“The School of the Holy Spirit” proved to be one of the most rewarding times in my early beginnings. Refusing to limit God, the more I studied the more faith I received. I hungered for His truth. By this time, I was teaching the teenagers in church. Learning about the nature of God led me to The Baptism of the Holy Spirit. I began to search for someone to lay hands on me in prayer to receive this Baptism as given in the Book of Acts. I understand there are denominations who do not believe this happens today, however I have yet to find any evidence to support this claim. There are many Bible students that agree to both sides of this belief. Because of this difference, being respectful towards one another can surely be a healthy sign of growth in love and maturity in Christ.
My heart was filled with excitement as I was mentored by a mature wise saint who was also a writer. I asked if she would lay hands upon me to receive The Baptism of the Holy Spirit and right about then, a good friend of mine happened to drop in just in time to join in with prayer. Together, they anointed me with oil and laid hands upon me. I asked Jesus to baptize me with The Holy Spirit and fire. Three waves of a hot wind went into my belly. I was puzzled over this at the time. When I was home I asked the Lord about it and then I heard, “In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.” I did not think about this verse at the time:
He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. John 7:38 kjv.
I walk by faith and do not seek “feelings” or physical experiences, but I will not deny or fear them should they come.
There are those who roar at football games full of excitement, as they pound their benches and wave their arms while their team makes a touchdown. Cannot we, as our Fathers disciples experience a higher spiritual realm of excitement [than a football game] of an abounding joy that our souls can barely contain? What stops us from having the overwhelming joy of, “Walking, leaping and praising God“ in our every breath like the first Apostles did in Acts?
Is it unbelief and doubt? Fear of man? Stagnation?
We have a big God! Our Father has an unlimited stream of activity given by The Holy Spirit that honors our love and faith towards Him. In every possible way, we should humbly consider obedience an actual privilege, as we put Him first in our lives.
Learn to walk in the Spirit, not the flesh. Too many times I hear about the “proclivity” of our sin nature, instead of victory in the new nature. We must ask ourselves, “Are we truly more than a Conqueror in Christ?”
I began to attend house meetings and learned to wait upon the Holy Spirit like that of the New Testament Church. One would begin a song and others joined into singing praises. Another would bring a Psalm or a word of knowledge or wisdom. Sometimes there would be testimonies over answered prayers. Prophecy would come forth and the laying on of hands praying for those who were in need. Exhortations and teachings were plentiful. Many were being used to edify each other when we would meet. Just about every believer was used in one way or another. I was ecstatic to learn how the healthy physical functioning of The Holy Spirit moved among the church. Everyone was active in the gifts they sowed.
Eventually, we had house meetings in our home. The meetings were filled with such love, faith and joy, no one left until after midnight.
John the Baptist came to specifically introduce Jesus and prepare the way for His ministry, introduced Him under one particular title, “the Baptizer in the Holy Spirit.”
“I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.” Matthew 3:11 niv
“God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power and he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.” Acts 10:38 niv
We see the Father, Son and The Holy Spirit all mentioned in that verse. God the Father anointed Jesus the Son with the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit draws and leads us into all truth of salvation and gives us a choice to humbly repent or walk away from His gift of grace. When the believers were led by the Holy Spirit into the Upper Room, the believers had been instructed to wait before going out to minister. Jesus had said, “Wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.” Acts 1:4.
Most Bible students are aware of The Day of Pentecost. As the believers waited, the Bible says “Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. Tongues of fire came to rest upon them and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and they began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit enabled them. Everyone thought they were drunk with wine. Those who heard them, speaking in their own languages were declaring the wonders of God! This was the outpouring of The Holy Spirit to those who believed that Jesus was the Messiah. This was His promised gift. They believed and later received the literal Baptism [complete infilling] of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus, the Son of God depended entirely upon the Holy Spirit during His ministry. He once said, that “I speak only what the Father gives to me.” He had promised His disciples that when He returned to heaven He would send The Holy Spirit in His place to be their “Paraclete” - Counselor, Comforter or Helper meaning, “The one called in alongside to help them.”
There are many promises in the Bible that are not given or fulfilled in one single event, but many times in phases. Listen to this next verse:
On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” After He said this, He showed them his hands and [He demonstrated He was the same one they had seen crucified.] The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that He breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” John 20:19-22 niv
For those who are curious, the greek word for Spirit is pneuma means “breath” or “wind.” When Jesus breathed upon them, He was saying; “Receive the Holy Spirit, the breath of God.” [my emphasis.]
Overjoyed the disciples believed that God raised up Jesus from the dead and they confessed that Jesus was Lord. Jesus had breathed upon them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit” and they received.
“The Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into His nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being [or a living soul.]” Ge. 2:7 niv
Before Christ, we are like the first man upon the ground who was once dead, until God breathed the breath of life [or Spirit of life] into us and we became that living soul.
There is a direct parallel between the first creation and the new creation. The Holy Spirit delivers a person from the old man [earthy] and into the new man [heavenly]. From unholy to holy. The disciples began to leave the Old Covenant of Laws and entered the New Covenant of Grace, Love and Faith that Jesus had given. God is Spirit and His Spirit is love.
All that happened before Pentecost. Pentecost was the actual manifestation and fulfillment of the promise. The Holy Spirit descended from heaven in the form of a mighty wind that went through the house and baptized everyone present. This could not happen until Jesus had been glorified.
Can you just imagine the excitement that filled the disciples hearts? Peter could not help but speak to the crowd that had gathered that day. He was explaining what happened to them, quoting what Joel had given in 2:28-32. This was a mighty day of evangelism! Three thousand were added to their number that day. And, the Lord added to that number daily. This was only the beginning.
The laying on of hands to receive The Holy Spirit became a pattern for the Book of Acts.
It is God’s Spirit in us [1Co. 6:19] who enables us to speak the truth in love and boldness. Not we ourselves.
Consider what happened to Paul. He had to be completely blinded by light, so he could see and understand he was actually persecuting Jesus Himself when he persecuted the early believers to their death. Paul believed he was in God’s will. Only when he was blinded by God’s light, could he see the spirit of error.
“Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul [who would be Paul], he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit. Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized and after some food, he regained his strength.”
Acts 9:17-18 niv
When we are sensitive to the Holy Spirit we will be adjusted when our thinking becomes cloudy. Another name for The Holy Spirit is The Spirit of Truth. Jn. 14:17, 15:26, 16:13, 1Jn. 4:6.
Sometimes, The gift of the Holy Spirit is poured or gushed out upon people, such as when Peter was talking to the Gentiles in Acts 10:45
God is God, it is up to Him whether “we feel or experience something emotionally” during our walk. This is not in our own might, but in His. The Baptism of The Holy Spirit is given in many ways and is an empowerment that strengthens, leads, directs, teaches, guides, counsels, comforts and helps, and gives us understanding into all truth because He is truth and His truth is not limited by man’s theology that defines what He does. Everything good that is given to us while we are on earth is through the Holy Spirit, to glorify God in His Son Jesus.
We find, we can be bold, yet humble at the same time.
“Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord and He shall lift you up.” Ja. 4:10
“So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
“Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” Luke 11:5-13 niv
“To those who ask him!”
“And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. And all the men were about twelve.” Acts 19:1-7 kjv.
The question: “Have you received The Holy Spirit since you believed?
[Greek: piseusantes, having believed.]
The disciples in Corinth did not realize there was a Holy Spirit. They were Evangelizing John’s baptism of repentance. They did not realize that the Messiah had come, was crucified and raised from the dead and they certainly did not know about the day of Pentecost. Paul told them about Jesus and they were water baptized in His name then, Paul laid his hands upon them and the Holy Spirit came on them, they spoke in tongues and prophesied.
The Holy Spirit is our empowerment and strength that carries us through our trials and He lives within us, conforming us into the image of Christ. He Baptizes, Pours, Falls, Fills, Indwells, Comes upon and is given by God’s Breath upon those who believe.
Whatever side you believe, be thirsty!
There is an advertisement on the side of a Pepsi cup that says, “Don’t forget to be THIRSTY WHILE YOU’RE HUNGRY, Folks.” Says it all.
In todays changing world, we still have the privilege to listen to the voice of The Holy Spirit. He will give your heart a gentle tug to listen to the truth. The Holy Spirit glorifies God in everything that is done through His Son. If you are searching for truth; then you are searching for the Son of God, Jesus Christ. I urge you to sincerely humble yourself and He will bring a godly understanding into your life. He is a heart changer! Your background does not matter, nor where you have come from or what you have done in the past. What does matter, is that you obey His voice today. Time is short. If you believe that Jesus Christ is indeed the Son of God and was sent to earth to be a sacrifice upon the cross so we can have forgiveness for our sins, I urge you to pray the prayer below.
Pray with me:
Heavenly Father,
I believe that Jesus Christ is Lord, the King of Kings, my Savior and I believe He will return to earth just like He said He would and I pray He would find faith inside of me. I resist any past fears that would lie to me and I ask they be replaced with Your love. I know I am a sinner and I ask that You would forgive all of my sins. Name them________. I ask that you would take them into the deepest ocean and dispel them. Mold me into that new Creature in Christ and never leave me. Hold me up, when I get discouraged. Teach me the way to go and fill me up with the Joy of your love and Holy Spirit. I ask that a flow of Your living waters be inside of me. Train me to walk in Your truth, give me the discernment I need and put a guard against my heart, against anything that is not of You. Place me in the Body of Believers You wish to connect me with. Send me new friends. Use me Father in these last days to be all I can be in You. Thank You Father, In Jesus I pray. Amen.
If you have prayed with a humble repentant heart, the Bible says that you have been born-again. You are a new person in Christ, the old person is gone. The old ways are gone and everything becomes new. You will begin to see and understand through the lens of Jesus as you study and grow. And, you must grow in Christ. Buy yourself a good Bible and attend a Bible believing Church and connect to a small group. It is time for you to make new friends. They will pray with you and guide you through their own growth of experiences and study.
Welcome into the Family of God!
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