“From the Heart” teaching by Drs. Rodney & Adonica Howard-Browne.
Foundation Scriptures: Acts 10:34-48 (NIV) Vs. 34 Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism. Vs. 35 but accepts men from every nation who fear Him and do what is right. Vs. 36 You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. Vs. 37 You know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached, Vs. 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how He went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with Him. Vs. 39 We are witnesses of everything He did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed Him by hanging him on a tree, Vs. 40 but God raised Him from the dead on the third day and caused Him to be seen. Vs. 41 He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen, by us who ate and drank with Him after He rose from the dead. Vs. 42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that He is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. Vs. 43 All the prophets testify about Him that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name.” Vs. 44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. Vs. 45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. Vs. 46 For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter said, Vs. 47 “Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” Vs. 48 So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.
When you are baptized and filled with the Holy Spirit and power you know it. It is not maybe or I hope so. After receiving the Holy Ghost, they all spoke in other tongues. When a believer gets hungry for God and desires to be empowered by the Holy Spirit, all they have to do is ask in faith and expect to receive. God will always meet you at the point of your faith.
The Holy Spirit has been sent to every believer (if they will receive Him) anointing him with power (Vs. 38), so that they can go about doing good, healing and delivering all who are under the power of the devil! Acts 1:8 says, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (NIV). Every time the Holy Spirit anoints a believer, He anoints them with power. You are anointed with power to do good. Healing people and saving and delivering them from the devil’s influence is doing good. It’s a crazy world when you have ignorant and/or religious people calling healing and deliverance the work of the devil and then calling death and destruction the work of God! Jesus came to show us the work of the Father. Everywhere He went He displayed God’s power by healing, forgiving, delivering and raising people from the dead. The power of the Holy Spirit was at Jesus’ disposal to do good. When we are anointed, we display God’s power and anointing in our lives by doing good and delivering those under the influence of the enemy.
It is interesting to note that even though Jesus was the son of God, He did not begin to preach or do miracles until He was baptized in the Holy Ghost. We are given the same Holy Ghost. We can do the works of Jesus, because He lives in us and the Holy Ghost has anointed us, just as He anointed Jesus.
John 3:34-35 (NKJ)
Vs. 34 “For He who God has sent speaks the words of God, for does not give the Spirit by measure.” Vs. 35 “The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hands.”
God gave Jesus the Spirit without measure because of His obedience and consecration. Even though we have the same Holy Spirit, we do not have Him in the same measure because we are limited by our carnality. However, the more we yield to the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives, the more He cleanses and purifies us and the more He can flow through us. The Holy Spirit can flow through us in great power as we yield our will to Him.
