI. Obey the Holy Spirit nudges promptly whenever He did. The Holy Spirit being gentle, when He nudges or instructs you to do something, He would allow you to make your choice on it, whether to do or not what He has stirred your heart to do (Romans 8:14). He will not force you.

• You must be sensitive and discerning enough to know when He is asking you to do something.

VII. Acknowledge the Holy Spirit in all your ways.

• You lean not, or rely not, on your own understanding; human nature or senses (Proverbs 3:5,6).
• You need to always acknowledge and recognize His presence with you and bring Him into your daily activities.

• Note:

• If you are confused, ask His wisdom on what to do.
• If you lack power or ability, ask for the anointing, the unction to function in your assignment.
• If you are weak, physically or spiritually, ask for His strength.
• If you are sick, ask for His healing power to come on you, you can live in divine health if you ask and walk with Him. It is the best.
• If you are hurt, wounded in your heart, ask for His comfort and to heal the wound in your heart.
• Remember, the Holy Spirit is the best companion. He would not let you down. He is closer than anyone, even closer than your spouse, or whoever.
• If you are tired or wearied, ask Him to reenergize or reinvigorate you.
• In short, Whatever you are lacking, ask the Holy Spirit.

• The major way to experience an open heaven and walk in the blessing is through communion with the Holy Spirit.

• Recognizing the Holy Spirit and walking with Him is the principal way to live successfully, as a believer in Christ, in this world of darkness.

• The Grace to walk in the fullness of the Holy Spirit's power is released on your life in the mighty name of Jesus.

• Whatever is working against your health and wellness is hereby cursed and uprooted completely in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.
• Affliction will never rise again in your life in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.
  Peace!

STEPS TO SALVATION
• Take notice of this:
IF you are yet to take the step of salvation, that is, yet to be born-again, do it now, tomorrow might be too late (2 Corinthians 6:1,2; Hebrews 3:7,8,15).
a. Acknowledge that you are a sinner and confess your Sins (1 John 1:9); And ask Jesus Christ to come into your life (Revelation 3:20).
b. Confess that you believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is Lord, and that you confess it with your mouth, Thus, you accept Him As your Lord and Saviour (Romans 10:9,10).
c. As you took the steps A and B your name is written in the Book of Life (Philippians 4:3; Revelation 3:8).

• If you took the steps As highlighted above, congratulations, It means you are saved—born-again. Join a Word based church in your area and Town or city, and be part of whatever they are doing there. Peace!