A Nugget from New Life Network
Scripture for the Day – October 24, 2019
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. (John 14:26)
As I read through the Gospels and the Book of Acts, I am seeing repeatedly the seriousness of receiving the Holy Ghost. We are talking about the third person of the Trinity. The Holy Ghost is not an option that we can take or leave. The Holy Spirit is not a stepchild. The Holy Ghost is God!!!!
Every Christian reading this devotional should ask themselves this question. What do I think about when someone says to me Father, Son, and Holy Ghost? Do I immediately accept the Father and the Son and hesitate on the Holy Ghost? What if I said to you the following, the Father is God, the Son (Jesus) is God, and the Holy Ghost is God? In most cases most Christians would have no problem with the first two statements, but many would hesitate on the third. That is a problem in the Body of Christ!!!
Old Testament prophets Isaiah and Joel prophesied about the importance of the Holy Ghost and it was confirmed by New Testament writers:
For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little: For with stammering lips and another tongue (as with a foreign language) will he speak to this people. To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear. (Isaiah 28:10-12)
In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord. Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe. (1 Corinthians 14:21-22)
Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. (Acts 3:19)
And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: (Joel 2:28)
But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: (Acts 2:16-18)
Jesus and John the Baptist confirmed over and over again about the Baptism of the Holy Ghost and how critically important it was to receive Him. But the words of Isaiah ring in my ears, “Yet they would not hear.” Isaiah was not just talking about the Jewish people, or the Romans, or the Gentiles at the time of the Upper Room. He was talking about all future generations, which includes us. We are a stiff-necked and stubborn people who think we are so smart that we do not need the Holy Ghost. Well, if you have that philosophy, you are actually calling Jesus a liar because He said just the opposite.
And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. (Acts 1:4-5)
