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  EMPOWERMENT AND BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
  by K.P. Yohannan
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Summary: This sermon emphasizes the importance of receiving the power of
the Holy Spirit to be effective witnesses for God. Using the analogy of
electricity powering lights and sound, the speaker highlights the need
for spiritual power to shine as lights in the world. Sharing a personal
experience of being transformed by the Holy Spirit's power, the message
encourages seeking and asking for this divine empowerment to express
God's love and mercy to others through acts of kindness and love.

Topics: "Empowerment of the Holy Spirit", "Witnessing through Love and Kindness"
Scripture References: Acts 1:8, Galatians 5:22, 1 Corinthians 13:13, Luke 11:13, Romans 15:13

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DESCRIPTION
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This sermon emphasizes the importance of receiving the power of the Holy
Spirit to be effective witnesses for God. Using the analogy of
electricity powering lights and sound, the speaker highlights the need
for spiritual power to shine as lights in the world. Sharing a personal
experience of being transformed by the Holy Spirit's power, the message
encourages seeking and asking for this divine empowerment to express
God's love and mercy to others through acts of kindness and love.

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CONTENT
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Something is so very obvious. Think about it. You are able to see my
face and hear my voice.

Actually, it is because we do have plenty of lights arranged. Also, the
microphone and everything is powered up. So, there is an invisible
reality of electricity.

And then, the bulb and the cables that carries that power and convert
that into light and sound and all that. What do you say? Well, we all
know that. But, think about our spiritual life.

The Lord Jesus Christ called his disciples and trained them quite well.
They were real theologians, you can say. But, in the end, he said, you
need something more than this.

That is, with all your understanding, there needs to be energy and
power, so you become the light of the world. So, he said, wait and pray
until you have been given the power of the Holy Spirit. Book of Acts,
chapter 1, verse 8. And he said, when the power comes upon you, of
course, you know, people use those words in different terms, baptism of
the Holy Spirit, filling of the Holy Spirit, and all kind of words.

But, how will you explain it? One individual is truly having the first
contact with the invisible God through the power of the Holy Spirit.
But, to become effective witness and to express this God's love and
mercy and kindness to others, he or she needs the power of the Holy
Spirit. And it is our birthright.

And the scripture says, those who seek and ask, they shall be given. So,
in my own life journey, some years ago, 1970, there was a time that I
was so dry, I knew all the stuff in my head, but I remember that
evening, alone in this tiny room. It was Jammu.

And I said, God, I just, I'm so empty. Please give me your power. You
promised.

And you know, the Lord heard that prayer from my heart, and he poured
the Holy Spirit and the power into my little life. And that transformed
me forever. And so, you need to keep this in mind, that Christian life
and being a witness is impossible without the power of the Holy Spirit.

And the Holy Spirit comes upon us and fill us, and the clear evidence is
not you speak in strange language or heal people and all that. No. The
most important visible evidence that your heart is filled with the love
for people around you, the fruit of the Holy Spirit is love.

The greatest of all, St. Paul said, is love. And I pray, your life will
be blessed as you seek for the filling of the Holy Spirit and be His
witness, and it will be seen through your love and kindness to the world
around you.

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Video: https://sermonindex2.b-cdn.net/MJ4ecWL66dk.mp4
Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/kp-yohannan/empowerment-and-baptism-of-the-holy-spirit/
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