obedience and the Holy Spirit

By Al Baker - Posted at Forget None Of His Benefits:

And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him, -Acts 5:32

I ended last week’s article in this way.

Preacher, wouldn’t you love to see God use you in similar fashion? Church member, wouldn’t you love to see God descend upon your church’s worship service with such solemnity and awe? Evangelist and street preacher, wouldn’t you love to see God the Holy Spirit anoint your preaching with such soul convicting and converting power? And Christian, wouldn’t you love to see your life characterized by fruitfulness—bearing a greater measure of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, self-control, and patience (Gal.5:22,23)? Wouldn’t you love to see hundreds of thousands of true conversions which would slow the putrefaction of your nation?

While it is certainly true that only God can bring revival it is also true that He hears the cries of His people who seek Him earnestly.

Well then, what is our part in seeing such a mighty outpouring of the Holy Spirit? I will mention briefly four things we need to do and then expand on each of them in succeeding weeks.

Here they are. We must pray, yield, obey God, and believe what He says. James the apostle exhorts us to draw near to God and in so doing God promises to draw near to us (James 4:8). God tells Jeremiah that if His people seek Him, they will find Him, when they seek for Him with all their hearts (Jeremiah 29:13). Azariah, son of Oded, says something similar to King Asa (2 Chronicles 15:2).

Acts 5 begins with the death of Ananias and Sapphira for lying to the Holy Spirit. From there, due to the bold and Spirit anointed preaching of the apostles, once again they were imprisoned by the Sanhedrin. An angel of the Lord opened the prison and told these apostles they were to go forth to the temple and preach the gospel. Many more were saved. When asked why they continued to preach when the Sanhedrin forbid them to do so, they said that they must obey God rather than man. It is in this context that Peter says, “And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him,” (Acts 5:32).

We have been studying the necessity of the Holy Spirit in our own lives, families, churches, and communities. How shall we be filled with the Spirit? I suggest this begins with presenting ourselves daily to God as living sacrifices (Rom.12:1,2). In other words we are to say, “God, I surrender my life to You today. Whatever You want me to do, I will do. My earnest desire is to follow You unreservedly.” Are you doing so on a daily basis?

Continue here.