Be filled with the Holy Spirit

 

 Rev Jeremiah Abel

What a wonderful God we serve. It's a wonderful testimony from Sis May. Let's put our trust in God.

Alfred Ho has kept a baptismal certificate that I did not sign. It is not my fault, it's the pastors fault. (smile). He was ten years old and he has this certificate with my name and I never signed it. He had it for so long but he needs it because he wants to go to Israel. He wanted to send it to Canada but I told him to send it here and I'll sign it. How many of you value your baptismal certificate? Still have it? I am so glad I have people I ministered to years ago and they are still in touch.

Last week was Pentecost Sunday. What is Pentecost Sunday? It is the day the Holy Spirit descended on the people gathered at the upper room back then. It was also the Global Day of Prayer.

I skyped my children and they said they did not know what it was all about. Anyone knows how the Global Day of Prayer came about? It started in a town in Africa as they wanted to see a revival take place. They prayed that it would become global and sure enough it became global.

Last year I was at Edmonton and they wanted to make sure I was in it fir the Global Day of Prayer and put me in a prayer group to pray for Israel. A lady ask if she can blow the shofar before prayer and she was refused. She came to me and I said I will call you to blow. The presence of the Lord was there when the person blew the shofar.

Pentecost Sunday started in Jerusalem and it has gone all around the world. And now they are talking about going back to the Jerusalem road.

Many do not realise the importance of coming together to pray for the unsaved. We need to be the ones crying out to the Lord. When May testified, she said God heard, how much more us in corporate prayer. Amen?

What I want to say today is this. Why was it the Lord wants the people to be filled with the Holy Spirit?

Jesus told them to tarry in Jerusalem so that they will be empowered by the Holy Spirit.

All of you should be filled with the Holy Spirit. Every believer ought to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Jesus commissioned the disciples to wait in Jerusalem.

Acts 1:8 But 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.”

Tell me now which words apply to you? Witnesses. I am to be a witness. Telling people. But many of us tutup mulut saja. We are to be witnesses telling people.

Many people love animals and talk to their animals but not to people. Telling people about what? About Jesus. Because He went to the cross for us. That's why we had communion to remind us of His love for us. To begin in Jerusalem, to Judea, in Samaria and to the ends of the world.

And now we're coming back again. There's revival now in Asia, Africa etc but not in the West. We need to pray for them.

Why is God so desirous that we are witnesses for Him throughout the world? This is because salvation is only trough the person of Jesus Christ. All of you may have loved ones who is not saved. We are so close to the coming of the Lord. Many things point to His coming. The scripture says when you see these things happening, you know His coming is soon. He is coming for His church. We do not want any to be left behind.

Acts 1:4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.

Jesus said I told you before. He has taught the disciples before concerning the Holy Spirit.

John 14:15-17 “If you love me, you will obey what I command. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever– 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.

John 14:26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

John 15:26 “When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me.

Read chapter 16 again where He stressed that it was important He leaves so that the comforter can come. That teaching shows the importance of them receiving the promise of the gift of the Holy Spirit to be witnesses. As there are many perishing.

We as believers, what are we doing?

I have three prerequisites. Jesus talk about labourers, we are all labourers. Not just the pastor or leaders but ALL. It is everybody's job. We are to make sure all is involved in this ministry.

Matthew 9:36-38 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

1. We are to be continually filled with the Holy Spirit.

It is not about being filled then speaking in tongues and that's it.

Ephesians 5:18

Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.

The harvest is right now. 

This is harvest time. We are labourers in bringing these people into the kingdom of God.

Be filled. It's continuous sense. It is ongoing.

John 15:26 “When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me.

To be effective witnesses of Jesus we are to be continually filled with the Holy Spirit. It is sad that many Pentecostal churches are not praying in tongues. It is a prayer language, a powerful weapon that we have. It is such an important gift. Why? It edifies you. But some is saying you don't have to pray in tongues. Some leaders are not even baptised in the Holy Spirit. We need to check it out. It is so important to us. To be baptised in the Holy Spirit and praying in the spirit.

One statement that stays with me all these years is this. Paul made a very clear statement about praying in tongues.

Paul said that "I thank God I speak in tongues more than you all".

1 Corinthians 14:18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you.

Underline that and apply it to yourself too. It is important that we pray in tongues as it is so edifying. The apostle Paul was always edified and ready to speak to the people. It doesn't matter if someone says it is not important or that no one understands. Just tell them because it edifies me. And through it you will operate in the spirit, with the gift of the word of knowledge, prophesy etc

2. Pray at all times.

Ephesians 6:18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

Pray continually on all occasion. In the spirit. The prayer meeting is so important. Wednesday, 8:15pm. Remember that. The least attended service is the prayer meeting and yet it is the most important. Prayer is so essential today for churches to be effective. We need to be prayer warriors.

Even Jesus said always pray and not lose heart.

Luke 18:1 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.

Psalms 34:15 The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their cry;

Psalms 34:17 The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.

Be encouraged that every time you pray, God sees it and not only sees but also hears.

Psalms 107:6 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.

Psalms 107:12-13 So he subjected them to bitter labor; they stumbled, and there was no one to help.

13 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress.

Psalms 107:19-20 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress.

20 He sent forth his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave.

Psalms 107:28 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

We used to sing this song! Rejoice in the Lord. Pray. Give thanks.

3. Love one another.

John 13:34-35 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Love one another is a commandment, even as He has loved us. By this ALL (not some) will know that we are His witnesses. But only "if" you have loved one another.

Matthew 22:37-41 Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. ’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. ’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

We should love God with all our soul, heart and mind and the second commandment should be like the first but towards our neighbour.

For the church to be blessed and grow, you and I need to be so filled with the Holy Spirit. If you have not been praying in the spirit, you are missing a great blessing.

Sister May giving her tremendous testimony on how she claimed 
God's promises for healing during her hospitalisation.