This is a lesson I taught last week at Bible Study. I am posting it on my blog upon special request from a very wise person who asked me to discuss the evidence of receiving the Holy Ghost.
What Is The Holy Ghost?
- It is God in activity as Spirit.
o We all know that God is one (De.6:4), He robbed himself in flesh and came to earth to die for our sins (Jn. 1:1, 14, 1 Ti. 3:16).
o So God is the father in creation, the son in redemption, and the Holy Ghost in ACTION (2 Co. 3:17, 1 Jn. 5:7).
- It is God’s spirit in us.
o When Jesus ascended back into heaven he promised that he would not leave us comfortless, that he would come to us; that is, he would put his spirit within us so that we would have him with us at all times (Jn. 14:16-18).
o We are the temple that God has chosen to dwell in and that is why his spirit dwells in us (1 Co. 3:16, 1 Co. 6:19-20).
- It is a gift and a promise to all believers.
o The outpouring of God’s spirit on all men was prophesied of in the Old Testament, and we all know that God’s word does not return to him void but that it accomplishes whatever it has been sent out to do (Jl. 2:28-29, Zec. 12:10).
o In the New Testament the outpouring of the Holy Ghost upon all flesh was promised to all believers following the ascension of Jesus into heaven (Mt. 3:11, Lu. 11:13, Lu. 24:49, Jn. 7:38-39).
o The promise of the Holy Ghost is for every single person who believes in Jesus Christ (Acts 2:39).
How Do You Know You Have Received The Holy Ghost?
- Speaking in tongues is the initial sign.
o Jesus said that after we receive the Holy Ghost (His spirit) we would receive power to do great works and speak in new tongues (Mk. 16:17).
o The first time the Holy Ghost was poured out on all men (the day of Pentecost) they spoke with other tongues and that is how they knew that the Holy Ghost Jesus had promised them had been poured out on them (Ac. 2:3-4).
o The first time the Holy Ghost was poured out on the Gentiles they spoke in tongues and that is how the Jews knew that the promise of the Holy Ghost had been extended to the Gentiles (Ac. 10:45-46).
o When the Holy Ghost was poured out on John the Baptist’s disciples, they spoke in tongues and that is how Paul knew they had received the Holy Ghost (Ac. 19:1-6).
o It was prophesied in the Old Testament that God would speak to His people with “stammering lips and other tongues” (Is. 28:11).
Why Do We Need The Holy Ghost?
- It is necessary for salvation.
o Jesus said except a man is born of water (baptized) and of the SPIRIT (receives the Holy Ghost) he would not enter into the kingdom of God (Jn. 3:5).
o On the day of Pentecost when the church was founded the disciples told everyone who believed the Gospel of Jesus Christ that they needed to repent, be baptized in Jesus’ name for the remission of their sins, and RECEIVE THE GIFT OF THE HOLY GHOST (Ac. 37-39).
o The early church emphasized believers receiving the Holy Ghost because they understood its importance (Ac. 19:1-6, Ac. 8:14-17).
o If we do not have the spirit of God in us, we are not His (Ro. 8:9).
o After we believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ we are sealed with His spirit, that is how we know that we are a part of Him (Ep. 1:13).
- The Holy Ghost bears witness to the spiritual adoption of believers.
o Receiving the Holy Ghost confirms that we are the children of God (Ro. 8:14-16, Ga. 4:6).
o When we receive the Holy Ghost we become part of Christ’s family and therefore are entitled to all of God’s promises to believers (1 Jn. 3:24, 1 Jn. 4:13).
- It is the Holy Ghost that teaches.
o When we are witnessing to others about Jesus it is the Holy Ghost that gives us the words to speak (Lu. 12:12, 1 Co. 2:13).
o When we are reading the word of God it is the Holy Ghost that teaches us and helps us remember what we read (Jn. 14:26, 1 Jn. 2:27).
o When we pray it is the Holy Ghost that teaches us how to pray and what to pray for because we do not know how to pray or what to pray for ourselves (Ro. 8:26-27, 1 Co. 15).
- The Holy Ghost guides us into all truth.
o The Holy Ghost reveals to us what is truth, that is what is of God and what is not, and things to come (Ez. 36:27, Jn. 16:13).
o The Holy Ghost directs believers where to go and what to do (Ac. 10:19-20, Ac. 16:6, Ac. 13:2).
- The Holy Ghost gives life or strengthens.
o We are spiritually dead without the spirit of God in us (Jn. 6:63, 2 Co. 3:6).
o The Holy Ghost strengthens our mortal bodies to overcome anything, even death (Ro. 8:11, 1 Pe. 3:18).
- The Holy Ghost gives believers power.
o The disciples received the power to do greater works than Christ after they received the Holy Ghost, so will we (Lu. 24:49, Ac. 1:8).
o It is after we receive the Holy Ghost that “rivers of living water shall flow out of our bellies” (Jn. 7:38-39).
o After we receive the Holy Ghost then we can receive the gifts of the spirit which are word of wisdom, word of knowledge, faith, healing, working of miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, divers kinds of tongues, and interpretation of tongues (Jl. 2:28, 1 Co. 12:8-11).
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Did I mention that I use your blog for Bible Study sometimes? I mean the references. Thank you so much.
ReplyDeleteYey! I'm glad at least one person reads my blog.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this.
ReplyDeleteWonderful! However, some people may be left wondering, well how do I get it? =)
ReplyDelete@ Peter, you're welcome. Thank you for being a non-relative who reads my blog, lol.
ReplyDelete@ Ishta, it's simple really. Just pray for the Holy Ghost, begin to worship God, and let Him take the lead. But I get your point, "iron sharpens iron" ryt?