“And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit.” (Ephesians 5:18)

In my little time as a child of God, I have seen many different and amazing things that only can be explain by God’s handiwork. I have seen medical miracles, people delivered from a life of addiction, marriages restored from extreme hopelessness, and the list goes on…

As I was studying the 10 most influential church movements in the 20^th century, I was amazed at God’s handiwork through His people. But one the most controversial and skeptical events was the old saint’s testimony of the work on Azus street. It’s the testimony of a prayer meeting lead by a non-educated, one-eyed African American pastor. The prayer meeting began 1906 and ended almost 10 years later. A 10-year prayer meeting where reporters found Seymour, the pastor, spending the majority of his time on his knees chanting the word repent. Out of the box and seemed crazy for most, but thousands came to Christ and began a huge charismatic movement.

However, another controversial movement and one of the most amazing books of the Bible is the work of the Holy Spirit that happened in Acts. People were being saved, the church was growing, Christian were faithful to the risen savior. These believers were serving their God unto death; seems a little out of the box and crazy for most.

Being filled with Holy Spirit is communicated different in many denomination and can get confusing. However, after studying the 10 most influential church movements of the 20^th century, they had these things in common: Less of self, more of God, inward transformation, prayer, surrendering, unity amongst the believers, and reaching out to a lost world. Are you filed with the Holy Spirit and is it evident in your life?

Written by Juan Mendez: Juan is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and full-time staff member at America’s Keswick. 

The Daily Bible Reading: 1 Samuel 18-20 , Psalm 11, Psalm 59| You can download our 2017 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here

Daily Quote: “If we give God service it must be because He gives us grace. We work for Him because He works in us.” – Charles Spurgeon

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:

That they may set their hope in God, And not forget the works of God, But keep His commandments; Psalm 78:7