Thanks for visiting my diary. I've been journaling since 1984 and have chosen to share some of my entries online. They are not all positive thoughts, but I hope that reading them might be a blessing to someone who needs encouragement.
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Please also visit my music page, where you can hear samples from my debut CD, I Believe, which features songs written based on experiences shared in this journal.
SARAH'S SCRIBBLINGS
November 10, 2002
2:45 p.m.
notes from a sermon on filling of the Spirit
Passage is Acts 19.
Paul found some disciples. Use of the word disciple means the people who have trusted Jesus Christ and believed in him. Paul asks them if they received the Holy Spirit when they believed. Receiving the Holy Spirit is not something that necessarily accompanies salvation experience. But it is vital for abundant life.
When you aren't filled with the Spirit, you know about God and you believe in Him. But you don't have joy and passion and enthusiasm for Him.
Jesus said, "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you." (Acts 1:8)
When the Spirit came, they spoke in tongues and prophesied. They may not have all done the same thing.
Acts 8 tells a similar story to Acts 19. People believed in Jesus Christ, but they were not filled with the Spirit. Peter and John came and ministered to them. They received the Spirit, although nothing is said about how it was manifested.
The baptism of the Holy Spirit is the moment of the experience and expression of the power of God. The "baptism of the Holy Spirit" is the initial experience, but being filled with the Spirit is ongoing.
Six things need to happen for a person to receive the baptism of the Spirit.
Repent.
- Change your mind. "Be transformed by the renewing of your mind..." What are you reading? What are you watching? What are you thinking about? It affects your values, your perceptions, and the way you live. Use Philippians 4:8. Hide God's Word in your heart so that you might not sin against Him.
- Change your heart. Love God more than anything else.
- Change your habits. You are a new creation in Christ and that is what defines you. You don't have time to think about old habits.
If you don't repent, you're just putting on makeup. You have to do it over and over and over.
Declare. Talk about it. Why wouldn't you, if you've changed? Why wouldn't you talk about what you love most?
Obey. Take thoughts, actions, attitudes, etc., captive to Christ. Don't do it because you have to. Do it because you want to live in Christ.
Thirst for God.
Seek! Get up and get a drink!
If you who are evil know how to give good gifts ... how much more will the Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask?"
Believe that you have received. (Mark 11)
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