Chapter
9
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THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
John the Baptist prepared the world
for a special Holy Ghost experience.
He said that Jesus would baptize people
with the Holy Ghost and fire.
Luke 3:16
"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:"
The Bible reveals three important
aspects of the Holy Spirit in the life of Jesus.
1. Jesus received the anointing
of the Holy Spirit in the Jordan River.
Matthew 3:16
"And Jesus, when he was baptized, went
up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens
were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending
like a dove, and lighting upon him:"
2. Jesus demonstrated the power
of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 10:38
"How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth
with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing
good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil;
for God was with him."
3. Jesus promised His Disciples
that they would receive the Holy Spirit.
John 14:16-17
Even the Spirit of truth; whom the
world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither
knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you,
and shall be in you."
Jesus revealed the value of a relationship
with the Holy Spirit.
He promised that the Holy Spirit would
be with us and in us.
He would convict us of sin, righteousness,
judgment and guide us in all truth.
John 16:7-13
"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; but
if I depart, I will send him unto you.
And when he is come, he will reprove
the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth,
is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall
not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear,
that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to
come."
Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit
would empower us.
This power enables us to be effective
witnesses for Him.
Acts 1:8
"But ye shall receive power, after
that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be
witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea,
and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."
This Holy Spirit Gift and Baptism would
empower Christians to go out and do Gods work on earth.
They should not attempt to go out until
they have received this enduement of power.
Acts 1:4
"Commanded them that they should not
depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the
Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me."
This supernatural power imparted into
our lives would enable us to do mighty things for the
Kingdom of God.
This power would heal any sickness,
solve any problem and supply any need.
Mark 16:17-18
"And these signs shall follow them
that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils;
they shall speak with new tongues;
They shall take up serpents; and if
they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them;
they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover."
Jesus assured us that our experience
of ministry would be very similar to His:
John 17:18
"As thou hast sent me into the world,
even so have I also sent them into the world."
John 14:12
"He that believeth on me, the works
that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these
shall he do;"
The important aspect of the experience
of the baptism of the Holy Spirit
IS RECEIVING POWER!
To understand the Gift of the Holy
Spirit in our lives we should consider five things:
1. How did the Apostles receive the Baptism
of the Holy Spirit?
Acts 2:1-4
"And when the day of Pentecost was
fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
And suddenly there came a sound from
heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all
the house where they were sitting.
And there appeared unto them cloven
tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
And they were all filled with the Holy
Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the
Spirit gave them utterance."
There were one hundred and twenty Believers,
sitting and waiting for the promise of the Holy Spirit.
The heaven opened and God came down. The Holy Spirit
entered the room like a rushing wind.
Firstly - tongues of fire came upon them and anointed them.
Secondly - they spoke in Unknown
Tongues.
The Holy Spirit gave them the ability
and words to speak. No one could understand what they
were saying. They were speaking in Heavenly languages.
The Greek word for tongues in Acts 2:4 is "glossais ".
It means "an alien language" that does not belong to this world.
They first spoke in tongues that could
not be understood.
Then they spoke foreign dialects that
people from different countries visiting Jerusalem could
understand.
Acts 2:6
"Now when this was noised abroad, the
multitude came together, and were confounded, because
that every man heard them speak in his own language."
The Greek word for "language" is "dialekto ".
It means "a foreign earthly language."
Paul clearly teaches that men can speak
in both earthly and heavenly tongues.
1 Corinthians 13:1
"Though I speak with the tongues of
men and of angels."
The Holy Spirit empowered them and
supernaturally used their tongue.
2. We need to consider why the Holy Spirit
supernaturally uses our tongue.
He does this for three reasons:
a. Speaking in tongues is a prayer
language that only God understands. No one else including
the devil can understand it.
Romans 8:26
"The Spirit itself maketh intercession
for us with groanings which cannot be uttered."
1 Corinthians 14:2
"For he that speaketh in an unknown
tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man
understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh
mysteries."
The Holy Spirit is the source of this
heavenly language. He gives the words of this new language
through the human spirit, to the mind of the believer
to speak out. These words are not produced by our mind.
They simply pass through the mind and
we speak the words as the Holy Spirit gives them to
us to speak.
1 Corinthians 14:14
"For if I pray in an unknown tongue,
my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful."
It is clear that the Holy Spirit gives
the language and we speak the words.
Acts 2:4
"And they were all filled with the
Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as
the Spirit gave them utterance."
The words are spoken, one word at a
time and sometimes they gush out like a mighty river.
John 7:38
"He that believeth on me, as the scripture
hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living
water."
When someone speaks in Tongues the
hearers hear very distinct words and sentences that
are unique, beautiful and refreshing.
b. We surrender our tongue to the Holy
Ghost and He uses it to direct our lives.
James 3:4-5
"Behold also the ships, which though
they be so great, yet are they turned about with a very
small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. Even
so the tongue is a little member."
The Bible says that life and death
are in the power of the tongue and by using our tongue,
the Holy Spirit steers us into life.
Proverbs 18:21
"Death and life are in the power of
the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit
thereof.
c. The Holy Spirit uses our tongue
to speak:
Prophecy.
Preaching.
Teaching.
Wisdom.
Knowledge.
3. What happened after the day of
Pentecost?
Thousands who witnessed the outpouring
of the Holy Spirit desperately wanted it.
Peter said:
Acts 2:38
"Then Peter said unto them, repent,
and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus
Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive
the gift of the Holy Ghost."
He clearly outlined the two steps people
needed to take to receive this Gift of the Holy Ghost.
1. They needed to repent of their sins
and be saved.
2. They needed to be baptized by water
baptism.
He also clearly said that this promise
was to every Disciple the Lord Jesus Christ would ever
call, including those living in the last days.
Acts 2:39
"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."
Here are examples of Believers receiving
the Gift of the Holy Spirit after Pentecost.
Acts 10:44-46
"While Peter yet spake these words,
the Holy Ghost fell on all 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 19:1-6
"Paul having passed through the upper
coasts ... said unto them, have ye received the Holy Ghost
since ye believed? And they said unto him, we have not
so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
And when Paul had laid his hands upon
them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with
tongues, and prophesied."
4. The Gift and Sealing of the Holy
Ghost is the assurance of our Inheritance.
Ephesians 1:13-14
"In whom also after that ye believed,
ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise which
is the earnest of our inheritance."
The word "earnest" means "down
payment or security deposit".
After this initial experience, Christians
may experience many other glorious things the Lord has
prepared for them.
1 Corinthians 2:9-10
"But as it is written, Eye hath not
seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart
of man, the things which God hath prepared for them
that love him.
But God hath revealed them unto us
by his Spirit."
5. The Gift of the Holy Spirit in
our lives causes us to profit in all aspects of our
life.
1 Corinthians 12:7
"The manifestation of the Spirit is
given to every man to profit withal."
Our spirit profits.
Our mind profits.
Our emotions profit.
Our will profits.
Our body profits.
Our life profits.
We are a Temple of the Holy Ghost full
of His presence and glory.
1 Corinthians 6:19
"What? know ye not that your body is
the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which
ye have of God, and ye are not your own?"
How does one receive the Gift of
the Holy Spirit?
There are six things to consider in
preparing to receive this Gift:
1. The Holy Ghost is a gift that is promised
to us and it cannot be earned.
Acts 2:38-39
"Then Peter said unto them, Repent,
and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus
Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive
the gift of the Holy Ghost.
For the promise is unto you."
2. We must have a thirst for this
Gift.
John 7:37
"Jesus stood and cried, saying, if
any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink."
3. We must ask God the Father for the Gift.
Luke 11:13
"How much more shall your heavenly
Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
4. We receive this Gift by
faith.
Galatians 3:5
"He therefore that ministereth to you
the Spirit, doeth he it by the works of the law, or
by the hearing of faith?"
By faith we believe that God will fulfill
His promise and give us this wonderful Gift of the Holy
Ghost.
We inherit all Gods promises by faith.
Hebrews 6:12
"Who through faith and patience inherit
the promises."
5. We receive this Gift by the laying
on of hands.
Acts 19:6
"And when Paul had laid his hands upon
them, the Holy Ghost came on them;"
When an anointed Servant of God lays
hands upon us, the Holy Spirit comes upon us with fire
and power. At times this anointing can be so strong
that we fall down. We open our mouths expecting to speak
in Heavenly Languages. These words come from our spirit,
through our mind and we speak the words by faith, even
though we don't understand what we are saying.
2 Samuel 23:2
"The Spirit of the LORD spake by me,
and his word was in my tongue."
6. After receiving this Gift of
the Holy Ghost, we must continue to do three things:
a. Value the Gift that we have experienced
and continue to partake thereof.
Hebrews 6:4
"Have tasted of the heavenly gift,
and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost."
b.> Continue to be filled with the Holy Ghost over and over again.
Ephesians 5:18
"And be not drunk with wine, wherein
is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;"
Someone who loves drinking wine continues
to do so and it eventually becomes habit forming and
addictive. The use of lots of wine causes people to
become drunk and behave uninhibited.
We must be filled each day with the
new wine of the Holy Spirit and come under His influence.
When people are intoxicated they laugh, are happy and
carefree. That is how the Holy Spirit wants us to be.
He fills us with joy.
c. Edify ourselves and others with
this wonderful gift.
1 Corinthians 14:4
"He that speaketh in an unknown tongue
edifieth himself."
The Gift of the Holy Ghost edifies
and builds us up spiritually. It strengthens and blesses
everyone. It also creates a desire in others to receive
it.
Let us remember two things:
1. The Gift of the Holy Spirit
never causes confusion and is always decent and orderly.
1 Corinthians 14:39-40
"Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy,
and forbid not to speak with tongues.
Let all things be done decently and
in order."
2. We must never grieve or hinder the
Holy Spirit in any way.
Ephesians 4:30
"And grieve not the Holy Spirit of
God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption."
1 Thessalonians 5:19
"Quench not the Spirit."
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