RECEIVING THE HOLY SPIRIT

1. Without the Holy Spirit there would be no creation, no universe, no human race.

GEN. 1: 2    Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep and the SPIRIT OF GOD  was hovering over the waters.

JOB 33:4 THE SPIRIT OF GOD has made me; the breath of the almighty gives me life.

2. Without the HOLY SPIRIT there would be no bible, no new testament, no power to proclame the gospel.

3.  Without the HOLY SPIRIT there would be no faith, no new birth, no holiness, no Christians at all in the world.

a.  The baptism in the Spirit is intended for all that profess faith in Christ, have been born again and have received the indwelling of the spirit

b.  Jesus Christ himself did not enter into his ministry until he had been  “ anointed…with the HOLY SPIRIT and power”.  He instructed his disciples not to begin witnessing until they were baptized in the Holy Spirit and “clothed with power from on high”.

c.  Before we go any farther on this subject let me get one thing clear for all to understand.
 
d.  When we talk about the Holy Spirit and HIS wonder working powers we are referring to the works the Spirit can and will do for all whom accept Jesus as their Lord and Saver.  Remember the person Holy Spirit gives us our fullness of new life in Christ, our righteousness as a way of living, the power to witness for our lord and to fellowship in his body.  Remember the Holy Spirit is the agent who incorporates believers into one body, lives in the church, builds the church, inspires our worship, directs our missions, anoints our preachers, guards the gospel and promotes righteousness.
 
e.  The baptism in the Spirit will bring the personal boldness and power of the spirit into the believer’s life in order to accomplish mighty works in Christ name and to make one’s witness effective.
 
f.  To be baptized in the Spirit means to be filled with the spirit.   Other results of a genuine baptism in the Holy Spirit are: prophetic utterances and declaration of praise, enhanced sensitivity to sin that grieves the Holy Spirit, a greater seeking after righteousness and a deeper awareness of God’s judgment against ungodliness, a life that brings glory to Jesus Christ, a new vision, a manifestation of the various gifts of the Spirit.  When you are baptized in the Holy Spirit you have a greater desire to pray, a deeper love and understanding of God’s Word and an increasing awareness of God as one’s Father.

g.  The baptism in the Holy Spirit is sustained in the believer’s life by prayer, by witness and by worship in the Spirit and by living a sanctified life. However powerful the initial coming of the Holy Spirit on the believer may be it will become a fading glory if they fail to express themselves in these areas.

h.  The bible teaches that there are many new fillings with the Holy Spirit after the beliver has been baptized in the spirit.  Therefore, the baptism in the Spirit brings the beliver into a relationship with the Spirit that is to be renewed and maintained.

4.  God’s Word cites several conditions by which the baptism in the HOLY SPIRIT is given:

a.  You must accept by faith Jesus Christ as lord and Savior
b.  You must turn from sin and the world.
c. You must turn from that which offends God before we can be  “an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master.
d. You must desire to be filled.

2.  The HOLY SPIRIT thinks, HE feels, HE has the capacity to love and HE enjoys our fellowship.

3.  HE was intended by the Father to bring believers, like you and me into the intimate, personal presence and fellowship of JESUS.

4.  When you take this all into consideration we should treat the HOLY SPIRIT as a person and regard HIM as the infinite living GOD within our hearts, worthy of our worship. worthy of  our  love.  We should
Purpose in our hearts to surrender all to HIM, for HE is the third person of the trinity.  The Father, the
Son and the HOLY  SPIRIT.

2.  THE HOLY SPIRIT IS THE AGENT OF SALVATION.  At conversion believers are indwelt by the HOLY SPIRIT and come under HIS sanctifying influence.

3.  In Romans 8:9 it is explained to the fullest.  “you", however are controlled not by the sinful nature, but by the SPIRIT, if the spirit of God lives in you!  And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.  But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your Spirit is alive because of righteousness.  And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in YOU, HE who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his spirit, who lives in you.

4.  WHAT THIS SIMPLY MEANS IS THAT ALL BELIVERS, FROM THE MOMENT THEY ACCEPT JESUS CHRIST AS LORD AND SAVIOR,  HAVE THE HOLY SPIRIT LIVING IN THEM!!!

5. When the HOLY SPIRIT inters into our lives we change.  Some of the wonderful things that change in our lives, through the HOLY SPIRIT are these:

a.  He sanctifies us
b.  Cleanses us
c. Leads us
d. Motivates  us into holy lives
e. Delivers us form sins bondage

7. The HOLY SPIRIT helps us in our worship and in our prayer lives.

8.    The HOLY SPIRIT intercedes for us as we cry out to God.

9.    The HOLY SPIRIT is our divine teacher guiding us into all truth

10.  The HOLY SPIRIT is our guiding force that takes us into a close fellowship and oneness with Jesus.

11.  The HOLY SPIRIT IMPARTS God’s love to us, gives us joy, comfort, and help.

2.  When you are baptized in the Spirit you receive power to witness for Christ, work effectively within the church and witness effectively before the world.

3.  When you are Baptized in the HOLY SPIRIT you will receive the same divine anointing that descended on Christ and on the disciples enabling each of us to proclaim God’s word.

4.  It is God’s intended purpose that all Christians experience the baptism in the Holy Spirit. The HOLY SPIRIT gives spiritual gifts to individual members of the church to edify or strengthen the church.  These gifts are a manifestation of the Spirit through individuals which Christ makes presence, love, truth and righteous standards real to the fellowship of believers for the common good of the body.

5.  The HOLY IS THE AGENT who incorporates believers into one body with Christ

6.  The HOLY SPIRIT IS THE AGENT that lives in the church.

7.  The HOLY SPIRIT IS THE AGENT that builds the church.

8.  The HOLY SPIRIT IS THE AGENT that inspires worship, directs her mission, appoints her workers,
Gives gift to the church, anoint her preachers, guard the gospel and promote her righteousness.

9.  All Christians should have a deep hunger to receive this baptism in the Holy Spirit!

10.  The baptism in the Holy Spirit only occurs once in a believer’s life.

So now we have taught who the Holy Spirit is.

We have learned what it means to be filled in the spirit.

We have learned what will happen to us when we are baptized in the spirit.

We have learned how to sustain the power of the Holy Spirit once we receive it.

I pray that you receive this free gift of the FATHER to live your life in the power of the Holy Spirit and to impart this free gift to others.  May God continue blessing you out of HIS abundance in Jesus Name.