I Heard, I Believed and I Received.

I’ve gone to church all my life, but when I was twelve years old I heard something that forever changed my life.

Actually, it was more than just hearing that changed me…let me explain what happened to me.

Actually, it took more than just hearing, or believing…it was receiving that changed me forever!

I’ve never looked at God’s Word the same since.

I’ve never been the same since…let me do that explaining with an illustration!

I’m Connected and I Love It!

Several years ago when smart phones were a new thing, I needed a new phone. I looked at lots of options.

Then I-heard that I could process credit cards at conferences instead of renting a point of sale machine. That change would save me a ton of money. The salesman handed us the phone and began to explain that we could download apps.

Apps?

I had never heard of an app. (yes I know… I know! But you’re forgetting this was a long time ago!) So he took his phone and began to show us some of his favorite apps. I was totally amazed to learn that the applications provided additional benefits and capabilities far beyond that of a regular phone.

Only Talk?

That’s crazy! No one wants a phone that ONLY lets you talk!

I know what you’re doing! I see you, you are shaking your head at me, because you know there are thousands of apps that provide a myriad of functions. We all want the latest and greatest apps so we can do amazing things with our phones.

Imagine not even knowing that apps existed!

But there are things you need to know that are more important than knowing about an app.

Do you prefer to listen to Pat share this illustration?

Please click on the link below!

Staying on the Bleeding Edge of Technology

That may be hard for you to imagine, especially if you are one of those folks that isn’t content staying on the cutting edge. You know what I mean, if you want to be on “the bleeding edge,” always the first to be “in the know” about everything involving technology, just not knowing, at all, seems impossible!

While knowing about and getting great apps is important when you own any kind of smart phone, there’s something even more important that I hope you have discovered.

What you don’t know can hurt you.

Not knowing can hurt you big time.

Like when you don’t know that…

you are driving the wrong way on a one way street.

the person giving you directions is lying to you.

you are missing out on being filled with Precious Holy Spirit.

I didn’t know that you can be filled with the Holy Spirit.

My grandma would mention the Holy Spirit sometimes.

Why didn’t she tell me?

Maybe she thought I already knew about Him…

but I didn’t!

The only thing I knew about Holy Spirit was when the pastor at my church gave the invitation. My pastor would tell us, “If you have not given your heart to Jesus and you feel the Holy Spirit knocking on your heart’s door, then today is the day for you to open your heart and let Jesus in your heart.” That’s all I knew.

I was so hungry for more of God.

I felt the Holy Spirit nudging me, so every Sunday I went down to the front. My dear Pastor, would remind me that I was already saved. I would go back to my seat like Samuel in the Bible, confused about what I was feeling in my heart.

I didn’t know that I could be filled with precious Holy Spirit until one day a friend shared the good news with me. Actually, we had more than one discussion and then I listened to numerous sermons before I understood.

It’ wasn’t that it was difficult to understand, it was just that I didn’t know anything about Holy Spirit.

But, when I heard, I believed. Believing is important.

Have ye received the Holy Spirit since ye believed?

In Acts 19:2 NIV Paul is telling the story of finding some believers at Ephesus “and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”

Paul was excited to share the great news about precious Holy Spirit with them.

When they heard, they believed and they received.

They couldn’t receive until they knew God had more for them. We can’t use an app on our phone if we don’t know it’s available. We can’t use money in our account if we don’t know it’s there.

Hearing is the first step, but not the only step. After you hear, you must believe.

(Check out the book “Precious Holy Spirit” for more details.)

What have you heard about Holy Spirit?

Was it confusing?

Did it make you hungry for God?

Did it make you want to be filled with all the fullness of God?

If it didn’t, maybe you should look at Scripture again.

Wrong answers can hinder you from receiving some wonderful things from God. Some folks seem to be totally ignorant on the subject and others are asking questions:

Maybe you have some questions?

That’s a good thing.

Maybe you want to know “What is Pentecost?”
Who is the Holy Spirit?
Are tongues of the devil?
Was speaking in tongues just for the disciples?

My book points you to some of the answers “Precious Holy Spirit.”

There seems to be a menacing fence – complete with a huge “Keep Out” sign – surrounding Pentecost and its accompanying infilling of the Holy Spirit. Some folks say, “You receive all you need when you get saved.”

Confused and frightened by the roars of tradition and skepticism, far too many believers remain silent and powerless. I am convinced that the Person of Pentecost is the missing dynamo in the modern, anemic church?

Especially since Jesus told His disciples, after His resurrection, to “receive the Holy Spirit.” John 20:22

Removing the barriers that keep us from experiencing more of God

demands that we search God’s Word and discover every believer can receive the infilling of the Holy Spirit.

Believe

Like everything God has for us, we must believe to receive precious Holy Spirit.

Is it really important?

Yes! It is really important.

Why is this experience so critical?

It is because it is a Gift from God. We can’t afford to miss God’s Gifts.

It is because it takes believers into a deeper, fuller relationship with God. The benefits of living a Spirit filled life is experiencing the partnership of Holy Spirit guiding, empowering and transforming every area of a believer’s life.

I am not talking about a one time experience.

I am referring to building on a relational experience that moves forward into everyday life, like a wedding should move into a deeper, fuller lifelong relationship.

Out of this partnership with Holy Spirit flows

love,

joy,

power to win over sin,

power to witness,

and spiritual maturity.

Jesus made a big deal out of the reality that they should not grieve over the fact that He was leaving them, because He would send a comforter that would not just be with them, but would live in them.

Mix what you heard with faith.

Luke 11:13 NIV

If you then, though you are evil,

know how to give good gifts to your children,

how much more will your Father in heaven

give the Holy Spirit

to those who ask him!”

Shattering the Darkness

is difficult without a light.

You Know About Darkness, If

I want to shed some light on the subject.

After 5 years of teaching on Holy Spirit, I wrote the book “Precious Holy Spirit”. I used scripture, stories, and illustrations to help you experience God’s Gift in a personal way.

This book is packed with strong illustrations that will help you see the benefits of being Spirit filled. It will equip you to share with others how they can be filled with Holy Spirit as well.

I want you to be able to say I heard, I believed, I received and I shared.

St. Augustine clarified it:

“Holy Spirit was now to come no longer as a transient Visitor,

but as an eternal inhabitant.”

FALL IN LOVE

The book “Precious Holy Spirit” is not a theological exegesis, but it is a journey through scripture to help the reader fall in love.

I wrote this book in a clear, easy to understand format using seven words pictures that describe Holy Spirit.

It uses interesting stories from nature and history to unlock the mystery of Pentecost.

This book is for the person that doesn’t know anything about the Holy Spirit.

It’s for the person that avoids the whole conversation because they think it’s all weird.

And, it is also for anyone who has received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, but wants to rekindle their passion, or wants to know how to access the resources available to the Spirit filled believer.

This book will inspired and ignite you.

You will fall in love—all over again.

Additionally, this book is written to pastors or leaders that need a little extra help making the whole topic of receiving the Holy Spirit easier to understand.

It gives clear examples and illustrations that can be used in conversation, training and sermons.

Download the eBook and start reading right now.

Holy Spirit wants to be your personal trainer.

BE FILLED

Holy Spirit change us

from the inside out!

Where will life take you?

I don’t know where life will take you, but I know if you travel with Precious Holy Spirit your life will be different.

I’m not saying it will always be easy, but I am saying He guides, comforts and empowers. His very presence changes us at the deepest level.

It is my deepest desire to help believers experience the fullness and victory that God has for them.

We need the Holy Spirit today, just as much as the early church did.

I am convinced that God still wants to pour miracles through believers!

The only way this will happen is for believers to live Spirit filled lives.