THE BEST GIFT

THE BEST GIFT

Texts: John 16:7-15, Act 4:29-33, Eph 1:13-14

In addition to being born again, knowing the word and accepting Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, believers must have the Holy Spirit indwelling in them. They should know about him and receive his Baptism as well.

Who is the Holy Spirit?

The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity. He is otherwise known as the Comforter. He has the attributes of God. When Jesus was going to his father, He promised every believer the comforter. John 16:7.

You are admonished to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Eph 5:18. It is the Spirit of the truth.

Why you must have the Holy Spirit?

The Holy Spirit:

Helps your hope to grow in his power and gives you boldness to do exploits. Act 4: 29

Bestows different gifts in you and makes you a useful vessel unto honour

Empowers you to have a Godly life and makes your worship to be truly Christian. It empowers you for effective and efficient Christian service

Opens your spiritual eyes and enables you to be sensitive to your sins. Gal 5:25

Comforts you in times of trials, and enlightens you in times of confusion

Intercedes for you with groans that prayers and words cannot express, and does so in accordance to God’s will

Tells you what is yet to come and launches you into the realm of the miraculous.

Makes life more comfortable and profitable for you and even enable you do greater works for the Lord as Jesus prophesised in John 14:12.

What the Holy Spirit does are so numerous. Hence I consider it the best gift all believers should have.

If the president of your country or anybody should ask you to choose a gift or make some requests, many people would ask for millions of pounds sterling or dollars, airbuses, yachts, or estates in the world’s famous cities. All these are perishable. However, the Holy Spirit is permanent and endures throughout your life time.

The Holy Spirit in you marked you with Seal and this guarantees your inheritance. Eph 1:13-14.

You will be able to worship in truth and in Spirit, and enjoy the fruits and the nine gifts of the Holy Spirit. These nine gifts are evidence of a spirit filled life, they are united to make you a child of God, and live a Christ-like life. Note that to be Christ-like is one of the major reasons why you are a Christian. If the Holy Spirit will enable you to achieve this, it is then the best gift you can ever have.

No believer, minister or ministry can survive without the Holy Spirit. If you want to survive, you need the Holy Spirit. Stephen the Martyr, in Act 7:51, testified to the fact that men do resist the Holy Spirit to their own peril and eternal damnation. May you not be condemned eternally. I am sure you want to survive and you do not want to be condemned.

To have the Holy Spirit, You must:

Be a born again Christian

Have a repentant and pure heart

An undefiled body

Accept Jesus as your Lord and Saviour

If you already have him, you have to make sure you retain him, and not grieve him. The Lord will help you to have him and to retain him in Jesus name.

Finally, when the Holy Spirit is indwelling in you, you have the grace to be baptised by Him. You can also confidently and boldly say as in 1^st John 4:4, “the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world”. Do not forget that the Holy Spirit in you marked you with Seal and this guarantees your inheritance.

It is the best gift you could ever have. “Ask for it and it shall be given unto you”. John 14:14, Matt 7:7.

Prayer

Father, in Jesus name, I desire the Holy Spirit. Fill me with Him today and grant me the grace to retain him. Amen.

DIVINE VISITATION

DIVINE VISITATION

Text: Gen 18; 1 - 20, Gen 19; 12 – 17, Judges 6; 11 – 40.

Divine visitation is a visit from God. It is a visit from above. The visit is usually brief and for a specific purpose. God can visit you or you can initiate God’s visit.

I will start by discussing some people God visited in the Bible, such as; Abraham, Lot, and Gideon.

Divine Visitation to Abraham

Gen 18; 1 – 11. “The Lord appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre.”

Gen 18; 10. Then the Lord said “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son.”

The Lord visited Abraham through the three Angels. Abraham was very hospitable to them, and he entertained them. With this visitation, a message of hope was brought to Abraham and Sarah his wife. The message was that they would have a child in a year’s time. Additionally, during this visitation, God revealed his plan for Sodom to Abraham. Furthermore, God reassured Abraham that He had chosen him, and that he would be great.

When God visits, sorrow, despair, anxiety, and hopelessness will disappear. As God visited Abraham and Sarah, He can visit you with good tidings. God shall visit you; sorrow, anxiety, and hopelessness will disappear from your life in Jesus name.

Divine Visitation to Lot

Gen 19; 12. The two men said to Lot, “Do you have anyone else here; sons-in-law, sons or daughters, or anyone else in the city who belongs to you? Get them out of here,” v13 “because we are going to destroy this place. The outcry to the Lord against its people is so great that He has sent us to destroy it.”

God did not want Lot destroyed, so he had mercy on him and his daughters. God can save you from calamity and destruction. When you are visited and such warnings are given, do not hesitate and do not allow the worldly cares and materials to hinder you.

You shall not be consumed in Jesus name, Amen. Lot was also hospitable to the two men sent by God. When a place becomes chaotic and unsafe, God can remove and relocate you.

Divine Visitation to Gideon

Judges 6; 12. The Angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon he said; “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.” V14; “The Lord turned to him and said, Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?”

When God visits you, encouragement will come and you will be lifted up. You will have assurance and confidence to move since instruction will be coming from above, you will do things according to His perfect will.

God that visited Gideon for support, reassurance, encouragement, guidance, and direction can still do same for you.

Remember that I said earlier that you can initiate Divine Visitation. How?

• By intense worship
• By offering quality praise

If you want Divine Visitation, YOU MUST:

1. Harbour no sin
2. Live a life of holiness
3. Offer quality praise
4. Worship God intensely

Prayer

Father, in the name of Jesus, I want you to visit me as you visited Abraham, Lot and Gideon. I want good tidings as well. Let me have this experience. Thank you Daddy. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.