What is your relationship with The Holy Spirit?
There are two sides to the baptism of The Holy Spirit. The first is that you possess The Holy Spirit. The second is that The Holy Spirit possesses you. There are lukewarm believers and there are flames of fire.
When you possess THE SPIRIT, you have power available to you. When THE SPIRIT possesses you, there is no limit to the possibilities of your life because you have GOD behind it, in the midst of it, and flowing through it!
When humanity is filled with Divine power, when humanity yields completely and allows itself to be possessed by The Holy Spirit, there is no such thing as failure. Jesus did nothing apart from The Holy Spirit in His earthly ministry. He never failed! He walked in full power and authority of THE FATHER.
Consider Paul. As Saul, he was the most noted enemy of Christ and the believers. Once he had his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus, everything changed.
Paul later wrote by The Holy Spirit in Galatians chapter 2:
20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, Who Loved me and gave Himself for me.
In other Words, my old identity has been co-crucified with Christ and no longer lives. And now the essence of this new life is no longer mine, for the Anointed One lives His Life through me—we live in union as one! My new life is empowered by the faith of the Son of God Who Loves me so much that He gave Himself for me, dispensing His Life into mine!
Paul was not just baptized in THE SPIRIT; he was possessed by THE SPIRIT.
Luke records by The Holy Spirit in Acts chapter 9:
10 Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.”
11 So the Lord said to him, “Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying.
12 And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight.”
13 Then Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem.
14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your Name.”
15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My Name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel.
16 For I will show him how many things he must suffer (persecution) for My Name’s sake.”
What blessings can you expect when you are persecuted for righteousness’ sake?
Jesus spoke in Matthew chapter 5:
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
It was worth it to Paul; is it worth it to you? We have an enemy on this earth who would like to intimidate us into silence and passivity. The devil and his evil spirits have one mission, to keep us from spreading the Kingdom of GOD on the earth.
Most Christians want the power without the price. They want the anointing without the yielding. They want to possess THE SPIRIT without being possessed by THE SPIRIT.
Luke recorded by The Holy Spirit in Acts chapter 20:
7 Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight. [8] There were many lamps in the upper room where they were gathered together.
9 And in a window sat a certain young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep. He was overcome by sleep; and as Paul continued speaking, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead.
10 But Paul went down, fell on him, and embracing him said, “Do not trouble yourselves, for his life is in him.”
11 Now when he had come up, had broken bread and eaten, and talked a long while, even till daybreak, he departed.
12 Filled with enormous joy, they took the boy home alive and everyone was encouraged.
How many services have you attended that lasted all night until daybreak? The Holy Spirit determined that it was necessary for the disciples at Troas to receive such an important message. What does this tell you about the state of the current church services? How many messages last more than 30 minutes?
What would happen today if someone died during a church service? With few exceptions, the service would be over. It didn’t stop Paul from finishing the message needed at Troas.
The name Eutychus means “fortunate”. Yes, he was fortunate that Paul was there to raise him from the dead. Afterward, Paul continued his message.
Who would you want to pray for you, one who possesses The Holy Spirit, or one who is possessed by The Holy Spirit?