7/28 Receiving the Gift of the Holy Spirit for Christian Foundations
When we pass from being a slave in the kingdom – with all the slave thinking patterns from the world still dogging us – we enter a new growth stage.
It is possible in our current ways of looking at the Christian religion and the system church to sail passed what Jesus said about the Holy Spirit, thinking it was for then but not for now. It is possible to ‘do church’ with all its meetings and greetings …. and leave out the Holy Spirit!
Before Jesus left this Earth, He told His disciples and those who followed Him: “Do not leave Jerusalem but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard about ….” Acts 1:4-5, Luke 24:49, John 7:39, 14:16, 16:7.
Just what do you think He meant by that? He had already introduced the presence of the Holy Spirit before He ascended to heaven. Therefore, Jesus must have had something more in mind when He gave those instructions to His followers.
How this grieves our Creator. This is so not the way He meant for us to walk with Him! Therefore it becomes important to understand more about the Holy Spirit to see what Jesus intended, especially as He intended us to grow into mature sons and daughter of the Living God!
So What is the Purpose of receiving the Holy Spirit?
1. To receive power needed to be witnesses – Acts 1:8,
2. In Obedience to Jesus’ Directions – John 7: 37 – 39.
3. It is His desire to live in us and help us – Luke 11:13.
4. It is His will for us as a New Testament church – 1 John 5: 14 – 15.
5. It is a continuous gift to help us live and understand the Christian walk – John 15:26, 16:13, 63, Romans 8:14, Gal. 5:16-17, Rom. 5:5.
How do we receive the Holy Spirit?
Memorise Acts 2:38 as the foundational verse:
“Repent and be baptised every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
1. To repent of any sin – Based on the conviction of the Holy Spirit – not condemnation from self or others, agree with what the Lord says about your actions. Determine to follow Him instead of repeat the sin again.
2. Baptism is an essential part of growth, Mark 16:16, Acts 8:12, Acts 19:1-6, Romans 6:3, 1 Corinthians 12:13. Receiving the Holy Spirit is linked with baptism: Acts 2:38-39, 9:17-18, 10:44-48, 19:1-6. In several other places, receiving the Holy Spirit came before baptism: Acts 8:12, 14-17.
3. Faith and belief that Jesus is the Christ – Acts 11:15-17, Romans 8:9, Galatians 3:2-3, Ephesians 1:13. A belief that this gift is for all, Acts 2:17-18, 2:38, Romans 8:9.
4. We need to ask to receive the Holy Spirit – Luke 11:13, Acts 8:15. This can be in the attitude of prayer by yourself or with the prayers of other believers.
The need for this ‘infilling of the Holy Spirit’ did not stop when Jesus left or when the early followers died. It is necessary for us today! It is also essential for the rebirth and renewal process to grow from that slave into sonship: Titus 3:5.
What about Your Own Prayer Language? …..> “THE BADGE” of speaking in Tongues?
As we go through this simple Bible study, notice who, when, how and what happened.
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The Bible verse: |
Comments: |
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| 1. | Joel 2:28, Mark 16:17 | Promised in Joel, linked with the Great Commission as signs which follow believers. |
| 2. | Acts 2: 1 – 4 | The Pentecost experience: Tongues heard by those in Jerusalem. |
| 3. | Acts 2: 37 – 39 | To whom is the promise of the Holy Spirit given? |
| 4.5. | Acts 8:14 – 17Acts 9:17-19, 22:12-16, 14:18 | Samaritan believers – belief without knowledge of the Holy Spirit, how given? Paul’s conversion, his teachings on tongues and his own language. |
| 5. | Acts 10: 44 – 48 | The Gentiles given the Holy Spirit too, with tongues. |
| 6. | Acts 19: 1 – 6 | The believers at Ephesus were saved but without any knowledge of the Holy Spirit, or about tongues. |
| 7. | 1 Corinthians 14: 4 – 14 | Paul’s teaching on the use of tongues, personal and for the church meetings: about the other gifts, their use in the church and with unbelievers and for orderly worship. |
| 8. | 1 Corinthians 14: 22 | Tongues is given as a sign, |
| 9. | 1 Corinthians 14: 39 | We are told not to forbid tongues. |
| 10. | Luke 11:10 | Good gifts are from the Father, given to those who ask. |
Sometimes it is hard to get the overall view by just reading small portions of scriptures about one topic. When you have time, read through the whole chapters relating to this supernatural gift, such as the book of Acts, 1 Corinthians 12 and 1 Corinthians 14.
Baptism is such an important event that we will devote another post to discussion the when, where, how and why.
Susanne Fengler, Blog Author
www.christianfoundations.jesus-treeoflife.info
Tags: Holy Spirit
Filed under: From Slave to Sonship
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