Receiving the Holy Spirit

The gift of the Holy Spirit is as much a promise to the believer as salvation is, John 15:26, and should be sought after and enjoyed by all believers. Upon our conversion, we are adopted as sons (Galatians 4:5) and believing that He has given us the right to become sons according to His promise, John 1:12. In exactly the same sense, He has given us the right right to receive the Holy Spirit and to become endued with power. There are several conditions given in Scripture upon which the Holy Spirit is given and received.

1. Forgiveness, Acts 2:38. The Holy Spirit may be received without being baptized (Acts 10:47), but not without being forgiven. The Holy Spirit cannot dwell anywhere sin is present. Christ’s first dealing with the Temple was to cleanse it (Matthew 21:12); and the Spirit’s first dealing with the repentant sinner is to convince and convict of sin (John 16:8).

2. Sonship, Galatians 4:6. Every son resembles his father, and so God sent forth His Spirit so that we may be changed into His image, 2 Corinthians 3:18. We may have a relationship with God, but we also must bear His likeness; this happens as the Spirit transforms us.

3. Felt Need, Isaiah 44:3; Isaiah 40:29. Those who seek the Holy Spirit must seek Him as desperately as a dying man seeks the water of life. Those who can live content without Him are not likely to receive the Holy Spirit.

4. Faith, John 7:39. In Galatians 3:13, 14 we observe:

• A fact stated: Christ has redeemed us;
• A purpose declared: that through faith we may receive the promise of the Spirit.

It is strange indeed the that the fact is so easily believed, yet the purpose so often ignored!

5. Obedience, Acts 5:32. We may expect to be blessed with the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives and we may expect His help to the extent that we are obedient to do God’s will to the best of our ability. Every child of God should be able to say, “I and my Father are one,” as it relates to God’s will.

6. Waiting, Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4. As the disciples waited, the infilling of the Spirit came. Notice that these passages did not say: “Work until you are clothed with power,” or “Work for my gift.” Many believer are afraid to wait upon the Lord for fear that they may be wrong, as if God somehow could not do without their feverish restlessness.

7. Prayer, Luke 11:13. It was while Jesus was praying that Heaven opened up and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him, Luke 3:21. It was when the disciples had prayed that they were filled with the Spirit, Acts 4:31. It was when Solomon had made finished praying that the fire of God’s glory filled the house, 2 Chronicles 7:1. Do you see a pattern?