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P. O. Box 2252, Oak Park, Illinois 60303-2252 info@wordoflifeministries.org 773-544-0058

Have You Received the Holy Spirit?

 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost (Acts 19:2).

While Apostle Paul was in Corinth, he passed through Ephesus and communicated with some disciples who hadn’t received the Holy Spirit.  They had received the teaching of the Lord,  they were baptized for the remission of sin, but they hadn’t received the baptism of the Holy Spirit.  Just like those disciples, there are many Christians today who have been baptized for the remission of sin but have not received the baptism of the Holy Spirit.Baptism is an initiation into the Christian community, being filled is having the Spirit of God indwelling your human spirit.  Jesus was our example of what we should do as Christians,  Jesus was baptized by John in the Jordan River, after Jesus’  baptism; the Holy Spirit came upon Jesus descending upon Him in the form of a dove. The Bible does not indicate Jesus, casting out demons, healing the sick or performing miracles until He was filled with the Holy Spirit.

Every disciple or followers of Christ should be filled with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is not just about speaking in another language we can’t understand, but it’s the Holy Spirit of God indwelling our human spirit; enabling us to fight against the sins of the soul (mind, will and emotions). We cannot produce fruit unless the Holy Spirit of God is indwelling us, neither can the gifts of the Spirit be in operation effectively.

The Spirit of God wants to do more than just come upon us, but He wants to indwell our human body, enabling us to communicate with the Father and produce godly fruit. When a Christian is sanctified but has not received the Holy Spirit, they are missing important gift the Father is giving to His children.  Christians who are still participating in secular actions and behaviors are called carnal Christians.  A carnal Christian cannot enter into the kingdom of God because they are still practicing what they were doing before receiving Jesus as their Savior. We cannot serve God and Satan, either we will serve God, or we will serve Satan, we cannot serve both although some think they can (He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked -1st John 2:6).

When we have completely given ourselves to God, we will suffer in our flesh because the flesh does not care for the things of God, but the things of the world.  The reason why we aren’t seeing the manifestation of God’s Spirit as they did in Biblical days is that we have not dedicated ourselves to God as they did nor do we have the faith. We can look at television for hours, but will not take twenty or thirty minutes to read our Bible.  Fasting assists us to dominate our flesh, but usually, we will not fast until something is wrong and we want God to help us. Fasting is not for God; it’s for us. It helps us to submit to the things of God and not the things of our flesh. Prayer builds our faith in God, little prayer – little faith, much prayer – big faith!

When we have received the Holy Spirit, we will pray without the pastor asking us to pray. We will fast without the pastor calling a fast. We will read our Bible while we are not attending church.  We will purpose in our hearts to obey the Word of God, no matter what it takes. We cannot resist the devil if the Holy Spirit isn’t indwelling us. We cannot pray for the things God desires us to pray for if the Holy Spirit is not there to give us an unction of what to pray for. It’s the Spirit of God that enables us to do the things that are pleasing to God. The gifts of the Spirit cannot operate effectively if we don’t have the Holy Spirit. Matter of fact preaching or teaching is not effective if the Holy Spirit isn’t indwelling the preacher or teacher. When preaching and teaching is empowered by the Holy Spirit, He will convict people of sin, giving them the heart to repent.

The baptism of the Holy Spirit is the act by which Jesus, through the Spirit at conversion, brings the believer into a relationship with  Himself and makes the believer a part of God’s people – the church. The filling of the Holy Spirit is a continuous experience as the believer submits themselves to the Spirit. The Holy Spirit will not overpower our will, but the believer must submit themselves to be controlled by the Holy Spirit; therefore producing godliness, the character of God and His virtue.

The reason why so many Christians are having difficulty submitting to the Word of God is that they have not received the Holy Spirit or they have not allowed the Holy Spirit to control their thoughts and actions. If the will is submitted, the actions will be submitted to the thoughts whether they are godly or ungodly. When the Holy Spirit is in control, He will guide and direct the individual in the things of  God, assisting the believer to set their affections on heavenly and godly things rather than the things of the world.

The Holy Spirit comforts the believer when they go through difficulties, trials, and tribulations.  The Holy Spirit will pray through the believer when they don’t know what to pray or how to pray for certain situations or circumstance. The Holy Spirit assists us to communicate with God through His Spirit  (For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit, he speaketh mysteries (1st Corinthians 14:2).

For us to commune, have fellowship and a relationship with God, His Spirit must be indwelling our human spirit. God does not want us to be lukewarm Christians ( So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth Revelation 3:16). The Holy Spirit convicts of sin.  If He’s not indwelling us, we will continue in our sin and think there is nothing wrong with the way we live. That is why it is so important to read the Bible; it’s God’s instructions for His people. How can we please God and we don’t know the instructions He has given us.?

When you look at the news, our communities, and the devastation happening around the world, God’s Word is fulfilling itself before our eyes before the coming of the Lord. It’s time we stop playing church and having the church as usual, and nothing is happening.  It’s time we seek God like never before, praying, reading the Bible, and fasting and most of all committing ourselves to the Word of God. If you don’t have the Holy Spirit, you must repent of the sins you know you have committed.  Lying, faultfinding, gossiping, envy, jealousy, criticizing, fault-finding, fornicating, adultery, masturbation, fear, pride and whatever else you know you have done, if it’s contrary to the Word of God then it’s a sin! When you truly give yourself to God, He will fill you with His Holy Spirit (If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall you heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him (Luke 11:13).

My Christian brothers and sisters, Jesus is on his way back, are we prepared for His coming?  Are we living a life that is pleasing in God’s eyes? Are we living a life that will be an example of our Father?  Are we loving the way God has instructed us to love? God does not want us to have fleshly love, but Agape love, that’s the love no matter what a person does, you will still love and pray the best for them.

No matter what denomination you may be, you still need to be sanctified and filled with the Holy Spirit. Jesus is not returning for a denomination, but He’s returning for His church, the body of Christ (John 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God). Don’t continue to attend church and reject the Word of God, God holds you responsible for what you hear, and He holds you accountable of what you don’t comply to.  Jesus loves His people, but He does not love the sin, if we continue in sin, we will be hell bound that’s including the tongue talkers, church-goers, and those professing to be Christians. God is not willing for any to perish, but if we don’t conform to His instructions, we are candidates for Hell.

The Holy Spirit will not make us do the right thing, but He will guide us into righteousness and godliness if we allow Him. It will be a sad thing to attend church and still go to Hell because we didn’t follow the instructions given to us through the man or woman of God. They speak as God’s spokesperson; He speaks through them; giving us instructions how to live according to God’s standards.  This is why before Jesus ascending back to the Father He gave gifts to edify the body of Christ, the ministerial offices of apostle, pastor, evangelist, teacher, and prophet. These offices have been given to those that have been chosen to minister.

If you are a professing Christian, you should be asking your Heavenly Father to give you the Holy Spirit; it’s a gift from God that enables His people to be strong in Him and the power of His might. As Christians we need more than water baptism, we need the baptism and the filling of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit empowers us to do the work of the Lord by empowering us to take our domination on the earth that was given away when Adam and Eve disobeyed God. If you have purpose in your heart, and in your mind to submit your life according to God’s Word; you are a candidate for receiving the Holy Spirit (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 (Spirit – Acts 2:38).

It’s time we take our dominion, take authority over Satan, his imps, and his followers through the power of God that lives within our being. We’re not fighting a physical war, but a spiritual war, and we can only win through fighting in the Spirit (Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem [our home], and in all Judea [(church community, and in Samaria [our country], and unto the uttermost part of the earth.  When Christians have been baptized in the Holy Spirit, He gives them what to pray for, and speaking in a language Satan doesn’t understand. If he doesn’t understand what you’re saying, he can’t hinder the prayer.  Read and study the Bible, get an understanding of what God has given to the believer to fight in this spiritual war that were in.

Many Christians haven’t experienced the Holy Spirit when He prays through the believer with moaning and groanings that only the Father can interpret. Praying with lamentation, praying until the power of God enters the room. This is what is needed to move the hand of God.

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