Psalms 8: 4-5 What are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them? Yet you made them only a little lower than God and crowned them with glory and honor. NLT
THE HOLY SPIRIT.
The indwelling and empowerment of the Holy Spirit matters to God. If not, Christ wouldn't have said: "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you".
Without the Holy Spirit, the believer's walk becomes boring and merely religious.
At salvation, the Holy Spirit indwells the believer: "He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you"( John 14:17 NLT).
All believers have the Holy Spirit dwelling inside them. Apostle Paul wrote, “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies” (1 Corinthians 6:19–20).
Aside the indwelling of the Spirit, every believer is meant to have the Spirit of God upon him/her. This is what we know as baptism of the Spirit. The initial evidence is speaking in tongues.
Some still argue whether one can be filled with the Spirit without the initial evidence of speaking in tongues. I know alot of scholarly arguments abound here.
However, I prefer to stick to evidence of scriptures without engaging anyone in a debate. The very first time the Holy Spirit came upon the church, everyone spoke in new language.
And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability( Acts of the Apostles 2:4 NLT).
In the house of Cornelius, as Peter preached, the Holy Spirit came upon his household: "Even as Peter was saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who were listening to the message. For they heard them speaking in other tongues and praising God. Then Peter asked "(Acts of the Apostles 10:44, 46 NLT).
In Acts 19:1-7, Paul ministered to some believers and they got baptized in the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues.
Jesus referred to this experience as a river that is flowing.
On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’” (When he said “living water,” he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him. But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered into his glory( John 7:37-39 NLT).
The Holy Spirit upon the believer is the empowerment of the believer for kingdom service especially on the field of souls: "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” ( Acts of the Apostles 1:8 NLT).
You cannot do exploit for the Lord without the empowerment of the Spirit. How do you think we can change our world in the absence of the Spirit?
The Holy Spirit is so important to the life of the believer that was why Jesus commanded the disciples to tarry for Him in Jerusalem: "And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high"( Luke 24:49).
The empowerment of the Spirit is not optional for the believer. It is a must. Every child of must be baptized with the evidence of speaking in tongues.
It is one of the ways to enrich your spiritual life and have a flourishing walk with God.
Holy Spirit, fill me.