You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnessesto the ends of the earth. -ACTS 1:8

Thousands of evangelists from more than 130 countries have attended the International Conference for Itinerant Evangelists, sponsored by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. One year, I was asked to speak on how to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Just before I was to speak, I received a note from Billy Graham that read, I consider this one of the most important addresses of the entire conference.

Acts 1:8 addresses this subject, which is vital to every lighthouse for Jesus Christ. Unfortunately, according to our worldwide surveys, 95 percent of professing believers do not understand the ministry of the Holy Spirit. This includes pastors, evangelists, and missionaries. If I were allowed to bring only one message to the Christian world, it would be on how to be filled with the Holy Spirit and walk moment by moment in the fullness of His power. I would even choose helping a defeated Christian understand the Holy Spirit over introducing a non-believer to Christ, because helping a believer understand the Holy Spirit would inevitably result in far more people receiving and following Christ.

Today the body of Christ needs to be awakened to the person and ministry of the Holy Spirit. We need Him to empower and control us, and we need to invite Him to exalt and honor our Lord Jesus Christ in and through us (John 16:14).

You can receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit by faith right now. Simply claim Gods command to be filled (Ephesians 5:18) and His promise that He will release the Spirits power in and through you to make you an effective witness for the Lord (1 John 5:1415).

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

Without the Holy Spirit we can do nothing. With Him, we can do great and mighty things for His glory.