The Holy Spirit (5)
By Abraham Eli
This study was first taught on May 1, 2012
Topic: Have Ye Received the Holy Ghost? (2): The Timing for It
No audio available for this study.Background
Last week, in seeking to answer Paul’s question to the disciples of John, the Baptist (“Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?”), we focused on a portion of that question, “…since ye believed?”. Looking at the rendering of that portion of Paul’s question in the Amplified Bible: “… when you believed [on Jesus as the Christ]?”, we saw that one fundamental issue is, the basis of receiving the Holy Spirit.
It was clear as we studied, that the basis for receiving the Holy Spirit is believing in Jesus, as the Christ. We saw that it is not just a passive belief, but a very active belief, which is manifested in a public confession of Jesus as one’s Saviour and Lord, obeying Jesus’ every instruction, and, being baptized in the name of the Lord. We noted that these actions simply mean that a person who is a believer in Christ, is one who has entrusted his life and spiritual well-being on to Jesus. So, the disciples of John the Baptist’s writings could not receive the Holy Spirit because they were yet to entrust their lives and spiritual well-being on to Jesus. Rather, they were hoping that John’s writings would bring them into life. And, although, John, the Baptist’s, writings pointed to Jesus as the Christ, just as the writings of Moses and the Prophets of old did; people never really turn to Jesus for their spiritual well-being, and so, are unable to receive the Holy Spirit! Indeed, we saw that by divine revelation, Peter confessed Jesus, as the Christ, the Son of the living God: that is, the One in Whom all men should trust for their eternal salvation, deliverance from sin and the devil, and, for their spiritual well-being!
Believing in Jesus, as the Christ, releases many blessings from Him to the believer, including the Holy Spirit! Entrusting one’s spiritual well-being to John, the Baptist, Moses, the Prophets, or, the founder of a religious sect, will not and cannot give a person eternal salvation, neither can it release the Holy Spirit and other spiritual blessings to that person! Paul's question therefore, ties the issue of a person receiving the Holy Spirit to the ‘object’ in whom that person has entrusted his life and spiritual well-being. If your life and spiritual well-being has been entrusted to Jesus, then you should receive the Holy Spirit! But if your life and spiritual well-being has been entrusted to the custody of the founder of a religious sect or organization (like a pastor, a bishop, the Pope, a General Overseer, etc.), then you cannot receive the Holy Spirit. A person can, however, receive the Holy Spirit, when he turns away from following the doctrines of men and turns to Christ, putting the custody of his life and spiritual well-being into the Hands of Jesus!
Scripture Text(s)
Acts 19:1-6
Having seen the basis for receiving the Holy Spirit last week, tonight, we want to look at the second aspect of that portion of Paul’s question “… when you believed [on Jesus as the Christ]?” It is our prayer that as the Lord helps us to study tonight, as many as are yet to receive the Holy Spirit, shall definitely receive Him, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
The aspect we want to look at tonight is the issue of the timing of receiving the Holy Spirit. The issue is, “… since ye believed”, or, “… when you believed”.
Mark 16:17-18; Luke 24:49; Acts 1:8; 2:1-4; 8:14-17; 9:9-17; 10:44; 19:5-6; Matthew 5:6; John 7:39; Galatians 2:20; 2 Corinthians 5:15.
Conclusion
The Lord Jesus promised that all who believe in Him as the Christ (the One to Whom all men must entrust their lives to, for deliverance from sin, the flesh, and the devil, as well as for their spiritual well-being and eternal life) shall surely receive the Holy Spirit. The evidence of the Holy Spirit is in the receipt of power to cast out demons, speak with new tongues, take up serpents and drink deadly things without being hurt, recovery for the sick when a recipient of the Holy Spirit lays hands on them, and, spreading the message of salvation through Jesus Christ with conviction.
In our study tonight, we have seen that the matter of when the Holy Spirit can be received varies from the instant a person believes (puts his trust) in Jesus as Christ (for his eternal salvation) to shortly afterwards. It was not expected that it would take forever for the Holy Spirit to be received. The receiving of the Holy Spirit was a major focus for the early Church, and, should be of primary concern to the Church today. This is because among other reasons, the power of the Church is from the Holy Spirit, and His absence makes the Church powerless, and, an aberration!
Have you put your trust in Jesus for your eternal salvation, but you are yet to receive the Holy Spirit? If your answer is “Yes”, then we need to ask: “How hungry are you for God?” “Is Jesus glorified in you?” and, “Are you living your life for God or for self?” And, even if you have already received the Holy Spirit, the last question is still applicable to you, otherwise, you may indeed speak in tongues, but will lack the power of the Holy Spirit (Judges 13:2-5; 16:4-21; 2 Timothy 3:1-6; Galatians 3:1-5; 6:7-8).
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