John 20:19-23
Verse 22: “He breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Ghost.'”
We must be not only believers in Jesus Christ but believers who are filled with the Holy Ghost. I grew up in the church, like all of us here. So I can say that we all grew up believing in God.
Life happened, and along the way, we tried to be saved. Life happened, and then we tried a little bit more to be saved.
Romans 10:10 says, “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
I had some twists and turns in my life. How about you?
Well, I was saved by the Book. I believed and confessed, and now I’m saved. But I had some problems being saved.
Have you ever seen someone who is alive but not aware of their surroundings? Alive but unaware that sickness has overtaken them? For a period in my early walk, I was saved but not knowing, not experiencing the fullness of being saved. Are you saved today?
Believing and confession bring eternal life, but we need help now. God told John:
John 10:10: “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”
God wants us to live the abundant life. Not because of our cars, houses, and money, but because I know my name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
As believers in Christ, we must have the Holy Ghost. Help me say, “I got him, I want him, or I want more of him.”
God’s not going to force His way into your life.
You’ve got to welcome Him, the Holy Ghost.
Growing up in my day, there was nothing I could say when it was castor oil time. Lord, don’t let it be mixed with turpentine—forced.
God didn’t force the Holy Ghost. But He did say, “Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled.” You’ve got to get hungry for the things of God.
Today and every day, you’ve got to have something inside you that will cause you to want more. Even after coming on Sunday, you want more on Monday, you want more on Tuesday, you want more on Wednesday, you want more on Thursday, Friday, and you’re looking for more on Sunday.
You cannot make it from Sunday to Sunday only. Even when you get home, you have to do some work inviting the Holy Ghost in. So join us Monday through Friday at 6 am for prayer dial-in. I had to pause for the Greater Harvest station identification.
Let me get back to scripture—when the Holy Ghost shows up, He gives you an appetite, and when you get hungry.
John 20:1: “Now the first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulcher, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulcher.”
That same day, down to verse 19, the disciples were behind closed doors in fear of what the Jews were going to do next. Hear me, a lot goes on behind closed doors. They were in the upper room, and while they were behind closed doors, all of a sudden, Jesus stepped in. You can close the door; the enemy can lock the door. Jesus can step in whenever, wherever He wants to. He’ll step into marriages, He’ll step in—no matter where you are, just let somebody in there start talking about Jesus, and He’ll step in. Holy Ghost, we intercede, step into my life again. I invite you to step in again. Refocus your mind. He said, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee.” Remember, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.” Step in, Jesus, have Your way behind closed doors. Jesus stepped in. To their surprise, He said, “Peace be unto you.” What a day of confusion and frustration. The world is more confused, stressed out, and exposed through social media. But Jesus stepped in. Peace, be still to the winds and the water.
He stepped into the lion’s den, the fiery furnace, the winds, and the waters.
Jesus said, “Be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” The world is confused with its lust for all things dark.
You’ve got to hear Jesus saying, “Peace.” The disciples woke up Jesus. The water, the wind—everything had to be still.
Elijah thought Jesus was in the storm, but He was in the still, small voice.
Communion Symbols: Bread – Body, Juice – Blood
Baptism: Buried in the water grave, no longer your own. “I am crucified with Christ.” Buried in the watery grave, we lift them up out of the water grave like Jesus got up. We’re going.
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