Be Empowered by the Holy Spirit!

Alton Garrison, former Assistant General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God, wrote this about the “Baptism in the Holy Spirit” in the June 13, 2010, edition of the Pentecostal Evangel, entitled.

For nearly 50 years, coal has been used in our country to generate the lion’s share of electricity for our homes, businesses and industry. This electricity has provided us with power for lighting, heating, cooling, cooking, washing, communicating, entertaining ... well you get the idea. Electricity is essential.

At a typical power plant, a string of coal cars arrives every few days. That coal is sorted, ground into a fine powder, and burned at a high temperature. Water running through a network of pipes at the furnace becomes steam. The steam drives a turbine, turning an electrical generator.

Most people don’t realize this process is ongoing, creating power every day, 24/7, 365 days a year. And it all starts with a lump of coal.

When you think about it, the process of generating electrical power illustrates the process we must follow as Christians for having spiritual power.

When we receive Christ at the moment of salvation, each of us becomes a new creation. The Holy Spirit indwells our being and resides within us. At that moment we are given a great resource. But like any resource, to be of any good it must be processed and put to use.

A lump of coal is of little value if I simply hold it. But if I process it and use it correctly, it becomes a great tool.

It’s the same for us as believers. If we have the Holy Spirit inside us but never tap into His power, we too are missing a great opportunity to do more and reach the full potential God offers us beyond our talents and gifts.

Jesus said, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). These final words of the Savior describe a powerful experience that we as Pentecostal believers hold dear. The Bible refers to this experience by many names. Jesus and others called it “the baptism in the Holy Spirit.” He also called it “the promise of the Father.”

One of the first things we need to realize is the baptism in the Holy Spirit is for every Christian. On the Day of Pentecost the Bibles says, “All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:4). Peter told the crowd that day, “The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off – for all whom the Lord our God will call (Acts 2:39). Peter was talking about us, about all who are in Christ Jesus, including those then, those now, and those yet to come.

Second, we also must realize that the Bible teaches that the baptism in the Holy Spirit is a separate experience that follows salvation. It is not a requirement of salvation, but rather a benefit made available to us as members of God’s family. The baptism in the Holy Spirit is not a saving experience for the non-Christian; it is an empowering experience for the Christian in order that he or she may be supernaturally equipped to perform their ministry.

…The day we accepted Christ, we were given a great opportunity: the power of His Spirit to be unleashed through His baptism in our lives. It’s power to live, to serve and to win others for eternity. Let’s not squander it. I don’t know about you, but my heart’s cry is, “Lord, send the Wind and the Fire.”

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This Sunday, May 24, we will “Celebrate Pentecost!” Be empowered by the Holy Spirit! Please invite someone to join you in the building or online for the Live broadcast on either Facebook (Honolulu AG) or our YouTube channel (Honolulu Assembly of God). We Livestream every Sunday to both locations and would love to have you join us!

Coming Up: June 21 is Father’s Day and all Dads in attendance will receive a gift so be sure to bring the Dad in your life with you that day.

Aloha ke Akua!