Receiving The Holy Spirit:
Is it For Every Christian?


If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him? ~ Luke 11:13 


receiving the Holy spirit golden sunrise You understand that the Holy Spirit has power. But what about receiving the Holy Spirit for yourself?  

How can you truly allow His power to be evident in your life?

Do you sometimes wonder if YOU really have access to the Holy Spirit?

And, even if you did, how would walking the Spirit change your daily life?

Find out the answers to these questions and more in this short Bible study on receiving the Holy Spirit.


Is Receiving the Holy Spirit for Every Christian?


Does every Christian have access to the power of the Holy Spirit in their daily lives, or is this just for "certain" people?  

Do you have to be a minister to feel God's presence in your daily life?  
Do you have to be a pastor to hear God's voice speaking to you each day?

Let's see what Jesus said...

If you [really] love Me,
you will keep (obey) My commands.
And I will ask the Father,
and He will give you another Comforter
(Counselor, Helper, Intercessor,
Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby),
that He may remain with you
forever.
-John 14:15,16 (Amplified)

Jesus promises here that, if you really love Him, you will receive a special gift from the Father.  That is the gift of NEVER having to live your life alone.  

In fact, you are guaranteed that the Holy Spirit will remain with you FOREVER.

NOT just when you are newly saved.
NOT just when things are going badly and you need someone to lean on.
NOT just while you are in church on Sundays and the choir is singing.
But All Day Every Day!

That means that receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit is for every Christian...Including YOU!



How Do YOU Receive the Holy Spirit?

Like you will notice throughout the Bible, in John 14 Jesus is making a covenant with us. Another way to explain a covenant would be a binding promise. If you keep your part of the covenant, He will keep His.

So, what is your part?
1. Really LOVE Him.
2. Keep His commands. (John 14:15)

What is His part?
1. He will ask the Father,
2. He will give you the Comforter (John 14:16)

Sometimes we, as Christians become confused as to what we have to do to receive the Holy Spirit.  But, God does not want you to be confused on this vital topic! That's why His Word makes receiving the Holy Spirit so simple!   

God is no respecter of persons. He said:

If ye then, being evil,
know how to give good gifts unto your children:
how much more shall your heavenly Father
give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him?
- Luke 11:13
I love the way that God reminds us here, the Holy Spirit is a gift!  Like our salvation, it isn't something that we can somehow earn. But it is a free gift given to those who:
1. Love God  
2. Follow God  
3. And ask God

If the Bible makes receiving the Holy Spirit that simple, there is no reason we should complicate it!  

Satan wants us to think that it's complicated.  He wants us to think that we have to say some special prayer at some special time or on some special day.  But, is that what God said in His Word?  No, He just says ASK.

If you feel, in your heart, that you have never really received the Holy Spirit, then take a second right now and simply take God at His Word - Ask Him for It!



The Role of the Holy Spirit


Learn to Fellowship with the Holy Spirit! In our online Bible Class, Living In the Spirit: How to Experience True Fellowship with the Holy Spirit, we discuss the role that the Holy Spirit longs to play in YOUR daily life.  

Many Christians don't realize that God never created us to live our lives on our own.  He created us to live our lives in fellowship with Him!

That means that God wants you to feel His presence walking with you throughout your day.  He wants you to hear His voice guiding your along your way.

Understanding the role of the Holy Spirit is so crucial to the life of EVERY believer.

But, if receiving the Holy Spirit is a gift that is available to every Believer, then why do so many Christians live spiritually dry lives?  

Why are so many of us secretly longing for more of God's presence?  Why can't we feel Him each and every day?

Why do so many of us sit confused about God's real plan for our lives, when His Spirit is sitting right there with each of us, waiting to give us counsel?

Well, in order for the Holy Spirit to counsel you, you have to be able to hear His direction.  

And, in order for Him to give you comfort, you have to be able to recognize His presence.

Both of those things, believe it or not, take practice.

They are often easy to do when we're in church engulfed in worship and praise.  But, what happens when we return home?  

Can you still feel His presence while you're driving in your car every day?  Can you still hear Him speaking while you're doing work around the house each week?

Or, have you, like so many of us, begun to ignore the role of the Holy Spirit in your life?


Making God's Spirit a Priority in Your Life

One of the reasons that so many Christians miss out of the fullness of the gift of the Holy Spirit is because they do not actively make room for Him in their lives.

So, I want to challenge you today to make a renewed commitment to Practice the Presence of God in your daily life.  

Receiving the Holy Spirit: Making His Spirit a PriorityHere's How To Practice His Presence:

PURPOSEFULLY create quiet times in your day where you can invite the Holy Spirit in to fellowship with you.  Times where you don't just talk at God, but actually listen for the response of His still small voice.  

The more you do this in your quiet times, the more connected you will feel to Him during your not so quiet times (-:


Yes, receiving the Holy Spirit is a free gift from God, but developing an intimate relationship with the Holy Spirit, like any relationship, takes work!

Still, I can tell you from experience, it is well worth it!

Fellowship with the Holy Spirit is available to every Believer - Including YOU!  It is a gift from God to those who truly love Him.  

It is the gift of being able to feel His presence walking with you, and to hear His voice talking with you throughout your day.

If this close fellowship with the Holy Spirit is something you feel God drawing you to, but you are not sure where to start, you are not alone.  You are the exact reason God led me to design The Hem's special class on Living in the Spirit.  It will guide you step by step in a special journey through God's Word, and into intimate fellowship with Him. 



The "Self-sufficient Christian"

Even though receiving the Holy Spirit is God's will for each of us, sometimes, depending on our personalities and personal experience, we feel this strange need to be “INDEPENDENT.” So, we constantly bang our heads against the wall, ignoring the role of the Holy Spirit in our daily lives.

Part of the role of the Holy Spirit in your life is to help you when you cannot help yourself. But, remember, it is your responsibility to stop what you are doing, and ASK for assistance.


Next Time You Hit A Wall:
(John 14:16)


Receiving The Holy Spirit

Reflection Questions

1. Have you ever thought that receiving the Holy Spirit was not for you? Why or why not?

2. Jesus says here that He will send the Holy Spirit into each of our lives. We often read It described as the "Comforter," but the Amplified Bible gives us a more complete explanation of how Jesus meant it.

What is your reaction when you read that The Holy Spirit is your Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener and Standby ?

3. Do you ever fall into the trap of being the "Self-Sufficient Christian?"  If so, list some ways that you sometimes miss the role of the Holy Spirit in your life.

4.  Do you feel that you currently make God's Spirit a priority?  What are some ways that you can prioritize the presence of God even more in your daily life?

Learn How To Experience True Fellowship With the Holy Spirit





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