Not every Christian has the Holy Spirit (How to Receive the Holy Spirit)
Not everyone who claims to be a Christian has The Holy Spirit.
Just because you go to church, that doesn’t mean you have the Holy Spirit.
Just because you’ve believed in Jesus for a decade, that doesn’t mean you have the Holy Spirit.
Just because you’ve been playing in the worship band for years that doesn’t mean you have the Holy Spirit.
Let’s see some examples from the Bible because I’m just a man and man’s opinion doesn’t hold weight like the Word of God.
Acts 8:14-17:
14 Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, 15 who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. 16 For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
Here we have a group of believers that have these characteristics:
They believe in Jesus
They’ve received the word of God concerning Jesus and the Kingdom of God
They’ve been baptized
And they still don’t have the Holy Spirit.
But that’s only one example. What else does the Word say?
This time we had another group of Christ followers that haven’t even heard of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 19:1-6:
1 And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples 2 he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?”
So they said to him, “We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.”
3 And he said to them, “Into what then were you baptized?”
So they said, “Into John’s baptism.”
4 Then Paul said, “John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.”
5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.
5 Steps on How to receive the Holy Spirit:
1) Believe in Jesus
9 If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (Romans 10:9-10)
2) Repent
38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:38)
3) Keep God’s commands
15 “If you love Me, keep My commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. (John 14:15-17)
23 Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. (John 14:23)
4) Live in obedience to God
32 And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.” (Acts 5:32)
5) Ask in faith
24 Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. (John 16:24)
Indications you have the Holy Spirit:
1) You hate sin and fear the Lord
6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. (1 John 1:6)
2) You long for relationship with Jesus
15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God (Romans 8:15-16)
Evidence of the Holy Spirit working in you:
1) Conviction of sin
8 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment (John 16:8)
2) Speaking in tongues
3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. (Acts 2:3)
6 And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. (Acts 19:6)
3) Prophesying
6 And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. (Acts 19:6)
Ways the Holy Spirit Is Imparted unto you according to the Word of God
1) Laying on of hands
17 Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. (Acts 8:17)
17 And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized. (Acts 9:17-18)
2) Directly from Heaven
1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. (Acts 2:1-4)
