We are filled with the Spirit so God can flow through us like a powerful river to impact others. You'll find five instances recorded in Acts of early believers being filled with the Spirit, and the evidence was they spoke in tongues. What is speaking in tongues—and how does it help you?
For some people, the Holy Ghost may cause them to feel overwhelmed with emotion and moved to tears. For others, tears rarely or never come. And that's okay. For them, the Holy Ghost may produce a subtle feeling of gratitude, peace, reverence, or love (see Galatians 5:22–23).
The apostle Paul referred to these characteristics as the fruit of the Spirit. “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23, NLT).
Often the Holy Spirit will speak to us in our minds by giving us a thought or an idea. Or He will lead us by making an impression upon our hearts to say something, do something, or think something according to God's will.
In other words, every Christian, by definition, has the Holy Spirit. If you want to be re-baptized out of obedience to Christ, that is one thing. But, if you are already a Christian, then there is no need for you to be baptized again in order to receive the Holy Spirit – you already have the Spirit!
We cannot expect to stay filled with the Holy Spirit with a “one time” filling. Life tends to drain our spiritual reservoir. Challenges of daily living require fresh fillings. We must learn how to keep our hearts thirsty for more of the Spirit and our hands open to receive.
The person who repeatedly and without repentance rejects the Holy Spirit's testimony to Christ is the one who has blasphemed the Holy Spirit. That sin is the only sin that never will be forgiven.
The dove – When Christ comes up from the water of his baptism, the Holy Spirit, in the form of a dove, comes down upon him and remains with him. Wind – The Spirit is likened to the "wind that blows where it will," and described as "a sound from heaven like the rush of a mighty wind."
The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit are an enumeration of seven spiritual gifts first found in the book of Isaiah, and much commented upon by patristic authors. They are: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord.
It is the Holy Spirit's job to produce Christ-like character in you. This process of changing us to be more like Jesus is called sanctification. You can't reproduce the character of Jesus on your own or by your own strength. New Year's resolutions, willpower, and best intentions are not enough.
He is the source of personal testimony and revelation. He can guide us in our decisions and protect us from physical and spiritual danger. He is known as the Comforter, and He can calm our fears and fill us with hope. Through His power, we are sanctified as we repent, receive saving ordinances, and keep our covenants.
I think there are at least five ways of praying in the Spirit: 1) praying God's Word; 2) listening to God and praying; 3) partnering in prayer with Christ your Intercessor; 4) praying the God-given desires of your heart; 5) praying with divine love. Our prayer lives come to life when we are empowered by the Spirit.
Your gut feeling is as sure a sign of the Spirit as the pictures of and encounters with the fire, the dove, the wind and the tongues of the Spirit.
If you desire to speak in tongues, pray this: Lord Jesus, Fill me with your Spirit. Lord Jesus, baptize me into your Holy Spirit. Begin to release the sounds that come not from your mind, but from your spirit, and continue in prayer.
We shouldn't come to God in prayer just to get a nice feeling and then leave. We should be spending time with Him because we wholeheartedly love Him. When we focus on seeking Him and praising Him, His presence will flow naturally. It will never be something we can make happen.
The Gift is accepted or received, by accepting or receiving Jesus Christ and being baptised in His name. The Holy Spirit can only be received as a gift is received. Jesus said to His disciples, “Receive the Holy Spirit” (Jn 20:22).
10:29 – outraging the Spirit of grace, persistent sinning with full knowledge and no desire to repent); Blaspheming the Spirit (Mat. 12:31-32 – ascribing the work of the Holy Spirit to the Devil, rejecting the testimony of the Holy Spirit.
Mark 3:28–30: "Truly I tell you, people will be forgiven for their sins and whatever blasphemies they utter; but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit can never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin—for they had said, "He has an unclean spirit.""
Whatever blasphemies you utter, they too can be forgiven. In Matthew's gospel, Jesus says that even sins committed against him, the Son of Man, can be forgiven. But “whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin” (v. 29).
It was the day that 3,000 new believers were added to the already believing disciples, numbering about 120. There is much conjecture about this giving of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost, which took place 50 days after Easter and at the same time the Jewish harvest festival of Pentecost was being celebrated.
The most important help God gives to us is the Holy Spirit. In fact, he is called "the Helper" in John 14:26, "the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you." We need his revelation.
If we are to live by the Spirit, we have to stop acting as if we are in control of our lives. We have to let ourselves be led by the Spirit of God. We must “obey only the Spirit's instructions.” We need to stay in step with the Holy Spirit.