Plugging In

I recently had a conversation with someone about the importance of the Holy Spirit (yes, I am talking about speaking in tongues) in the lives of believers.

It's funny how things work out. This conversation came at the same time I began my April ISOM course on the book of Acts, which, for those in the church, knows is all about the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the work of the early church. Coincidence? I think not.

Now, we are all entitled to our own opinions and I am not here to debate that. But I am here to say that I believe, contrary to my friend, that we are not giving enough attention to the vitality and importance of the Holy Spirit for full effective Christian living.

I am a firm believer that the only way one can truly receive salvation and spend eternity in heaven is through the blood of Christ. Faith in His salvation, that's it. However, our spiritual rebirth and new life does not end there. There is so much more meant for us.

In my text book, written by George O. Wood, the General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God, he takes the opportunity to point this fact out several times. But the one that stands out to me most in the first chapter. He says, "The Holy Spirit wants to work through all believers today. His fullness gives us the boldness to serve and witness for Jesus."

Boldness! BOLDNESS! That is exactly what the church needs today. We need the boldness to stand for what's right and defend the Gospel. We need boldness to stand against the things of this world that are creeping their way into the body of Christ. We need boldness to share our faith with everyone we come in contact with because time is growing short and we need to do everything we can to further the Kingdom.

Not every follower of Christ is called into public ministry but we are all commissioned to share "the good news" about Jesus.
"Every member of the body of Christ should have a ministry. Each believer should answer the question, "What am I doing to serve God and others?"

So, ask yourself what you are doing...are you doing anything? Are you effective? Have you been baptized in the Holy Spirit by evidence of speaking in tongues?  In the words of the Apostle Paul, "Having believed, did you receive the Holy Spirit?"

If the church is going to be powerful, we have to begin with a powerful core. It's time we plug into the power source and allow the energy to run through us, making our light the brightest it can be!