Reverend Mark Hankins kicked off the first Holy Ghost service of WAFBEC 2016 by handing over the first minutes to his wife Trina to minister in her characteristic manner of song and prophetic utterances. When she was done he gave his sermon title as Joy in the Holy Ghost.

Romans 14:17, Acts 13:52

Using the above scriptural references he described the kingdom of God as follows:

  1. Understanding righteousness.
  2. The peace of God.
  3. Joy in the Holy Ghost.

Joy is one of the major characteristics of God’s kingdom and this kingdom is explained as anywhere His dominion is established. Another way to describe it would be the realm of God and the spirit dimension.

This joy is supernatural and has a purpose. Followers of Jesus as described in Acts 13 were filled with this joy. It’s good to note that the term used is a continuous tense and condition they were in.

The Anointing is called the oil of joy and there’s no sad anointing or Holy Spirit. When the Holy Spirit has His way there’s always great joy. He takes everything God has done and makes it real in our lives i.e. turns theology into reality. He makes Jesus bigger to you.

Psalm 92, Acts 3:19

Whenever the Holy Ghost is in operation people are likened to drunkards, e.g. on the day of Pentecost people thought the disciples were drunk when the Holy Spirit fell on them.

Reverend Hankins pointed out that the Holy Spirit is not afraid to move in any mess! In Genesis it expressly stated that He hovered over the face of the deep when darkness was upon it. He will turn the ugly into beauty and whilst incubating in chaotic situations He prepares the individual for something bigger and better. One translation of the Bible calls Him the Spirit of Reality.

According to the late Kenneth E. Hagin, the world needs to be taught to receive Jesus the way the church needs to be taught to receive the Holy Ghost. Once you recognise Him and yield to Him He will turn things around. In fact He has a reputation for turning things around.

Yielding to the joy the Spirit produces results in the following:

  1. It’s a demonstration of the triumph of Christ.
  2. Joy is also a demonstration that Satan is defeated.

Through laughter, praise and shouting joy is revealed and once you’re saturated in it certain gifts and callings unbeknownst to you are activated. Ignorance can cause one to miss out on the Holy Spirit’s work.

Once you receive or respond to the Anointing it multiplies!