One of the most inspiring facts about Rev. Chris Okotie is that he never fails to conclude his preaching with the call for salvation to sinners and after which he takes them to 'Holy Ghost Room' to get them filled with the Holy Spirit immediately.
In Acts 19:1 & 2, the scripture states that Paul traveled through the interior regions of Corinth until he got to Ephesus. There he found some believers in Christ.
Then he asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?”
“No,” they replied, “we haven’t even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”
The people's response are exactly similar to what so many Christians of today would say. They were just happy being Christians and didn't know anything about the receiving the Holy Spirit.
So Paul asked, “Then what baptism did you receive?”
“John’s baptism,” they replied.
Paul said to them, “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.
In other words, now that Jesus has come and we have received him, John's baptism is immaterial. Why? John's baptism is water baptism.
You remember that John told his disciples, “I baptize you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He'll baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire." (Luke 3:16).
After reiterating this position to them, Paul placed his hands on them and the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.
When people receive Christ, the precedence in scripture is to get them filled with the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues. They must be filled with the Holy Spirit.
The primary reason for this is so they could be effective witnesses for Christ. Acts 1:8 says that we shall receive power after the Holy Ghost has come upon us, and we shall be WITNESSES unto Christ...
That we have so many Christians who are not witnesses is enough fact that explains that many in the church of today are not filled with the Holy Spirit.
The word "witness" is not the same as evangelizing even though that is encapsulated in it. The word actually means to exhibit the evidences of the Gospel.
What are these evidences? Heal the sick, raise the dead, open blind eyes, stop deafness and walk in the supernatural.
All believers are supposed to manifest the supernatural. That is the design. But unfortunately, so many in the church have not received the Holy Spirit.
We must begin to reemphasize this vital aspect of Christianity in our churches. This is what I do next whenever I lead people to Christ. I make sure I lay hands on them to receive the Holy Spirit. I have been doing this since I was sixteen.
I don't teach them to speak in tongues like it's being done in some of our churches these days, which is wrong and terrible.
When we have all people in church filled with the Holy Spirit, the cravings to manifest the supernatural and witness the resurrection power will be outstanding.
Cheers.
