Open Heaven 29 August 2022
MEMORISE: In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Ephesians 1:13
BIBLE READING: ACTS 19:1-6 (KJV)
1. And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,
2. He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
3. And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism.
4, Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
5. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
6. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
Read yesterday’s Open Heaven Devotional here
In the spirit realm, everyone has a mark on them for the sake of identification. It is either you have the mark of Christ or the mark of the devil on your head.
For those who have the mark of Christ, the devil and his agents dare not touch them. That is why Galatians 6:17 says: “From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.”
This mark is a combination of three seals. The first seal is the blood of Jesus. The moment you give your life to Christ, His blood washes away your sins and gives you a unique seal which says you are now for Him (Colossians 1:20).
The second is baptism by immersion in water. This seal is so necessary that even Jesus Christ had to be baptised by immersion when He was here on earth (Matthew 3:13-15). Colossians 2:10-12 tells us that we are complete in Him when we get rid of sin in our lives and then are buried and risen with Him in baptism.
If you have not been baptised by immersion in water, it is a necessary seal that you should go after immediately. Read Romans 6:3-5 The third seal is the baptism of the Holy Ghost as we see in our memory verse today. Ephesians 4:30 also further confirms that we are sealed by the Holy Spirit: John the Baptist himself said Jesus was higher than he and would baptise us with the Holy Ghost and with fire (Luke 3:16).
Jesus confirmed this in Acts 1:5. When Jesus died and rose again, He left with us His very own Spirit – the Holy Spirit. This seal is what really marks us as sons of God according to Romans 8:14“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.”
It is this seal that enables us to preach the gospel of Christ (Acts 1:8) and do greater things than Jesus did while on earth (John 14:12-17). It also gives us the ability to live above sin and bear fruits of holiness (Matthew 7:16).
If you have not been baptised in the Holy Ghost yet, ask God to baptise you with the Holy Ghost. If you have been baptised already, you can ask for a fresh infilling of the Holy Spirit in your life.
PRAYER POINT: You need the seal of the Holy Ghost baptism to make full proof of your Christian life.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: JEREMIAH 25-27
Thank you for studying today’s Open Heaven – Sealed? – written by Pastor Enoch A.
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Open Heaven 29 August 2022
