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S. Michael Houdmann
Supporter
An important verse in understanding the filling of the Holy Spirit is John 14:16, where Jesus promised the Spirit would indwell believers and that the indwelling would be permanent. It is important...
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Singapore Moses
Supporter
"Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby you are sealed unto the day of redemption" (Eph 4:30) The Father God has sent us the Holy Spirit as a Comforter who abides with us forever. He is resident in us. It is our duty to keep Him comfortable in our lives and make Him feel at home. The New Testament teaches us how to do it: The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of "Holiness" (Rom 1:4). We are the temple of God, wherein He dwells (1 Cor 3:16,17). He desires truth in the inward parts (Psa 51:6). Is it not natural that He desires his dwelling place to be clean? Defiling it displeases Him. He is the Spirit of "Faith" (2 Cor 4:13; Rom 15:13). Without faith it is impossible to please God (Heb 11:6). When we believe in His Word and depend on His promises, the Holy Spirit is well-pleased. He is the Spirit of "Love" (Eph 4:2,3, 26-32; Gal 5:22; Rom 5:5; 15:30). He demonstrates practically divine love amongst us and binds the people of every language and nation with cords of love. If we strive to love others without pretence, then that will please Him. He is the Spirit of "Intercession" (Rom 8:26,27). Since we know not what we should pray for as we ought, He is there to help us pray. He is well-pleased when we set aside our selfish motives and wait for His will. We must respect the burdens He specifically places on our hearts to pray for. He is the Spirit of "Teaching" (1 Cor 2:10-14). Instead of approaching the Bible as a learned professor, we must seek the help of the Holy Spirit, as a little child, to learn God's ways and mysteries. This pleases Him. He is the Spirit of "Truth" (Jn 16:13). The Bible is the only Book that speaks the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. The Holy Spirit is its Author (2 Pet 1:20,21). We should ensure that the Bible is given due place in our lives and we interpret it with the guidance of the Holy Spirit. He is the Spirit of "Wisdom" (Isa 11:2; 1 Cor 12:8). When we don't depend on our smartness and intelligence but His wisdom to guide us, He is well-pleased.
Chelsea Miller
Supporter
First, you must be saved, as Jesus depicted in his parable about how new wine must be put into new bottles (Luke 5:36-39). I know that sounds simple, but some people do not know they have not yet been born again! Second, the baptism of the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in tongues is imparted through the laying on of hands. 1) Acts 8:17-18 says, "Then they laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money." 2) Paul was filled with the Holy Ghost when Ananias put his hands on him (Acts 9:17). 3) Paul laid his hands on certain disciples in Ephesus and "the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied" (Acts 19:1-6). That being said, there are occasions in which the laying on of hands is not necessary, because God just moves. But for the most part, you have to have someone who is filled with the Holy Ghost lay hands and pray for you to receive it. And third, you have to be thirsty for it! Revelation 21:6 says, "...I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely."
Terry Gillard
Supporter
This is a wonderfully encouraging subject, with great encouragement for us all! However, please note a couple of fundamental items that should be considered: 1. Most (if not all) of the scriptures that deal with the work of the Holy Spirit at salvation say He will be “with us” – “alongside”. And He is! But that is very, very different to what we refer to as the “Baptism in the Holy Spirit”(I'm not sure I like the phrase at all) 2. For those who do not see a difference, please refer to the Apostles. In Acts 8:14-17 there is no doubt of the salvation of the Samaritan Converts – yet they were not filled: the scriptures mentioned above must have all applied – so the Apostles certainly understood there was a difference between the work of the Holy Spirit at Salvation and the Holy Spirit “coming down on them” Even Paul, when he met the Ephesian believers (at this time, he was unaware they had been baptised into John’s baptism, and did not know Jesus) asked them the very straightforward question, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” Acts 19:2 The very fact the question was asked showed that Paul was in no doubt whatever that there is an experience of the Holy Spirit separate to Salvation. Believer, there is something glorious in what our Saviour has prepared for us. Our Living Lord wrote every tongue – ancient and modern and He will, if you seek, “fill your hearts today to overflowing, with Holy Ghost and power” as the old hymn puts it.
Lawrence wong
Supporter
The question is How can I be filled with the Holy Spirit? First: there has to be a recognised need or hunger to be filled. If you find that your walk in life is missing something particularly as a “Christian” then the principle of A.S.K. applies (Mt 7:7—12 “Ask, and it will be given to you; Seek, and you will find; Knock and it will be opened to you ” v7 Second: You must repent of your sins. Repenting is knowing that “you are missing the mark” (Grk ‘Harmartia’), that no matter how hard you try you can’t aim and shoot straight or you keep falling off the narrow road (Mt 7:13-14). The Holy Spirit through Paul describes this condition in Romans Chapter 7 - there is a desperation within knowing that the harder I try to do the things I know I should do, the more I realise that I am unable to do the things I know I should be doing. I think Paul had this personal experience, and was describing his own life as a self-righteous Jew. King David also had such an experience and he penned Psalm 51 as a response – “a broken spirit and a broken and a contrite heart - these O ALHYM You will not despise.” (Ps 51:17). Many have had this such an experience. I am one. The answer is to cry out “I need Christ, to be My Saviour, My Redeemer” Brokenness is to know the uselessness of self-effort, to die to self, to be cracked open like “unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.” (Jo 12:24).I know that I am a dirty rotten sinner and I need to confess my sins to Christ and have my sins forgiven, cleansed by the blood of The Lamb (1 Jo 1:9) This is why we seek Water baptism (to be fully immersed in water). But that’s insufficient for me to live a life in Christ. I need his power (Grk ‘dunamis’, as in dynamite) to do so. It is for this reason that Christ commanded his disciples “ Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem (Heb. ‘Yerushalayim’) until you are endued with power [dunamis] from on high” (Lk 24: 49). Third. On SHAVUOT, Pentecost (50 days after PESACH, Passover), the harvest festival of Wheat, Christ’s promise was fulfilled. Our Heavenly Father poured out of heaven the Holy Spirit in Yerushalayim, into a house where 120 or so disciple were obediently waiting (Ac 2:1-4). These disciples agaped (were filled with our Father’s sacrificial love) and obeyed Christ (Jo 14: 21). That promise was for all who trust and obey Him. In answer to the cry of men whose hearts were “cut” by the word (Heb 4:12) “What Shall we do?” Petros’s reply was “Repent and let everyone of you be baptised in the name of iEsou christou (Christ’s name in Greek Mt 1:1) for the remissions of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as YHWH our ALHYM will call” 40 And with many other words he (Petros) testified and exhorted them saying ‘Be saved from this perverse (crooked, perverse) generation (age)’ Then those who gladly received his word were baptised, and that day about 3,000 souls were added to them.” (Ac 2: 38-41). It is clear that the context is the outpouring from heaven of the Holy Spirit by Our Father (Ac 2: 17, 18, 33). Many wonders and signs (healings casting out of demons etc. Heb 4:13) were performed by the apostles. (Ac 2:43) The New Covenant from Acts to Revelation is about the Holy Spirit’s work leading and guiding and performing ALHYM’s work. Matthew to John is about iEsou christou The Messiah, the Saviour, the Redeemer by his blood sacrifice (1 Cor 5:7). There are three baptisms (Mt 3:11). The baptism (being fully immersed in the Holy Spirit is the 2nd. The 3rd is full immersion in fire, for sanctification by the Holy Spirit a process of being made holy like ALHYM (1 Pe 1:7,16). The Holy Spirit strengthens, enables us to walk to talk! (Jo 14:26) Lawrence NZ
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