The world is full of distractions which can take us away from God’s purpose. Most of the time, we seek to know the right path and purpose on earth. This is only possible by receiving the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit usually talk to us in a still small voice as described in 1kings19:9-19
WHO IS THE HOLY SPIRIT?
The Holy Spirit is God in the form of a Spirit which is one of the three persons in the Trinity. The Holy Spirit is ‘the giver of life’, used during creation and is sent by God to help us know him more.
Holy Spirit is a person and not a thing, he is divine (a holy divine force). In Greek, the Holy Spirit is termed “Pneumatology”.
Pneumatology originated from two Greek words which means “air, spirit, wind” and “word”. When this is being combined, it reads “the study of the Holy Spirit”.
CAN ONE RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT WITHOUT BEING BAPTISED?
The Holy Spirit is receive once you believe in Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and become baptised (Acts 2:38-39).
Again, once a person believe and receive Jesus Christ (salvation) through hearing and trusting in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, they receive the Holy Spirit.
This is confirmed in Ephesians 1:13 in whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the Gospel of your salvation in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.
Notwithstanding, one can receive the holy spirit before baptism but many Christians believe that they will need to be baptised. This is clear in the book of Acts 10: 44-48. But it was realized there that immediately after the Holy Spirit imparted them with his gift, peter baptised them. It shows how committed a Christian is.
It is believe that without baptism, one can easily loss the spiritual gift. This is because baptism signifies the forgiveness of sins which comes through our faith in Jesus Christ.
It should be noted that in Jn 1:32, once John the Baptist baptised Jesus, the Holy Spirit descended upon him in form of a dove.
If Jesus could submit himself for baptism and the Holy Spirit visited him, then you should imagine the important of baptism in the life of Christians.
WHEN DO YOU RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT?
From the book of Ephesians 1:13, it is clear that we receive the Holy Spirit when we believe in the word of God and accept Jesus as our Lord and Saviour.
Anyone who act sincerely in accordance with Rm 10:9-10, receives the Holy Spirit. That is there is an indwelling of the Holy Spirit when there is genuine salvation.
It should be noted that the Holy Spirit is a free gift from God to all believers, no exceptions (John 7:37-39, Galatians 3:2). So once you accept and receive Jesus Christ as our Lord and saviour, we also receive the Holy Spirit.
WAS JESUS FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT BEFORE BAPTISM?
To start, lets us understand that Jesus Christ is God and there are Three Persons in One God, God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ) and God the Holy Spirit.
They are called the Trinity and they represent One God. Therefore, Jesus Christ already had the Holy Spirit in Him.
The significant of Jesus’ baptism firstly was what he told John the Baptist, suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness.
It was acted as He told John the Baptist in order to fulfil God’s wish and plan and to make sure that everyone (sinner or not) should be baptised in order to fulfil all righteousness.
Again, Jesus’ baptism made it publicly that He was the Son of God and for the world to believe in Him.
Also, Jesus being the Son Of God was teaching us how his followers are supposed to live spiritually on earth, starting from being baptised with water and the spirit. Jesus did this as an example for us to follow.
We noticed that immediately after this incident, he was led by the Holy Spirit into the desert.
In the scripture, the Holy Spirit came upon Jesus Christ in form of a dove and lightening. There are a lot of arguments about this. But the dwelling of the Holy Spirit is different from the infilling of the Holy Spirit.
IS THERE A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RECEIVING THE HOLY SPIRIT AND BEING FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT?
To begin with, receiving the Holy Spirit implies the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in the life of a person and this happens once you accept and believe that Jesus Christ is your personal lord and saviour.
At that moment of salvation, the Holy Spirit comes and dwells in you.
Whereas, being filled with the Holy Spirit is a continuous process in which you are being filled with the Holy Spirit and there is an evidence of his power working in you.
You might receive the Holy Spirit but there is no evidence of his gift working through you. In this situation, you need the infilling of the Holy Spirit.
Also, might have been filled with the Holy Spirit but because of sins against the Holy Spirit, you are not led by him (Ephesians 4:30, 1 Thess 5:19).
HOW TO BE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT.
What can I do to be filled and maintain being filled with the Holy Spirit?
There are a number of things you can engage yourself in, in order to be filled and remain being filled with the Holy Spirit. There are:
1. Be zealous for the Holy Spirit:
Again, if you have the zeal to be fill with more of the Holy Spirit, you can ask for more infill. As children of God, we seek for more infill of the Holy Spirit and the bible says in Lk 11:13 that our heavenly father will give the holy spirit to them that ask.
It is very difficult for one to say I am over filled with the Holy Spirit. We are always needing more. However, Jesus breathed on us and we receive the Holy Spirit (Jn 20:22).
When we open our heart and hands to receiving the Holy Spirit, he comes to us.
2. Believing and confessing that Jesus Christ is your Lord and Saviour:
In order to be filled with the Holy Spirit, you must have received the Holy Spirit and this is done by hearing the living word of God, believing and confessing that Jesus Christ is your personal lord and saviour (Ephesians 1:13, Rm 10:9-10).
3. Get repent from every sin:
Be sincerely sorrow for your sins and ask for forgiveness for them. Dont hide any sin. Confess it to God who through the death of Jesus Christ forgives us.
When there is remission of sins, the Holy Spirit comes upon you (Acts 2:38-39).
4. Avoid sinning against the Holy Spirit:
Any sin against the Holy Spirit will make him not to lead you are you will no longer be spirit filled. Avoid doubting the Holy Spirit, blaspheming the Holy Spirit, lying to the Holy Spirit, grieving the Holy Spirit, keeping malice in your heart, etc.
5. Study the word and live by it:
Through the hearing of Gods words, we get to believe and the Holy Spirit inspired us. The holy people were led by the Holy Spirit as they wrote the words of God.
Once you act against the Gospel, it is seen as disobedience and the Bible says obedience is better than sacrifice. The Spirit of the Father does not tolerant disobedience.
6. Pray for the infilling of the Holy Spirit:
The bible says if anyone requires the spirit of God, he or she should ask and it will be given (Lk 11:13). So always pray for the infilling of the Holy Spirit. You need more of him daily.
It is so important to note that your prayers must be done effectively. For more understanding, study the message on How To Pray Effectively.
7. Fast and pray:
Make it a habit to fast and pray for spiritual infilling and his gift once a while. There is power in prayer and fasting.
8. Avoid holding malices
Any unforgiveness will stop you from being filled with the Holy Spirit because He possesses a free heart. To understand reasons why you should not hold malice, review The Benefits Of Forgiveness”.
PEOPLE WHO RECEIVE AND WERE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE BIBLE
Bazalel was filled with the spirit of God, in wisdom, understanding, knowledge and in all manner of craftsman, Ex 31:3.
The seventy elders that Moses gathered by Gods instructions were also receive the holy spirit. God came down, took of His spirit and gave it to them, and they prophesied ceaselessly, Numbers 11:25.
The holy spirit came upon Balaam and he bless Isearl, Numbers 24:1-2
Joshua was filled with the holy spirit and was in charge to lead the Iseralites to the Promised land after Moses was gone, Numbers 27:18.
Othniel was filled with the spirit of the Lord, he judged Isearl, went to war and God delivered a king into his hand and he prevailed against him, Judeges 3:9-10.
Gideon was filled with the holy spirit and he blew a trumpet and Abeizer was gathered after him, Judges 6:34.
The Spirit of the Christ fell upon Jephthah and he passed over Gilead, and passed over Manesseh, and passed over Mizpeh of Gilead and over unto the children of Ammon, Judges 11:29.
The Holy Spirit of the Lord filled Samson and move him at times in the camp of Dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol, Judges 13:25.
The Spirit of the Lord fell mightly on Samson and he tear a young lion, Judges 14:5-6.
The Holy Spirit of the Lord came upon Samson again.he went down to Ashekelon and slew thirty men of them
The spirit of the Lord filled Saul and he prophesied among the prophets, 1 Samuel 10: 10 -11.
David was filled with the Holy Spirit of the Lord in 1 Samuel 16:13.
The Life-Saving Spirit of the Lord came upon the messengers by Saul to take David and the also prophesied, 1samuel 19:20-21.
Isaiah was also filled with the Holy Spirit, Isaiah 59:21.
The Lord’s Spirit entered into Ezekiel and set him upon his feet, that he heard him that spoke unto him, Ezekiel 2:2.
Daniel was filled with an excellent Spirit, understanding and interpreting of dreams, showing of hard sentences and dissolving of doubts, Daniel 5:12.
Amasai also receive the holy spirit, 1 Chronicles 12:18.
The Holy Spirit came upon Jahaziel, 2 chronicles 20:14.
The Apostles were all filled with the Holy Ghost. Act 2:1-6
The People in Jerusalem who listened to Peter and John also were filled with the Holy Ghost in Acts 4:31.
Stephen was full of the Holy Ghost, Acts 7:55.
Saul known as Apostle Paul was filed with the Holy Ghost immediately Ananias lay his hand son him as instructed by God, Acts 9:17, Acts 13:9
On the Gentiles was also pour out the gift of the Holy Ghost, Acts 10:4-46
WHY DO I NEED THE HOLY SPIRIT?
The world is full of confusion and wickedness. There is a lot of evil manipulations which diverse our path to the wrong direction and make us go astray.
Without the Holy Spirit, we will make mistakes, fall into the traps of the evil ones. Again, we cannot pray and do the things of God. But with the Holy Spirit, we will have all round success.
SOME BIBLE VERSES OF THE HOLY SPIRIT:
- 1kings19:9-19,
- Acts 2:38-39,
- Ephesians 1:13,
- Jn 1:32,
- Rm 10:9-10,
- John 7:37-39,
- Galatians 3:2,
- Mt 3:16 ,
- Mt 1:18,
- Ephesians 4:30,
- 1 Thess 5:1.
PRAYER
Almighty Father, may your Holy Spirit come and filled us as we journey through the eternal life in Jesus name.
