The Variety of the Spirit's Working
The Holy Spirit works in different ways in the lives of believers, but the inner endowment with power is what really matters.
Zac Poonen preaches on the Holy Spirit being likened to the wind in the Scriptures, emphasizing that each believer's experience of being baptized in the Spirit will be unique, with the inner endowment of power being the crucial aspect. God bestows gifts of power through the Spirit for effective service in building up the church, with prophecy highlighted as a valuable gift for challenging, encouraging, and comforting others. Other gifts include serving, teaching, healing, exhorting, giving, and leadership, along with the gift of tongues for prayer and praise beyond language limitations. Believers are encouraged to seek God for the baptism of the Spirit, claiming their birthright and asking for assurance, as God eagerly gives the Holy Spirit to those who ask.
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The Holy Spirit is likened to the wind in the Scriptures; and the wind blows in different ways at different times. "So is everyone who is born of the Spirit", Jesus said (Jn. 3:8). Each believer's experience will therefore be different in the external details of being baptised in the Holy Spirit. The inner endowment with power however, is what really matters.
God gives us `gifts of power' through the Spirit so that we can serve Him effectively in building up the church as the body of Christ. He is the One however Who determines which gift each of us should have.
Prophecy (the ability to preach powerfully to challenge, encourage and comfort) is the most useful of these gifts (1 Cor. 14:1-5). There are also gifts of serving, teaching, healing, exhorting, giving money, leadership, etc., (Rom. 12:6-8; 1 Cor. 12:8-10). The ability to speak in unknown languages (`the gift of tongues') is another gift that God gives, to enable us to pray and praise Him, without the limitations of our mind and our mother-tongue.
If you have not been baptised in the Spirit, seek God and claim your birthright. Ask Him also to give you an assurance of this. "If you being evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.....You do not have because you do not ask" (Lk.11:13; James 4:2).
Let us then cry out to God with all our hearts, and say like Jacob said to God at Peniel, "I will not let You go until You bless Me" (Gen. 32:26).
There is no partiality with God. What He has done for others He will do for you. Even today, He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (Heb. 11:6). He is more than eager to give the Holy Spirit in His fullness to all who desire to glorify Him.
Sermon Outline
- The Variety of the Spirit's Working
- Gifts of Power for Serving
- Seeking the Baptism in the Spirit
- Claim Your Birthright
- Ask for Assurance
- Cry Out to God with All Your Heart
Key Quotes
“So is everyone who is born of the Spirit” — Zac Poonen
“If you being evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.....You do not have because you do not ask” — Zac Poonen
“I will not let You go until You bless Me” — Zac Poonen
Application Points
- Seek God and claim your birthright to receive the baptism in the Spirit.
- Ask God to give you an assurance of the baptism in the Spirit.
- Cry out to God with all your heart and desire to glorify Him.