*Above Only Devotional* Wednesday, March 27 *Grow in intimacy with the Holy Spirit 2* _1.Corinthians 12:4-7 (LB)_

*Above Only Devotional*

Wednesday, March 27

*Grow in intimacy with the Holy Spirit 2*

_1.Corinthians 12:4-7 (LB)_
_Now.God gives us many kinds of special abilities, but it is the same Holy Spirit who is the source of them all. There are different kinds of service to God, but it is the same Lord we are serving. There are many ways in which God works in our lives but it is the same God who does the work in and through all of us who are his. The Holy Spirit displays God's power through each of us as a means of helping the entire church._

The Holy Spirit and His abilities are not just for pastors or spiritual leaders. They are gifts and they are for every believer. God is more willing to fill us with the Spirit and His abilities than we are even willing to ask for Him, Luke 11:10-13. The Holy Spirit has already been poured out. All we have to do is to receive Him by faith. Your faith in Jesus has qualified you to receive the Holy Spirit and experience His various gifts (1Cor.12:7-11), abilities (Rom. 12:6-8) and His fruit, Gal. 5:22-23, Eph. 5:9. He even helps us to pray effectively, Rom. 8:26-27. After the coming of the Holy Spirit, the very same Peter that denied Jesus three times (Matt. 26:69-75), boldly spoke about Jesus and three thousand souls were added to the church, Acts 2:4, 14 & 41. By the Spirit of God, Bezaleel did great exploits in his career, Exo.31:1-5. This shall be your testimony too.

After we are baptized with the Holy Spirit, He keeps on filling us, Eph.5:18. He kept on filling empowering and influencing the disciples after they received Him (Acts 4:31); especially as they prayed and yielded themselves to Him. We too must keep yielding to Him and bringing ourselves under His influence. When we pray in tongues, we are Speaking directly to God and edifying ourselves or charging and building up our spirits, 1Cor.14:2&4, Jude 1:20. The Holy Spirit empowers us for kingdom living. The Bible says, “The kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit,” Rom. 14:17

Prayer Focus:
Pray in the Spirit right now and receive His filling, empowerment and influence in every area of your life.