Religion & Spirituality
I’ve gone to church all my life, but when I was twelve years old I heard something that forever changed my life. Actually, it was more than just hearing that changed me…it was believing that changed me! This may need some explaining, because it wasn’t just hearing or believing…it was receiving that changed me forever! I’ve never looked at God’s Word the same. I’ve never been the same…let me do that explaining with an illustration! There's a reason they call it a Smart phone Several years ago, I needed a new phone. I looked at lots of options. Then I-heard I could process credit cards at conferences instead of renting a point of sale machine. That move would save me a ton of money. The salesman handed us the phone and began to explain that we could download applications. I had never heard of an app. (yes I know… I know! But you’re forgetting this was a long time ago!) So he took his phone and began to show us some of his favorite apps. I was totally amazed to learn that the applications provided additional benefits and capabilities far beyond that of a regular phone. No one wants a phone that only lets you talk to someone (I see you, you are shaking your head at me, because not there are thousands of apps that provide a myriad of functions.) Imagine not even knowing the apps are available. Staying on the Bleeding Edge of Technology Some folks aren’t content staying on the cutting edge, they want to be the first to be in the know about everything involving technology! While knowing about and USING apps is important if you own any kind of smart phone, but there are things, really critical things, that way too many people have never discovered. Some people don’t know that God loves them. Some people don’t know that Jesus died for their sins. And some believers, don’t know anything about who Precious Holy Spirit is. They don’t know they can be filled with the Holy Spirit. I was one of those people. My grandma would mention the Holy Spirit sometimes. But the only thing I knew about Holy Spirit was when the pastor at my church gave the invitation. My pastor would tell us, “If you have not given your heart to Jesus and you feel the Holy Spirit knocking on your heart’s door, then today is the day for you to receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior.” That’s all I knew. I was so hungry for more of God. I felt the Holy Spirit nudging me, so every Sunday I went down to the front. My dear Pastor, would remind me that I was already saved. I would go back to my seat like Samuel in the Bible, confused about what was going on. I didn’t know that I could be filled with precious Holy Spirit, but one day a friend shared the good news with me. Actually, I had more than one discussion and then listened to numerous sermons before I understood. It’ wasn’t that it was difficult to understand, it was just that I didn’t know anything about Holy Spirit. But when I heard, I believed, I received Holy Spirit. Have ye received the Holy Spirit since ye believed? In Acts 19:2 NIV Paul is telling the story of finding some believers at Ephesus "and asked them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" They answered, "No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit." Paul was excited to share the great news about precious Holy Spirit with them. When they heard, they believed and they received. They couldn’t receive until they knew God had more for them. We can’t use an app on our phone if we don’t know it’s available. We can’t use money in our account if we don’t know it’s there. We have to hear about it first. (Check out the book “Precious Holy Spirit” https://www.patriciaholland.org/product/precious-holy-spirit-ebook/%20/o%20Buy%20the%20book for more details.) But what if I told you about say a GPS app that will guide you from your front door to the place you wanted to go. You would have a choice. You might say “I don’t believe a phone can do that. Or you might say, “Where do I download an app like that. If you didn’t believe what I was telling you, you wouldn’t get the app. Yet, believing there is an app doesn’t get you the app. You have to download it and open the app. Paul’s account tells us they heard, they believed and they received. They couldn’t receive until they knew God had more for them. We can’t use an app on our phone if we don’t know it’s available. We can’t use money in our account if we don’t know it’s there. Hearing is the first step, but not the only step. After you hear, you must believe. What have you heard? Was it confusing? Did it make you hungry for God? Did it make you want to be filled with all the fullness of God? But today, in the modern church, many believers are confused. Far too few can say I heard, I believed and I received. Some folks seem to be totally ignorant on the subject and others are asking questions: Maybe you have some questions? That's a good thing. Maybe you want to know "What is Pentecost?" Who is the Holy Spirit? Are tongues of the devil? Was speaking in tongues just for the disciples? My book points you to some of the answers https://www.patriciaholland.org/product/precious-holy-spirit-book/"Precious Holy Spirit." There seems to be a menacing fence – complete with a huge “Keep Out” sign – surrounding Pentecost and its accompanying infilling of the Holy Spirit. Some folks say, “You receive all you need when you get saved.” Confused and frightened by the roars of tradition and skepticism , far too many believers remain silent and powerless. I am convinced that the Person of Pentecost is the missing dynamo in the modern, anemic church? Especially since Jesus told His disciples, after His resurrection, to “receive the Holy Spirit.” John 20:22 Removing the barriers that keep us from experiencing more of God, demands that we search God’s Word, discover so we can receive the infilling of the Holy Spirit is for every believer. Believe Like everything God has for us, we must believe to receive precious Holy Spirit. But Is receiving the Holy Spirit really important? Yes! It is really important. Why is this experience so critical? It is because it is a Gift from God. We can’t afford to miss God’s Gifts. It takes believers into a deeper, fuller relationship with God. The benefits of living a Spirit filled life is experiencing the partnership of Holy Spirit guiding, empowering and transforming every area of a believer’s life. I am not talking about a one time experience. I am referring to building on a relational experience that moves forward into everyday life, like a wedding should move into a deeper, fuller lifelong relationship. Out of this partnership with Holy Spirit flows love, joy, power to win over sin, power to witness, and spiritual maturity. Jesus made a big deal out of the reality that they should not grieve over the fact that He was leaving them, because He would send a comforter that would not just be with them, but would live in them. Mix what you heard with faith. Luke 11:13 NIV If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" I want you to be able to say I heard. I believed. I received and I shared. Not a Theological Exegesis The book “Precious Holy Spirit” is not a theological exegesis, but it is a journey through scripture to help the reader fall in love. I wrote this book in a clear, easy to understand format using seven words pictures that describe Holy Spirit. It uses interesting stories from nature and history to unlock the mystery of Pentecost. This book is for the person that doesn’t know anything about the Holy Spirit. It’s for the person that avoids the whole conversation because they think it’s all weird. And, it is also for anyone who has received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, but wants to rekindle their passion, or wants to know how to access the resources available to the Spirit filled believer. This book will inspired and ignite you. You will fall in love—all over again. Additionally, this book is written to pastors or leaders that need a little extra help making the whole topic of receiving the Holy Spirit easier to understand. It gives clear examples and illustrations that can be used in conversation, training and sermons. Download the eBook and start reading right now.