"John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water, but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire"
Of all the years that I attended church as a young man, I would often hear references about the Holy Ghost. I saw people given to fits of excitement and joy when He would enter into the room, and saw them return back to normal when He left. I would see the women pass out under the power of God's Spirit with an uncontrollable limpness of body, only to be revived by the administering of smelling salt. I would hear some with their blood-curdling screams as if they were being tormented by something unseen to the naked eye.
Our churches were very emotional, and our congregations verbally expressed their inspiration by the preaching from the pulpit. Our pastors were some of the best orators in the region and could seemingly summons the Holy Ghost at will. And, while I was raised in a very spiritual environment, I never really heard anyone actually teach on the subject of the Holy Ghost. I had heard of "catching the Spirit", but not receiving Him.
I knew that we were supposed to be born again, but our pastors didn't really explain just what the Holy Ghost was. We were left to our own assumptions, destined to repeat what we had seen others do. Therefore, I continued, as most people do, to abide in darkness and suspense concerning this topic until I began to seek God for salvation, REAL salvation.
"Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed"
The apostle Paul, while en route to minister the word of the Lord at Ephesus, came upon certain disciples preaching. He was excited to see others laboring in the vineyard, but wondered about their conversion. It was obvious to him that these men were believers, but he asked them a question that challenged their scriptural understanding. He asked if they had ever received the Holy Ghost since they became believers. This question gives us strong indication that the two experiences, believing and receiving, were not one in the same.
These disciples responded that they had never heard of the Holy Ghost. Paul then proceeded to tell them about Jesus Christ and the promise of the Comforter that would come and abide in the hearts of men. The Holy Spirit would give birth to something new, fresh and exciting, while teaching us about the kingdom of God. These disciples gladly received that word and were baptized, both in water, and in the Holy Ghost. Acts 19:6 tells us that, as Paul laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost fell on them, and they began to speak in other tongues.
"While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God." Acts 10:44-46
Peter had been given instructions by God to go and preach Jesus Christ to the Gentiles. Cornelius, a devout man, had never heard the gospel of Jesus Christ. Scriptures teach us that, as Peter struggled with the idea of going into the home of a Gentile, the unction from God was too overwhelming for Him. He obeyed God's command, preached Jesus unto them, and God confirmed their belief of the word preached by filling them with the Holy Ghost. Peter knew that this had happened because these Gentiles had the same experience as happened on the Day of Pentecost. See Acts 11:15.
Many denominations fight the speaking in other tongues as a sign of God's baptism in the Holy Ghost. It's unfortunate that they are willing rather to continue in traditions that will not profit them, rejecting the very power that's needed to tear down the strongholds in their own lives. For some reason, God designated the speaking in other tongues as the outward sign that He had taken residence in man. This was noted in several places in the holy scriptures.
"Nevertheless I tell you the truth; it is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you"
As the day of Christ's' crucifixion drew near, the hearts of the disciples were extremely saddened. They wondered among themselves how they would survive if Christ were gone away. But Jesus encouraged them that, if they believed in God, then they should believe also in Him, and that He was going away to prepare a place where they would eventually dwell with Him forever. He continued to teach them that, even though He would be leaving soon, He would not leave them comfortless. He promised to pray unto His Father to send the "Comforter", the Holy Ghost, which would abide with them forever.
The initial outpouring of the Holy Ghost happened on the Day of Pentecost as hundreds of believers gathered, praying, tarrying, waiting in expectation for God's presence. It was the fulfillment of prophecy by Joel that in the last days, God would pour out His Spirit upon all flesh (Joel 2:28-32). Jesus had promised that they would receive power after the Holy Ghost had been given unto them, and it was POWER that they received!
"If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water"
The Jews had often criticized Jesus Christ for making statements like this, especially when He claimed to be the bread of life that came down from heaven. Because they did not believe that Jesus was the Son of God, everything spoken by Christ was doubly scrutinized. And as He began to speak of the rivers of living water that would proceed out of our bellies, the scripture continues to say that "this spake He of the Spirit, which they that believe on Him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified."
The Holy Ghost is the Spirit of God. He has also been called the Spirit of Christ, the Holy Spirit, and in some references the Spirit of Truth. He is the 3rd person of the godhead, one with the Father and the Son in mind and in purpose. Inseparable. He lives in us, leading and guiding us into the truths that deliver us from the bondage of our flesh, and gives us the power to become TRUE sons of God.
"Now if any man have not the
Spirit of Christ, he is none of His"
That passage is located in Romans 8:9, and pretty accurately defines our heritage. It takes the Spirit of God living and moving within us to facilitate our adoption into the kingdom as children of God. The Holy Ghost reproves sin in us, transforming us by the renewing of our minds through Christ Jesus. He lifts up the standard of holiness in us that is impossible to attain without His presence.
The Holy Ghost is not an emotion, for we walk by faith and not by sight. He is not stirred by our boisterous declarations, but is moved and activated by our faith and our belief that all things are possible with God. The Holy Ghost is poured out upon those who have repented of their sins, and have decided to obey the Lord with ALL their heart, ALL their mind, and with ALL their strength. He cannot be bought with money, as some have tried to do, but is freely given to ALL who call upon God with a pure and sincere heart.
"Hereby know we that we dwell in Him, and He
in us, because He hath given us of His Spirit"
1 Corinthians 6:19 tells us that our bodies are the temple of the Holy Ghost, and that we no longer belong to ourselves. When we receive Him, we make Him our Lord, our Master, our Boss. We are led by Him, and do not dictate anything at all to Him. He is our Lord Supreme, and there can be none else besides Him. He is the very foundation upon which our faith in God resides, and there is no other foundation that can be laid.
The Holy Ghost is given to strenghten us, to seal us until our day of redemption. It searches our hearts for those things that have been wounded, weakened, and forever intercedes for us to the Father with groanings that cannot be uttered in earthly dialect. According to 1 Corinthians 14:14, when we pray in other tongues, it is our spirit praying unto God in a language that is not interpretable. 1 Corinthians 2:10 also tells us that the Spirit searches all things, yes, even the deep things of God, and makes them known unto His children. He opens our understanding to those things that are freely given to us of God. Hallelujah!
"And He that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because He maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God"
If you have not yet received the Holy Ghost, it's time that you did. The judgment of the Lord is upon us, and the day of His return draweth nigh. It's time to awaken out of the deep sleep placed upon us by doctrines that prevent us from becoming what God ordains us to become.
Jesus said that, when the Holy Ghost comes to us, He will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment (John 16:8-11). He corrects those things that displeases His Father, transforms our heart as we hunger and thirst after His righteousness, and gives us an understanding of His will and judgments in the earth. Romans 8:1-2 tells us that there is no condemnation for us who are born again and are walking in obedience to the will of Jesus Christ. The law of sin has NO DOMINION over us because WE"VE BEEN FREED by the power of the Holy Ghost that lives in us.
It is our receipt of His Holy Spirit that validates our position as children of the kingdom of God. We become heirs of God and joint-heirs with Jesus Christ as we put on the nature of God. It is the Spirit of God that has given us the access to eternal life with Christ Jesus. The process is really simple. Ask, and ye shall receive. Seek, and ye shall find. Knock, and that door will be opened unto you. God is no respector of persons and gives His Spirit to ALL who sincerely call upon His name.
