The gift of the Holy Ghost. This is something that I have experienced personally and would like to relay to you what the Scripture says about this gift. Read through this and at the end I will give you some tips on how to receive this gift.
First the in studying about God you will find that there are many references to the Spirit and that it is referenced to in many names, titles and applications.
We know from Jesus that God is a Spirit. It makes reference in Genesis 1 that the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the deep. The problem with understanding this is, many people confuse that saying that God and the Spirit are two separate people. But the Scripture teaches that God is one.
In the scripture when it references the Holy Ghost, it is primarily the Spirit, or God dealing with or manifesting Himself in man.
Now the gift of the Holy Ghost was something that was not given to everyone in the Old Testament. It was primarily given to the prophets of old and those who were used of God.
In today's world, since the day of Pentecost after Jesus' resurection when the Holy Ghost was poured out it is available to everyone. In the book of Joel and the book of Acts it records God as saying in the last days I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh. In the book of Revelation is says whosover will, let him come and drink of the Water of Life freely.
Now how do you know that you have the Holy Ghost? Also, is it for everyone? Whatever you believe your experience must to be scripturally based.
Lets see what the scipture has to say about this.
The first reference to them receiving the Holy Ghost in the new testament is in Acts 2 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
People will say but what about John 20:22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:
Only the Lord truly knows what happend here but it doesn't give reference to them receiving the Holy Ghost. Otherwise you would have to feel Jesus breathing on you to say you have the Holy Ghost. He could have been pointing to their future experience but only the Lord knows. And as you will see in the next passage Jesus could not be present for the Comforter to come to them.
In John 12:7 it says: Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
Acts 1:4 and 5 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
The first mention of the Spirit baptism is found when John the Baptist was speaking. Luke 3:16 records John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the HolyGhost and withfire:
Note that it doesn't say he may, but he shall.
Second was in Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 39For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the LORD our God shall call.
He said the message was to everyone whom the Lord will call. The Holy Ghost is for anyone who will repent of their sins and be baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ. And it is a promise that will not fail.
Many people say that the Spirit baptism with speaking in tongues is a gift of the Spirit mentioned in 1Corinthians 12. But it also says in this chapter that by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body. And the only recorded way of people receiving the Holy Ghost in the New Testament is speaking in tongues.
Now I will pose this question. Why would God start out baptizing people with the Holy Ghost with speaking in other tongues as the Spirit gives the utterence and then mid ship change his methods? This is confusion.
And why would anyone settle for less than all that God has to give?
If you study out the Gifts of the Spirit it speaks of divers kinds of tongues. Now anyone that has seen the operation of the Spirit will see that not everyone is used in the Gift of Tongues. But the Spirit baptism will always be with speaking in other tongues. You can have an experience with God, I have experienced this myself. But when I received the Holy Ghost I spoke in tongues. You can't confuse the two.
The witnesses of the disciples receiving the Holy Ghost in the book of Acts in Acts chapter 10 and 19 both speak in other tongues. In chapter 8 it shows a definite evidence that the disciples received it as it caused Simon to want to purchase the power to give the Holy Ghost to people with the laying on of hands. Now it doesn't specifially say they spoke with tongues. And it doesn't say that they didn't either. But no one can assume anything about the what happens in the Bible. You have to go by what it says. We know they received the Holy Ghost.
The other witness was when the apostles prayed for boldness. They were filled with the Holy Ghost and spake the word of God with boldness. But this happened to the apostles who had already been baptized in the Holy Ghost.
You have to keep it in context.
The other mention is in Ephesians 5 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
If you read this in context it is speaking of a contrast between being drunk and being filled with the Spirit. It is admonishing us to be full of the Spirit, and while full of the Spirit, the Lords will is for us to speak to ourselves in psalms and sprititual songs etc. This is not the evidence of receiving the Holy Ghost.
Eveyone that has experienced the baptism of the Holy Ghost has spoke with tongues as the intial evidence. This is the only way it is recorded in Scripture for the New Testament church.
Now the purpose of the Holy Ghost is many. First it is the earnest of our inheritance.
As it is written in the book of Ephesians 1 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
Now in real estate earnest money is a promisary note that you will purchase the home or house that you are making a bid on. The Holy Ghost is God's earnest in our lives and the promise of redemption.
The Holy Ghost is our Guide, in John 16 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
He is our Comforter, He is the Spirit we must have, In Romans 8 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. Also Romans 8 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
The Spirit of God, Spirit of Christ and the Holy Ghost are one in the same. Just different ways of referring to the Spirit.
To receive the baptism of the Holy Ghost, first you need to repent and turn your life completely over to the Lord. Second even though some people receive the Spirit before they are baptized, It is recommended and commanded that you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins. You need to commit to a life of holiness and seek God's will. Pray and fast dilegently until you are filled with the Baptism of the Holy Ghost. It is promised but it doesn't always come automatically. I went about a year and two months until I received the Holy Ghost. But once you have the Spirit it is promised he may abide with you forever. The world doesn't give it and the world can't take it away.
My prayer for you is that you would receive the baptism of the Holy Ghost in all its fullness and enjoy the many benifits and in the end, eternal life.
