Acts 13:2-3 (NIV):
2 While they were
worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me
Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 So
after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them
off.
Hey Guys! Today I wanted to do a quick simple study on the
Holy Spirit. I feel the Holy Spirit should be taught more in the body of
Christ. And so I wanted to take a passage of Scripture and show you all a bit
of Him as He enables me to do so.
1. Worship: You experience the Holy Spirit when you
worship the LORD-so are you
worshipping the LORD? Remember Romans 12:1 says we should be a living sacrifice
and offer ourselves as holy and pleasing to God-this is true and proper
worship. And this is the only way you get to experience the Holy Spirit.
This is because the LORD inhabits in the praises of His
people (Psalm 22:3).
Also remember that the Word says we are a temple of the Holy
Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19). So are you a
temple? Have you surrendered your body to the LORD as a living sacrifice
through your worship to Him in your lifestyle? Home? Friends? Family? This is
how you can experience the presence of the Holy Spirit.
2. Spiritual Growth: Notice
also the worshippers were fasting-this spoke to me because it meant they were
concentrated on connecting with the LORD. To fast is to abstain from food or
drinks for religious reasons as the Dictionary explains but it is a spiritual
exercise. So are you exercising yourself spiritually? Are you spending time in
God’s presence? Do you talk to Him? Do you listen to Him? Do you live for Him?
These are steps to show your act of sacrifice and build your spiritual muscle
to be sensitive to His voice-His Spirit.
And notice that after this act of worship and during the
fasting, the Spirit spoke. So He speaks when you worship God and you practice
spending time in His presence-this is how you experience the Holy Spirit in
your life. Worshipping God is not only through praise but also through
obedience in your day-to-day activities and choices. And the Holy Spirit always
sets us apart by name. God knows your name (Jeremiah 1:5). He knows everything
about you more than you could possibly imagine. And His Spirit enables you to
connect with God’s knowledge of who you are as He sets you apart. The Holy
Spirit will never ask you to do something contrary to God’s Word-so if you try
and attach scripture to some act of disobedient that is not the Spirit of the
LORD because it is by His Spirit we are able to commune with Him (Romans 8:15).
3. Your Assignment: He has a
work for you. The Spirit of God will always have instructions for you if you
are positioned to listen through your relationship with God. He starts to call
to your heart-you feel a drawing, a connection to a particular area that is
very specific. That is the how the Spirit speaks because He wants to release
the anointing in your life in that area. And this is how ministries are
birthed, and intimacy with God is grown and developed-through this very strong
connection we receive because of the blood of Christ and by the unction of His
Spirit.
4. Obedience: But are
you obedient to these steps? Are you obedient to the call? Notice after the
Spirit spoke the people moved. They recognized His voice-the LORD says my sheep
knows my voice. The Holy Spirit will speak-but do you know His voice? You know
His voice when you spend time in the presence of God because it is His Spirit
as the LORD says it is not by power, might but by His Spirit.
So you first need to know Him. Notice they finished fasting
and prayer before they placed hands on them and set them off.
This is powerful because your first act of service should
always be to the LORD, and then you can
move into where He has called you to go. Nothing takes priority over His
presence in your life-and nothing should do so. Remember seek first the kingdom and all these things shall be added to you.
5. Faith Without Deeds Is Dead: Notice also their actions-after fasting and praying, they
placed hands on them and sent them off-there was agreement. You need to come into agreement with God in your
relationships, friendships, your lifestyle before you can be sent by Him
anywhere-some of us say use me LORD but
you wont listen to Him when He is speaking-so
how do you want Him to use you exactly?
6.
Partnership: The Holy
Spirit will speak to you specifically about your partners- notice Saul was
partnered with Barnabas in a gathering of worshippers-God will partner you with
who He wants you to work with. So don’t partner yourself without His
leadership. Listen to Him in all and every area of your life and this is how
you experience the presence of His Spirit.
These six steps will enable you to hear the voice of God as He speaks to you-I hope this Word encouraged you! God bless!
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