Acts 11:22-24 ESV The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. (23) When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose, (24) for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord.
What kind of testimony do you want people to speak concerning your Christian life? What an incredible testimony Paul and Luke had of Barnabas. Barnabas was known as a man full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. Wow, incredible testimony of the life of our Lord Jesus Christ living in and through a man.
The ongoing question has been, "Do you really want to be filled with the Holy Spirit and receive all that He gives?" We said that first we must be thirsty for the things of God. After being thirsty for the things of God we said that we must believe the promises of God and His Word.
I would like to continue on the need to be thirsty for the THINGS of God. It is typical when a person is thirsty to try all kinds of things to satisfy that thirst. I know believers right now who are thirsty and they are trying the things the world offers to satisfy the desire of the soul. They try to quench that desire with things such as improper relationships, religious tradition, emotional or physical bonds with someone, religious activity, or social and economic success.
Our Lord promised that the Father would give us a Comforter who would satisfy all the desires of our body, soul, and spirit. When I feel lonely He will be there to quench that thirst to be with someone. When I feel fear He will be there to quench that thirst for security and safety. When I feel confused or deceived He will be there to quench that thirst for truth.
The key is call upon and trust God, the Holy Spirit to be in us what our Lord Jesus Christ promised He would be.
John 14:16-17 ESV And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, (17) even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.