Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

— Acts 8:17

When we are first born into God’s Kingdom, we receive the Holy Spirit. Then we are sanctified by the continued renewing and refilling of the Holy Spirit.

The Christian life is a supernatural life. The spiritual man was dead, and only as the Holy Spirit, the giver of life, comes and quickens our lives will there be the slightest stirring in the garden of our soul. Unless the Spirit, which comes each spring to this barren earth and causes the blade and the flower to burst forth across the earth—unless that same Spirit of life comes into our souls, there will be deadness, spiritual lethargy, and spiritual apathy. Without Him, there will be no life. We need to pray that the Spirit would fill us and enliven us—that He would bring us to spiritual life and joy that only God can give, that He would empower us to live for Him, to overcome temptation, and to serve Him throughout our lives.

It is the work of God’s Spirit to sanctify us in this way. Then we may be able to bring forth good works. It is the Holy Spirit who daily teaches us, convicts us of sin, and calls us to a closer walk with Christ.

Question to ponder:
What do you see of the work of the Spirit in your life?