In my communion time with the Holy Spirit, He drew my attention to a phrase repeatedly used in the Book of Acts that is vital for us today, yet it often receives very little attention which are these words: “Being full of the Holy Spirit.”

We repeatedly read the story of how individuals such as Peter, Stephen, Paul, and Philip each being full of the Holy Spirit, and whenever this description accompanies their name and ministry, we see remarkable miracles, signs, and wonders taking place through them.

This reveals something very important that the message being spoken by them was not merely the product of the individual’s own thoughts, opinions, personality, or ministerial title. It was the Holy Spirit speaking through a vessel who had yielded himself to the Lord.

This fact makes an important distinction between the individual vessel and the Person of the Holy Spirit. The power and effectiveness when they were full of the Holy Spirit did not originate from the individual. This clearly points to the fact that what the vessel was carrying and expressing was exactly what the Holy Spirit was saying and doing.

Therefore, in this season, we must learn to recognize and listen for the voice of the Holy Spirit speaking through a vessel who is full of the Holy Spirit, rather than being persuaded merely by the title or position of the person speaking. A minister may carry the title of Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor, or Teacher, but a title by itself cannot give life. What matters is whether the Holy Spirit is actually bearing witness through the vessel speaking.

There is a clear difference between someone speaking by the Holy Spirit and someone simply expressing their personal opinion. When Peter spoke under the influence and fullness of the Holy Spirit, there was a corresponding manifestation of the Lord’s power to confirm the word spoken. However when a person speaks merely from himself, there is no such guarantee of the manifestation of the Holy Spirit.

This is why we must be careful not to substitute the eloquent words of men for the voice of the Holy Spirit. Jesus made the distinction plainly in John.6:63 that: “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing.” Human words that originate merely from the flesh cannot produce what only the Spirit can produce.

Even if the speaker carries an apostolic, prophetic, evangelistic, pastoral, or teaching title, words originating from the flesh remain fleshly words and cannot accomplish the work of the Spirit. The emphasis, therefore, is not on the greatness of the individual speaking but on the fullness of the Holy Spirit within the vessel.

This is why we see the repeated descriptions in the book of Acts of these men: Peter full of the Holy Spirit, Stephen full of the Holy Spirit, Paul full of the Holy Spirit, and Philip full of the Holy Spirit which show us a pattern when the Holy Spirit is speaking. When people are filled with the Holy Spirit and yield themselves to Him, their words and actions become instruments through which the Lord makes Himself known.

The results are always miracles, signs, wonders, and a powerful witness accompanying the proclamation made because the Holy Spirit is actively working through the person. This is especially important for this present season if we are to experience the fullness of the Holy Spirit’s Outpouring.

We must stop allowing ourselves to be deceived or controlled by words that merely come from men that do not save or impart life. We must return to waiting for the voice of the Holy Spirit, because the Holy Spirit gives life while the flesh profits nothing.

Being full of the Holy Spirit is therefore not presented as an optional spiritual experience that we may choose to pursue or ignore. The apostolic instruction to be filled with the Holy Spirit is a command and a necessary part for us to have if we are to fulfil the Lord’s purpose. We need to be full of the Holy Spirit so that the plan of the Lord can be accomplished through us and the Kingdom of Jesus can be established and manifested on the earth.

The challenge for today is therefore very simple and very serious saying that: before you begin speaking “thus saith the Lord,” make sure you are full of the Holy Spirit. Do not speak merely from your own understanding, opinion, emotion, experience, or religious position. Always allow the Holy Spirit to fill you first , then lead you, and bear witness through you. The goal of this spiritual protocol is not for people to hear the individual and merely admire the vessel.

The goal is for people to encounter the living God through what the Holy Spirit speaks and does through that surrendered vessel. When the Holy Spirit is truly speaking through us, He always gives witness to Jesus, brings life to those who hear, and demonstrates that the Lord is alive and actively working among His people just as He did with Jesus in Luke.4 when Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit and returned in the power of the Holy Spirit before He started preaching the Kingdom.

I declare that you are being filled afresh with the Holy Spirit and every voice of the flesh, human opinion, religious tradition, and empty words that have competed with the voice of the Holy Spirit are losing their influence over you. I declare that you will no longer speak merely from yourself, but you will learn to wait upon the Holy Spirit, to hear His voice clearly, and speak only what He gives you to speak.

The Holy Spirit will bear witness of Jesus through you and your words will carry life, grace, truth, and the testimony of Jesus. I declare that your life will become a yielded vessel through which the presence and power of the Lord is revealed. You will no longer be governed by titles, personalities, reputations, or the opinions of men, but by the living voice of the Holy Spirit.

As you remain full of the Spirit, the plan of the Lord will be accomplished through your life, and your obedience will contribute to the establishment and manifestation of the Kingdom of Jesus on the earth. May grace be abundantly multiplied to you to live continually full of the Holy Spirit and to speak only as He gives you utterance, in Jesus’ name. Amen.