The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel… (Luke 4:18).

While praying many years ago, precisely in 1981, I had some encounters with the Holy Spirit that changed my life. I began to experience a fellowship and knowledge of the Holy Spirit that made His power in my life more real and inherently applicable in life’s situations.

I had read about the missionaries who came from Europe to Africa. Some of them spent years trying to get converts to Christ without much results. They tried; some even died in the process, but it didn’t work. The problem was that they came with religion; they came with a nice message that exhibited the kindness of Christ. That was great, but they needed more than just a nice message.

No matter how much you love Jesus and how much you’re touched by the need to preach the Gospel to sinners in the world, if you’re not filled with the Holy Spirit, it won’t work. That’s why Jesus said to His disciples, “…tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high” (Luke 24:49).

Anyone can say, “I love Jesus, and I’ll serve Him all my life!” Peter also said the same thing. He said to the Master, “…Even if everyone else deserts you, I will never desert you” (Matthew 26:33 NLT). He emphasized, “…Even if I have to die with you, I will never deny you…” (Matthew 26:35 NLT). Of course, it only took some soldiers, a little girl, and some other fellow to make Peter deny Jesus few hours later.

But after Peter received the Holy Spirit, His fears disappeared. The once “unlearned fisherman” began to say and do supernatural things, so much so that in one day, through his preaching, three thousand souls were converted!

If you’ve received the Holy Spirit already, that’s just the beginning. You have to know Him; you have to walk in and with Him. He has to become a constant part of your life. Remember, the power of our message isn’t in the shouting, nor is it in the ability to use many words. The power of our message is the Holy Spirit: “And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power” (1 Corinthians 2:4).

PRAYER
Dear Father, I thank you for the Holy Spirit who lives in me and guides me in the path of your perfect will for me. I’m turned on from within by His divine power, which energizes me and fills me with courage to reach my world with the Gospel, in the Name of Jesus. Amen.

FURTHER STUDY:

|| 1 Thessalonians 1:5 For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake. ||

|| Romans 15:15-19 Nevertheless, brethren, I have written the more boldly unto you in some sort, as putting you in mind, because of the grace that is given to me of God, That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost. I have therefore whereof I may glory through Jesus Christ in those things which pertain to God. For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed, Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. ||

1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:
Acts 21:1-16 & Job 25-28

2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:
Galatians 3:1-12 & Isaiah 31