The Holy Spirit - Part 3 – How To Receive It
[original text in italics]
​
We have just seen that God wants to pour out his Spirit on all his followers in the baptism of the Holy Spirit. It is not just an experience, but an immersion. When this baptism is truly received, it gives us the ability to act like a mature son or daughter of God and it brings greater union with God. It increases our sensitivity to the Holy Spirit and to the will of God. In brings greater enlightenment of the scriptures. It enables us to live in greater holiness (devotion, consecration) in our daily life. Essentially, the Holy Spirit always points to Christ Jesus and the Father:
​
JOHN 16:13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.
​
JOHN 14:26 [Jesus said] But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.
​
ROMANS 8:14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons [children] of God.
​
1 JOHN 2:20 But you have an anointing [marking, smearing with oil, having been chosen, consecrated, set apart] from the Holy One, and you know all things.
​
1 JOHN 2:27 But the anointing [marking, smearing with oil, having been chosen, consecrated, set apart] that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in him.
​
JOHN 3:34 For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure.
​
1 CORINTHIANS 14:1 Earnestly pursue love and eagerly desire [that which is] spiritual…
​
To receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit, which is also called the gift of the Holy Spirit, simply believe, ask the Father, and have other believers with the gift of the Spirit lay hands on you:
​
HEBREWS 11:6 And without faith [belief] it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
​
LUKE 11:13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!
ACTS 8:14-17 Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized [water baptism] in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
People can also receive the baptism without the laying of hands. In addition, they can receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit before they are baptized in water:
ACTS 10:47 Then Peter answered, “Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?”
Once we are baptized in the Holy Spirit, we are immersed and filled and have unlimited power from God. By faith in the name of Jesus, we can now operate from the abundant overflow of his power, as revealed by the following manifestations [expressions] of the Holy Spirit.
​
1 CORINTHIANS 12:7-10 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy [declaration of God's message], to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.
​
The evidence of the baptism is not a feeling, but is revealed by the manifestations [expressions] described above. Very often, the one baptized will speak in tongues (see the Praying In The Spirit section). Ultimately, the best evidence of the baptism is that we witness by releasing His power and that we do the work of Christ Jesus:
​
ACTS 1:8 But you will receive power [miraculous ability, strength] when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
​
1 JOHN 4:17 ...as he [Jesus] is so also are we in this world
​
JOHN 14:12-17 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it. “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth [Holy Spirit],
Some people hinder the baptism of the Holy Spirit because of unbelief, doubt, shame, condemnation, pride, and/or fear. A person will often receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit to the degree that their soul (mind, emotions, will) has been prepared to receive it. Therefore, if needed, a person can go through a new fresh full baptism in the Holy Spirit. Below is prayer you could say to receive this baptism:
​
Father, you said that if I ask you, then you will give the promise of your Spirit to dwell within me in fullness and in miraculous power. So Father, right now in the name of Jesus, I ask you for the fullness of your spirit to dwell within me, to make me a filled habitation of God, filled with your Spirit. And Father, I thank you because I know this is your will, and you said that if we ask anything according to your will it shall be done. I ask and therefore I believe I have what I say. So right now, in Jesus name, I thank you and I decide to believe I have received what you promised. I have your Spirit. I am filled to overflowing. I am baptized. I receive miraculous power to be a witness unto you. I thank you for it in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Now is a good time to pray in the spirit strong and loud (see Praying In The Spirit section).
​
Once received, we are to activate and cultivate this gift and carry out all that the baptism of the Holy Spirit enables us to do.
​
2 TIMOTHY 1:6-7 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power [miraculous ability, strength] and love and self-control [sensible behavior that fits a situation].
​
Therefore, the gift of the Holy Spirit empowers us to walk according to the mandates of God and to do so in love. It also leads us into all truth and shows us things that are to come. It magnifies our ability to reign over the circumstances of life, over the demonic kingdom, over every enemy of the cross of Jesus. It empowers us to put all Christ’s enemies under our feet. It empowers and emboldens us for the ministry of reconciliation, to set captives free, to heal the sick, preach the good news, do miracles, and bring life wherever we are.
​
Note: It's important to note that the church in which Paul said the believers were carnal (sinful) was the Corinthians church. It is also the only book in which Paul broke down the manifestations of the Spirit in detail and how to operate in them. The most carnal church needed direction on how to operate in the manifestations of the Spirit, because they were not operating maturely in the gift of the Holy Spirit. So you can put a demand on a specific manifestation, especially as you are still growing in maturity. However, we are to come to the place where the fullness of Christ operates through us and whatever is needed at the moment is available by faith. We are to fan into flames (2 TIMOTHY 1:6-7) the gift of the Holy Spirit, not individual manifestations. Remember that you don't need more anointing nor a special anointing because you have already received the Holy Spirit, who is the Anointing.