Gospel Reflections #49: Our Hearts Strengthened by the Holy Spirit

Acts 7:55 "Stephen, filled with the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God."

We often hear the phrase "filled with the Holy Spirit. What does it mean to be filled with the Holy Spirit? Does it mean that we choose God each and every day, so that our hearts are filled with God?

When the Holy Spirit enters our hearts, we are given peace that is not found in this world regardless of our circumstances. We feel a sense of security that it is going to be okay. No matter how difficult the situation may be, we can see the invisible God beyond the reality through an enlightenment of a universal reality of His work for His children. This becomes hope and joy.

The invisible reality becomes greater than the visible reality. We become one with God and are led into eternity with Him.

Like Stephen, we can see a vision of Jesus's loving presence in our most trying times and that's enough, we then see that God will bear our pain and suffering!

When we believe and accept God, we are saved by the righteousness of Jesus. Even if we are killed like Stephen, we will surely be resurrected through the righteousness of Jesus.

All we have to do is believe and accept Jesus and agree to let the Holy Spirit enter our hearts! We may not be able to do as Stephen did, but there is nothing God cannot do. God gives us the Holy Spirit to give us hope, joy, and peace and become unshaken by anything.

We are okay not because the circumstance around us becomes okay. We are okay because what is inside our hearts will be hope, assurance, and strength to endure. The heart will be filled with the fruit of the Holy Spirit.

Let us rejoice greatly in God's protection, in the filling of God's Spirit!

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This Gospel Reflections page is written by Masae San, a devoted student of the Bible who passionately embraces the Gospel of Jesus Christ. She shares her daily reflections on the Gospels as a way to reach out to others and spread the message of Jesus. We're sharing her message here so that you too can experience the joy that comes from the Gospel that has filled her heart.