A flock of geese once lived together in a barnyard. Once a week they gathered in a corner of the yard and one of the eloquent of their number mounted the fence to speak of the wonders of geese. He recounted the exploits of their forefathers, who mounted on wings and flew the trackless wastes of the sky. He spoke of the goodness of the Creator who had given geese the urge to migrate and wings to fly. And as he spoke the geese would nod their heads and marvel at these things comment on the eloquence of the preaching goose. All this they did. But one thing they never did; they never flew; they did not fly. They went back to their waiting dinner, for the corn was good and the barnyard secure.”

The geese in this parable are like many Christians today who gather together each Sunday in their own barnyards (churches) to hear their preaching goose (Pastor) speak of the goodness of our Creator and all the wonderful "signs, wonders and miracles”(Heb. 2: 4) that we read in the New Testament. They return home without trying to fly and witnessing to other people and telling them about what Jesus has done for them.

Jesus told his first disciples, "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; for you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1: 8). The Holy Spirit comes upon us in order to fill us (Acts 2: 4, Eph. 5: 18). The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is the Baptism of Jesus as John the Baptist explained (Matt. 3: 11; Lk. 3: 16). What Jesus is telling us is that until we receive the real "Baptism of the Holy Spirit” just as happened on the first Day of Pentecost (Acts 2: 4), we cannot be effective witnesses. We need the proof of the "signs” (Mk. 16: 17 – 18).

The problem is that not everybody who receives salvation receives the Holy Spirit at the same time (Acts 2:4, 8: 14 – 17; 9: 17; 19: 1 – 7). Only in Acts 10: 44–48 did people receive salvation and the Baptism of the Holy Spirit at the same time. Without the real Baptism of the Holy Spirit, we cannot, like the geese, be effective witnesses for Jesus.

If you would like to receive Salvation and/or the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and/or healing and/or deliverance and/or needs met, come to one of our meetings or phone me so you can become one of God’s geese (Christians) who is free to fly and be His effective witness. Then you will hear Jesus say, "Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your Lord (Matt. 25: 20, 23). We receive our spiritual flying lessons when we faithfully witness to others.