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When does one receive the HOLY SPIRIT

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This is the Sunday sermon at Calvary Temple, India, delivered by Dr. P. Satish Kumar on October 6, 2024.

📖 Acts 2:41-42
Peter denied knowing Jesus. Later, when the disciples and some believers were praying together, the Holy Spirit descended upon them, and when they were filled with the Holy Spirit, they achieved victory in the very places where they had once fallen, where they had been weak, and where they had lived dishonorably before God!
If the Holy Spirit dwells within us, we will live strong and victorious lives, particularly in the areas where we were once weak!

Every person who has Christ also has the Holy Spirit. At times, if someone asks you whether you have received the Holy Spirit or been filled with the Holy Spirit, there’s no need to be confused. When we accept the Lord Jesus Christ as our personal Savior, the Father in Heaven gives us the Holy Spirit as a gift. The Bible says, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38).

“So those who accepted His word were baptized” (Acts 2:41).
In those days, the early church first accepted the word. Jesus Christ is the embodiment of the Word! After accepting Christ as their Savior, they were baptized.
👉 One should only be baptized after being saved! (⚠ Baptism should not be taken for salvation.)
Baptism means participating in Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection (Romans 6:3-5).
God has forgiven my past sinful life and given me a new life. When I go into the water, I am burying my old life, and when I come out, I am a new person — this is the testimony baptism gives to the world!
👉 Some may say, “We are saved, but we want to take baptism together as a family.” But baptism is personal! Just as when we eat, everyone has their own plate, in the same way, after accepting Christ as a personal Savior, each individual must take their own baptism. Please do not delay baptism even after accepting Christ as your personal Savior because of your spouse, children, parents, or family members.

In the Bible, a eunuch who understood the truth about God and accepted Christ immediately went into the water and was baptized (Acts 8:34-38).
👉 Baptism must be done by immersion in water — that is the biblical baptism.

The prison guard and his entire household were taught the word of God, and they were immediately baptized (Acts 16:31-33).
👉 One should take baptism immediately after dying to sin!

Peter, who once denied knowing Jesus out of fear of being killed, boldly stood up in front of the same people in the same city of Jerusalem and proclaimed, “We are witnesses of this Christ, whom you crucified.” He had once been afraid, but after being filled with the Holy Spirit, he gained courage.

Dear brothers and sisters, God has not given us a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power, love, and self-discipline.
Some may claim to be filled with the Holy Spirit but behave uncontrollably. The Bible says, “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love, and of self-discipline” (2 Timothy 1:7).
👉 If the Spirit of God is dwelling in you, you will be in control! Uncontrolled speaking, clapping, or behavior is not a characteristic of someone filled with the Holy Spirit.

The early church was first saved, then baptized, and then they “devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer” (Acts 2:42).
🔵 There are four pillars of spiritual life:

  1. The Word!
  2. Fellowship!
  3. Breaking of Bread!
  4. Prayer!
    👆 These four are essential for our spiritual lives!

🔴 1. The Word: “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer” (Acts 2:42).

Those who are saved and baptized are considered newborns in Christ! 👉 Newborns need the milk of the Word. The Bible emphasizes, “Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation” (1 Peter 2:2-3).

👉 After being saved and baptized, in order to grow strong spiritually, you need the Word! Regardless of our age, we are still children in God’s sight! As His children, we require the spiritual milk of His Word! The more frequently you receive the Word, the more you will grow spiritually. Just as a plant thrives when it is watered regularly, your spiritual life will flourish when you attend God’s house and meditate on His Word regularly!

🔴 2. Fellowship: “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer without ceasing” (Acts 2:42).

Fellowship is a critical aspect of spiritual growth. Engaging with fellow believers encourages mutual support, accountability, and shared worship. Being a part of a faith community enables you to build lasting relationships rooted in Christ and strengthens your spiritual journey.

🔴 3. Breaking of Bread: Breaking bread refers to participating in communion, a sacred act that Jesus instituted during the Last Supper. It represents remembering His sacrifice and uniting with fellow believers in His name. By regularly partaking in communion, we renew our connection to Christ’s redemptive work on the cross and our relationship with one another in the body of Christ.

🔴 4. Prayer: “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer” (Acts 2:42).

Prayer is an essential part of a believer’s life. The Bible says, “Pray continually” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Through prayer, we communicate with God, draw closer to Him, and receive His guidance and strength. In difficult times, prayer can bring peace and breakthrough. Are there challenges you are facing that seem insurmountable? Prayer can open doors that seem closed. Never cease praying, for through it, God works in miraculous ways.

By incorporating the Word, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer into your daily life, your relationship with God will be strengthened, and your spiritual growth will thrive.

Why do God’s promises seem to take so long?

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This is the Sunday sermon at Calvary Temple, India, delivered by Dr. P. Satish Kumar on September 8, 2024.

About 13 years before David actually became king, God had anointed David as king over Israel through Samuel. The reason was that David lived according to God’s heart, had a heart that pleased God, preserved his holiness in his youth, and lived as a mighty warrior in the hands of God.

The Bible says, “For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him” (2 Chronicles 16:9). In these last days, those who live truly and righteously are becoming rare. It would be wonderful if God’s eyes were upon you in such times. Reflect on this!

When God examined the Israelites, everyone seemed to be wicked, but David, who was in his youth, appeared to be living according to God’s will. Consequently, God anointed David as king of Israel through the prophet Samuel.

However, David did not immediately get the opportunity to rule as king.

Dear sisters and brothers, God sometimes takes time to fulfill His perfect will for us. This was the case with David. He had to wait 13 years to rule as king. During this waiting period, David learned a lot. He learned about human envy, animosity, and hatred through Saul.

In our spiritual journey, we meet good people who bring us joy, and loving people who leave sweet memories in our lives. We also encounter bad people who teach us valuable lessons. Similarly, spiritual mentors improve our lives, bring us closer to God, and live as examples.

David learned patience through Saul. When Saul tried to kill him, David had to endure in a desperate and dire situation, wandering in the wilderness. David had to wait for the fulfillment of God’s promise. For about 13 or 14 years, Saul obstructed David from receiving the blessings and authority he was destined for. However, during these 13 or 14 years, God taught David valuable lessons.

Dear sisters and brothers, if you are going through struggles, labor, and trials, God is teaching you valuable lessons. God has higher plans and thoughts for you. He wants to bless you, make you a blessing to many, elevate you, and fulfill His higher purposes for you. To inherit these blessings, you need to gain experiences that God allows through people like Saul.

David learned great patience, but he also made mistakes out of despair and impatience. David became afraid of Saul. In reality, David had no reason to fear. The Bible says, “The Lord is with David.” Thus, God did not deliver David into Saul’s hands. If God did not deliver David to Saul, Saul had no chance of harming him! Yet, David faltered in his faith.

In our lives, we might lose things, but we should never lose our faith. The Bible says, “Everything is possible for one who believes” (Mark 9:23).

David, in his fear of Saul, made the mistake of seeking refuge in the land of the Philistines rather than trusting God. As a result, he faced difficulties and obstacles to the anointing as king of Israel.

The Bible says that Abner, Saul’s commander, made Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, king over Israel (2 Samuel 2:8-9). Abner was initially a commander of Saul’s army but proved to be an ineffective leader. At one time, David even spared Abner’s life (1 Samuel 26:12-16).

Now, Abner feared that David would become king over Israel after being made king over Judah. Abner, driven by envy, sought to prevent David from becoming king over all Israel.

When we are about to see progress and blessings, when we are moving forward with hope, and when good days seem to be approaching, people like Abner will undoubtedly come into our lives.

Dear sisters and brothers, when you are on the verge of achieving your goals, when it’s time to receive what you’ve been waiting for, many obstacles will arise to prevent you from attaining it. Such obstacles may even come from those in ministry or service.

When such obstacles arise, please don’t be discouraged, fearful, or troubled. Even if you feel like things are getting worse when you expect them to get better, remember that it’s a time of testing.

Bible scholar J.J. Butler stated that while it is true that David was anointed king over Israel, it took about seven and a half years for him to become king over the entire nation. This delay was possibly due to David’s mistake of seeking refuge in the Philistine territory rather than fully trusting in God.

Sometimes, due to our mistakes and sins, God might delay the blessings He intends to give us. David’s delay in becoming king might have been a result of seeking refuge in the Philistines.

Luke 1:5-8, 11-18, 20, 22

Zechariah did not believe in God’s promises! When we fail to trust God at the right time, we must pay the price.

David faced the same situation. He was meant to trust in God’s promises but faltered and went to places he shouldn’t have, seeking refuge with those he shouldn’t have. As a result, obstacles arose to his anointing as king of Israel. Abner, a wicked person, obstructed David’s anointing.

The Bible says, “You will be afraid and sin” (2 Samuel 2:8-9). Fear leads us to sin.

Abner, despite being ineffective, wanted to continue his role, so he made Ish-bosheth king over Israel. Despite the military incapacity of Ish-bosheth, Abner’s actions were driven by his own schemes.

In the end, David became strong while Saul’s house weakened (2 Samuel 3:1). When Saul’s family and David’s family were at war, David became stronger while Saul’s house weakened.

Dear readers, Saul, who was an obstacle in David’s life, died, and David was anointed king. If you commit to God’s will and trust Him, despite obstacles and delays, God will give you the best blessings He has in store. Even when it seems like nothing is happening, remember that God is working in ways you may not yet understand.

A little girl once brought apples to her mother. When her mother asked for an apple, the little girl bit into each apple and placed it back in the basket, thinking her mother would eat them all. The mother, feeling hurt and confused, eventually realized that her daughter was trying to give her the best apples.

Similarly, do not misinterpret God’s delay in blessings. He is preparing the best for you, and during this time, He wants you to gain the experiences you need.

Your Sorrow Can Turn into Joy

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This is the Sunday sermon at Calvary Temple, India, delivered by Dr. P. Satish Kumar on September 1, 2024.

In spiritual life, there are labors, hardships, obstacles, dangers, humiliations, and perils. But they are only temporary! If you are afraid of the troubles, losses, or diseases in your life today, thinking that it is the end of everything and that you will not see better days in your life… remember, whatever trouble has begun in your life, God is about to bring it to an end.

The time is coming soon when God will remove the trouble, the struggle, and the humiliation that has crushed you. Until then, it is your responsibility to preserve your faith, testimony, and holy life. Good days will certainly come to your life. This truth can be understood through the life of David.

David was pursued and fled in fear for his life. He had to endure many sleepless and unstable days in his life. Eventually, thinking that there was no security for him in the land he was in, he made a hasty decision and went to foreign lands. By going to the land of the Philistines and seeking refuge there, he put his life at risk and lost his family.

Dear brothers and sisters! In our lives, our security is only in God! When we choose to take refuge under the wings of God and seek Him, He provides safety even in the fiery furnace and in the tumultuous sea. That is, sometimes we must go through fiery trials in our lives. But if the work we are doing, the faith we possess, the testimony we have, and our holiness please God, then God will be with us in whatever circumstances we face.

When the clouds cover the sky, the eagle soars high above to see the sun. Where the sun is, there is light, and where there is light, there is no rain. So, when the clouds cover the sky, the eagle does not fear the clouds but flies towards the sun, moving forward.

In our lives, we should not fear the clouds (circumstances) that scare us but keep our focus on Jesus, the righteous Sun, who shines continuously for us. By looking towards Him, we will overcome the clouds around us and move forward.

The Bible says that those who live righteously on this earth will face troubles. But do not forget the truth that God allows these troubles to lead a righteous person to a higher state!

The troubles, losses, and diseases you face today are not meant to crush you! Understand the truth that God allowed them to elevate you to a higher state!

☛ If Joseph had not been sold into slavery… would he have become the Prime Minister of Egypt?
☛ If Job had not gone through suffering… would he have received the blessing of restoration?
☛ If the Jews had not been thrown into the fiery furnace… would they have attained a high position with Nebuchadnezzar?
☛ If Daniel had not been thrown into the lions’ den… would he have reached a high position after the king?
☛ If Jesus Christ had not died on the cross for us… would He have come as the Savior of the world?

The struggles of the righteous are only temporary! After a while, God turns all these troubles into blessings and makes you an example to the world.

The struggles David faced and the hardships he endured were overwhelming for him. In such situations, instead of drawing closer to God, David stumbled. That is, during the time when he should have drawn nearer to God, he became distant.

Troubles can either strengthen or weaken a person’s spiritual life! Dear brothers and sisters! If the troubles you are facing mentally and physically are making you weaken, it is a fact that you are not truly seeking God!

If you are seeking God amidst your troubles, God will eventually make your troubles submit to you. This is God’s way!

David, who had faced troubles, went to his enemies for help and ended up losing everything. In a desperate situation, he came to God. After losing everything and everyone, when David came to God, God showed mercy on him.

Rather than coming to God only after making mistakes and losing everything, if you come to God during times of trouble and struggle, and seek His mercy, you will surely see God’s answer in your life!

David, who lost everything, received double blessings when he sought God. The time had come for him to move forward from the place called Ziklag. The reason: David received news that Saul, who had been pursuing him and causing him sleepless nights, had died.

Do not forget the truth that troubles have an end just as they have a beginning! How your trouble began in your life… it will soon come to an end. Everything that begins has an end!

Good days came in David’s life…
☛ The time came when troubles were over!
☛ The time came when tears were wiped away!
☛ The time came when his dreams came true!
☛ The time came when he had a full meal!

Just as David believed, if you trust in God, the time will soon come when your tears will be wiped away, you will have a full meal, and all your dreams will come true. Do not forget this truth!

Even on the day when all David’s dreams came true, he did not rush. He went to God! The reason is that troubles came when he did not go to God first, and he lost everything. So, now he learned wisdom. From now on, he made it a point to seek God’s permission in everything he did.

Making mistakes is natural for humans! But repeating mistakes is a characteristic of foolishness!

Since David learned lessons from his mistakes, corrected his life, and wished to live as God desired, he prayed before moving from his current place to a higher state. God clearly revealed to David where he should go.

The Bible says: “Who is the man that fears the Lord? Him shall He teach in the way that he should choose” (Psalms 25:12).

If you are a righteous person who rejects evil, God will show you which path to choose, which place to select, which job to take, and which person to choose.

The characteristic of those who live far from God is “selfishness!” David did not think, “As long as I am fine, and as long as I am peaceful.” Instead, David took his family from a dangerous place to a place of peace. David had the spirituality of “if I am blessed, my family should also be blessed.” The reason for David’s high spirituality was that he lived close to God.

As David moved to a higher state, he took his family along with him. Not only that, but he also took others who were in trouble and difficulties to a higher state. That is, David had the remarkable spirituality of “it is not enough for me to be blessed; those around me should also be blessed.”

Dear brothers and sisters! God blesses you because you will be a blessing to many! May many be blessed through you! God supports you because you will support those who are struggling without help.

David became a blessing to his family and those around him after coming close to God.

Finally, David reached Hebron, where God had told him to go. “Then all the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah” (2 Samuel 2:4). When David went to Hebron, all the men of Judah came to him. David’s personality was such that he could unite everyone! When he went to that place, everyone came to David!

Our spirituality should be such that it attracts many!

Saul did not attract anyone! The reason was that Saul’s life was destructive!
👉 He lost God!
👉 He lost the “anointed one of God” (Samuel)!
👉 He lost David!
This was Saul’s personality.

Dear brothers and sisters! Do not let those who pray for you, love you, provide refuge for you, and support you be pushed away for any reason.

David was not someone who distanced others; he was someone who drew everyone closer! A remarkable spirituality!!

“Then all the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah” (2 Samuel 2:4). The people voluntarily anointed David as king. Samuel had once anointed David in his house, but now God anointed him as king among the people. This was David’s second anointing!

Do not get frustrated in the process of waiting! It is not easy to wait! Waiting involves many struggles. But you have to wait in the right place.

Psalm 27:14

This is the great lesson of David’s life.

Why are there obstacles in blessings?

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This is the Sunday sermon at Calvary Temple, India, delivered by Dr. P. Satish Kumar on August 25, 2024.

When David was about 17 years old, God anointed him as the king of Israel! At the same time, Saul, who had also been anointed as king, was ruling in his own way, which God could not bear to see. But in reality, God wanted Saul’s reign to last forever. “The Lord had sought to establish your kingdom over Israel forever” (1 Samuel 13:13).

Dear brothers and sisters, it is not God’s will that we are blessed temporarily, or that we see temporary progress, get a job for a short time, escape financial troubles temporarily, have a temporary family, or be temporarily settled! God’s intention and will are that we are blessed for eternity, that we are blessed as long as we live, and that the generations after us are blessed too! God had the same will for Saul’s life as well. However, because Saul lived a life against God, God grew weary of him and warned that he would lose the throne and the privilege of ruling. “Samuel said, ‘You have done foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of the Lord your God, which He commanded you. For now, the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. But now your kingdom shall not continue’” (1 Samuel 13:13).

Do not lose God’s intentions for you by willfully sinning! When you sin, your spouse, parents, or children may not see it, but God, who created you, sees it. If God sees you sin and cannot bear it, and rejects you, will you have the strength to bear it? If God grows weary of your life and says, “I am done with you,” is there anyone in this world who can save you? Think about it once!

God rejected Saul when He grew weary of his life, and at the same time, He chose David, who lived according to His will. “The Lord has sought for Himself a man after His own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be commander over His people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you” (1 Samuel 13:14).

There are two wills in this world… The first is your will! The second is God’s will!! If you follow your own will, you will invite trouble upon yourself. If you live as someone who pleases God, your life will be a blessing to those around you.

Saul lived according to his own will and brought trouble upon his family. Ultimately, he destroyed his entire family. David desired to do God’s will. Therefore, he was able to protect his family and later ascend to the throne! If God rejoices when He sees you, your life will become greatly blessed. If God is grieved when He sees you and the works you do, your life will crumble!

Saul’s life crumbled! The throne fell! He lost his life! The reason… Saul’s self-willed life!

Because Saul lived against God, he even lost his children.
Dear father and mother, please do not live against God. Your contrary way of life can turn into a curse for your children. David went into the presence of the Lord, realized his mistakes, repented, and prayed, thereby protecting his wife and children. If you are someone who prays in the presence of the Lord, you will be able to protect your family and your children!

☛ David was able to protect his family! 👉 Saul was unable to protect himself, and he could not protect his family. ☛ David became a blessing to his family and those around him. 👉 Saul became a curse to his family and those around him. ☛ The sun set on Saul’s life. 👉 The sun of righteousness rose in David’s life. ☛ Saul’s life came to an end. 👉 David’s life began with a wonderful new beginning.

When Saul died, David did not celebrate; he lamented and wept greatly. The reason… David had a wonderful heart that loved even his enemies! Good days were coming in David’s life. As a result of his perseverance, his faith, and his trust in God, good days were on the way.

Before David began his reign, he prayed! “It happened after this that David inquired of the Lord, saying, ‘Shall I go up to any of the cities of Judah?’ And the Lord said to him, ‘Go up.’ David said, ‘Where shall I go up?’ And He said, ‘To Hebron'” (2 Samuel 2:1). David prayed in the presence of the Lord, and God told him to go to Hebron. Going to the place God directs and doing what God says is always a blessing!

☛ Hebron is one of the oldest cities in the world! ☛ Hebron is the city where Abraham built the altar! ☛ Hebron is the city where Sarah was buried! ☛ Caleb and Joshua brought magnificent clusters of grapes from Hebron when they went to see the Promised Land! ☛ Hebron is the city Caleb desired! ☛ Hebron is 30 km away from Jerusalem!

It was to this city of Hebron that God directed David to go. We must go to the city God directs us to and do the work He tells us to do. That is our blessing!

David took his family and the 400 men with him to Hebron. Who were those 400 men? “All those who were in distress, everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented gathered to him. So he became captain over them. And there were about four hundred men with him” (1 Samuel 22:2). Those 400 men with David were not rich or prosperous! They were people who were distressed, going through financial difficulties, and struggling in all ways. David was driven by fear of the enemy, had no permanent place, no food to eat, no shelter, no proper clothes, and was fleeing with his life in his hands. These 400 people came to David because he appeared as someone who understood their struggles. The reason was that David was also going through similar hardships.

At one point, a boy went to a shop that sold dogs to buy a puppy. Among the various beautiful puppies, he chose a small one and asked for it. But the shop owner said, “Son! You can buy any of these dogs, but don’t buy this puppy. If you buy this, it will be more trouble than you can imagine! This puppy has a bad leg and can’t run fast when called. It can’t run with you wherever you go. If you buy it, you will not be happy. So buy a healthy puppy, and you will be happy.” The boy replied, “I still want this puppy; I will buy it. I am the only one who can understand this puppy because I, too, am crippled! So I am the right person to buy and love this crippled puppy.”

Dear brothers and sisters! We are sinners, and the sinless Lord Jesus Christ, who understands us, became a sinner for us. He laid down His life on the cross for us. There is no one in this world who can understand us except Him. He bore the punishment for us, came into this world in our place, and in our form.

When we carefully observe David, we see that those around him were going through troubles, sickness, and various difficulties. Those 400 people stood by David in his time of trouble. David was about to become the king of Israel, and those who stood by him in his tough times would become rulers along with the great king David.

The Bible says that if we endure hardships and struggles on this earth with King Jesus, after this earthly journey, we will live with Him eternally and also rule with Him when He comes to this earth.

Even the 400 people who went through hardships and difficulties were about to experience good days because they followed David, who was being blessed, and he transformed those who were with him into blessings!

When you are blessed, do not forget those who stood by you in your tough times! When you are blessed, do not forget those who helped you and prayed for you! Live with gratitude!

David did not forget the 400 people who stood by him during his difficult times. When he was going to be anointed as king, he took those who stood by him during his tough times along with him. “And David brought up his men who were with him, each with his family, and they settled in the towns of Hebron” (2 Samuel 2:3).

If you are going through struggles, illnesses, or financial difficulties in your life, understand that God is allowing these things in your life because He is preparing you to become a blessing to many through your experiences!

Do you feel, “Why is this happening only to me?” Know that behind your situation, there is God’s great wisdom and plan. Your troubles may turn into a blessing for many!