Receive Ye the Holy Ghost!

00:00 - Speaker 1 I've asked God to bless my mess. Look, there's times where I make a mess of things and then I'm trusting. Oh God, make it all work together for your good. I'm sorry, I repent. I made a mess. Please take this trash and garbage I created and refine it and recycle it into gold. That's especially effective when you've gone ahead in the spirit and prayed it through in your heavenly language Hallelujah. 00:26 - Speaker 2 Welcome to the City Light Church podcast. Thanks for joining us today as we look into God's Word and discover the hope and truth that he has for us. If you want to connect with City Light Church, feel free to visit us at CityLightNYC.com. That's CityLightNYC.com. Pastor Boyan Jancic and his team believe that the power of the Holy Spirit is already working in our hearts and minds. As you listen to today's teaching, remember that you are deeply loved by God, that you are surrounded by His grace and that he has a real hope and a future for you that he has a real hope and a future for you. 01:07 - Speaker 1 Well, today is Pentecost Sunday. What does that mean? It means that we're celebrating what happened on the day of Pentecost. Pente meaning 50, 50 days after the Passover. It's the birth of the New Testament church. It's the first time the Holy Spirit was given to people. Prior to that, the Holy Spirit would just alight upon people for a specific task, a mission. The Old Testament prophets they didn't have the Holy Spirit indwelling them like he does Christians today. He alighted upon them. He would come off of them, but on the day of Pentecost, because Jesus was glorified, he went to the cross and was resurrected. People's sins were forgiven for the first time. What Jesus did on the cross, that hadn't been done before In the Old Testament with the animal sacrifices, that was just an atonement, a covering for sin. 02:03 The cross caused a remittance of sin. Your sin has been taken out of the way. Your sin has disappeared when you placed your faith in Jesus and now you can have the very Spirit of God come and live inside of you. And this is one of the most misunderstood topics in the Bible. It really is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, being filled with the Holy Spirit, being baptized in the Holy Spirit. It's very, very misunderstood. And that's because Satan, he knows that once you get filled with the Holy Spirit it's over baby, and so he comes and he tries to bring confusion. And really, when you just let the Scriptures speak for themselves, there shouldn't be any confusion. I understand there's some obscure passages. You just wonder, huh, I wonder what this means. But not concerning with the baptism in the Holy Spirit, because we have a map in the book of Acts for how people were filled, what happened when they got filled, and we see the same pattern over and over and over again. So we can learn from that. We don't have to overcomplicate it. I think when man gets involved, they read into it more than they should and they overcomplicate it. It's actually quite simple and it'll change and transform your life. 03:15 I don't want to fly coach when first class is available. If I'm going on a cruise and I have the balcony cabin, I'm not going in the inner cabin. So Jesus, with his own blood, paved the way and made this available to everyone. I don't understand why somebody would take less than what he's offering, unless they just don't know. Well, that's my job. I want to get you to know. I want to show you what's all in the benefits package. You didn't read the bennies. You got to read the bennies. In fact, the psalmist cried out Lord, bless the Lord, oh my soul, and forget not any of his benefits. Even the psalmist cried out Lord, help me to keep the benny package in the forefront of my mind, because the enemy comes and tries to get me to forget. 04:05 Let's read Acts, chapter 8, verses 14 through 20. I want to start right here Because it shows us how, in the New Covenant, our forefathers, their early apostles, how they operated. It says now, when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, everybody just say received the word of God, received the word of God. That means that the town, the area of Samaria, more than a town excuse me, the region, but there was such a bold proclamation of the word that the majority got saved. It was a radical revival. They received the word of God. Later you'll see they got baptized in water too. But that wasn't enough for the first century apostles. 04:56 Some things have been distorted in our modern day version of Christianity, like, for example did you know the altar call is only about a 200, 250-year-old invention. Did you know that Some of you thought the altar call was? Some of you think Jesus implemented the altar call. Charles Finney is credited with starting the altar call, and I mean, when he gave an altar call you had to change your underwear and the power of God came into the place and the conviction of the Lord and people came running and sobbing to the front. But then over time that devolved into something that sounds like this Won't you just pray Jesus into your heart? Just pray Jesus into your heart. The gospel has never been. Just say this quick five second prayer with me and pray Jesus into your heart. It doesn't exist, never been. Just say this quick five-second prayer with me and pray Jesus into your heart. It doesn't exist. The message of the gospel has always been surrender your life to Jesus, come to him, surrender to his lordship, give him your whole life and trust in him for his righteousness. Believe and you will be saved. Except the word believe doesn't just mean uh-huh, I believe. It means stake your life on cling to trust in with every fiber of your being. Believe, not a mental assent. So you see how that just got changed into. Why don't you just say this quick prayer with me. 06:18 And then we wonder why there's people who fill out not connection cards but commitment cards, thank you, commitment cards, and then you call them up to check on how they're doing and they don't even remember praying your 10-second prayer. I mean, oh, we're not supposed to judge. Yeah, I'll judge that Nothing happened. If they don't remember getting saved, they're not Amen. And something similar happened with the baptism of the Holy Spirit. People don't know, they haven't been provoked into a godly curiosity to find out more about it. 06:57 But there is this wonderful thing called the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. The baptism in the Holy Spirit, also called receiving the Holy Spirit, also called being filled of the Holy Spirit. The baptism in the Holy Spirit, also called receiving the Holy Spirit, also called being filled with the Holy Spirit. It all means the same thing. It's a Christian who's got their sins forgiven. They're on their way to heaven, but they get filled with the Holy Spirit. So you can be a Christian who's not filled with the Holy Spirit. 07:25 I'll show you in the scriptures. What does that mean? Well, it means you're going to heaven. You know the Lord, except you're flying in coach why? I don't want to show up to heaven and find out I could have had more. Amen. Some people are going to be very, very saddened. They're going to get to heaven and they live just a dry, miserable life on earth, looking like they were baptized in lemon juice. And find out. Go to heaven and find out they could have had a drink all along. They could have drunk from God's new wine all along. Oh, I was so sour and uptight all my life. I didn't know this was available. Well, I hope to never leave you with that excuse. You'll know what's available. Well, I hope to never leave you with that excuse. You'll know what's available. 08:07 Now, when the apostles were at Jerusalem, they heard that Samaria had received the word of God. They sent Peter and John this is not the B team, not the C team, but the A team Peter and John, the dynamic duo. They send them to Samaria. Why? Samaria had already received the word of God. Because the apostles said but you're on the right track, but there's more. Now read the next verse. Who, when they had come down, pray for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit? Verse three. Or the third verse, verse 16, for as yet he had fallen upon none of them. Wait what? They were only baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Wait, what they got saved. 09:01 Today, if someone goes on a missions trip and says, hey, I'm in this region, like 85% of the region accepted Christ, we'd all clap, cheer and forget about it Like that's enough. The apostles said, no, no, there's more. Well, do they get baptized in water? Yeah, in fact, the scripture almost belittles it. It doesn't belittle baptism, but they had only been baptized. Today we'd celebrate wow, you not only got them all saved, but they had only been baptized. Today we'd celebrate wow, you not only got them all saved, but they also got baptized in water. 09:28 Job complete, not the first century church. No, no, they said Peter and John, showtime baby, go all the way down to Samaria and lead them into the deeper things, lead them into the greater things, get them filled with the Holy Spirit. So the A team, peter and John, comes to Samaria. Next, verse 17. Then they laid hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. That's God's plan for every Christian to receive the Word of God and get saved, to be water baptized and then to be filled, to receive, to be baptized with the Holy Spirit of God. Then they laid hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. And when Simon saw now, this is a deep, deep revelation Buckle your seatbelt. The fact that the scripture says that Simon saw that, through the laying on of the apostles' hands, the Holy Spirit was given, that means there was something to see. All right, hold on. 10:32 Let me use a more provocative word. That means there was a manifestation, because there's this whole camp in Christianity that just believes well, I just received the Holy Spirit by faith. Well, how do you know? How do you know you received? Well, you know, I just. And then they by faith Well, how do you know? How do you know you received? Well, you know, I just. And then they ask, like with a question mark at the end, because I believe I do. 10:52 What was the evidence? Well, how about the fruit of the Holy Spirit? The fruit of the Holy Spirit is great. I love the fruit of the Holy Spirit. May the Lord increase the fruit of the Holy Spirit. But it doesn't say and we'll read all the accounts of people getting filled with the Holy Spirit it doesn't say they came out with more kindness, goodness, temperance, love, joy, peace, meekness. 11:12 There was a physical evidence and you will see that every single time in the Scriptures where it's noted what the physical evidence was. The physical evidence is speaking in tongues, speaking in another language you were never, ever taught. The Holy Spirit supernaturally fills you and gives you the utterances. This is why the enemy comes against us. This is why, for some of you, when I mentioned speaking in tongues, you immediately flash back to some documentary of some Appalachian church where they're dancing around with snakes and saying some jibber, jabber. No, how are you saying this stuff in New York City? Take your shoes off and go dance barefoot in the mountains if you're going to be preaching this. Thank you too. It's worth it just for the laughter of two people, because it's from the heart. It's worth it just for the laughter of two people Because it's from the heart. 12:07 Simon saw there was a physical manifestation. He saw that, through the laying on of the apostles' hands, the Holy Spirit was given. Look, I just have to say this you cannot put God in a box and it's not his job to make you feel comfortable and do things your way. God is not Burger King, it's not your way. Right away. God is God. We conform to him. He does not conform to us. I didn't make it this way. God made it this way. I'm going to show you If you're not convinced and I don't expect you to be convinced yet all throughout the book of Acts, which is our map, it's our blueprint of how the church should function. All throughout the book of Acts. Immediately when they were filled, they spoke in other tongues. And it's powerful. It doesn't make you weird, it makes you more like Jesus. 13:01 Christianity is not a frontal lobe, sanitized western faith. People in America have tried to make it that Christianity is an eastern faith, a supernatural faith, an experiential faith and, yes, a faith that actually gets results and produces a manifestation in this natural realm. Amen, that makes some hoity-toity or scared people even more scared. The only thing I can tell you is yield Surrender. You cannot make God into your own image. You conform as you've been made in his image. 13:39 The only time and I'm doing that one first where it doesn't specifically say tongues, but it says that Simon saw something. He offered them money, saying give me this power, also that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit. He was so impressed by what was happening as the apostles laid hands on the Christians and they were filled with the Holy Spirit. He wasn't even saved, but he recognized real power and he offered them money for that same ability. And, of course, peter said to him your money perish with you because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money. Hallelujah. Let's go to Romans, chapter 8. I want to talk about tongues, heavenly languages. Romans, chapter 8. I want to talk about tongues, heavenly languages, the beauty and the power of speaking in tongues. The Bible says Likewise. 14:35 The Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. What are those weaknesses? Well, it defines them in the next line. A weakness is we do not know what we should pray for, as we ought, but the Spirit himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. So here's the weakness that we all have in common. We're wondering what the future holds. We have problems right now, and in English, in our mother tongue, whatever that may be in the vernacular, we may be, stumble about in prayer, like I know several things about my future right now. God is good, god is with me, god wants to show his loving kindness, his covenant kindness to me. This is what I'm believing, but the specifics sometimes elude me. I know I'm going to have the best summer of my life, but I don't know the specifics. I know we're going to close out 2025 in a bang, but I don't know the specifics. That's a weakness. 15:35 In fact, even the Apostle Paul, when talking about the spirit realm and the future, he said we behold through a glass, dimly. A glass is a mirror, and back then they didn't have pretty mirrors like we had today. What they really had was a highly polished piece of bronze or brass. That's how they would see their reflection, and so you can imagine, although they can see their silhouette and some details, for the most part it was blurry. That's how it often is when looking into the future. By the way, that's how it is for me and every pastor I know, every event. That's how it is. I have to say that because when I was a young Christian, I thought pastors just knew the future. I just thought of it. 16:17 David Wagner can prophesy over people, but for himself, he's beholding through a glass, dimly. That's how the Lord does it, so you have to rely on him. He's not going to show you the whole movie. He'll give you some snapshots, maybe a five-second clip of the movie, a trailer, a teaser, if you will. So you don't know how to pray specifically for the details, but when you pray in tongues. 16:52 I'm praying the perfect will of God, the Holy Spirit inside of me and yes, some of you don't know I just spoke in tongues. You don't have to be weird about it, you don't have to swing from the light bulb. As you're doing it, shouting, foaming at the mouth, you're going to converse with the Lord as you're praying out of your spirit and the Holy Spirit is utilizing my vocal cords and going to my future and praying the perfect will of God. So I have a weakness. I don't know how to pray as I ought, but the Holy Spirit within me, he makes intercession for me With these groanings of intercession which cannot be put in intelligible speech. Next verse Now he who this is really the power of praying in tongues and speaking in tongues, now, he who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is. Because he makes intercession. The Holy Spirit now is. Because he makes intercession. The Holy Spirit now is praying through you, for you. 17:50 And I gotta say some people say I was praying in tongues for my friend. You really weren't. I know you'd like to think that you were praying in tongues for you. It doesn't say that we're praying in tongues. It says I edify myself, I edify myself, I strengthen myself. It's not for someone else, it's for you. You're the beneficiary of it, and when you pray in tongues, the Holy Spirit is making intercession for you according to the will of God. So when you're praying in tongues, you don't have to wonder oh, I hope God agrees with this prayer. I hope this is in line with his will. You're actually and it's a beautiful thing you're bypassing the mental mess that's up here. 18:33 You know how many times I've gone to pray. And when you go to pray, you go with some anxiety sometimes, you go with some doubt sometimes, and the heavier the attack, the more uncertain and cloudy your future is. And then I'll start praying in English and I can't even get that far. It's like I hit a wall. What do I pray? That's my weakness. But the Holy Spirit, who searches the deep things, prays through me according to the will of God. What a secret weapon, what a distinct advantage. 19:11 And then verse 28. This is like every Christian's favorite verse. Right after I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me. These are like my favorite verses. Taken out of context. This would be number two, and we know that all things work together. You cannot untie this from the previous two verses. We know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to his purpose and especially to those filled with the Holy Spirit. I've asked God to bless my mess. Look, there's times where I make a mess of things and then I'm trusting oh God, make it all work together for your good. I'm sorry, I repent. I made a mess. Please take this trash and garbage I created and refine it and recycle it into gold. That's especially effective when you've gone ahead in the spirit and prayed it through in your heavenly language Hallelujah. Thank you, Jesus. First Corinthians, chapter 14, verse two If you have never spoken in tongues, today's your day. 20:17 I'm always amazed at how much the Lord wants this. This morning, the whole altar was filled. People started speaking in tongues within seconds, people who, honestly, some of the people. When they came up, I was like oh God, lord, I'm going to go by faith, but some of them look rock hard. What do you? You have to do a miracle here. You know, it's not like they came up. Oh God. They came up like, what is this guy going to do? And then, within seconds, speaking in tongues. The Lord loves this. He loves to fill people. So if you've never spoken in tongues, today's your day, some of you. You were filled, but you never learned about the purpose of tongues, so you didn't keep speaking. 20:53 But when you see how beautiful speaking in tongues is, praying in tongues, the power that's behind it, the baptism in the Holy Spirit is the doorway to the supernatural. If you can't walk through that doorway, the Lord isn't going to visit you in your dreams. He's not going to speak to you, he's not going to. There's a ceiling you're going to hit quickly that you don't have to hit when you walk through the doorway of the baptism in the Holy Spirit. For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men, but to God. Because that's a question people often ask Well, what are you saying? None of your business, I don't know what I'm saying. 21:36 The scripture says I don't speak to men, I speak to God. And this is where they get tripped up. It's that on the day of Pentecost, when they were filled with the Holy Spirit, they actually did speak earthly languages. And in Jerusalem, it says, they heard them all speaking these different languages and they recognized some of the languages. The scripture says it only happened one time, that God did it as a specific sign and a wonder. 21:59 But Paul talks about the tongues of men and the tongues of angels. Like, I just spoke in tongues and you may be going. Well, I don't know what language that is. I don't either. It could be a tongue that's in heaven. You think God? You think God, like, speaks English? Is that how you think it's going to go down? When God created the world, do you think he did it in English when he said let there be. That's how some people never even thought about these things. He actually has a language and he's so diverse and so big and such a creator. Dare. I believe that he has many, many languages and all you have to do, you know, I watched recently a news reporter out of Kazakhstan speaking and it sounded like a car stalling to me, and it sounded like a car stalling to me and it sounded like, and I thought to myself now, that's a language, but I don't know, but I don't know that language. So to me it sounds like he's got an old Suzuki that just won't start and then people will judge tongues. Oh, it just sounds like you're saying the same six words. It sounded like he was saying the same three words and he's giving the news, for he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men, but to god, for no one understands him. 23:21 However, now this is the key, and it it requires faith In the spirit. You speak mysteries, like for me. Years ago, I was massively in debt. How to get out was a mystery. You may be here today. You feel like God has taken you to a different place, a better place, a different place, a better place, but the steps to that place are a mystery. You may be in a bad marriage. God wants to make it a great. You made your decision, you don't bail. So how to get God to turn it around, that's a mystery. The Bible says you can pray out these mysteries. 24:01 There were times when I was hurting, when I was anxious, when I was confused and, in English, I was all prayed out. I was done, I was spent, I was. Stick a fork in me. I'm done. Well, done thou, good and faithful servant. All I had, all I had, then was I'm praying out, oh God, I'm praying out there. Oh God, I'm going out and I'm saying everything. Right, do I know what I'm saying? No, but it's by faith. My understanding is not fruitful. I didn't make that up. Paul said that my mind doesn't know what I'm saying. God made it that way on purpose, because it would freak you out if you knew what you were saying, if you knew what you were praying about for your future, distant or immediate. Oh no, lord, don't do that, that's too much. 25:03 He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. So a couple of things we've learned. When you pray in tongues, you give thanks well, you're praying out the mysteries, you're praying completely in line with the will of God. And you give thanks, well, hallelujah, hallelujah. And then verses 14 through 18. 25:33 For if I pray in a tongue, by the way, this is the Apostle Paul. He wrote half the New Testament. If you believe he wrote the book of Hebrews, then he wrote two-thirds of the New Testament and he spoke in tongues. You know who talked about speaking in tongues? Jesus. I couldn't believe it when I got saved and I read that in Mark, chapter 16, verse 16, he says these signs will follow those who believe. They will speak with new tongues. I was shocked. 26:05 Nobody ever mentions that Jesus talked about it. And then you know what Some people just resist what God wants to do. So they'll say things like well, did Jesus speak in tongues? No, he didn't have to. He already had a hotline to heaven. I need help. He already had the direct line. He didn't have to worry about not praying in line with the Father's will. He only did what he saw the Father do, said what he saw the Father, heard what he saw the Father. 26:35 You know what I'm saying, for if I pray in a tongue, my spirit see, that's the thing up here it can be a mess. Right, you're not doing a frontal lobe in prayer, some of you. You do yourselves a favor by stopping the panicky, anxious prayers. You've got to understand there's faith and there's fear. I feel like going in this route a little bit. Listen, it was TL Osborne, famous crusade evangelist. Went up and down Africa, mighty moves of God and miracles. 27:13 His wife, daisy Osborne, got cancer and they, they made the mistake of letting everybody know and they wanted prayer support. So they, they, they sent out a partner letter saying Daisy's got, please pray for her. And they noticed she got worse, not better. And so he fasted and sought the Lord. And here's what he, what he says. He heard in the spirit. He said stop them. I'm I'm getting. This is the Lord, and here's what he says. He heard in the Spirit. He said stop them. I'm getting, this is the Lord speaking. I'm getting tens of thousands of anxious prayers and they're hurting, not helping. 27:41 You cannot miss anxiety and worry and fear with your prayers. It has the opposite effect. Fear pulls into your life what you don't want, that thing you're afraid of. Faith pulls into your life that thing you're believing God for from his word. So I want to bypass my mind, which can be riddled with anxiety, and pray right out of my spirit. And you can too, once you're baptized in the Holy Spirit. My understanding well, I don't know what I'm saying. It's unfruitful Verse 15. 28:13 What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit and I will pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit and I will also sing, excuse me, and I will also sing with the understanding. So Paul also says you can sing in tongues. That's singing in the Spirit. How many of you have ever sung in tongues? Yeah, you can sing with the understanding. That's in the vernacular English for us Sing in the Spirit, pray in the Spirit, pray with the understanding. 28:48 Verse 16. Otherwise, if you bless with the Spirit. How will he who occupies the place of the uninformed say amen at your giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you say? For indeed, you give thanks well. Again, when you speak in tongues, you're giving thanks well, but the other is not edified, and this is the Apostle Paul. He says I thank my God. I speak with tongues more than you all Listen. If it's good enough for Paul, it's good enough for me and it's available to everyone today because nothing has changed. This is the new covenant dispensation. Hooray, we're still in the new covenant, we're still a part of this dispensation and Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. This is available to all today. Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah. So let's go to Luke, luke, chapter 24 and verse 49. 30:06 Speak in tongues every day. Speak in tongues in the shower. Speak in tongues as you're getting ready. Speak in tongues as you're getting ready. Speak in tongues as you're cooking. It helps you stay plugged in. It keeps you submitted to the Lord. It's like you know, when the Teslas in my neighborhood now I just see every third person has a Tesla and they, at night, stick it in. That's what happens when you speak in tongues You're getting charged up. Some of you are driving around with 12%. Don't drive around life with 12%. You want to be at 100%. Speaking in tongues is you're getting hooked up to the greatest conductor of power and energy, god himself. And as you're speaking in tongues, you're getting edified, you're getting strengthened, you're speaking out mysteries, you're giving thanks. Well, your human battery, god, is charging up. That's what I believe Paul was talking about in Ephesians. He said I pray that you would be strengthened in your inner man, your spirit. It actually, I believe, has an energy level. 31:15 There's times where, like right now, I'm exhausted physically. We got back anyway, I won't give any details, but I didn't get to bed till 2 am. So physically I'm exhausted right now, but my spirit I feel oh. But there are times where you know you don't want to be at a place. This is where dangerous things happen. When? But there are times where you know you don't want to be at a place, this is where dangerous things happen. When you're great physically and you're exhausted spiritually, oh, that's when trouble happens, because then you're getting ahead of yourself. You know you've got the strength to carry out a lot of stupid things and your spirit is too weak to stop you. So I want to juice up and get my spirit to 100%. 31:53 This is Jesus after the resurrection, talking to his disciples who spent three, three and a half years with him. You'd think they'd be ready for ministry right now, but they're not. He says Behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you, but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high. Now, to anyone sitting here and saying, look, I received Jesus and I'm just happy with that, I just ask you what would Jesus say to you? His disciples received him and he didn't say guys, you're set, go on and take the world from me. He said you spent three, three and a half years with me. You were eyewitnesses to every miracle, to every parable, you were eyewitnesses even to the resurrection, and you're still not ready. Go to Jerusalem until you're endued with power from on high, until you're filled with the Holy Spirit, until you're Acts, chapter two'd, until you're Day chapter 2'd, until your day of Pentecosted, then you can go out. So who are we to think we're better than the disciples? If they weren't ready without the baptism of the Holy Spirit, how could I be ready? Hallelujah. So Acts, chapter 1, verse 8, kind of a continuation of Luke 24, 49. 33:14 These are the final words of Jesus, pretty important Christ's final words In the very next verse. He's taken up into heaven and his final words are you shall receive power. See, without a Pentecostal Christianity and I'm not talking about the denomination, I'm talking about a Pentecostal, a spirit-filled Christianity you have a lukewarm, dry Christianity. I wouldn't have made it three months as a Christian. I wouldn't have I. 33:46 Thank God for the Holy Spirit. Thank God that he goes ahead of you, that he puts his super over your natural. When I see what he's done around City Light. Only he can get the glory. Thank God for the Holy Spirit. Thank God that sometimes I think what I should preach. I've been preparing all week and then if he says, preach something different, I immediately yield because I've learned his ways are better than my ways. 34:09 Thank God for the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit who will lead you and guide you in all the affairs of life. Thank God for the Holy Spirit. You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you and you shall be witnesses to me in Jerusalem and in all Judea and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost parts of the earth or the end of the earth, parts of the earth or the end of the earth. Now Acts, chapter 10. I want you to see every example of people getting filled with the Holy Spirit, and I'm also teaching you I hope you realize that how to interpret scripture. Because deception is very, very nasty, you know why? Because it's so deceiving, and the only antidote for deception is the purity of the word of God. And I don't want you to be deceived, and deceivers are everywhere, mainly the internet, but they're everywhere. Actually, it used to be a lot more spread out. They were on the street corner, they were on the radio, they were on TV. Now they're just almost exclusively on Facebook and Instagram. 35:25 While Peter was still preaching, can you believe? The Holy Spirit had the audacity to interrupt Peter's sermon and notice no altar call was given. Charles Finney hadn't come around yet. The Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. Now, how do they know? The Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. How do they know? Because something happened. What does it say in the very next verse? 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. How did they know, for they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. If it's just this one verse, it should seriously. If you're not filled with the Holy Spirit, this should seriously cause you to want to explore this concept even more. But there's not only one verse, there's multiple verses, and that's what I was trying to say about deception and fighting deception. 36:42 When it comes to doctrine, you need at least two or three very clear verses to establish doctrine. And who taught us that? Some pastor? No, the Bible. The Bible says let out of the mouth of two or three witnesses, everything be established and that's you'll see. Other call it arms of Christianity. They don't follow that, so they come up with all weird kooky doctrines Like, for example this is going to hurt some people's feelings, but that's my job. 37:19 In Roman Catholicism, they worship Mary. They say no, we don't worship, we venerate. I've seen pictures of people crawling on their knees a quarter of a mile in Mexico to kiss the foot of a statue with tears in their eyes. They're worshiping, you're praying to Mary, you're worshiping Mary. You sometimes talk way more to Mary than you do to Jesus. 37:39 And then, when I ask for scriptural proof, they all come back to only one verse, which doesn't even make sense. But they say well, you know, gabriel greeted her and he said Hail Mary, you are full of grace and blessed are you among women? Okay, that's beautiful. Doesn't say to pray to her. Doesn't say to get her to be your mediator. Doesn't say God is an angry father and you need to talk to his mother because she'll calm him down, which is what was taught. That's actually what's taught. The Jesuits taught that and they'll use the example In real life. The father, the father's just emotional, he'll just snap, but Mary's like okay, hold on, now, give him another chance. But the point is that all comes from one verse taken out of context. So don't let you be that sucker. 38:26 The reason why I go through all these verses is so that you don't believe what I say, so that you believe what God says through his holy word, so that no one can deceive you. Amen. Then Peter answered oh, this is awesome. So can anyone forbid water? They weren't even baptized in water yet, never answered an altar call, didn't even have time to fill out a commitment card. They're just hearing the word of god and on the inside going yes, I believe this, and they get saved and start speaking in tongues. And then peter says all right, you went straight to third base from first. Let's get you to second base now and get your water baptized can anyone forbid water? That these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have. In other words, he's saying I recognize what's happening here, because the same thing that happened to us back in Acts chapter two is happening to them. They received the Holy Spirit, just as we have right with the evidence of speaking in tongues, and then verse 48, and he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord and they asked him to stay a few days. Let's now go to Acts chapter 19, and I'll close with this. I've taken you now with this passage, through every instance of someone getting filled with the Holy Spirit in the Bible Acts chapter 2, acts chapter 8, acts chapter 10, and now Acts chapter 19. And you should find a pattern, an initial physical manifestation. 40:11 And it happened while Apollos was at Corinth that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus and finding some disciples. What were they? Disciples? They were believers. And this is what he asked them Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed? I don't know if you're catching the significance of this question Today. We meet Christians all the time and we just assume they're filled. We're just happy for them to say I believe in Jesus, oh, good, good, let's work for me. 40:51 But that's not how the apostle Paul ministered. He found believers, they believed in Jesus, they were saved, and he asked them but have you received the Holy Spirit? Imagine if you ran around from church to church and asked every Christian, you're a Christian. Great, you received the Word. Great, you got baptized in water. Great, have you received the Holy Spirit? Since you believed? Uh, uh, uh, uh. 41:15 Yet that's what the Apostle Paul did. Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed? Hint, he knew they hadn't. He felt a stirring in his spirit. He wanted to lead them into more excellent things, into the greater things of God. 41:29 That's what today is about. God wants to take you higher. He wants to give you everything he paid for with his own blood for you to have. Why? Why would you leave anything on the table? It's good to be spiritually hungry. It's good to be even spiritually greedy. I use the term greedy, I know it has a bad connotation, but Jesus said zeal for my father's house has consumed me that it's not a greedy like a carnal greediness, it's a spiritual zeal. God, I want all that you have for me. 42:03 They said we have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit. Then Paul said into what? Then? Were you baptized? So they said into John's baptism. Then Paul said John, indeed, then were you baptized? So they said into John's baptism. Then Paul said John, indeed, baptized, with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. And when they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 42:28 And when Paul had laid hands on them. Also. Different ways of receiving the Holy Spirit. This is the second time that we see the laying on of hands as a means of transferring the Holy Spirit. Acts, chapter 10. There was no laying on of hands. They just, with an open heart, received and began speaking in other tongues. Same thing in Acts, chapter 2. There was nobody, there's nobody, who had the Holy Spirit to administer him by the laying on of hands. So they received from heaven directly. And you can receive that way too. You can receive through the laying on of hands in about five minutes too, but when they were filled with the Holy Spirit, when the Holy Spirit came upon them, there was evidence, there was a physical manifestation. They spoke with tongues and prophesied Worship team, come on up, the Holy Spirit is here right now. 43:24 The Holy Spirit loves to fill people with himself and the main thing for those desiring to be filled with the Holy Spirit, this really is the main thing, because Satan gets up in your head and the first thing he makes you feel unworthy, he makes you condemned. He tells you oh, you still have so many issues in your life. Go clean yourself up and then come back to be filled with the Holy Spirit. That's completely backwards. That's like trying to lose weight to get to the gym. It's like trying to get better before you check into the hospital. 43:52 God wants you right where you are. As long as your faith is in Jesus and you've acknowledged him as your Lord and Savior, you qualify and God, get this. God does not have to give the Holy Spirit. Do not picture God in heaven holding his spirit back and if he likes you enough, he has already given him. When the day of Pentecost, circa 2,000 years ago, the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit was given and he's been here ever since. So then, what's the problem? Well, you need to receive. God doesn't have to give, you need to receive. So don't come up here with that mindset of I hope God gives me. No, you just need to yield, relax and receive. So, every head bowed, every eye closed, please Say this out loud with me. Say, lord Jesus, I believe in you, I believe you took my sins away on the cross. I trust you for your righteousness. 44:57 And now, everybody here who wants to be filled with the Holy Spirit, with the evidence of speaking in tongues, I want you to raise your hand. You got to forget about others. Yeah, keep that hand up high. You can't be self-conscious. Those of you with your hands lifted up, stand and come on up to the front and face me. The ushers will come and they're just gonna line you up in a straight line. Thank you Lord, and just begin praying. When you come up here, just be praising Hallelujah, thank you Jesus, and those of you in your seats be blessing them and releasing the anointing upon them. Oh, this is going to be awesome. Thank you Lord, thank you Lord, Thank you Lord, thank you Jesus. 45:53 Jesus, now I'm going to just set up some ground rules. Number one do not speak English. You can't speak in tongues and English at the same time. Number two do not speak Spanish. Don't speak Chinese, portuguese. We got over 80 nations at City Light. I can't list every language, but do not speak a known language. Refuse to speak a known language and know this God is not gonna possess you, he's not gonna take you over. He's gonna gently give you utterances. 46:27 You might start with stuttering, with stammering. Yield, do not judge yourself, do not analyze what you're. I don't care if you start off saying yabba-dabba-doo, scooby-dooby-day. Do not judge yourself. Just open your mouth and begin speaking. The Bible in fact says with stammering lips and another tongue, will I speak to this people? So in the beginning it'll be stammering, stuttering. The devil will say you're foolish. Stop that. Do not back off. Yield even more. Say the next thing Refuse to speak in English or whatever language you know. 47:03 Yield to him. Lift your hands up high and say this Lord Jesus, oh, I trust you. You pay the price for the baptism in the Holy Spirit. I believe the moment hands are laid upon me, I receive the Holy Spirit and I will speak in tongues as you give me utterance. Now, get ready. The moment I lay my hands upon you. 47:30 Begin to open your mouth and speak In the name of Jesus. Be filled with the Holy Spirit right now. Open your mouth and talk Filled in Jesus' name, filled. Open your mouth and talk Filled. Begin to talk. Open your mouth, be filled. Some of you may start even before I get to talk. Open your mouth, be filled. Some of you may start even before I get to you. Be filled. No shyness. Say it loud. Move your mouth, move your tongue. Be filled with the Holy Ghost. Be filled with the Holy Spirit. Say it. Go ahead, say it. You're doing great. See that's how it goes. You take Go ahead, say it. You're doing great. See that's how it goes. You take a deep breath. Say it again. It's a little scary at first because you're like what in the world this actually works? Imagine that. Be filled with the Holy Spirit. There we go. Keep talking. Keep talking Boldly, sis, boldly. Yes. Keep talking Boldly, sis, boldly. Yes, keep talking Filled. Right now, I loose that tongue and loose those lips. Be filled in Jesus' name. Say it. 48:45 - Speaker 2 This is the City Light Church Podcast. If you've missed any part of today's message or if you would like to find out more about Pastor Boyan Jancic and City Light Church, visit us at citylightnyc.com. That's citylightnyc.com. Feel free to visit us online or in person anytime. We would love to connect with you. We pray that you have been encouraged today, that you have been reminded how much God loves you and that you are surrounded by grace. Thank you for listening. Make sure that you subscribe to City Light Church Podcast wherever you find your favorite podcasts worldwide.