Have you received the HOLY SPIRIT (part 1)

The speaker discusses the power of the Holy Spirit and its importance in the lives of believers. They reference biblical passages that talk about the pouring out of the Holy Spirit and the empowerment it brings. They emphasize the need for the Holy Spirit in facing challenges and breaking free from strongholds. The Holy Spirit is described as a counselor, teacher, and guide. The speaker encourages listeners to seek the truth and not be deceived by lies. This is Robin from New Generation Christian Family Matters. Today we're going to talk about the power of the Holy Spirit. And my question to you, have you been empowered and filled with the Holy Spirit since you believed? In Joel 2 and 28 the scripture reads, I will pour out my spirit in those days on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams. Your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my spirit in those days. Now Acts 1 and 3, after Jesus suffered and died and was resurrected after three days, he showed himself to many and convincing proof that he was alive. He was with them over 40 days and spoke with them about the kingdom of God. And in the fourth verse, on one occasion he gave them this command, do not leave Jerusalem but wait for the gift my father has promised. Which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit. Jesus stated in Acts 1 and 8, you shall receive power after the Holy Spirit has come upon you. And you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth. In verse 12, the disciples and women and other believers, there I think there were 120, returned to Jerusalem, went upstairs to the room and they all joined together constantly in prayer so they believed the word of Jesus. Acts 2 and 1, when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all together in one place. The Holy Spirit made a grand entrance and filled the whole house where they were sitting. And all of them were filled with the Holy Spirit. Now this is when the early church was born. It was set on fire for the Lord and it was a powerful force in the believing community and in the individual life of the believer. We are now in the year 2024 and the promise of God's Holy Spirit to us and our children and our children's children is still alive and well. Without a doubt, we need the workings of the Holy Spirit in the midst of our church. We need the Holy Spirit to fill us. And not only that, to be living in this dark world is not a joke. Some of us have heavy duty issues we are facing. The world is lost and is looking for answers. We cannot deal with these problems in our own strength, wisdom, or self-righteousness. It is going to take the power of the Holy Spirit to break yokes. It is the Spirit of God in us to speak deliverance into the lives of the people. Now there may be some among us that are dealing with strongholds in their lives like unforgiveness. Some people may be under generational curses that need to be broken, alcoholism, substance abuse, sexual sins, and they try hard within themselves not to make it happen, but it still rises to the surface. But with the power of the Holy Spirit and the authority of Jesus' name we can pull down strongholds and cast out demons. Second Corinthians 10 and 4 says, the weapons we fight with are not the weapons of this world. On the contrary, we have divine power to demonish strongholds. We can have victory, my brother and sister. We can have deliverance in our lives, but it is not by our might and by our power, but it is by the Spirit of God, and that is in Zechariah 4 and 6. Praise the Lord. It is the Holy Spirit that empowers you and empowers me to eliminate and empty ourselves of those attitudes and behaviors that are not pleasing to God, behaviors like self-righteousness, pride, jealousy, unforgiveness, a bitter heart, but the Spirit of God will set men and women free. The Holy Spirit will empower us to live a holy and righteous life before God and men. It is the administration of the Holy Spirit to educate and to teach us, and that is found in John 14, 25, and 26. The Holy Spirit is considered as the counselor. The Holy Spirit will teach you and teach me things that will remind us of everything that Jesus said. The Holy Spirit, according to John 16 and 13, is called the Spirit of Truth, and the Spirit of Truth, yes, will guide you into all truth. We know that the devil is a liar, and some people don't believe that there is a devil, but there is. He will tell lies and start confusion. He will cause doubt and unbelief. He will make you even feel God doesn't care, He's not compassionate, doesn't care about his handiwork, and He'll even make you think that Jesus was just a good teacher and that the Holy Spirit and His works died with the prophets in the early church, and I know there are people that really believe that even today. But John 8 and 32 says, You shall know the truth, and the truth will set you free.