The Person of the Holy Spirit

Thursday 1 June
READ: John 14:16
MORE LESSONS: Acts 19:1-7

So much is said, debated and argued about the Holy Spirit these days in discussion blogs, articles, religious seminars, local assemblies and Christian inter-denominational meetings. It is a rather sad thing to note that throughout Church history, the major doctrinal divide that pulled the Body of Christ apart stemmed from arguments about the ministry of the Holy Spirit, His gifts, His manifestations and function in the Church. We can talk all we want but until we experience the Holy Spirit for ourselves, we can only discuss our opinions and we will never be able to capture the truth about Him.
It is not opinions, but only the Truth that can make us free. I believe that the first real discovery which will set us in motion on our way to the truth about this precious Spirit of God is the realisation that beyond the gentle fresh wind blowing on goose bumps and more than the bright and cloven tongues of fire, transcending the white little dove; the Holy Spirit is a person. He has a face. He is real! He can be felt. He can speak, hear and can be grieved. The Holy Spirit has a great sense of humour. Those who have personal experiences with Him know that He is the best friend anybody can have. Even when you are alone, with the Holy Spirit in you, you are never lonely. Many people find it easier to reckon with God the Father and God the Son as persons but when it comes to God the Holy Spirit, they just think He is merely a force or current of wind, a fume of white smoke rising to the clouds, or another explanation for mysterious things. This is the reason why many never get it right and end up in vain arguments or apostasy; they want to know about 'it' instead of seeking to know Him.
Jesus reveals Him as a person in our text ...that He may abide with you forever. He wants to be your consuming passion. He wants to invigorate you with power to walk in your destiny fulfilment. He is the Spirit of Jesus sent to enable us do greater works than Jesus did. No one born of a woman can love like God except by Him-the Holy Spirit (Rom. 5:5). One with the Holy Ghost is majority. Say, ‘YES’ to the Holy Ghost and never walk alone.

Prayers/action
* Ask God to reveal the Holy Spirit to you afresh, in the name of Jesus.
* Ask the Holy Spirit to forgive you for neglecting Him for so long, in Jesus’ name.

TODAY'S PROPHETIC PRAYER
Father, Son and Holy Ghost, thank You for being at work in me to the extent of seeing the sixth month, glory to Your name, in the name of Jesus.

The Purpose of the Holy Spirit

Wednesday 31 May
READ: John 14:26
MORE LESSONS: John 14:12-17

Whatever God does is on purpose and for a purpose. God is only motivated by the counsel of His will. He is extravagant enough to create billions of galaxies and satellite bodies to illuminate one tiny planet called earth but He is also detailed enough to number the bio-strands growing out of the pores on your skin and mark them off when they fall. Our God does nothing without a designated purpose. The first time we felt the Holy Spirit was when He made man out of the dust of the earth and breathe into him the breathe of life - from the original rendering 'pneuma' meaning wind, force or the Spirit. It was after the dusty man received God's Spirit that he began to walk and talk, and exercise dominion over nature just as God originally intended.
The Holy Spirit is the essence of God in you enabling you to walk in His power and do His will. In every day life, when we use the word 'spirit', we often mean the essence, the behaviour or the character. For example, even if you go to the ends of the earth when you enter a Nigerian home, you just know it because of the Nigerian spirit - its warmth and hospitality. That’s the same work the Holy Spirit has come to do in the believer's life; He reproduces the very essence , power and character of God in you. Jesus, speaking in our text, emphasizes that the Holy Spirit will bring to remembrance what we have forgotten and teach us what we do not know.
He is the connector of the past, present and future; nothing missing, nothing broken. All that is required to live in health and wealth, the Holy Spirit can teach us. He asked Adam to name all the animals without a single biology lecture or textbook because He is not the spirit of information, He is the Spirit of revelation. He is not a magician so He performs no tricks. Whatever He does is permanent. He is the Christian's proof producer. He is like a mighty man on a mission, sent in Jesus’ name, echoing the voice and authority of Jesus, and leading us daily in victory over satanic tricks and lies. Jesus didn't start His earthly ministry without the fullness of the Holy Spirit nor did He end saying it is finished until He had given up the Holy Ghost.
Simply put, the Holy Ghost is a compulsory companion to all who will be leading lights in this present darkness. It is not enough to know Jesus as Lord; it’s time to experience the Holy Spirit as Comforter, Teacher, Powerhouse, and Friend. The Holy Spirit experience is heaven on earth. Find and fulfil your purpose today. Get the Holy Ghost.

Prayer/Action
* Worship the Holy Spirit right now.
* Ask God for grace to be more intimate with the Holy Spirit.
* Ask God for grace to be very conscious of the Holy Spirit's presence today, in the mighty name of Jesus.

TODAY'S PROPHETIC PRAYER
No evil eye, hand, thought, imagination, or mouth is permitted any more over my destiny, I shall walk in victory, in the name of Jesus.

The Power of the Holy Spirit

Tuesday 30 May
READ: Acts 1:8
MORE LESSONS: Isaiah 32:15

Life is not worth living without power. There is a deep craving in man for true power. Adam and Eve sinned because the enemy appealled to their craving for power, and convince them that the tree of knowledge of good and evil will impart new powers on them that God didn't want them to have. Thus, he led them into disobedience and then death. This means that they did not intend to sin, but to be more powerful, so they didn't mind taking sides with the enemy just to be more powerful. The same applies today as people don't mind doing anything, including ritual killings and every corrupt practice, just to be more powerful. Why do we eat food? Is it not for energy or to gain power? Every sin is linked to a perverted craving for power and every good work is linked to a righteous craving for power. The craving is not the matter, it is where we go to quench our power thirst that really matters.
The first thing our text shows us about those who are filled with the Holy Spirit is that they will walk in God's power. It is not just a promise, it is the reality of every one who will dare to grow in intimacy with the Spirit of the all powerful God. The Holy Spirit is not power; He is the envoy of power. The secret of power is to develop intimacy with the power-man. Fuel by itself is not motion but when a car engine has fuel, motion and speed are possible. Every assignment and purpose require power of performance to bring them to fruition, even so life without the power of the Holy Spirit is a joke.
The second thing in our text is that the power of the Holy Spirit makes ordinary men achieve global feats, ...and ye shall be witnesses unto me...unto the uttermost part of the earth. You can shock your world, you can touch the apex of your carreer, you can make eternal impact if you drink deep into the power of the Holy Spirit.
There are two levels of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. The first is the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. This happens when you accept Jesus as Lord and King of your life (1 Cor. 12:3). Next is the infilling power of the Holy Spirit - this is where the baptism of power occurs accompanied by the evidence of praying in other tongues (Acts 2:4). Are you thirsty for the Holy Ghost? Ask Jesus to baptise you NOW. Have you already received the Holy Ghost? Pray in other tongues and let Him refresh you again.

Prayer/Action
* Receive afresh grace to experience the power of the Holy Ghost in your life, ministry, home, work or studies today.
* Ask the Holy Spirit to touch you today divinely, in Jesus’ name.

TODAY'S PROPHETIC PRAYER
I advance my goodness to greatness today, no reduction, in the mighty name of Jesus.

Hope for an Esau

Monday 29 May
READ: . 27:30-40.
MORE LESSON Monday: Heb. 4:16

The story of Esau has been told us from kindergarten. We know about the cause and consequences of Esau's action hatred . Esau no doubt that that attracted God’s judgment and (Mal. 1:2-3) to himself by being noncha ahead lant about his birthright. He lived out the prop went of him from the womb (Gen. 25:23). In Gen. 27:1, Esau is seen as the beloved son of Isaac who qualified for and was entitled to Isaac's blessing but thieves of destiny were privy to Isaac's intention to bless Esau. Say to yourself: “My blessings can only be delayed, I will not be denied”. Esau's destiny was hijacked by the subtlety of his own mother and brother and he narrowly missed his blessing (v30).
However, Esau rescued his destiny by insisting that his father give him just one blessing. When you access one blessing from God, you are made. Esau did not give up. What did he do? He wept aloud and he waited before his father without shame (Heb. 4:16). What do you do with what you believe in? Many of us have been quiet in pain for too long. It is time to ask the Father for just a blessing.
Become agitated in your spirit that the dominion of the oppressor might come under your feet (vs39-40). Put your past behind you like Esau did in Gen. 33:4, and move forward so that you can access your blessings and have the testimony of Esau (Gen. 33:9).
Let this new glory not pass you by, stand up, be restless and take your stand as a child of God. He loves you; He proclaimed this Himself when He sent Jesus to redeem you (Jn. 3:16). Take advantage of God’s promises and be persistent; pray especially when it seems all hope is lost. Do like the persistent widow in Lk. 18:1-10. There is hope for you if you don't give up holding on to God. He is the God of a second chance. If one is lost, there is hope for another. Stir up your spirit and call on God for help today.

Prayer/Action
* Declare that your blessings would not be denied you, in Jesus’ name.
* Call some of your expectations by name and declare that they shall not be denied you, in Jesus’ name.
TODAY'S PROPHETIC PRAYER
I prophesy, today's goodness will reach me without fail, in the name of Jesus.