How Do You Know if You Havethe Holy Spirit
Ane of God's greatest gifts is the Holy Spirit, and it provides a lifeline to God by which He gives many of His other wonderful gifts. The Holy Spirit gives a Christian spiritual power and understanding and makes it possible for u.s. to become more than like God and eventually inherit eternal life.
(This process of transformation is explained in detail in the articles in our department "Christian Conversion: How Does the Bible Say We Become Christians?")
So information technology is important to know how to receive the Holy Spirit, how to be assured that we have it, how to be led by it and how to "stir it up."
How do we receive the Holy Spirit?
The Bible says we receive the Holy Spirit after repenting and existence baptized.
Jesus Christ told His disciples that they would receive the Holy Spirit subsequently His decease. On the Twenty-four hours of Pentecost, the first of the Church of God was appear with powerful miracles, and Peter preached an inspired sermon describing how we can receive the Holy Spirit:
"Then Peter said to them, 'Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the proper name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit'" (Acts 2:38).
Later Peter pointed out that God gives the Holy Spirit "to those who obey Him" (Acts five:32).
When do we receive the Holy Spirit?
Other passages show that the Holy Spirit is given to the repentant believer after baptism when a minister lays his hands on the person and asks God to requite the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:fourteen-17).
Repentance, belief, baptism and the laying on of easily are the steps God asks us to follow today earlier He gives His Holy Spirit. If a person has non followed these steps, he or she does non accept the Holy Spirit in him or her yet.
Repentance, conventionalities, baptism and the laying on of hands are the steps God asks usa to follow today before He gives His Holy Spirit. If a person has not followed these steps, he or she does not have the Holy Spirit in him or her yet.
Exercise unbelievers accept the Holy Spirit?
No, the Bible ties together believing God and receiving the Holy Spirit.
- Jesus "spoke apropos the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive" (John vii:39).
- Jesus likewise said, "He who believes and is baptized will exist saved" (Mark 16:16).
- Paul wrote to the church in Ephesus that "having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise" (Ephesians i:xiii).
Belief in God is a prerequisite for receiving God's Holy Spirit.
Are babies born with the Holy Spirit?
No, the Holy Spirit comes after repentance and baptism, which the Bible shows are adult decisions. (Run across our commodity "Infant Baptism?" for more on this.)
Some accept wondered about the fact that John the Baptist was to be "filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his female parent's womb" (Luke 1:15). But the Bible gives examples of the Holy Spirit working with people earlier their conversion.
Jesus told His disciples before His death that the Holy Spirit "dwells with you and will exist in y'all" (John 14:17). They received the Holy Spirit seven weeks subsequently on the Day of Pentecost.
Even Samson was set apart from the womb, and the Bible says, "The Spirit of the LORD began to move upon him" when he was still young (Judges thirteen:25). Judging by his selfish and sinful way of life, it doesn't seem he was converted till the terminate of his life.
What does the Bible say nosotros should do to avoid quenching the Spirit?
In David's impassioned prayer of repentance, he pleaded with God, "Do not take Your Holy Spirit from me" (Psalm 51:11). He knew that if he didn't keep repenting and seeking God, he was in danger of an unpardonable sin, for God will not forgive us if we do not repent.
Paul also gave warnings to Christians non to grieve, neglect or quench the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:30; 1 Timothy four:fourteen; one Thessalonians v:19).
To avert these dangers, a Christian must practice the opposite. Instead of grieving the Spirit, we should pray daily to be filled with God's Spirit, to "walk in the Spirit" (significant to follow the lead of the Holy Spirit), and to sow to the Spirit—to grow spiritually (Ephesians 5:18; Galatians 5:16, 25; Galatians 6:7-8).
Instead of putting out the fire of the Spirit, Paul encourages us to "stir up the souvenir of God which is in you lot through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of dearest and of a sound mind" (2 Timothy 1:6-7).
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What are some evidences of the Holy Spirit?
How practice yous know you take the Holy Spirit? In addition to following the biblical process outlined in Acts 2:38, nosotros can examine our lives for the evidence.
The Bible lists many things the Holy Spirit enables us to do. Paul wrote that God's Spirit opens up our spiritual agreement of things that seem similar foolishness to those without spiritual discernment (1 Corinthians two:10-14).
Through regular prayer and report of the Bible, the Spirit helps us grow in agreement of God'due south program and our office in it. It writes God's laws on our hearts and minds, helping united states of america internalize God'due south manner of life and remember similar He does (Hebrews 8:10). It enables us to transform or change our minds (Romans 12:two).
Jesus said the Spirit will provide us with help and guidance (John fourteen:16; John 14:26; John xvi:13).
One of the most important evidences is that "the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit" (Romans 5:5). Godly honey is described in more particular in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. Though nosotros all fall short, a Christian should run across this fruit growing in his or her life.
Paul lists other of import fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-command. Confronting such there is no constabulary." The "fruit of the Spirit" refers to the characteristics we develop equally we exercise God's Spirit in our lives.
Paul also told members of the Church in Corinth, "Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the organized religion. Test yourselves. Do you non know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in y'all? [through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit]—unless indeed yous are disqualified" (ii Corinthians 13:5).
Christians volition examine themselves to see how much this fruit of the Spirit is growing and volition regularly ask God to provide His gracious Spirit to help them grow more. See more than well-nigh this in the articles in "The Fruit of the Spirit" department.
God also gives different spiritual gifts to dissimilar people, but they all are given "for the profit of all" (1 Corinthians 12:7; see verses 4-xi). None of these gifts are given for show or personal glory.
Some today mistakenly think that what is called "speaking in tongues" proves whether one has the Holy Spirit. However, fifty-fifty in New Testament times the gift of speaking in other languages was merely given to some, and Paul warned that it was being misused in Corinth (see 1 Corinthians xiv and our article "What Is Speaking in Tongues?").
How does the Holy Spirit piece of work?
There's a lot of confusion about the Holy Spirit and what information technology does in a person's life. Some believe that God takes over, or possesses, and controls the believer by His Holy Spirit, enabling the believer to speak in tongues or exercise other miraculous deeds.
Bible written report lets the Holy Spirit work in our minds every bit nosotros take in God's Word and allow it to instruct us.
While the Holy Spirit does enter united states subsequently baptism and the laying on of easily, information technology does not possess u.s. and dominate us against our will. The idea of "existence possessed" by the Holy Spirit is more reminiscent of demon possession than how God actually works.
In the Old Testament, the prophet Elijah had a crisis of faith. After seeing God work a wonderful miracle, he ran for his life because of Jezebel'due south threats (1 Kings 19:two-3).
Afterward he arrived at a secluded identify (verse nine), God gave Elijah four demonstrations of His ability. At that place was a strong windstorm that actually smashed the rocks of the mountain, an convulsion, and a burn down—yet God'southward presence wasn't in any of these powerful phenomena.
Then God spoke with "a nevertheless small voice" (i Kings xix:11-13). God doesn't always, or even oft, piece of work with large, monumental miracles. Sometimes God'southward Spirit quietly deals with united states past causing us to reason with more clarity and meet things with a new awareness.
The Holy Spirit gives the states a greater power to see how we can apply God's wisdom to our daily decisions.
A Spirit of power
The Holy Spirit does not direct control u.s.a., but it is still a spirit of great ability. "For God has non given us a spirit of fright, merely of ability and of dear and of a sound heed" (ii Timothy 1:7). It gives us force and insight to make the necessary changes to who we are on the within.
Simply through the help of the Spirit can nosotros exist transformed into beings who are continually growing to more closely resemble the character of God. The Holy Spirit helps us modify into new men and women.
The Holy Spirit leads us every bit a guide on the path, merely it does not drive us. Information technology leads us just equally it led Jesus Christ (Matthew 4:one). It tin can also give our lives direction equally it did for Christ (Marker 1:12). Merely the Holy Spirit does not force us to do anything. We are free moral agents; nosotros make our own choices and decisions.
Following the lead or direction of the Holy Spirit is very important. The Bible plainly states, "For every bit many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God" (Romans eight:14). God's people are to follow the lead of the Holy Spirit. We must live co-ordinate to the Spirit—setting our minds on the things of the Spirit (Romans 8:5).
This leads to the vital question: How does the Holy Spirit lead us and help us?
How to exist led by the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit works with u.s. in different ways, all of them depending on the extent to which nosotros allow it to lead us. The Bible reveals a number of ways that the Holy Spirit works with our minds to help us.
- The Holy Spirit opens our minds to understand God's way.
The apostle Paul declared that the Holy Spirit enables u.s. to "comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and pinnacle—to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge" (Ephesians 3:16-nineteen).
The Holy Spirit besides opens our minds to properly understand what is institute in the Bible—"for the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God" (1 Corinthians 2:10).
- The Holy Spirit changes our minds to pure minds.
The Holy Spirit helps us to put off the old man and to "be renewed in the spirit of your listen, and that you lot put on the new human" (Ephesians 4:23-24). The Holy Spirit works to change our minds and then that we tin have the mind of Christ. We must work to transform our minds instead of conforming our minds to the world around united states (Romans 12:ii).
- The Holy Spirit teaches us.
The Holy Spirit teaches usa about God'southward style of life, bringing to mind the words of Jesus Christ (John xiv:26). It is described equally "the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge" (Isaiah xi:two).
- The Holy Spirit comforts and encourages us.
One of the primary descriptors that Jesus used for the Holy Spirit was the discussionHelper orComforter (John 14:16; 15:26). One way Jesus Christ comforts us through the Holy Spirit is past giving us His unique peace. "My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I requite to y'all. Permit non your heart be troubled, neither let it be agape" (John fourteen:27).
- The Holy Spirit keeps us in touch with God.
The Holy Spirit is evidence that God is living in usa, and that we are living in God (1 John 3:24). It is through Jesus Christ that nosotros "take admission past one Spirit to the Father" (Ephesians 2:18). The Holy Spirit even helps communicate things we don't know how to say to God (Romans eight:26).
Stirring up the Holy Spirit
We must exercise more than follow the lead of the Holy Spirit. We are to stir upwards the Holy Spirit daily in our lives (2 Timothy 1:6).
At that place are four chief ways that we tin stir up the Holy Spirit.
- Bible report lets the Holy Spirit work in a greater way in our minds as nosotros take in God's Give-and-take and permit it to instruct united states of america.
- Meditation, or concentrated thinking, on the Bible as well stirs upwardly the Holy Spirit in our minds, helping united states of america to focus more securely on God's words.
- Prayer, or talking to God, stirs upward the Holy Spirit in our lives every bit we talk to God and seek His will.
- Occasionally, we must also get without food and water in a religious fast to draw closer to God and stir upward the Holy Spirit.
For more on these, read the articles in our section on "Prayer, Fasting and Meditation: Relating to God."
And so, how do you know you have the Holy Spirit? God will requite the Holy Spirit later on repentance, baptism and the laying on of hands. Notwithstanding our role is not finished one time nosotros receive the Holy Spirit. We must yield to the Holy Spirit. It is up to united states of america whether we will follow the lead of the Holy Spirit and stir it up on a daily footing. If nosotros follow the Holy Spirit's lead, we will walk according to God's way of life (1 John 2:half-dozen).
The Holy Spirit tin help us greatly, but only if we let it. Will we focus on the things of the Spirit and follow the lead of the Holy Spirit? Will we allow the Holy Spirit to help us? For further information, read our article "Christ in U.s.a.: How Does He Live in You?"
Source: https://lifehopeandtruth.com/change/christian-conversion/how-do-you-know-you-have-the-holy-spirit/
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