Did You Receive the Holy Spirit When You Believed?
Acts 19:1-7 NASB
Now it happened that while Apollos was in Corinth, Paul passed through the upper country and came to Ephesus, and found some disciples. He said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said to him, “On the contrary, we have not even heard if there is a Holy Spirit.” And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” And they said, “Into John’s baptism.” Paul said, “John baptized with a baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in Him who was coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them and they began speaking with tongues and prophesying. There were about twelve men in all.
I would like to ask you the same question. “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?”
Maybe you will respond the same way. “… we have not even heard if there is a Holy Spirit.”
If that is your answer, then let me introduce you to Him. He is our Guide, Teacher, Helper, Comforter, Friend, and the Spirit of Truth. His job is to empower us to be witnesses for Yeshua and lift up the name above all names. He will teach us all things we need to know and guide us into all truth. He comforts us in our sorrow and helps us through difficult times. He empowers us to live for Yeshua in both the good and the bad times. He also gives us a prayer language and helps us pray. He gives us gifts to fulfill our destiny in the earth and as part of the Body of Christ. He seals us as ones who belong to the Lord until His return. Wow! Sounds to me like he is an important one to have with us.
If you haven’t already received the Holy Spirit, would you like to? I recommend asking Him to come into your life and allow him to baptize you with the fire of God. We are instructed in Acts 2:38 that to be saved we should Repent, be baptized in the name of Jesus and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Let me tell you that living without the Holy Spirit empowering you, helping you, and praying through you makes living for Yeshua (Jesus) very difficult.
Yeshua promised to send the Helper after He left. He said that if He did not go away the Helper would not come. John 16:7 Even Yeshua was led by the Spirit. Matthew 4:1
One way the Holy Spirit helps you is by praying perfect prayers through you. When you allow the Holy Spirit to pray through, we call it praying in tongues because you do not understand the words coming out of your mouth. The cool thing about praying in tongues is that it strengthens your inner man. Also, the devil cannot understand what you are praying either.
There are just so many benefits to being filled with the Holy Spirit and praying in tongues. The Apostle Paul said he wished for everyone to pray in tongues and to prophesy, but if done openly in the church one must have an interpreter so that the church could be edified. 1 Corinthians 14:5
The conclusion is that whether in private or openly in a meeting with an interpreter, we are strengthened and edified by praying in tongues.
I ask you again, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” If the answer is “no”, then why don’t you go ahead and ask him now to baptize you with the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues? Receive the gift you have been promised and receive all of the benefits of having Him walking with you, empowering you, helping you, guiding you, teaching you, comforting you, and praying perfect prayers through you. Trust me, you do not want to go another minute without Him. Be filled dear ones and walk in the Spirit!
Scriptures to study:
Matthew 3:11 Galatians 5:16-18
Mark 1:8, 13:11 Ephesians 1:13, 4:20
Luke 1:15, 3:16, 4:1 1 Corinthians 14
Luke 10:21, 11:13, 12:10-12 Romans 5:5
John 14:15-26, 16:5-11 Hebrews 2:4
Acts Chapters 1, 2, 4, 9, 10 Jude 1:20
Shalom until next time dear ones.