Receive the Holy Spirit?
"Brothers, what shall we do (to receive the Holy Spirit)?" (Acts 2:37) asked the people. Though the sentence 'to
receive the Holy Spirit' is not found in the Bible, those who carefully read the verses, Acts 2:1-39, will realize that
they asked with the intention of receiving the Holy Spirit only.
"Lord, what do You want me to do?", asked Saul (Acts 9:6). "What must I do to be saved?", asked the keeper of
the prison (Acts 16:30).
(1) The Lord Jesus Christ appeared before His serious enemy Saul, and subdued him as he was proceeding to
Damascus against Himself, against His will and in order to bind His children and persecute them. Saul's former
ways came to an end. Now, believing and accepting Jesus Christ, Saul committed the remaining part of his life to
the Lord and asked, "Lord, what do You want me to do?" (Acts 9:1-6). The command given to him was, "Arise and
go into the city, and you will be told what you must do?". Ananias, a disciple, came to Saul and told him what he
should do. (Acts 9:17, 22:12-16).
(2) Witnessing a miracle in the prison, the keeper of the prison asked "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?". He was
told "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household." The same night, he and
his family were baptized.
(3) Ap.Peter along with the eleven other apostles, rose up and addressed the people who stood there amazed at
seeing and hearing the anointing of the Holy Spirit experienced by those of the early church, on the day of the
Pentecost. The substance of the message was:
"This is not drunkenness; As prophesied by Joel, the Holy Spirit is being poured out. You have put Jesus to death;
but God has raised Him to life and we are all witnesses of the fact. Exalted to the right hand of God, he has
received from the father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see (the bodily
movement-power) and hear (speaking in other tongues-that can be heard) (Acts 2:14-33)." Those who heard this
were pricked in the heart and said, "brothers, (to receive this experience (Holy Spirit), what shall we do?" (Acts
2:37). The answer given to them was: "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for
the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you, and to your
children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call" (Acts 2:37-39)(NKJV).
These days there are many who desire to receive the Holy Spirit. But they wish to receive the Holy Spirit against
the conditions laid down by the Bible. Therefore they end up receiving evil spirits instead of the Holy Spirit. Many
people strive to receive the Holy Spirit, leaving aside the way God showed to the apostles.
The Roman Pentecostal group who have not left Mary-worship, idol worship and sins; the Protestant Pentecostal
group who have not left their sins and worldly rituals; the so called spiritual groups who still cling to their casteism,
hypocrisy, pride and their greed for money and power; the assembly speakers who have the spirit of divination
instead of the Holy Spirit which they claim to possess; and the group of women who ascend the pulpit to preach,
prophesy and lead the church; all of them, think that they possess Holy Spirit. However the Holy Spirit who is the
Spirit of God is a Spirit of Truth.
The Holy Spirit comes into a person only to cleanse the person. The same Spirit of God who inspired the writing of
the scriptures comes into a person who sincerely seek Him. The very purpose of filling a person with the Spirit of
God is to make him obey the word of God. Whether it is the Holy Spirit or an evil spirit that resides and reacts in a
person can be discerned by seeing if that person obeys and lives by the scriptures. All those who disobey the
scriptures are evil spirits even if they speak in tongues or prophesy or do miracles; there is no doubt whatsoever.
Therefore in accordance with the counsel of apostles, one can repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ
for the remission of sins (salvation), and can receive the Holy Spirit. Those who had obtained the Holy Spirit with
the experience narrated in verses Acts 1-4, should strive to save their anointing of the Holy Spirit by continuing in
the fellowship of apostles, receiving their counsel and observing the Holy Communion, and worshipping along with
them (Acts 2:37-42). Otherwise, evil spirits will enter and take the place of Holy Spirit thus deceiving the person.
"Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God" (I John 4:1). Beware of the
spirit within you! It is written "and (then) you shall receive the Holy Spirit." Those who had received the Holy
Spirit through the doctrine of apostles, immediately received baptism (immersion) and became members of church
(Acts 10:44-48). All those who are yet to receive the Holy Spirit even after being baptized, can receive the Holy
Spirit when the apostles pray placing their hands on their heads (Acts 8:14-17). And those who have not yet
received Holy Spirit even after believing in Lord Jesus Christ, should receive apostolic doctrines, be baptized and
receive the Holy Spirit (Acts 19:1-6). The anointing of the Holy Spirit is the guarantee and seal that you will be
raptured when Jesus Christ comes again (II Cor. 1:21-22; Eph).
Receive the Holy Spirit!
You have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things (I John 2:20)(NKJV).