There are pivotal moments in life when things suddenly change, a breakout, a breakthrough. When doing the impossible suddenly becomes easy. Many of these moments in the Bible happened right after the Holy Spirit "fell" on someone. It was life-changing, and they were never the same. It began their destiny. If there is one thing that will change your life, it is learning to rely on the "Helper" that Jesus spoke of. He taught His disciples this:
(John 14:15–18 NKJV) "If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.
(John 14:25–26 NKJV) "These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you."
(John 16:7 NKJV) Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.
Jesus said that when He left, He would ask His Father to send another Helper, the Holy Spirit, who would abide with us forever and dwell with us and in us. Ten days after Jesus ascended to heaven, the Holy Spirit descended on about 120 disciples, including His mother, Mary.
(Acts 2:1–4 NKJV) When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
In the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit fell on chosen vessels for a specific purpose. But it was prophesied long before in Joel 2:28 that one day, the Holy Spirit would be widespread, and the Apostle Peter confirmed that it began on that day in the upper room:
(Acts 2:16–18 NKJV) But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: 'And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams. And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; And they shall prophesy.'
Those days are now, and we are supposed to be seeing visions, having dreams, and prophesying. Let no one tell you otherwise. Jesus said the Helper would abide with us forever. Spiritual gifts did not die with the last Apostle; people just became ignorant of them over the centuries.
The Apostle Paul met twelve men in Ephesus who were Christians but had never heard of the Holy Spirit. What if we are like them?
(Acts 19:2 NKJV) he said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" So they said to him, "We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit."
That is sad because there is an incredible advantage to those who know the Holy Spirit. Let's go over some examples. Samson was a young man who had never displayed any special gifts, but when a lion attacked him, the Holy Spirit rushed upon him, and he ripped it into pieces:
(Judges 14:5–6 ESV) Then Samson went down with his father and mother to Timnah, and they came to the vineyards of Timnah. And behold, a young lion came toward him roaring. Then the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon him, and although he had nothing in his hand, he tore the lion in pieces as one tears a young goat.
Samson became known for his strength, but it was the strength of the Lord that empowered him. One man carrying the Spirit of the Lord could defeat 1,000 who did not.
(Judges 15:14–15 ESV) When he came to Lehi, the Philistines came shouting to meet him. Then the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon him, and the ropes that were on his arms became as flax that has caught fire, and his bonds melted off his hands. And he found a fresh jawbone of a donkey, and put out his hand and took it, and with it he struck 1,000 men.
Before Saul became the first king of Israel, the Holy Spirit transformed him. Samuel the prophet told him this:
(1 Samuel 10:6 NKJV) Then the Spirit of the LORD will come upon you, and you will prophesy with them and be turned into another man.
Young David was anointed by Samuel, and the Holy Spirit came upon him. David defeated lions, bears, giants, and armies because he was empowered by the Holy Spirit.
(1 Samuel 16:12–13 NKJV) ...And the LORD said, "Arise, anoint him; for this is the one!" Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward.
The Holy Spirit descended on the prophets and spoke through them:
(Ezekiel 11:5–6 NKJV) Then the Spirit of the LORD fell upon me, and said to me, "Speak! 'Thus says the LORD: "Thus you have said, O house of Israel; for I know the things that come into your mind. You have multiplied your slain in this city, and you have filled its streets with the slain."
The Holy Spirit descended on Jesus the day He was baptized in the Jordan River, marking the beginning of His public ministry:
(Matthew 3:16 NKJV) When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him.
After the Holy Spirit descended in Acts chapter 2, He began falling on entire crowds as they heard the anointed word of God being preached.
(Acts 10:44–47 NKJV) While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered, "Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?"
Oh yes, the Holy Spirit is alive and well today, and He will still fall on you just as He did then, sometimes in the most unlikely of places. I have had Him fall on me while playing music in bars, give me Scriptures for those around me, and watch them shake under conviction until they gave their heart to Jesus. I have had Him pour oil over me in the workplace and spark a revival that spread through the building. I want to spark one in you.
'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' Says the LORD (Zechariah 4:6).
You can pray this with me if you like:
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for sending the Helper! Please help me get in tune with You and what You are doing today. Help me see through Your eyes. Give me a clear vision, and fulfill Your perfect will in my life. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!
Note: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God.” (Philippians 4:6-7) ~ If you have a prayer need, we are here for you! We and the prayer team are ready to lift you up at our private prayer page: RHM Prayer Network