Receiving the Holy Spirit

Read Time:  9 Minutes

There are some common fears and misconceptions that keep people from receiving holy spirit into manifestation. They are due to wrong teaching or a lack of knowledge of the Word of God. As workman of the Word it is our responsibility to go to God's Word to know the truth and it shall make us free. We need to know that the gift of holy spirit is an indwelling reality, presence, and power in our lives so that we may live more abundantly. Knowing the truths of God's Word will bring great joy and peace.

Fear can bind a man or woman and prevent them from receiving the gift of holy spirit from God. Satan blinds the eyes of people so they are prevented from receiving the promises of God. Jesus Christ came to expose his lies and make a way for man to be reconciled to God. We were separated; now we can be joined into the family of God once again.

Some people may fear that the gift of holy spirit is not for them. But God makes it clear that all that call upon the Lord shall be saved.

Acts 2
:21 And it shall come to pass,
    that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

:36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly,
    that God hath made that same Jesus,
        whom ye have crucified,
    both Lord and Christ.

:39 For the promise is unto you,
    and to your children,
    and to all that are afar off,
    even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

Romans 10
:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus,
    and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead,
    thou shalt be saved.
:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness;
    and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
:11 For the scripture saith,
        Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
:12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek:
    for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

We can be confident that when we call upon God in the name of Jesus Christ we will be heard; He answers. When you desire to be saved God is faithful and will fill you. God is not like a man that He would lie but performs the promises He has given us.

Ephesians is written to the faithful in Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 5
:18 And be not drunk with wine,
        wherein is excess;
    but be filled [pleroo filled to capacity] with the Spirit;

It is important that we return to what the Word of God says regarding receiving into manifestation the holy spirit. God tells us often to be wary of those that do not speak the truth but a different doctrine (Rom 16:17, Eph 4:14, I Tim 1:3, 6:3-5 ,  Heb 13:9, II John 1:10). Do not be swayed by the actions of some that deny the reality of receiving the holy spirit as a present experience. Manifesting holy spirit now is our right and privilege; it did not die with the apostles.

Hebrews 13
:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday,
    and to day,
    and for ever. [figure of speech polysyndeton, bringing emphasis on each item in the list]

Some people are afraid that they will receive a counterfeit experience. Satan does supernatural feats and possesses people; how can we be sure that what we receive is from the one true God?

Proverbs 3
:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart;
    and lean not unto thine own understanding.

Trust! God is greater than Satan and will take care of all that call upon Him.

Luke 11
:11 If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father,
        will he give him a stone?
    or if he ask a fish,
        will he for a fish give him a serpent?
:12 Or if he shall ask an egg,
        will he offer him a scorpion?
:13 If ye then,
        being evil,
    know how to give good gifts unto your children:
    how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit [pneuma hagion - the gift of holy spirit] to them that ask him?

Jesus Christ is very clear here; that any one that asks God for the gift of holy spirit, power from on high, He will give it. A human father wants the best for his kids, how much more does our Heavenly Father want for us?

Ephesians 3
:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think,
    according to the power that worketh in us,

We can come to God trusting in Him, believing His promises with absolute confidence, that from God we will receive only good.

Another concern of people is that they are not good enough before God, and therefore not worthy to receive His gift of holy spirit. Many think they must earn the gift by being good and doing good. This kind of thinking has blocked countless people from receiving the promises of God. God knows who we are and what we are made of. He went beyond what we could fathom made us righteousness through simply believing His Word, it is not by our actions. (Romans 3 & 4)

Romans 10
:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness;
    and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Receiving the holy spirit is a gift from God. It is not by our works that we are given this gift; all promises of God are received by believing.

Ephesians 2
:5 Even when we were dead in sins,
    [God] hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
:6 And hath raised us up together,
    and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
:7 That in the ages to come
    he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith;
    and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
:9 Not of works,
    lest any man should boast.
:10 For we are his workmanship,
    created in Christ Jesus unto good works,
    which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

It is not by our works or goodness that we are saved, it is through faith, believing. If salvation was given because we were good enough or did good works to receive it we could boast and the glory would be to us, but because God gave freely we must give the glory to Him. Now we have the responsibility to do good works; preach, and teach God's Word, minister to God's people, and make known God's Word so people may be reconciled back to God.

God saved us so that we may glorify Him and show His grace to the world. Of ourselves we are not worthy, but God made us righteous and justified, redeeming us so we may show is grace and glorify Him. The spirit of God that He gives is His working, we are His workmanship; we simply believed.

It is now our responsibility to use the gift, and it is our freedom of will to do so. Just because some people don't use the gift of God properly, or at all, doesn't mean the gift is without power. We must return to the Word of God to know our rights and responsibilities.

We can't be afraid of misusing the gift of holy spirit either. For some that is a road block to receiving the holy spirit. Remember from Ephesians 2:8, salvation is a gift. God knows that we will need help along the way to walk in His light and he has given us tools and His Word to help and guide us. The gift of holy spirit with its manifestations (speaking in tongues, interpretation of tongues, prophecy, word of wisdom, word of knowledge, discerning of spirits, faith, miracles, and gifts of healings) is for us to use and benefit from. We will sin; just because we are born again doesn't mean our nature changes immediately, but, we now have spiritual help to walk according to righteousness, according to God's Word, doing the will of God.

I John 1
:8 If we say that we have no sin,
    we deceive ourselves,
    and the truth is not in us.
:9 If we confess our sins,
    he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins,
    and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

The holy spirit is given to us so we may grow in knowledge and wisdom. The Word is spiritually discerned (I Cor 2:14), and understood by spirit filled believers, not God rejecters. The gift of holy spirit is given, not because we deserve it, but because we need it to be come more Christ-like. When you make the conscious effort to do the Word of God, simply believe what He says, you will see the results.

Operating the manifestations of the holy spirit produces fruit. You will be known by your fruit. Holy spirit is invisible; but because we are endued with power from on high we can manifest it. In addition to receiving revelation from God and performing signs, miracles, and wonders, fruit is evident.

Galatians 5
:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

There is a figure of speech used here, asyndeton, without 'ands',  this puts the emphasis on the fruit of the Spirit, not each individual item in the list like polysyndeton does (many 'ands'). As a plant grows and matures it produces fruit, as we mature in the Word we shall also. God wants us to have the fruit of the spirit.

Another concern regarding receiving the gift of holy spirit is the erroneous assumption that the person would do something 'crazy' and look stupid. But God is loving and has given us free will to speak in tongues at will. He never controls his children you move your lips, your tongue, and your voice box, but God gives you the words to speak by inspiration. Remember the great principle? God's spirit teaches His creation in you which is now your spirit and your spirit teaches your mind then it becomes manifested in the sense realm as you act. Who is acting? You are acting and you can stop at anytime.

I Corinthians 14
:32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.
:33 For God is not the author of confusion,
    but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

It is up to us to know God's Word that we may live according to His standard and we will receive the benefits thereof. Any fears or hesitations are melted away as we focus on God and His Word and realize that He is the Almighty God and loving Heavenly Father that gives gifts unto men so that we may live abundantly and glorify Him. We need to know that the gift of holy spirit is an indwelling reality, presence, and power in our lives so that we may live more abundantly. Knowing the truths of God's Word will bring great joy and peace.