15 MAY 2018 BODY OF CHRIST NEWS Actions of the Holy Spirit, Part II As we conclude the Actions of the Holy Spirit I pray that this Word will minister to your lives and that the power of the Holy Spirit will lead you and guide you. 4. The Holy Spirit Speaks to Us He speaks. The Holy Spirit speaks. I love the way Mike Murdock said it. He said, “God loves talking so much, He called Himself ‘The Word’.” The Holy Spirit speaks. He always speaks. He speaks to us, but the problem is, are we listening? You have to position yourself right to be able to hear God. Are you get- ting me? If you stand far from me and I don’t use a microphone, you won’t be able to hear me, even though I’m still talking. When it amplifies my voice you can hear me. Do you understand me? That’s artificial. The Holy Spirit is not going to amplify His voice; it is your responsibility to move closer. Did you get what I’m saying? It is your responsibility to move closer. Holy Spirit is not going to amplify His voice so you can listen. He’s talking. Why is it that others are hearing and you’re not hearing? You are not positioned well. Holy Spirit speaks, and He does not discriminate. As I speak with a microphone in the church, everybody can hear me—everybody. But someone who is closer to me can hear me without the microphone. And I tell you that Holy Spirit will not amplify His voice. If you don’t hear Him, move closer. Are you with me? Because we always say, “God moved near me.” No, He sits on the throne; He doesn’t move anywhere. You moved closer. He said, “Draw near and I will draw near.” The word ‘draw near’ means, when you draw near, the distance between us will be reduced. 5. Holy Spirit Gives Us Personal Instructions You know He speaks gener- ally, but also the Holy Spirit gives us personal instruction—I call them custom-made mes- sages—for you specifically. Not every word that people speak is for you—is that true? But there are specific words that you know are for you. Acts 8:29 (NKJV): 29 Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go near and overtake this chariot.” Specific. Very, very specific. There are times the Holy Spirit will speak to you directly. You don’t make that one a theology. Are you getting me? You don’t make specific instructions to you, and then begin to teach it, “This is the way the Holy Spirit always does it.” That would be wrong. 6. The Holy Spirit Testifies About Jesus The Holy Spirit testifies about Jesus. John 15:26 (NKJV): 26 “But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.” The Holy Spirit testifies of Jesus. If Jesus is present, the Holy Spirit testifies, by the actions and the move of the Spirit of God. I went to visit a family, and as I got there they said, “Ah, Pastor, we are so excited! When we entered the church, we felt the Holy Spirit.” Have you ever realized that? Maybe in your room you just realize, “Wow. The Holy Spirit is here.” You just feel His pres- ence more than ever. It doesn’t mean that He left and came back, but now there is a better awareness of His presence. 7. The Holy Spirit Encourages Us He’s an encourager. The Holy Spirit encourages us. If you need encouragement, listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit. He will encourage you. Ade Ajala By Bishop-Elect Rev. Dr. Ade Ajala SERMON Continued on Page 18 It doesn’t mean that He left and came back, but now there is a better awareness of His presence.