In Acts Chap 8 verse 14-17 it says When the apostles heard Samaria accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John. When they arrived they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, because the Holy Spirithad not yet come to any of them, they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. Then Peter and John placed their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit.
So my question is how do you receive the Holy Spirit? Is it possible for anyone to receive the Holy Spirit or is this something only the apostles could do?
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Eph. 1:13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,"
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Eph. 4:3 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
2 Cor. 1:21-22 Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God 22 who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee."
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I Jn 2:26-27 "These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you. 27 But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him."
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Jesus said, "he who stands firm to the end will be saved" Mark 13:13.
Live Life in such a way that those who do not know Christ will come to know Him because they know you
So my question is how do you receive the Holy Spirit? Is it possible for anyone to receive the Holy Spirit or is this something only the apostles could do?
It was not something that the Apostles COULD DO, it was rather something that they received. Acts 2:37-40 Repent and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall RECEIVE the GIFT of The Holy Ghost, for the promise is UNTO YOU, and unto your children, even unto them that ARE AFAR OFF, even as many as The Lord our God shall call.
Acts 5:32 The Holy Ghost is given unto them that obey him.
As much as some don't like it, Jesus still said, ye MUST be born again, of water and of The Spirit. Again being a second birth, not the natural first birth of the human mother. Ro 8:9 If any man hath not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. Ro 8:4 We walk after the Spirit, not after the flesh. 1 Cor 2:12 We have not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God. 1 John 4:24 And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.
Simply put "Ye must be born again"......How does this occur?. The pharisee asked Jesus if he could re-enter his mothers womb to achieve this because he was thinking as an unspiritual man.
Nicodemus thought he could do something to achieve it, because he was unable to grasp what salvation was, and how it was imparted. Sadly the same is true for many today. Many think that a verbal professional of belief will give them new life. Nothing is further from the truth. The pharisees who sought to kill Jesus professed with their mouths that they loved God. They sought to keep the commandments, and the tithes, yet Jesus called them the children of the devil.
Our spoken words do not impart life. It is the Blood of Christ that imparts life, and gives us Baptizmo {full immersion} in that Blood, that cleanses us from our death sentence. When we are truly washed in that Blood, we recieve the True Baptism, which is the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. It is this Baptism, this Spiritual indwelling that causes our mouths to profess TRUE belief. Remember, both the Pharisees, and the Disciples professed belief, yet only one group were ear marked as the sheep.
Any man can profess with his mouth that he beleives in the Lord Jesus. Any man can take part in the ritual of water baptism. Neither of these impart life. You must be born again of the Spirit, and this is not of man, or any action of man. When we are indwelt by the Holy Spirit, we recieve new life, hence we are born again. Then, and only then can we boldly pronounce ourselves as believers.
Then, and only then can we boldly pronounce ourselves as believers.
Pronouncing oneself as a believer, produces self-righteousness. Jesus gives The Holy Ghost to them that obey him. As soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children. The mother gives the birth unto her child. Jersalem from above is the Mother of us all. There is one God and Father of all. Now are ye the Sons of God. For the Grace of God that bringeth salvation, hath appeared unto all men, teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and Godly in this present world.
Again, "ye must be born again". In order to understand how Gods Children attain rebirth, we must first understand that we are born into this world under the wrath of God. While we do indeed live a physical life, we are all spiritually dead, and without a resurrection, wewill perish.
God explains that no man without new life can seek Him, fear Him, or His Commandments..Romans 3:10-17. Granted, man may try invain to seek God, and obey God without being born again into Jesus, and the Baptizmo of His Blood, but he is just beating at the wind. The Pharisees were examples of this. The thought that their lineage, and their keeping of the law, tithes, holy days, and commandments could gain them entrance into Heaven.
They did not understand that they were spiritually dead because of sin. They rejected the need of a Saviour to wash away the sins that kept them in a dead state. Instead they clung to their works, and their obedience of the letter to gain their salvation.
The fact that Jesus says "ye must be born again" is evidence that we are dead in the first place. In the same way that a blind man cannot see, the spiritually dead man cannot obey the Spiritual Commands of God.If mans obedience to the commandments were possible, there would be no need for a Saviour
Therefore in order for a man to obey God, he must be first indwelt by God, Who then writes His Law upon his new heart, and Who places the proclamation of belief upon his tongue.
How to receive the Holy Spirit?
