- Pastor Andrew
Pastor Andrew’s Devotion 1stJune (Monday)
Isaiah 11:1-3 A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. 2 The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him-- the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD-- 3 and he will delight in the fear of the LORD.
Yesterday was Pentecost Sunday – the day when the Holy Spirit was first given to the Church as recorded in Acts 2. He came in a powerful way as “violent wind” and “tongues of fire”. The description in the text is about Jesus being filled with the Spirit of: wisdom, understanding, counsel, power, knowledge, and fear of the LORD.
How do I know I am filled with the Spirit?
• When God first told me that He has filled me with the Spirit, I doubted Him because I felt nothing, but He insisted that He has!
• I was baffled about this for a long time until I saw God’s power at work in my prayer for healing and deliverance for others.
• Then my eyes were opened to understand that whenever I do God’s work, His Spirit empowers me.
• So today when I preach, teach or counsel, I go with the faith that God is there to accomplish His purpose as I yield to Him.
• So my concern is to yield to and obey God, and trust that He will fill and empower me with His Spirit.
• Of course, I also specifically pray that the Holy Spirit will fill, guide, counsel and empower me through the day.
Luke 11:13 If you…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!"
God is more than willing to fill us with His Holy Spirit. So we are encouraged to ask Him to give us a greater portion of His Spirit.
How do you know that you are filled with the Holy Spirit?
