The Holy Spirit is given to those that obey God (Acts 5:32). Additional movements of the Spirit are given to those who obey God in greater ways. The experience of Jesus' disciples illustrates this principle. They obeyed Him by devoting themselves to constant prayer for nine days (Acts 1:14). Then they received the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Before they received the Spirit a second time (Acts 4:31), they obeyed the Lord to a much greater degree. "They devoted themselves to the apostles' instruction and the communal life, to the breaking of bread and the prayers" (Acts 2:42). "Those who believed shared all things in common; they would sell their property and goods, dividing everything on the basis of each one's need" (Acts 2:44-45). Before a third wave of the Spirit came, they obeyed to the point of being arrested, having been "judged worthy of ill-treatment for the sake of the Name" (Acts 5:41). Before the next wave of the Spirit, St. Stephen obeyed to the point of giving up his life for Jesus and becoming the first martyr.
The Holy Spirit is not rationed (Jn 3:34) but given lavishly (Ti 3:6). The waves keep on coming to those who keep on obeying in ever greater ways. Do you want a new wave of the Spirit? In what way will you obey the Lord as never before? The Holy Spirit continues to be given to those who obey God — more.
| PRAYER: | Father, I will obey You even to death, and therefore be exalted (see Phil 2:8-9). Come, Holy Spirit, with wave after wave of Your gifts and graces. |
| PROMISE: | "We testify to this. So too does the Holy Spirit, Whom God has given to those that obey Him." –Acts 5:32 |
| PRAISE: | Philip made the final switch in his church-hopping and became Catholic this Easter. |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College