Receiving the Holy Spirit
- zachsloane1982
- Feb 6, 2025
- 8 min read
Updated: Apr 25, 2025
Topical Discussion Group — “Holy Spirit Pt. #2/2 ”
Stoughton Apostolic Church
Feb. 4, 2025
Every believer receives the Holy Spirit at conversion!
Ephesians 1:13 (AKJV) — “…after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise…”
Heard the word
Believed the word
Sealed with Spirit of Promise — given as a promise to all who believe!
Romans 8:9 (NKJV) — “But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.”
Doctrinal Differences:
These differences generally are:
Receiving the Spirit at new birth conversion and that’s the full experience.
Receiving Spirit at new birth and a baptism of Spirit as separate experience.
Receiving Spirit at new birth, a second work of Spirit that is sanctification, and then a third experience that is the baptism of Spirit. (Less common nowadays!)
Classical Pentecostalism in which the ACOP falls within, as a second order belief (i.e. not essential to being saved, but what forms the churches’ distinct self-understanding and interpretation of Scripture), believes in point number two above: Receiving Spirit at new birth and a baptism of Spirit as separate experience.
Why a second experience?
Hebrews 6:2 (AKJV) — “…of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.”
The Bible speaks of baptisms, not just a single one.
All four Gospels mention Jesus not only taking away our sins, but baptizing in the Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:11; Mark 1:8; Luke 3:16; John 1:33).
Baptise: baptizó / βαπτίζω / To baptize, to immerse, to dip
Baptism into (the body of) Christ (1 Cor. 12:13)
2. Baptized in water (eg. Acts 8:37-38)
3. Baptism in Holy Spirit (Acts 1:5, Matthew 3:11; Mark 1:8; Luke 3:16; John 1:33)
Acts 1:5 (AKJV) — For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
This is an immersion into the power of God, not like God coming into you and renewing you, but an experience from Jesus of you being immersed in His anointing and power ( the Person of Holy Spirit — Is. 11:1-2). Its power for witnessing!
Many Experiences: Salvation, baptism, Holy Spirit Baptism, fillings…
John 20:22 (AKJV) — “And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”
This was Jesus using the creation story to illustrate to us how the resurrected Jesus gives us new life, straight from him, as we receive the breath of life (pneuma/spirit/ ruach)
But Wait, there’s more! After this, he told them to wait in Jerusalem for something more.
Luke 24:49 (AKJV) — And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.
Acts 1:8 (AKJV) — But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judæa, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Jesus spoke of yet another experience, a baptism that would cause them to have power to be his witness, that would happen in the future.
Acts 1:5 (AKJV) — For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
Acts 19:1-2 (AKJV) — And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, 2 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.
Paul found a group of believers who were disciples and had heard John the Baptist’s message of repentance and of the Lamb of God, but who did not know about the Holy Spirit. They were baptized in water in Jesus name, then got the Holy Spirit baptism.
Pentecost:
50 days after the fulfilment of passover (Jesus death), and the waving of the sheaf of the first fruits (Jesus appearing before the Father as first fruits unto God — Mary don’t touch me - John 7:38-39), the separate feast of Weeks happened in fulfillment when the Holy Spirit was poured out not unto passover salvation, but unto witness. In OT 3000 died, in New T. 3000 came to eternal life.
Leviticus 23:15-16 (AKJV) — And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven sabbaths shall be complete: 16 even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto the Lord.
Acts 2:4 (AKJV) — And when the day of Pentecost was fully come…”
When Pentecost had fully come Holy Spirit came, now not within unto salvation, but upon unto power to witness.
Receiving the Promise:
A twofold promise: Spirit within and Sprit upon. Spirit’s work at Passover/Salvation and Spirit’s work at Pentecost/Power for Witness.
Galatians 3:14 (NKJV) — that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
Promise is received by believing it and trusting the one who promised it!
Galatians 3:2-5 (AKJV) — This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? 4 Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain. 5 He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
Ministers the Spirit (Salvation) & Works Miracles (power for witness) : both by faith
How to receive Spirit in salvation? By grace through faith!
How to receive Spirit in Holy Spirit baptism? By grace through faith!
How do you know?
How do you know you are saved?
Romans 8:16 (AKJV) — The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
2 Timothy 1:12 (AKJV) — 12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
Hebrews 10:22 (AKJV) — let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
The Spirit does something to us and in us to cause us to know we are his children.
How do you know if you’ve been baptized in the Spirit?
The Spirit will likewise manifest in a way that shows you have power!
Acts 2:4 (AKJV) — And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Acts 10:44-47 (AKJV) — 44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. 45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. 46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, 47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
Acts 19:5-6 (AKJV) — When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
Acts 2:16-18 (AKJV) — But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; 17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith 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: 18 and on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
Modalities:
Wait and receive the promise directly from Jesus, no people involved (Acts 2:4 explained in Acts 2:33)
While hearing the Word (Acts 10:44-47)
Having hands laid on (Acts 19:4-5)
Hot Take:
Bible does not say the proof of having received it is that you will speak in tongues in that explicit language, but likewise, when Holy Spirit Baptism is defined as having happened, tongues did happen and supernatural is expected - proof! ( Acts 2:4, 10:44-47, 19:5-6).
Baptism vs. Be filled and keep on being filled:
Ephesians 5:18 (AKJV) — “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;”
We are all called to live a life being full of Spirit and continually being filled as ongoing life expectation.
Acts 6:5 (AKJV) — 5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost,
Acts 11:24 (AKJV) — For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.
Ephesians 3:17 (AKJV) — that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith;
Jude 1:20 (AKJV) — But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
John 7:38-39 (AKJV) — He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. 39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
Faith and filling go hand in hand!
Hot Take:
Fruit is the ultimate test but it is not one dimensional. Do you have the fruit of Christ in your life: the man, message, and ministry.
Man - Do you manifest the fruit of the Spirit and character of Christ? (Gal. 5:22-23)
Messsage - Do you confess him and proclaim him? (1 Cor. 12:3)
Ministry - Do you do his works? (John 14:12)
1 John 2:6 (AKJV) — He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
Holy Spirit’s presence and power is evidenced by all three, not just one!
Questions for Further Discussion:
What is your understanding of the Holy Spirit baptism? What were your major influences in coming to your position?
Are there 2 tiers of Christians based on relationship to the Holy Spirit.
Do we all speak in tongues? How does this relate to Holy Spirit baptism?
Why can tongues be such a divisive topic?
Why is it important to understand that the Holy Spirit is referred to as the Promise of the Father?
Why is faith such an import factor in shaping your experience with the Holy Spirit?
What are some of the ways in the Bible that the baptism in the Holy Spirit happened? What were people doing when it happened to them?
Bible says something will happen when Spirit come upon you. Why is it important to insist on the fruit of that? What kind of fruit do we need to see?
What questions, comments, concerns do you have about this topic?
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