Receive The Holy Spirit
And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams” Acts 2:17
We are living in the end of the age; a time when the Spirit of God has been released from heaven to draw men and women from all nations – to be reconciled with God, filled with His love and empowered by His Spirit to become an army of compassion and hope to a broken world.
If you have heard this call from God and felt His Spirit tug at your heart this message is for you. All over the world in every nation men and women are being touched by the grace of God and being filled and empowered by the Spirit of God to be agents of His love, truth and good news. This is your destiny
Have you Received The Holy Spirit?
A PRAYER TO RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT
Jesus, I believe that You have made atonement for my sins by dying on the cross in my place and rising from the dead. I therefore receive by faith total forgiveness of those sins and turn away from them. I lay down the selfish, sinful Adam part of my nature and ask You to put a new upright spirit in my innermost being. I ask you to come into my heart, and live and love through me. I receive from You that “drink of living water” – the Holy Spirit. I ask You to enable me to live in accordance with Your ways as revealed in Your Word. Through you I acknowledge God is my Father; I am a new creation and a forgiven and blessed child of God and I am released from the dominion of darkness. I place myself under Your protection and leadership, and ask You to be the managing Director and Lord of the rest of my life. Amen
Have you Received The Holy Spirit?
INTRODUCTION
“While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the upper country and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples. And he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said, “No, we have never even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” (Acts 19:1-2) Today it is our opportunity to ask you Paul’s question. “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?”
Millions of believers have professed faith in Jesus without receiving the Holy Spirit. This booklet is written to help you receive the full measure of the Holy Spirit, enter this glorious dimension of spiritual living and communicate the message to others. The truths contained in this booklet are ancient. As they are rediscovered, they are revolutionizing the world.
HAVE YOU RECEIVED THE HOLY SPIRIT?
Jesus came that we “might have life and have it more abundantly” (John 10:10) He came, to be our Passover Lamb, die for our sins, and take the blame, shame and condemnation we deserved. He also came to give us NEW LIFE – His Resurrection Life. The life born in Bethlehem had to die, but the Resurrection Life never dies. What is born of the flesh can die, but what we receive when we are BORN AGAIN is RESURRECTION LIFE, which lives forever.
This new life comes to us in the Person of the Holy Spirit. He is the Resurrection Life that Jesus gives. Jesus referred to the Holy Spirit as “the promise of the Father.” He gives the Holy Spirit in two distinct and different ways:
Firstly to indwell us as the new source of inner life.
Secondly to come upon us as the Enabler and Anointing who equips us to participate in the powerful ministry of Jesus.
“Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), that the blessings of Abraham might come upon us gentiles in Christ Jesus that we might receive the promise of the Holy Spirit through faith.” (Gal 3:13-14)
Jesus’ death cancels the curse of separation from God and the guilt of sin and penalty of sin. He gave up his life, however not only to pay for our sins but also that we could receive the Holy Spirit by faith.
The first part of the gift of the Holy Spirit gives us a share in the nature of Jesus The second part of the gift gives us a share in the ministry of Jesus.
THE HOLY SPIRIT WITHIN
When Jesus rose from the dead He appeared to His followers, breathed on them and gave them the gift of the Holy Spirit to dwell within them. “On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you”. When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father sent me, even so I send you.” And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any they are retained.”’ (John 20:19-23)
This breathing by Jesus on His disciples reminds us of the moment when God created man from the dust of the earth. He breathed on it and formed man from it. (Genesis 2:7) Now Jesus breathes a new life into earthly man – a life that Adam never had before the fall. This life that Jesus imparts is a share in His own Resurrection Life.
He gives it to all who receive it by faith and who by faith release themselves from the sin tainted part of their life. We have all inherited this sin driven part of us (which Paul calls our “old Man”) from Adam and through the generations. However, it has been crucified, condemned and buried with Jesus in His tomb. (See Romans Chapter 6) We can therefore abandon and refuse to respond any more to the selfish sinful side of our nature. We can leave it at the cross of Jesus and receive His loving nature to replace it.
“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” (Jn. 1:12-13)
The Spirit that was in Jesus and raised Him from the dead then comes into us to make us spiritually alive and to energize our lives. “The Spirit; who raised Jesus from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit which dwells in you.” (Rom 8:11) ‘The first man, Adam, became a living soul, the last Adam Jesus became a life giving spirit’ (1 Cor. 15:45)
When Jesus breathed on His disciples, they received into their spirits, the same life that was in Him. This then became the controlling force of their lives. Until then man was-controlled by his soul (his mind, intellect, will and emotions). Now the living Spirit and Life of God Himself could motivate and lead him from within. “He who is united with the Lord becomes one Spirit with Him. ” (I Cor. 6: 17). The Holy Spirit develops nine virtues, “the fruit of the Spirit” within us. These virtues are deeper than any natural goodness. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23)
Filled with God’s Love
Through the Atoning Sacrifice of Jesus the sin barrier, which separates man from God’s love is broken down. As we put our faith in this fact, the Holy Spirit pours God’s love into our hearts and we receive the Spirit of adoption and sonship. We actually experience the love of God coming into our hearts. “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand and rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. … Now hope does not disappoint because God’s love is poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” (Rom 5: 1-2, & 5))
THE SECOND GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
After His followers had received this New Life from Jesus, He remained with them for forty days. (Mark 16:19) Finally, the day came for Jesus to return to heaven. The time had now come for the disciples to go into every corner of the earth to proclaim the reconciliation that God had accomplished through Jesus, and to invite all men to receive for themselves the ‘new engine’ of the Holy Spirit (the Resurrection Life of Jesus). To perform this task would not only take courage, boldness, and great love but the powerful presence of God Himself.
Jesus had promised to equip them for this mission by sending the Holy Spirit to them in a new way – to come UPON them to guide and empower them. His presence with them would confirm their message with healings, signs and wonders. As Jesus was departing, He said to them: “And behold, I send the promise of the Father upon you: but stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.” (lo. 24:29) “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria and to the end of the earth.”(Acts 1:8)
Jesus told His disciples to wait in Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit would come upon them. On the day of Jesus’ resurrection, they had already received the Holy Spirit to come within them (Jn. 20:21-22). Now the Holy Spirit was to come upon them to empower them, to do the works that Jesus had called them to do, and to fulfill the GREAT COMMISSION of bringing the whole gospel to the whole world. “And he said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation.”‘(Mark 16:15)
On the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit did come upon them in a spectacular way and from that moment, they were empowered to proclaim the gospel in love and strength. They were launched on a life to be lived out in the pattern of Jesus and a ministry, accompanied by signs, wonders and miracles, that would change the world.
Just as Jesus Himself was filled with the Holy Spirit for thirty years before the Holy Spirit came upon Him, the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit for more than forty days before the Holy Spirit came upon them to anoint them for their mission.
Today all believers receive the Holy Spirit when they put their faith in Jesus, and ask Him to live in their hearts. However, many neglect to ask Jesus to anoint them with the power of the Holy Spirit to equip them for their calling and to continue His works on earth.
NEW BIRTH & BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Baptism in the Holy Spirit (which the one hundred and twenty – male and female- disciples of Jesus received on the day of Pentecost) is a gift Jesus offers to believers of all times who sincerely ask. “For the promise is to you and to your children and to all who are afar off as many as the Lord our God will call.”(Acts 2:39)
Jesus offers this great gift. However it is not automatic; we must RECEIVE it. Our part is to ask Him to immerse saturate and baptize us with the Holy Spirit and receive by faith. “What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Lk 11:11-13) Jesus will not force the anointing of the Holy Spirit on any of us. We must ask Him to empower us with His Spirit to do His works.
The New Birth is a “drink of living water”. We receive it when we ask Jesus to live by His Spirit in our hearts. The Holy Spirit then comes INTO us. This is the new birth. When we are BAPTIZED with the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit comes UPON us to anoint us to be effective and powerful witnesses for the Messiah and His Kingdom.
When we drink a glass of water, we get wet on the inside, but remain dry outside. When we get baptized in water, on the other hand, we remain dry on the inside but get wet on the outside. Obviously the two are not the same. A drink is not a baptism. So too the ‘drink’ of the Spirit of God (new birth) and the ‘baptism’ (anointing) with the Spirit of God are two distinct realities. The Holy Spirit comes INTO us when Jesus gives us the “drink of living water.” (Jn 4:10) When Jesus baptizes us with the Holy Spirit, the presence and power of the Holy Spirit comes UPON us to surround us through this Baptism. Anyone can see that there is an enormous difference between a DRINK and an IMMERSION or baptism. Jesus gives us first a drink of His Spirit and then an immersion into that Spirit.
In Old Testament days, no one had yet received the Holy Spirit WITHIN them. Nevertheless the Holy Spirit was very active in those days and came UPON the prophets, priests and kings to equip them for their offices. He came UPON many in Israel to anoint them for specific tasks but could not come WITHIN any of them.
That is why John says (referring to the period before Jesus’ death and resurrection) “as yet the Spirit had not been given because Jesus was not yet glorified.” (John 7:39) “On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and proclaimed: “If any man thirst let him come to me and drink. He who believes in me, as the scripture has said, out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water.” Now this He said about the Spirit which those who believed in Him were to receive; for as yet the Spirit had not been given because Jesus was not yet glorified.” (Jn 7:37)
The Holy Spirit could not be given to come WITHIN us as a new principle of life until after Jesus’ death and resurrection. Jesus first had to bear our old fallen Adam nature to the cross before it could be replaced by the new nature of His Resurrection Life. It was those who had already drunk of the Spirit on the day of Jesus’ resurrection who went to the Upper Room to await the Baptism with the Holy Spirit. They knew there was something more
Jesus offers New Life to all who believe in Him. If we accept what He offers, admit the inadequacy of our Adam nature, and lay it down, we can receive the Holy Spirit WITHIN us and be Born Again. Then we are also offered a share in Jesus’ Anointing through the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. Believers first receive the New Life of Jesus to come WITHIN as the replacement for their sinful self-life, and then they can present themselves to receive the Baptism with the Holy Spirit the Spirit UPON them. (We receive both the New Life and the Anointing by faith once we ask and admit our need.)
So we see that Jesus gives the Holy Spirit to all who will receive Him in two distinct ways:
firstly as the LIFE of the Holy Spirit to be a river of pure water flowing from within our innermost beings; and
secondly as the supernatural Equipper and Presence who enables us to be bold witnesses and obedient servants.
The first is the Resurrection gift of the Holy Spirit, and the second is the Pentecost gift of the Holy Spirit. The first giving of the Holy Spirit reproduces the character of Christ in us, (the fruit of the Spirit) and the second produces in us a share in the ministry and obedient service of Jesus. In some instances, the giving of the Holy Spirit within and upon can happen simultaneously, but they are two distinct realities.
AUTHORITY, POWER & TONGUES
Jesus gives the Holy Spirit to empower us with His Spirit to continue his ministry of bringing the gospel of the kingdom. This includes the power to expel demons, heal the sick, speak in tongues and proclaim with boldness His marvelous works.
He promised, “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you” The Baptism of the Spirit is for power – power over sin, sickness, demons and power to do the works that Jesus did and minister in His name.
“He who believes in me the works that I do he shall do also and greater works than these will he do because I go to the Father” (John 14:12) Now it is often pointed out that the church does the greater works than Jesus because it extends the word further than Jesus in His earthly limitations was able to do. This is true but we are also to do the works that He did. This includes authority over demons and healing the sick in His Name. This is the birthright of the church and the Holy Spirit gives us the power to begin to do this.
“And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.” (Mark 16:17-18) Those who receive the anointing with the Spirit can lay hands on the sick and the sick will recover.
Today millions of believers all over the world can verify the reality of this power in their own lives. These gifts , power and authority do not just belong to the leadership ministries of the church but to all believers who believe and receive.
Authority over demons is simply the authority to take dominion over spirits of fear, stress, unbelief, discouragement, poverty, depression, strife, jealousy, uncleanness, infirmity etc. Because we live in a spiritual world we have to deal not only with negative thoughts, but with wicked spirits that inject these negative and corrupting thoughts into our minds ,. All believers are offered the authority and power to expel such spirits from their lives and consciousness in the Name Of Jesus which is above all names.
By faith, we lay hands on the sick as Jesus’ representatives and acting in His name, we can bring the healing power of the Holy Spirit into people’s bodies. We can apply the benefit of Jesus’ atonement and rebuke spirits of infirmities from people’s lives.
Many things of the Spirit are beyond the reach of our minds. The Spirit enables us to pray (if we cooperate with Him) in a language that reaches beyond the limits of our minds. “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weaknesses; for we do not know how to pray as we on ought but the. Spirit himself intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words.” (Romans 8:26-27)
The gift of tongues and other manifestations of the Spirit (including prophecy, interpretation of tongues, the word of wisdom, the word of knowledge, faith, healing, miracles and discernment of spirits) can manifest in the lives of believers who ask Jesus to anoint them with His Spirit.
Those who actively receive the Holy Spirit can pray in tongues as the Spirit gives them the ability. Since ‘the spirit of the prophet is subject to the prophet” tongues are not automatic or uncontrollable but something we choose to do as an act of the will by faith. We do the praying and the Holy Spirit makes it a language of deep communication to God. It is not automatic. The person must begin to speak syllables in a language he does not understand, and the Holy Spirit makes it a language that God understands. In this way, we are enabled to pray in a way that is beyond the limits of our understanding “Whoever is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with Him” (1 Cor. 6: 17) It is normal to accept and expect this gift with the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. Paul writes. “Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy.” (I Cor. 14.5)
On the day of Pentecost “they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to SPEAK in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” (Acts 2:4). They did the speaking and the Holy Spirit gave them utterance. When we speak in our own language, we use our tongues our vocal chords, and our will. To speak in tongues we do the same except we remove the censorship of the mind. It is not magic, it is partnership. The Holy Spirit does not force us to do anything. We freely and deliberately co-operate with Him.
“For one who speaks in a tongue, speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him but he utters mysteries in the Spirit.” (1 Cor. 14:2) From this we can see clearly that tongues are not for preaching but for prayer.
A PRAYER TO RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT
Jesus, I believe that You have made atonement for my sins by dying on the cross in my place and rising from the dead.
I therefore receive by faith total forgiveness of those sins and turn away from them. I lay down the selfish, sinful Adam part of my nature and ask You to put a new upright spirit in my innermost being. I ask you to come into my heart, and live and love through me. I receive from You that “drink of living water” – the Holy Spirit.
I ask You to enable me to live in accordance with Your ways as revealed in Your Word. Through you I acknowledge God is my Father; I am a new creation and a forgiven and blessed child of God and I am released from the dominion of darkness. I place myself under Your protection and leadership, and ask You to be the managing Director and Lord of the rest of my life. Amen
A PRAYER TO RECEIVE THE BAPTISM IN THE SPIRIT
Dear Jesus I give myself to you for Your purposes. I want my life to be used by You as an instrument of Your love, and of Your gospel to the world.. I do not have the power for this. I ask you now to baptize me mightily with the Holy Spirit and with power. Holy Spirit come upon me with all your gifts and graces. Give me a spirit of love and compassion, power and might, boldness and utterance, faith and humility, revelation and understanding. I receive you now from the hands of Jesus as my Enabler to live a life dedicated to You and to Your kingdom, and I will pray in tongues, as you give me the ability.
(Pray this prayer in an attitude of receptivity only if you have made a complete consecration of your life to the Lord. Prayer is not magic – it is the transaction of holy business with God though faith which is released in words.)
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PAUL & NUALA O’HIGGINS
Paul & Nuala O’Higgins are the directors of Reconciliation Outreach. They are natives of Ireland now living in Stuart, Florida. They travel extensively in an international and transdenominatinal ministry of teaching, reconciliation, healing and evangelism.
Paul holds a doctorate in Biblical theology and Nuala is a graduate in education from the University of London. They are the authors of several books.
To order books or contact, write to address below or by e-mail
Paul & Nuala O’Higgins,
Reconciliation Outreach
P.O. Box 2778
Stuart, Florida 34995
Telephone: 772-283-6920
Books By Paul & Nuala O’Higgins:
Christianity Without Religion
The Four Great Covenants
In Israel Today With Jesus
Good News In Israel’s Feasts
Have You Received The Holy Spirit?
New Testament Believers