This study was first taught on May 22, 2012

Topic: Have Ye Received the Holy Ghost? (4): What It Really Means (2)

No audio available for this study.

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Background
Last week, we noted that when Paul, the apostle, asked the disciples of John the Baptist’s writings, “Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?”, he was in effect asking whether the Holy Spirit was given to them by the Lord Jesus (the baptizer in the Holy Ghost), when they believed in Him as the Messiah. The import of the question is that, when a person believes in Jesus, or, puts his trust in Jesus for his earthly and eternal well-being, he is in turn given the Holy Spirit, which he must then accept or receive. We emphasized the fact that the Holy Spirit is freely given by the Lord, and no special offering is required to receive the Holy Spirit, or any gift from God, for that matter.

We went on to see that the question, “Have ye received the Holy Ghost …?” could mean:
(a) Have you been given the Holy Spirit by the Lord Jesus?
(b) Have you been baptized with (immersed in, dipped into, or, totally covered with), the Holy Spirit?
(c) Have you been endued with (clothed, invested, or, armed with, or, overshadowed by), power from God?
(d) Has the Holy Spirit come upon, or, fallen on you?
(e) Has the Holy Spirit been poured on you (have you been anointed)? or,
(f) Have you been filled with the Holy Spirit? (Apart from the initial filling with the Holy Spirit, a believer may experience more fillings from time to time, to re-energize him to serve God more, having utilized the earlier power he was endued with for ministry).

Also, we saw that if a believer in Christ has not yet received the Holy Spirit, he can ask God to freely give him the Holy Spirit, for the Lord Himself said, “… everyone that asketh receiveth”. Regardless of whether or not a believer receives the Holy Spirit with or without the laying on of hands, what is crucial is that he must first have put his trust in Jesus Christ for his salvation, and is willing to accept the Holy Spirit!

Scripture Text(s)
Acts 19:1-6; John 14:17
Tonight, we conclude on what the question, “Have ye received the Holy Ghost …?” really means. We pray for continued grace to help us understand, and affirmatively answer, the question Paul is posing to us, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Our second scripture text presents us with a deeper implication of Paul’s question. It also sheds light as to why some people in church may not have received the Holy Spirit.
John 8:31-47; 2 Corinthians 4:3-4; 1 Corinthians 2:9-14; 1 John 2:15-16; John 12:37-50; 1 Corinthians 1:21-29; 2 Corinthians 3:14-18; 6:16; 1 John 3:24; 1 Corinthians 3:16; Romans 8:9-16; 2 Corinthians 1:21-22; Ephesians 4:30; Galatians 5:16, 22-23, 19-21; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; Romans 5:3-4; John 14:12; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 12:4, 7-11; Hebrews 1:9.

Conclusion
People who are not born again, as well as those who are carnally minded, though they may be in church, cannot receive the Holy Spirit, because, they do not have the capability to receive Him; as they neither see Him (are looking for Him), nor do they know Him (they are uninterested in Him), having been blinded by the devil and the things of this world. The Holy Spirit can only be received by those who have turned completely to Christ; away from this world and its allure!

Two possible outcomes are referred to, when the question of receiving the Holy Spirit is raised. These are, the Holy Spirit upon, and the Holy Spirit within, a believer. In the former, the Holy Spirit cohabits with the believer, while in the latter He inhabits or indwells the believer. The scriptures separate these two outcomes by using the expressions “… He dwells with or among you” (cohabits) and “… [He] dwells in you” (inhabits). When the Holy Spirit cohabits with a believer, He exerts an external influence which empowers the believer to do as Christ did in terms of working of miracles, healing, preaching, teaching, speaking with tongues, etc.; but when He inhabits a believer, He takes control of the believer’s life from within, and empowers the believer to easily overcome the flesh, and do God’s word; develop and manifest the nature of God even in trials and tribulations; develop a holy and godly nature, as well as be sanctified daily through the word of God; and, manifest the fruit of the Spirit.

When the Holy Spirit inhabits a person, Jesus will begin to live in Him; he becomes a temple of the living God, and a Christian indeed; his old sinful nature is crucified, he is able to live for God here on earth, and his life in eternity is secure; his mortal body receives every necessary repair work that will keep it glorifying God in this world, as well as immortality in the world to come; he becomes a son of God, is free from fear, cries, “Abba Father” to God, and, comes to the convincing knowledge that he is indeed a son of God; and, he is kept secure until the time of his full salvation. These things do not happen when the Holy Spirit comes upon a person! Be that as it may, the inhabiting or indwelling of the Spirit of God in a believer still requires that the believer allow the Holy Spirit to lead and direct him on a daily basis, for all the above to be true of him.

But as wonderful as the inhabiting of the Holy Spirit is in a believer’s life, it was not the issue Paul, the Apostle, raised when he asked the question, “Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?” Indeed, it was the Holy Spirit cohabiting with these disciples of John the Baptist’s writings that was on Paul’s mind. Nevertheless, the ultimate for the believer in Christ before God is that, the Holy Spirit inhabits him, as well as, cohabits with him! Indeed, the powerful manifestation of the Holy Spirit through spiritual gifts is most effective, when the believer also has the fruit of the Spirit.

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