Post by Zac Loh on Aug 1, 2009 9:39:40 GMT -5
Lately I have been carrying a serious conviction about the importance of the Holy Spirit in my life.
I am seeking to be dependent on Him, to be filled by Him and to seek His leading on a daily basis ...in ministry ...and even in the most secular practical issues and situations. I am challenged to fellowship with Him and share with Him more of every area.
I pray that this message will bring you closer to the sweet Holy Spirit.
Barnabas
Acts 11:21-24
And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord. Then news of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch. When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord. (Acts 11:21-23)
At one missions gathering, I showed a video of me preaching the gospel to a sizable group of Filipino policemen. The participants in this missions gathering watched the overwhelming response of the policemen during the altar call in the video being played.
After the gathering was over, a brother approached me and commented on how difficult it is, to share the gospel to just a single individual locally …all the words and saliva for one person, and not even a sign of positive response.
That night, I conveyed a truth: we need to go where the grace of God is moving.
Barnabas moved with the grace of God. He flowed where the grace of God was flowing.
Even in our personal lives, we need to flow with the Spirit of grace, the sweet Holy Spirit. We need to flow with Him in the area(s) of our life which HE IS flowing. Otherwise, we will not experience the hand of God such as it happened to the believers all the way to Antioch.
We need to synchronize with God. This is an important key to miracles. The early church leadership knew this.
First, we have the realization.
Second, we put up our spiritual antenna through communication and fellowship with God.
And third, we ought to have a keen spiritual sensitivity in the midst of our natural circumstance and situation, through being filled with the Holy Spirit.
For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord. (Acts 11:24)
Barnabas was full of the Holy Spirit by continually being filled. Since the Holy Spirit is sensitive, liken to a dove, we will be empty of Him when we sinned …or are hardened within us.
The solution to be filled over and over again …is repentance …and to be given over to the Holy Spirit from within.
“Is any place within us not being given over?”
“Is our heart a stone or a sponge?”
“Are we in a state of being responsive to the Holy Spirit?”
Our faith is definitely connected to the Holy Spirit. Our faith is not like any other faith out there. Our faith is neither religious nor secular. Our faith is not natural …it is spiritual …and supernatural!
What had Barnabas accomplished by his faith? Millions upon millions read the Bible throughout the ages. Barnabas is read by many. Though he died, his life is still speaking.
Barnabas’ faith had facilitated the acceptance of Paul. Due to Barnabas’ faith, Paul could minister. Is it safe to say, because of Barnabas, today we talk often about Paul?
In heaven, I am sure …Barnabas is greatly rewarded because of his faith. Barnabas was full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. Without the Holy Spirit, how would Barnabas’ faith turn out to be?
I am seeking to be dependent on Him, to be filled by Him and to seek His leading on a daily basis ...in ministry ...and even in the most secular practical issues and situations. I am challenged to fellowship with Him and share with Him more of every area.
I pray that this message will bring you closer to the sweet Holy Spirit.
Barnabas
Acts 11:21-24
And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord. Then news of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch. When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord. (Acts 11:21-23)
At one missions gathering, I showed a video of me preaching the gospel to a sizable group of Filipino policemen. The participants in this missions gathering watched the overwhelming response of the policemen during the altar call in the video being played.
After the gathering was over, a brother approached me and commented on how difficult it is, to share the gospel to just a single individual locally …all the words and saliva for one person, and not even a sign of positive response.
That night, I conveyed a truth: we need to go where the grace of God is moving.
Barnabas moved with the grace of God. He flowed where the grace of God was flowing.
Even in our personal lives, we need to flow with the Spirit of grace, the sweet Holy Spirit. We need to flow with Him in the area(s) of our life which HE IS flowing. Otherwise, we will not experience the hand of God such as it happened to the believers all the way to Antioch.
We need to synchronize with God. This is an important key to miracles. The early church leadership knew this.
First, we have the realization.
Second, we put up our spiritual antenna through communication and fellowship with God.
And third, we ought to have a keen spiritual sensitivity in the midst of our natural circumstance and situation, through being filled with the Holy Spirit.
For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord. (Acts 11:24)
Barnabas was full of the Holy Spirit by continually being filled. Since the Holy Spirit is sensitive, liken to a dove, we will be empty of Him when we sinned …or are hardened within us.
The solution to be filled over and over again …is repentance …and to be given over to the Holy Spirit from within.
“Is any place within us not being given over?”
“Is our heart a stone or a sponge?”
“Are we in a state of being responsive to the Holy Spirit?”
Our faith is definitely connected to the Holy Spirit. Our faith is not like any other faith out there. Our faith is neither religious nor secular. Our faith is not natural …it is spiritual …and supernatural!
What had Barnabas accomplished by his faith? Millions upon millions read the Bible throughout the ages. Barnabas is read by many. Though he died, his life is still speaking.
Barnabas’ faith had facilitated the acceptance of Paul. Due to Barnabas’ faith, Paul could minister. Is it safe to say, because of Barnabas, today we talk often about Paul?
In heaven, I am sure …Barnabas is greatly rewarded because of his faith. Barnabas was full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. Without the Holy Spirit, how would Barnabas’ faith turn out to be?