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GWEA Monthly Message
The Power of Pentecost - The Baptism of the Holy Spirit
MAY 2024
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This year, Pentecost will take place on Sunday, May 19 and always falls 50 days after Easter. Jesus needed to ascend to Heaven for the Holy Spirit to be poured out on those gathered together on the Day of Pentecost. Jesus said that He would go to the Father and send the Holy Spirit.
That was one of the proofs that Jesus made it to heaven because He said He would send the Holy Spirit when He was through: “Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you” (Jn. 16:17).
The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is very controversial amongst believers today. Jesus said the “Spirit of Truth,” who has been “with you”, He will be “in you”. So God is not just with us (Matt. 1:23), but can now be in us (Jn. 14:15-17) upon receiving the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. This means it is generally a second experience, and separate from receiving the forgiveness of sins. John the Baptist said, “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire” (Matt. 3:11).
Religion today represents Christian denominations that don’t recognize a personal relationship with Jesus and, even moreso, don’t believe the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is for today. But we often hear how every time a person gets filled with the Holy Spirit, how their lives are miraculously changed. This is because the love of God is poured into their hearts through the Holy Spirit (Rom. 5:5). The Holy Spirit is also a person, and we must learn to cooperate with Him daily so we can come to know how he works in our lives.
Like the Pharisees, religious people don’t have to take the responsibility for building a personal relationship with God. They rely on other people’s faith, ministers and church programs to do that for them. But if the people who are Baptized in the Holy Spirit would demonstrate the “power” of the Holy Spirit with the “signs following”, (Mk. 16:17-18) that would go a long way towards people receiving more of the Holy Spirit’s Ministry in their lives.
The Ministry of the Holy Spirit has an important role in our everyday lives. There are many things the Holy Spirit does, but we must not forget that He is the one who wrote the Scriptures (2 Pet. 1:21; 2 Tim. 3:16; Eph. 3:2-5, Heb. 10:15-16).
When a believer receives the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, like the first disciples who were inspired by the Holy Spirit, the Word of God comes alive to them. When we spend time praying in tongues, God speaks mysteries to us and gives us revelation through the Holy Spirit. He opens our spiritual eyes and ears to the truth of His Word (Eph. 1:9-14).
All believers need to be empowered by the Holy Spirit and receive Gifts of the Holy Spirit. Zechariah 4:6 says “not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord.” The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is not optional, it is part of what Jesus tells us to do. Jesus said that you would receive power, after that the Holy Ghost has come upon you and you would be His witnesses. Our witness and our effectiveness are all dependent upon the power of the Holy Spirit (Jn. 2).
After Jesus was raised from the dead, He would not allow His disciples to go out and tell anybody about the great news until they received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. They needed the power of the Holy Spirit to be an effective witness (Acts 4:1-8).
The last instruction Jesus gave His disciples before his ascension was in Mark 16:9-20: “…these signs will follow them that believe; in my name, they will cast out devils, they’ll speak with new tongues, they’ll take up serpents, if they drink any deadly thing it shall not harm them, they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover.” And the last few verses of Mark 16 say that the Lord went with them confirming the Word with signs and wonders following. The miraculous works of the Holy Spirit are what confirm the Word of God.
Do you have questions about the Holy Spirit and need answers? Do you need prayer for Salvation and/or for the Baptism of the Holy Spirit? I invite you come to one of our house meetings or contact me for prayer and guidance.
Copyright © 2024. The Gordon Williams Evangelistic Association. All rights reserved
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Sharing Praise Reports Encourages Others. "Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do" (Thessalonians 5:11).
"And let us continue to consider how to motivate one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another even more as you see the day of the Lord coming nearer" (Hebrews 10:24-25). Our Readers Write: Dear Gordon:
A very long time ago you did a Huntley Street service at Central Collegiate in Barrie and I sheepishly attended. It was through your ministry that I received the fullness of the Holy Spirit at that meeting. What a blessing. I'm now 67 years young and still following Jesus. I pray the Lord will continue to bless your endeavours.
B. Cathline
Dear Gordon:
“Thank you for recommending that our friends come to your meeting in Welland. It is always exciting to see the wonderful work that the Holy Spirit does in their lives.” They both received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues. “I have no words to express my joy so I’ll just continue in tongues! Debra
Dear Gordon:
"In 1980 you came and spoke at my church in Oakville, Ontario (St Hilda's Anglican Church) ... I remember that evening because it was a turning point in many people's lives, the church, and in my own life. You spoke about the healing ministry, and by the end of the evening people were receiving much healing, as well as, people were touched by the Holy Spirit in such a way as many, if not most, were laid out on the ground. It was such an incredibly powerful evening, one that I will never forget. G. Easson
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