Forever Changed by the Holy Spirit
Bob Yandian
I want to talk to you about the power of the Holy Spirit—not just as a momentary experience, but as a permanent change in your life. When the Holy Spirit comes in, you are forever changed.
There are two major ministries of the Holy Spirit that you receive: Life and Power. One comes at salvation, and the other comes afterward when you're filled with the Spirit. These are not temporary blessings—they are eternal. You don’t lose them when you miss it. You don’t forfeit them when you stumble. And that’s the good news.
The Two Ministries That Mark You Forever
The moment you made Jesus your Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit gave you eternal life. That’s what it means to be born again—your spirit was made brand new. That’s the ministry of life.
But there’s more. Jesus told His disciples in Luke 24:49, “Tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.” The word "endued" means to be clothed upon—to be wrapped in something. That’s the second ministry of the Holy Spirit: power.
You can be born again—full of life—and still not yet be filled with power. But once you receive that power, you are forever changed. And God doesn’t take it back. The gifts and callings of God are without repentance (Romans 11:29).
Life and Power Are Not Conditional
Here’s something that shocks a lot of believers: you don’t lose your salvation when you sin. You don’t lose the Holy Spirit’s power when you fall into carnality. Now, your fellowship with God might be broken. Your joy might vanish. But the life and power He gave you remain.
That’s not a license to sin—it’s a license to serve. God doesn’t want carnal believers. But He doesn’t cast them out either. He calls them back, disciplines them as a Father does His children, and restores them to usefulness.
Peter is the perfect picture. He had life before Pentecost—he was already saved. But he lacked power. When the pressure was on, he denied Jesus to a servant girl. He even cursed. But after Pentecost? Peter stood in front of thousands, boldly declaring Jesus as Messiah, and 3,000 were saved. That’s the power of the Holy Spirit—and Peter was forever changed.
Changed, But Still Growing
Don’t get the idea that once you’re filled with the Spirit, you’ll never struggle again. Peter still had issues to grow through even after Pentecost. He became judgmental. Paul had to correct him for showing favoritism toward the Jews over the Gentiles. But his salvation was never revoked, and his power to minister was still active.
Being filled with the Spirit doesn’t make you perfect. It makes you empowered. It makes you effective. It makes you usable by God.
Carnality Doesn’t Cancel the Call
Throughout Scripture, we see flawed, carnal people being used by God. Here are just a few:
Noah obeyed God and built an ark, but later got drunk.
Abraham lied about his wife twice.
Sarah gave Hagar to her husband, then became bitter when it backfired.
Jacob manipulated his way through life.
Samson broke his vows and chased women, yet performed mighty feats of strength.
David committed adultery and murder, yet remained a man after God’s own heart.
Saul, King of Israel, consulted a witch in disobedience, but Samuel said, “Tomorrow you and your sons will be with me.”
Even in the New Testament:
Peter denied Jesus.
Paul struggled to forgive John Mark.
John Mark abandoned his assignment but was later restored.
These were real people with real struggles—but they were never beyond God's grace. They were changed forever by the Holy Spirit, and He didn’t leave them when they got it wrong.
Rewards vs. Salvation
First Corinthians 3:15 says, “If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.” That means there will be people in heaven who lived carnal lives and never fulfilled their call—but they’ll still be saved.
I don’t want to just get to heaven—I want to arrive in grand style. I want to hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” I want rewards. I want fruit that remains. And that’s the call to every believer—not just to be saved, but to be transformed—forever changed by the Holy Spirit.
A Call to Repent and Return
If you're walking in carnality right now, I want you to know—you’re still God’s child. He’s not done with you. He’s not disappointed beyond recovery. But He is calling you to repentance.
First John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Repentance is not about groveling—it’s about returning. It’s coming back to the One who gave you life and still offers power.
Don’t Stay Where You Are
You may have failed, but that failure doesn’t define you. God’s plan for your life didn’t change. His gifts didn’t disappear. The power of the Holy Spirit is still in you and upon you—and He wants to work through you today.
Let the Holy Spirit work in you. Let Him change you. Let Him empower you for ministry, for leadership, for witnessing, for serving. You’re not done—not even close. You are forever changed by the Holy Spirit, and He’s not finished with you yet.
Keep growing in the Word. Keep fellowshipping with the Spirit. And don’t let your past determine your future. The same Peter who denied Jesus stood up and changed the world. You can too. Because when the Holy Spirit fills you, you are forever changed.
