Devotionals: essence of the Holy Spirit

Devotionals: essence of the Holy Spirit

Posted on January 19, 2009 Updated on January 19, 2009

Memorise: “And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness” (Acts 4:31)

Read: Acts 4:24-31

Pastor E. ADEBOYE

In Acts 2:1-4, after the fire of the Holy Spirit came on the disciples on the day of Pentecost, they were filled with the Heavenly oil and began to emit fire from their heads. Each one of them became a human candle with a flame sitting and burning brightly on their heads!

When the fire of God is present in your life, there will be visible evidences. First, you will have utterance. With all vocal gifts of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit filled believer receives utterance. If you are full of the Holy Ghost, it becomes easy for you to receive utterance from the Holy Spirit. This tells us that one reason believers find utterance a rarity is because they are not full of the Spirit. If your heart is saturated with the Spirit, He will naturally flow out.

Some people who have received the gifts of prophecy, tongues and interpretation of tongues, word of wisdom and knowledge, find it difficult to operate them because their container is half empty. As long as your container is not full of the Holy Spirit, you will keep struggling, or totally lack the utterance to operate those gifts.

Similarly, the presence of divine fire in your life indicates that your prayers are answered. Acts 4:31 says, “And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness”.

The Early church faced intense threats from the religious leaders of their day. They were ordered to stop preaching in the name of Jesus Christ. Fear gradually crept into their hearts. But after they prayed God gave them some signs. There was an earthquake; fear gave way to greater boldness, as they were all filled with the Holy Ghost. Do you know that God still gives signs to confirm that your prayer has been answered? Some of us are not sensitive, hence we may not know. When next you pray intensive, heaven-attending prayer, watch out for the sign of God’s fire.

Sometimes, a sign shows you that the coast is clear. In 1 Kings 18:44, after an intensive, sustained prayer, Elijah saw a little cloud as small as a man’s hand. With that sign, he knew it was time to stop praying, and start preparing for the manifestation of the prayer. Many do not know when to stop praying over issues because they are not sensitive to recognize signs indicating that the prayer is heard. Jesus says we should watch and pray.

Some of us are still busy fasting and praying over matters God has since answered, rather than preparing for the manifestation. Ask God to make you more sensitive to the Spirit. When you pray, open your heart and spirit to the Holy Spirit.

Father, by your Holy Spirit, help me to recognize when you have heard my prayer so that I can thank you.

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