Before Jesus began His ministry, He was baptized by John the Baptist and the Holy Spirit descended on Him. “And Jesus, when He was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto Him, and he (John) saw the Holy Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon Him (Jesus)” (Mt 13:16).
When Jesus’ ministry on earth was finished and He was preparing to leave the disciples, He promised to send them the SAME Holy Spirit that had been given to Him, to live IN us, so that we could do the SAME works as He did, and that we would be comforted. “He that believes on Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these (what the disciples had seen Him do) shall he do; because I go unto My Father. And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you forever; even the Spirit of truth: you know Him for He dwells with you, and SHALL BE IN YOU. I will not leave you comfortless, I will come to you” (John 14:12, 16, 18). He was telling them that you already know Him, IT’S ME! I’m now dwelling with you, and soon I WILL BE DWELLING IN YOU. Whatttt???
With the Holy Spirit LIVING IN US, we can live as Jesus and the disciples lived. The Holy Spirit in us makes it possible! This is the very reason why the Holy Spirit of God was given to us!
Jesus had His disciples WAIT in Jerusalem so that when the infilling of the Holy Spirit came, they would have the POWER to win many others to Him. “And, being assembled together with them (Jesus was with His disciples after His resurrection) commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but ‘wait for the promise of the Father, which, said He, you have heard of Me, for John truly baptized with water; but you shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost. And you shall receive POWER after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and you shall be witnesses unto Me… unto the uttermost part of the earth'” (Acts 1:4,5,8).
That was the main purpose of the Day of Pentecost; not just the supernatural manifestations that took place. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the disciples was to EMPOWER them.
The Holy Spirit empowers us and gives us faith to STAND UP for the truth and boldly share our faith with others.
Jesus said that ALL believers can receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit by simply asking the Father to give Him to them. “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that all Him?” (Lk 11:13).
Now, GET THIS: you not only have the POWER that the Holy Spirit gives you, to live as Jesus did, manifesting the kingdom of God, but the Holy Spirit also gives you ALL of THESE gifts as well: “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Gal 5:22).
So you’re FULL of it…
READ and ABSORB the following scriptures to fully understand the transformation that the Holy Spirit brings you.
*Lk 11:13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him.
*Acts 1:8 You shall receive POWER when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
*Jn 14:26 But the helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will TEACH YOU ALL THINGS, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.
Eph 3:16 That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be STRENGTHENED WITH MIGHT through His Spirit in the inner man.
Lk 3:16 John answered, saying to all, “I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the HOLY SPIRIT AND FIRE.
Acts 2:38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
*Acts 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they SPOKE THE WORD OF GOD WITH BOLDNESS.
Acts 2:3-4 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and BEGAN TO SPEAK WITH OTHER TONGUES, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
*Gal 5:22 The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
Lk 4:18-19 The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me to PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to PROCLAIM LIBERTY TO THE CAPTIVES and recovery of sight to the blind. To set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.
Jn 7:38-39 He who believes in Me, as the scripture has said, out of his heart will flow RIVERS OF LIVING WATER. But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
Ro 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not what is eaten and not what is being drunk, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
1Cor 12:8-11 For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.
2Cor 3:17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is LIBERTY.
Eph 5:18b-19 But be FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.
Jude; 20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit.
*Acts 2:17-18 And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, that I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall PROPHESY, your young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams. And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days.
*Jn 16:13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He WILL GUIDE YOU INTO ALL TRUTH; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will TELL YOU THINGS TO COME.