Yielding to the Holy Spirit

Whenever  I used  to  hear  the term  ‘yielding  to  the  Holy Spirit’ I used to wonder what it meant! I used to think, “How  do  you  yield  to  the  Holy  Spirit?!”,  until  I  learnt: when we ‘obey’ the voice of the Spirit, we are ‘yielding’ to the Holy Spirit. When Philip heard the Spirit saying,  “Go over to the chariot and join it”, Philip obeyed and ran up to it. And here was Philip ‘yielding to the Holy Spirit’. Once while talking to some of my friends, I sensed the Spirit of prayer and I told them, “I think the Holy Spirit wants us to pray.” And  we  started  to  pray.  We  had  a  good  time  of  prayer.  That  was ‘yielding  to  the  Holy  Spirit’.  What  if we had  not obeyed the  Holy Spirit? He would not have forced us; we would have just missed that special prayer time! Acts 14:7-10 records that when Paul saw that the crippled man had faith, he said to him,  “Stand upright on your feet.” T he ability to see miracle-faith in a person, is also a working of the Holy Spirit. So, as the Holy Spirit showed Paul ‘the faith’ the man had, Paul said, “Stand upright and walk.” And the man was healed. Actually Paul was ‘yielding to the Holy Spirit’ inside himself and a miracle happened to that crippled man! When Eve heard the voice of the snake and obeyed, she was ‘yielding’ to Satan.  When Satan told Jesus to make bread out of the stones, Jesus  refused  to  do  it.  If  He  would  have  done  it  He  would  have ‘yielded’ to Satan. T he word ‘yield’ means ‘to surrender’ or ‘give place’.  When we allow the influence of the Spirit in our lives we are ‘yielding’ to the Spirit. When we yield, we are yielding to the purposes of God. Each hour of the day we have an opportunity either to yield to the Spirit of the living God or to Satan. In these situations the Holy Spirit will not force you to obey Him; He will only prompt. When we yield ourselves to the Holy Spirit, His power will work for us.  When He calls us to pray, He will not force us to pray.  We can choose to obey or disobey. If you choose to obey, you will not miss the blessing and will grow in the Spirit. It is important to be sensitive to His voice and yield. The best place you can learn to yield to the Holy Spirit is in your personal prayer time. By following the guidance of the Spirit, while praying alone you will learn to yield to the Holy Spirit. T he second best place to learn to yield to the Holy Spirit is in your day-to-day activities.  When we keep ourselves open to the Spirit, He will guide us and when we obey, we yield to Him. Also, in small groups, you can learn to yield to the Spirit by following the flow of the anointing. We must yield to the Spirit of God in our prayer time. We must yield to the Spirit of God in our worship. We must yield our body to the Spirit of God, for His glory. We must yield our ministry to the Spirit of God. We must yield our finances to the Spirit of God. As we yield to the Spirit, His anointing will lead us, empower us, and lead us to different manifestation of His power. For, in the Spirit is the depth of wisdom. I  enjoy  preachers  who  flow  with  the  anointing  while  preaching  the Word.  They  move from one level  to  another  level as  the  Holy  Spirit leads.
(From the book Holy Spirit:The Reality of His Presence)

Revelation Comes

                                                          

Revelation is a sudden understanding of His Word in our lives. It can be from the written Word of God or the spoken Word of God. It can impart knowledge or understanding of things you need to trust or do. Revelation gives you the mind of Christ so that you don’t have to struggle.

“But, as it is written, ‘What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the human heart conceived, what God has prepared for those who love him’,-- these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God,” (Corinthians 2:9-10).

There is a revelation that comes from the Spirit. It comes so that we might know. It comes so that we might be built up. It comes so that we can be broken in order to be built up again.

“… to pluck up and to pull down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant,” (Jeremiah 1:10b).

Revelation is a realisation that God has spoken to us. It can impact our spirit, soul and body; it can impact our past, present and future.

“… ‘One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God,’” (Matthew 4:4).

It can impact our friends, relatives, cities, nations and our Church. Revelation is taking the cover off. Revelation is God taking our blinders off, in order that we might see. It is a sudden outburst of the Truth that sets us free. Revelation is the sudden awareness of God or understanding of His Word. Revelation is the knowledge that you know is true.

We need revelation on many subjects: revelation regarding God, regarding Jesus Christ  revelation about the eternal life, revelation concerning the earth, and revelation regarding the future.

When Mother Mary received a revelation, she was perplexed and she surrendered. (Luke 1:26-38).

When Daniel received a revelation he fell into a trance, face to the ground. (Daniel 10:9)

When Peter received a revelation he sensed he was a sinner. (Luke 5:8).

When John received a revelation he fell at the feet of Jesus. (Revelation 1:17)

“Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, ‘If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free,’” (John 8:31-32).

When we get into the Communion of the Holy Spirit we will start hearing the voice of God on our day-to-day basis. Many times I feel jealous of people who claim that they hear the Word of the Lord in their lives, every hour! It is the relationship with God that makes the difference. Revelation will come where there is a relationship.

“Surely the Lord GOD does nothing, without revealing his secret to his servants the prophets,” (Amos 3:7).

You do not reveal secrets to strangers, is the same way God reveals His secrets to His friends. The revelation that we should continue to receive is about changing our own lives.

“They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them,” (John 14:21).

God’s voice comes to us through various means; but it comes to us through the Holy Spirit. God speaks through hundreds of ways.

His voice comes through the written Word of God, the Holy Bible and it also comes by the spoken Word of God, which comes to us through the inwards witness, spontaneous thoughts,  He speak through our thoughts, He directs our thoughts, recurring thoughts, sanctified imaginations,  still voice, audible voice, promptings, impressions, visions, dreams, angels, redeemed saints, through others, through the Church, the Word of Knowledge, the Word of Wisdom, the Gift of Discerning the Spirits, through the Gift of Prophecy, the Gift of Tongues and Interpretation.

The Almighty God also speaks to us through Nature, through various signs and wonders, from the people we like, and from the people we do not like. He speaks through books, CDs. He speaks through smell, touch and tastes. He speaks through body sensations, through songs. He speaks through our emotions. He speaks though our conscience. He speaks through our parents, relatives, elders. He speaks through authorities.

There are hundreds of ways the Holy Spirit speaks to us, but there will be certain ways that God speaks to us regularly.

For some it can be the written Word of the Lord.

For some it can be spontaneous thoughts.

For some it can be inner impressions

For some it can be inner prompting.

For some it can be the still voice of the spirit.

For some it can be through visions or pictures.

For some it can be through the audible voice of the Spirit.

You need to recognise, the favourite

 ways that the Lord speaks to you regularly. And be attuned to it. And always wait with a listening heart no matter where you are. These methods may not be spectacular but it is supernatural.

From my forthcoming book : Amazing Holy Spirit: He Leads

antony3000@gmail.com

Benefits from the Holy Ghost by St. Thomas Aquinas

                      Benefits from the Holy Ghost by St. Thomas Aquinas

Many Benefits comes to us from the Holy Ghost.

He Cleanses us from our sins. The Reason is that one must repair that which one has made. Now, the Soul is created by the Holy Spirit, because God has made all things through Him; for God, by Loving His Goodness, created everything: "Thou Lovest all things that are, and hatest none of the things which Thou hast made". Thus, Dionysius says: "Divine Love did not permit Him to be without Offspring". It is necessary, therefore, that the hearts of Men, destroyed by Sin, be made anew by the Holy Ghost: "Thou shalt send forth Thy Spirit, and they shall be Created; and Thou shalt Renew the Face of the Earth". Nor is it any wonder that the Spirit cleanses, since all sins are Taken-away by Love: "Many Sins are forgiven her, because she hath Loved Much". "Charity covereth all Sins". And likewise: "Charity covereth a multitude of Sins".

The Holy Spirit Enlightens the Intellect, since all that we know, we know through the Holy Ghost: "But the Paraclete, the Holy Ghost, Whom the Father will send in My Name, He will Teach you all things and bring all things to your Mind, whatsoever I shall have said to you". Also: "His Unction Teacheth you all things".

He Assists us and, to a certain extent, compels us to keep the Commandments. No one can keep the Commandments unless he loves God: "If any one Love Me, he will keep My Word". Thus, the Holy Spirit makes us Love God: "And I give you a New Heart and put a New Spirit within you; and I will take away the Stony Heart out of your Flesh and will give you a Heart of Flesh. And I will put My Spirit in the midst of you; and I will Cause you to walk in My Commandments and to keep My Judgments and do them".

He strengthens in us the Hope of Eternal Life, because He is the Pledge to us of this our destiny: "You were signed with the Holy Spirit of Promise Who is the Pledge of our Inheritance". He is, as it were, the Surety of our Eternal Life. The Reason is that Eternal Life is Due to Man inasmuch as He is become the Son of God; and this is brought about in that He is made Like unto Christ; and this, in turn, follows from His having the Spirit of Christ, and this is the Holy Ghost: "For you have not received the Spirit of bondage again in ear; but you have received the Spirit of adoption of Sons, whereby we cry: Abba (Father). For the Spirit Himself giveth Testimony to our Spirit that we are the Sons of God. And also: "Because you are Sons, God hath sent the Spirit of His Son into your Hearts, crying: Abba, Father".

 He counsels us when we are in doubt, and Teaches us what is the Will of God: "He that hath an ear let him hear what the Spirit saith to the Churches". Likewise: "I may hear Him as a Master".

I am the temple of the Holy Spirit

                                I am the Temple of the Holy Spirit

I am the temple of the Holy Spirit/ Gods Spirit dwells in me/ My body is the Temple of the Holy Spirit who dwells within me/ The One who is within me is greater than the one who is in the world/By the help of the Holy Spirit dwelling within me I take care of the good treasure that has been deposited in me/ By the power that dwells within me, I am able to receive more than I ask or imagine. I am strong because the Word of God dwells within me, and I have overcome the evil one/ The anointing that I have received from Christ dwells within me, the anointing that dwells within me teaches me everything/ Christ, the hope of glory dwells within me/ the Body and the Blood of Christ dwells within me/ I have eternal life within me/ The same Spirit that rose Jesus from the dead and made Him sit at the right hand of the Father works in me. Amen. Praise the Lord.

(Read this declarations from the Word at least three times everyday.)

 

 

 

Recognize the Holy Spirit at Work

                                           Recognize Him at Work

We need to learn to recognize the working of the Holy Spirit in our life. We need to recognize Him in our day to day activates.  As the Holy Spirit is God and a Person, you can know His working in your life.

Many times when we travel we see on the road a sign board mentioning, “MEN AT WORK”, so we become careful while travelling. When we travel into  unknown terrain, when we see police vehicles we be come happy and confident. In the same way when we recognize the Spirit of God working among us, we will become more confident and sure.

“And they went out and proclaimed the good news everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by the signs that accompanied,” (Mark 16:20).

The Lord   ‘working among them’ was their confidence and strength.  In the same way when we see the work of the Spirit in us and among us we will have a greater confidence in things that we do.

Just a few week before my marriage, I called my friends in Orissa to inform them about the marriage, all of them where very glad when they heard about it, many screamed congratulations over the phone, but I still remember, when I talked to Dorris didi, when she said ‘Congratulation’ I was hit by the power of God, from the crown of the head to the toes. That was time that I recognized that the Holy Spirit was at work in my marriage. Many times when I took steps towards the marriage in the words I spoke and the things that I did, I experienced the tangible presence of the Lord within me that gave me the assurance that the timing for the marriage was perfect. The power of God that manifested in me was awesome just before the marriage, at the time of marriage and even after the marriage God is with me powerfully. These experiences help us to recognize the Spirit of God at work in our lives.

There are two things you need to do when you recognize the working of the Holy Spirit in you or others.

Number one, give the Holy Spirit freedom to continue to work, by cooperating  with Him, by following His promptings, taking  the steps as led by the Spirit, and speaking the right words.

When the Council at Jerusalem got together  to discuss the hot topic of  the day “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved”, there were much discussion and debate regarding this topic. Apostle Peter, Paul, Barnabas and James spoke on this topic. Each one spoke, how they had seen ‘the working of the Holy Spirit’ among the gentiles’ and their conclusion was “Therefore I have reached the decision that we should not trouble those Gentiles who are turning to God,…”(Acts 15:19)

They wrote a letter and gave it to Barnabas and Silas to take it to Antioch and to be delivered to the congregation there. One of the statements in the Letter is “For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to impose on you no further burden than those essentials,” (Acts 15:28).

It looks that when the apostles and elders got together to discuss the topic, the Spirit of God was present there.  He anointed their words, they sensed His tangible presence in  all that they spoke. And the Holy Spirit brought into the mind of the Apostle James a Word of God that confirmed that it was the Holy Spirit at work among the gentiles. As soon as the Apostles recognized the work of the Holy Spirit among the gentiles, they allowed the work among the gentiles to continue.

And the Second one is when you see the work of the Spirit in you and among others, keep your hands off it. Do not try to hinder the works of the Spirit, by a wrong attitude and judgemental words. Do not try to mimic was God is doing. Do not try to steady the things that the Spirit of God is doing.  And do not try to stand before the Spirit of God as a stumbling block when He is moving or leading. When Pharaohs army kept pursing the Prophet Moses and the Israelites they landed up in the Red Sea, because of pride they had hardened their hearts that is why they could not see the Spirit of God at work.

In the Old Testament we find another incident, where we find a rebellion against Moses, this rebellion came out because of self ambition and jealousy.

“Now Korah son of Izhar son of Kohath, son of Levi, along with Dathan and Abhiram sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth descendants of Reuben took two hundred fifty Israelite men, leaders of the congregation chosen from the assembly, well known men, and they confronted Moses. They assembled against Moses and against Araon, and said to them. “You have gone too far. All the congregation are holy, everyone of them, and the Lord is amlleong them. So why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the Lord.” When Moses heard it, he fell on his face,” (Numbers 16: 1-4).

Not ready to recognize the call of God on Moses and the sacred Anointing that was upon him; they rebelled against the Spirit of God. They were not humble enough to appreciate Gods Spirit at work in the Prophet. Not that they did not know that God was at work in Moses and Aaron. They had seen it, experienced it and eaten the fruit of the ministry that flowed out of the life of the Prophet.

Many of the opposition are based on misinformation’s that ordinary people and leaders gather from gossip, slander, jealously hearts. Information’s from the hearts that are impure. Korah and his team where feeding 250 leaders, who were well known men, false information’s.

Many times we do not approve the work of the Holy Spirit in others not because of ignorance but because of pride, jealously, selfishness, bitterness and anger.

“While they were at Hazeroth , Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses… And they said, “Has the Lord spoken only through Moses? Has he not spoken through us also?” And the Lord heard it. Now the man Moses was very humble, more so than anyone else on the face of the earth…” (Numbers 12 1-10).

Miriam and Aaron were his own sister and brother, but out of bitterness they spoke against Moses. Against his call and the sacred Anointing that was upon him. God was angry and Miriam because a leper, an outcast. Be careful when you speak against the Anointing, you will become an outcast in the sight of God.

Many years ago I heard a real life incident that took place in India. One person used to always slander a servant of God, he kept writing against him in magazines. And one day the anger of the Lord descended upon him and his daughter became leprous.  One day this man brought his daughter for prayer to this beloved servant of God, when the servant of God saw this girl from a distance, he kept shouting “it’s a curse, it’s a curse”. He was not led to pray for healing by the Spirit of God.

The Bible tells us “… If one person sins against another, someone can intercede for the sinner with the Lord; but if someone sins against the Lord, who can make intercession?” (1 Samuel 2:25).

When the Pharisees did not recognize the Sacred Anointing that was upon Jesus of Nazareth,  Jesus left a word of warning for all the generations to come “Therefore I tell you, people will be forgiven for every sin and blasphemy, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come,” (Matthew 12:31-32).

In the Old Testament we see another  incident which took place when the Ark was being brought from Kiriath-jearim ,  “When they came to the threshing floor of Chidon, Uzzah put out his hand to hold the ark, for the oxen shook it. The anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah; he struck him down because he put out his hand to the ark; and he died there before God,” (IChronicles 13: 9).

It was not for Uzzah to steady the Ark. It was not for Uzzah to prevent what God was doing. God was at work.

In the New Testament, we find the High Priest was enraged against the Apostles for preaching in the Name of Jesus. He planned to kill them.  But the wisdom of God spoke through Gamaliel, when he said, “So, in the present case, I tell you, keep away from these  men and let them alone; because if this plan or these undertaking is of human origin, it will fail; but it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them, in that case you may even be even found fighting against God!” (Acts 5:38-39).

The worst that can happen to a believer is when he is found fighting against God.  When you talk against what God is doing in another person’s life, work against it and pray against it you will be found fighting against God.

Learn to recognize the Holy Spirit at work in your own life, in your relationships, and in others. When the Holy Spirit is at work in a person and you bless that person, you will be blessed.

“I will bless those who bless you and the one who curses you I will curse…” (Genesis 12:3a).

Great things will happen to us when we bless those whom God is blessing. And remember you cannot curse what God is blessing.

(From the forthcoming book "Amazing Holy Spirit: He Leads" by Antony Thomas

These are the books  I have written. They are available.  

This book is available in many Indian languages.

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They are revelatory, they are prophetic, they are powerful and they are apostolic.

"I am Sonu, 15 an orphan girl, after reading the first nine chapters of the book I found myself studying better. One night while I was sleeping, a powerful white light appeared to me, as soon as I saw the light, all that I had read in the book passed through my mind,and a voice from the light said, "All that you read in the book is about Me." Since then I am very good in my studies, my  teachers have marked the improvement, and they are full of praise. That was a visitation of Spirit of the Living God, Hallelujah.

These books are available for shipment to any nations of the world. People have ordered these books from USA, UAE, Europe, Australia, Brazil, Sri Lanka, Philippines, New Zealand. These books have reached many nations through various retreat centers. The comments for the books are 5 star in Amazon, from buyers through amazon.

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How To Pray

How to pray?

There has always been a conflict between the people who pray loudly and those who pray silently, the contemplative method of prayer. Each one has looked at the other with suspicion, one accusing the other. 

Those who pray silently say God is not deaf. And those who pray loudly say those ‘simply sitting’ are wasting their time.  I felt the Lord prompting me  to  address this issue, because ignorance does not glorify God.

It is not necessary to pray aloud for God to hear and answer our prayers, because, the thoughts that we think, resounds in Heaven louder than our voice sounds on earth. To make God known about your needs, you need not make any sound; you need to only tell it within yourself.  You just need to think about it and God will hear your prayer.

In the book of Genesis we find something very interesting, that teaches that our thoughts resounds in Heaven loader than we think. “The Lord saw that the wickedness of humankind was great in the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of their hearts was only evil continually,” (Genesis 6:5).

The inclination of the thoughts of their hearts was well known to God. When the Israelites were grumbling within them, God knew it. “the sound of grumbling does not go unheard,” (Wisdom 1:11).

Praying with our thoughts is fruitful and sitting in silence helps to know the voice of God, to know His Presence intimately.

            But it is necessary to pray aloud on earth.

            Praying aloud will quickly loosen the burdens within us,

            Praying aloud will cleanse the atmosphere we live in.

            Praying aloud will quickly quicken us.

It is said about Jesus “In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears....,”(Hebrews 5:7).

Praying aloud releases the creative power. When God created the world, He did not think, and the world was created. Bible tells us He spoke, and the world came into being. The world was created by the sound of God. Praying aloud releases the authority we have. Praying aloud releases the glory in our voice.

Just before Jesus was betrayed, he was in the Mount of Olives praying, “In his anguish he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down on the ground,” (Luke 22:44).

The intense prayer of Jesus made him sweat blood; there will be moments in life when you need to pray like that. No matter how we pray, we need to know the circumstances we are in, especially when you are praying loudly in your personal prayer. Try praying out loud, though not loud enough to agitate others. Being able to hear yourself pray, really helps. You will find that your mind doesn't wander that easily and that you can pray more fervently.

Antony Thomas, Author, Holy Spirit:The Reality of His Presence,
                                           Holy Spirit, I love You.
                                           When We Pray: Be renewed by the Power of Prayer,

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