This is a most important question. Another important question - Is the Holy Spirit/Holy Ghost relevant for today?

Luke 24:49 NKJV

49 Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.”

NOTE: Jesus thought the Holy Spirit was so important in the life of a believer and in the life of His twelve disciples, that He commanded them, just prior to ascending to go and tarry for the baptism of the Holy Spirit before they even attempted to minister the gospel.

Luke 24:50-51 NKJV

The Ascension

50 And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. 51 Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven.

Acts 1:8 NKJV

8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Mark 16:15-20 NKJV

15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

Christ Ascends to God’s Right Hand

19 So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. 20 And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.

NOTE: JESUS MADE IT CLEAR. HE KNEW THAT IN ORDER FOR HIS DISCIPLES TO DO WHAT HE DID ON EARTH, THEY TOO MUST BE BAPTISED IN THE THIRD PERSON OF THE TRINITY. THEY DID NOT HAVE THE POWER AND AUTHORITY TO CONFRONT PEOPLE AND LEADERS IN SIN, OR TO DO MIRACLES ETC., BUT WITH THE HOLY GHOST POWER LIVING IN THEM, THEY COULD BE HIS AMBASSADORS.

Acts 2:1-4 NKJV

Coming of the Holy Spirit

1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

NOTE: The key for God flowing powerfully through people is obedience and unity. They obeyed Jesus and waited ten days; tarrying, desiring, coveting, embracing, chasing the promise of Jesus to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit. They wanted this promise more than anything else and they stayed in one accord.

1 Corinthians 12:1-11 NKJV

Spiritual Gifts: Unity in Diversity

1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant: 2 You know that you were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols, however you were led. 3 Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.

4 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: 8 for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.

1 Corinthians 12:28-31 NKJV

28 And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.

Philippians 3:8-10 NKJV

8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,

NOTE: The key in all these verses is tarrying, chasing, desiring, and coveting the Holy Spirit. Desiring to know the trinity—Father, Son and Holy Ghost as they are one God manifested in three Personalities/Persons. As Paul says, “I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them rubbish that I may gain Christ”. To really know Christ is to know the Holy Ghost which gave Christ His power and authority on earth.

Ephesians 6:10-20 NKJV

The Whole Armor of God

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— 19 and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

NOTE: As always, the key is to be strong in the Lord, not one’s ability/pride. Putting on the whole armor of God is putting on daily the baptism of the Holy Spirit and deliberately choosing to make decisions by faith, not feelings or emotions, but by the word of God which when obeyed is faith. Daily praying and worshipping God is a must.

2 Corinthians 10:3-4 NKJV

3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,

  1. The Holy Spirit is a Person

NOTE: The Holy Spirit is not the force, an it, or a second class God. The Holy Spirit is vital to know, serve and obey the Great Commission charged by Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit has feelings and can be sad, angry and insulted.

Isaiah 63:10 NKJV

10 But they rebelled and grieved His Holy Spirit;
So He turned Himself against them as an enemy,
And He fought against them.

Acts 7:51 NKJV

Israel Resists the Holy Spirit

51 “You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you.

Hebrews 10:29 NKJV

29 Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?

NOTE: My definition of Grace is time given when the one's spirit is in the body; to examine and judge themselves. When the spirit leaves their body and their body is dead on earth, then God will judge them according to the word of God, and grace for that person on earth is over.

Matthew 12:31 NKJV

The Unpardonable Sin

31 “Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men.

  1. The Person of The Holy Spirit has Intentions

NOTE:  The Holy Spirit has discretion, gives direction, loves, testifies, teaches, shows willingness and prays.

Nehemiah 9:20 NKJV

20 You also gave Your good Spirit to instruct them,
And did not withhold Your manna from their mouth,
And gave them water for their thirst.

John 15:26 NKJV

26 “But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.

Acts 13:2 NKJV

2 As they ministered [worshipping] to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”

Romans 8:26-27 NKJV

26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

  1. Since there is One God, Manifested in Three Persons, The Holy Spirit has been here since the Beginning

NOTE: Since we worship one God manifested in three persons, the Holy Spirit has definitely been on earth since the beginning.

Genesis 1:2 NKJV

2 The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

Revelation 22:17 NKJV

17 And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.

Luke 1:15 NKJV

15 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.

Luke 1:41 NKJV

41 And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

Luke 1:35 NKJV

35 And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.

Matthew 3:16 NKJV

16 When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and [a]He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him.

  1. The Holy Spirit and World Evangelism

NOTE: The baptism of the Holy Spirit is a must for effective ministry in the nations. This is why Jesus insisted that one should not go into ministry until they are baptized in the Holy Spirit. How can a person have the boldness to truly go where God tells them to go, or to cast out demons, or to see miracles and healings, without the power of the Holy Spirit within? Without the conviction of the Holy Spirit, people wouldn’t repent of their sins and we wouldn’t obey the will of God.

John 16:8 NKJV

8 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

Acts 1:7-8 NKJV

7 And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. 8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

  1. The Person of the Holy Spirit Transforms Lives

Acts 1:8 NKJV

8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be [a]witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

NOTE:  A Christian is transformed within so that others are able to see Jesus' love manifested. The same Holy Spirit makes us true ambassadors of Christ with His power and authority working through us.

Galatians 3:2 NKJV

2 This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

Luke 11:13 NKJV

13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”

CONCLUSION: THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IS CRITICAL IF WE ARE GOING TO SAVE THE REPUBLIC. WE MUST HAVE ANOTHER NATIONAL REPENTANCE, WHICH IS A GREAT AWAKENING.

JOIN EAGLES SAVING NATIONS TODAY at worldministries.org, to bring back the power of Pentecost, through the baptism of The Holy Spirit in every state and nation.

Only the church, through the baptism of The Holy Spirit, can save the nations from the One World Government and the tyranny of the anti-Christ.

 

Dr. Jonathan Hansen