LIFE IS TOO SHORT

During the late 1800’s, evangelist Dwight L. Moody was preaching and saw the same two ladies sitting in the front row night after night. And nearly every night, they came up to him after his meetings and said, “Mr. Moody, you need to be filled with the Holy Spirit.” At first he resisted their remarks. However, months later, as he walked down a street in New York City, he was filled with the Holy Spirit. He experienced what Jesus promised to each of us, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses…” (Acts 1:8 NLT)

The results were amazing! He preached the same sermons, but instead of two or three people coming to Christ at his services, hundreds and thousands came to know Jesus. In his lifetime, a million people were kept out of hell because of the power of God on his life. What made the difference? The power of the Holy Spirit.

I was baptized in the Holy Spirit seven years after I received Jesus Christ as my Lord. I could have been baptized in the Holy Spirit earlier, but I was ignorant of the Holy Spirit’s work. Although I loved the Lord and was part of a youth ministry, I realized there was something missing in my life. I needed the power of the Holy Spirit. I realized that other believers had a spiritual power that I didn’t have. After studying the scripture and being convinced this experience was based on the Word of God, I humbled myself and went to a pastor who laid his hands on me and prayed for me. That night I received the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

My life immediately took on a whole new dimension of power. It wasn’t me—it was God—the baptism in the Holy Spirit that gave me an intense desire to please Him. Hundreds of young people gave their lives to Christ during the next few years. I knew that it certainly wasn’t anything that I was doing in my own power and strength. It was the Holy Spirit’s power. In Acts 4:31 the same believers who experienced his power at Pentecost were filled with the Holy Spirit again. Let’s walk humbly with the Lord and ask him to fill us with his Holy Spirit again and again. Life is too short to try it on our own.