How do we receive the Holy Spirit today?

Dietrich Johnson

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Acts 8:16 says that those who had believed and were baptized (from verse 12) had not yet received the Holy Ghost.

This is in contrast to what is often said by some evangelists today: "believers are sealed with the Holy Spirit at the moment they believe in Christ".

Acts 8:15 says that the Apostles prayed for them to receive the Holy Ghost, then laid their hands on them (verse 17), and then "they received the Holy Ghost".

How do we receive the Holy Spirit today?
 

Blade

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What does Luke 11:13 say? "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”

How it happen for me. Bible study they asked if I wanted the holy Spirit I said yes. Then he read only what the bible says about the holy spirit. Then asks me again if I wanted the holy Spirit I answered yes. He then prays a very short prayer then stops and says thats it you got it. Yeah nothing happened I didn't feel anything no one said a word. I just got up went to sit down and lol praise GOD tongues just came out. It was so wonderful.

See they just simply believed GODs word. If you ask the Father will keep His word. I never once thought about it after they prayed for me. No one told me about tongues or to expect anything. Oh but wow its like NIGHT AND DAY! I was saved the day before but after "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you;". It always has been that easy. If He said it will He not do it? :)
 
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Gregory Thompson

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Acts 8:16 says that those who had believed and were baptized (from verse 12) had not yet received the Holy Ghost.

This is in contrast to what is often said by some evangelists today: "believers are sealed with the Holy Spirit at the moment they believe in Christ".

Acts 8:15 says that the Apostles prayed for them to receive the Holy Ghost, then laid their hands on them (verse 17), and then "they received the Holy Ghost".

How do we receive the Holy Spirit today?
Looking at the context of the verse, this was for the converts in Samaria. It was an exceptional circumstance due to prophetic significance.

The Italian converts (in Acts Chapter 10) received the Holy Spirit while Peter was in mid-message. Peter didn't do the laying on of hands, or get to finish what he had to say.

So it might be good to point out that since God doesn't show favoritism, the most simple way of receiving the Holy Spirit, is probably the one that applies across the board.
 
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sandman

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Take a look at the Greek word for "receive"
There are 17 different word forms used for our one word receive, however there are
two basic words for the word receive in regards to receiving the spirit.
Dechomai and Lambano

Dechomai = is to receive subjectively
Lambano = is to receive into manifestation.

If I gave you a pen and you took it and put it in your pocket you received.... subjectively.
If you took the pen and began writing with it you received .... objectively = into manifestation
In both cases you have the pen....and at any time you desire you can utilize the pen into manifestation.
 
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ByTheSpirit

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Depends on what you mean by receive. Most Pentecostals and Charismatics believe in a two stage "receiving".

The first applies to all believers and that is when at the moment of conversion the Holy Spirit enters a person to regenerate their wayward spirit and give them life. This is referred to as the sealing of the Holy Spirit. Actually most Christians across any denomination will believe in this. Ephesians 1:13 Ephesians 4:30

The second is what separates Pentecostals and Charismatics. We believe there is a second encounter with the Holy Spirit known as the Baptism or Filling of the Holy Spirit. Spoken of in Acts 1:8 John also said Jesus would baptized with the Holy Spirit. Peter in Acts 2:33 said Jesus had poured out what others could SEE & HEAR.

Biblical precedent for this two stage receiving is found in John 20 and Acts 2. In John 20 it says Jesus breathed on them and they received the Holy Spirit. This draws parallels to the Genesis account of creation where God breathed into Adam and he was given life. This is the sealing of the Holy Spirit, and this is given when we are converted and born again to new life. But notice there are no tongues or anything mentioned here and Jesus was actually present with them, he hadn't ascended yet.

In Acts 2 we see the filling or baptism of the Holy Spirit. The early church was praying and seeking God when the Spirit was given. There were signs manifested, tongues is the only one mentioned, but prophecy is implied via Peters address at Pentecost. Also, Jesus has ascended at this point.

So how do we receive? Well so I don't get my comment removed for violating board policy I will say you believe in Jesus and obey him to receive the sealing of the Holy Spirit. To receive the filling, you pray and seek God. God can give it to you sovereignly or as it mostly came in Acts, find a Spirit filled believer and ask them to lay hands on you.

God bless
 
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GoldenKingGaze

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Moses could impart what he received. Moses received in a truly remarkable way, on the mountain. Moses would lay on hands, and Joshua was by Moses, while he was by the pillar of fire in all it's awe.

Moses had a great revelation of God and Joshua less, and Israel still less. They didn't do well because they did not receive.

Jesus was God manifest, the apostles received direct from God and Jesus anointing oil, virtue was theirs for three years.

They awaited Pentecost and were filled like they were standing under a waterfall.

They were able to lay on hands and impart graces. Even a man was healed without contact.

But they died and before their full lives, except for John in exile.

Their crucial thirty years of Acts became a permanent foundation, a church. But was persecuted, under Nero, millions died.

If we look at Augustine Bishop of Hippo, his heart was won by bishops sermons and the crowd laying hands on him. But this was not as powerful a church as the apostles'.

The church became too political. People were being controlled and punished...

There were empowered saints like Francis.

Then there was Martin Luther, after that the Moravians were free to seek God as they saw fit. There was their success of John Wesley and under him, the Spirit poured out into all flesh, whoever would come, cowboys, native Americans...

So there is the laying on of hands and the donkey, Jesus rides him or her and in the congregation anyone gets healed or filled where they stand.

Coming from Wesley there were other revivals, and the Azusa St Revival 1906 under Ps Seymour. This started Pentecostalism. There was revival under John Wimber, Yonggi Cho, and John Arnott and Cezar Castellanos, and Claudio Freidzon and Carlos Anacondia and Randy Clark. Great work under the late Reinhard Bonnke too, 83,000,000 converts so far.

There also came to be the Catholic Charismatic Renewal, and Hit Church Hungary.

You can enter in, start with prayer and praise, receive words of knowledge from others, then yourself in gifts school. You can receive the laying on of hands twenty times...
 
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tturt

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There's "...the doctrine of baptisms,..." (Heb 6:2).

There's 3 baptisms - 3 immersions

1 - By The Holy Spirit "into"Jesus who reconciles us to God (baptism for salvation).
2- By Jesus who sends the promise of the Father baptists us "by," "with" and "in" the Holy Spirit (The Spirit baptism)
3 - By another believer baptizing in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (water baptism)


1 - By The Holy Spirit "into"Jesus which reconciles us to God is the baptism for salvation. Baptized by the Holy Spirit into the body of Christ by believing in His death, burial, and resurrection.
(Rev 1:5; Matt 26:28; Mark 1:4-9, 16:16; Luk 3:3; 1 Cor 12:13; Acts 2:38; Gal 3:27, II Cor 5:18).


Water and Spirit baptism follows salvation - not in a set order though
2 - By Jesus who sends the promise of the Father baptists us "by," "with" and "in" the Holy Spirit (The Spirit baptism) includes when the Holy Spirit comes "upon" us, He endures us with power for service to Him and to keep His Word. (Matt 3:11; Mark 1:8, Luke 3:16; John 1:33, Acts 1:5, 8:14-17, 10:44-48, 11:16; I Cor 12:13, Luk 24:49, Eph 5:18, Acts 4:31; I John 3:24; Eze 36:25-28; John 14:25-27).
3 - - By another believer (water baptism) "... fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness," All 3 persons of the Godhead endorsed it Baptizing in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (Matt 3:13-16). (Matt 3:6,11; 28:18-20; Acts 8:39, 10:47, 22:16; John 3:5).


They're different yet
"And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one." I John 5:7-8
 
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ARBITER01

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There's "...the doctrine of baptisms,..." (Heb 6:2).

There's 3 baptisms - 3 immersions

1 - By The Holy Spirit "into"Jesus (baptism for salvation).
2- By Jesus who sends the promise of the Father baptists us "by," "with" and "in" the Holy Spirit (The Spirit baptism)
3 - By another believer baptizing in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (water baptism)


1 - By The Holy Spirit "into"Jesus which reconciles us to God is the baptism for salvation. Baptized by the Holy Spirit into the body of Christ by believing in His death, burial, and resurrection.
(Rev 1:5; Matt 26:28; Mark 1:4-9, 16:16; Luk 3:3; 1 Cor 12:13; Acts 2:38; Gal 3:27, II Cor 5:18).


Water and Spirit baptism follows salvation - not in a set order though
2 - By Jesus who sends the promise of the Father baptists us "by," "with" and "in" the Holy Spirit (The Spirit baptism) includes when the Holy Spirit comes "upon" us, He endures us with power for service to Him and to keep His Word. (Matt 3:11; Mark 1:8, Luke 3:16; John 1:33, Acts 1:5, 8:14-17, 10:44-48, 11:16; I Cor 12:13, Luk 24:49, Eph 5:18, Acts 4:31; I John 3:24; Eze 36:25-28; John 14:25-27).
3 - - By another believer (water baptism) "... fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness," All 3 persons of the Godhead endorsed it Baptizing in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (Matt 3:13-16). (Matt 3:6,11; 28:18-20; Acts 8:39, 10:47, 22:16; John 3:5).


They're different yet
"And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one." I John 5:7-8

I really wish you would quit posting this stuff because it is wrong. And you post it every chance you get it seems.

There are only two immersion described in scripture,.... When we are born again in The Holy Spirit, and water immersion.

Being filled with The Holy Spirit is not another baptism,........ It is a filling just like scripture says. There is nothing in the early Greek describing another immersion into The Holy Spirit after we are born again.

Quit being led astray by other people's opinions, start learning scripture.
 
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ARBITER01

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Biblical precedent for this two stage receiving is found in John 20 and Acts 2. In John 20 it says Jesus breathed on them and they received the Holy Spirit. This draws parallels to the Genesis account of creation where God breathed into Adam and he was given life. This is the sealing of the Holy Spirit, and this is given when we are converted and born again to new life. But notice there are no tongues or anything mentioned here and Jesus was actually present with them, he hadn't ascended yet.

Does it say that?

When did the church start, in John 20 or Acts 2 with the 120 disciples?
 
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ByTheSpirit

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Does it say that?

When did the church start, in John 20 or Acts 2 with the 120 disciples?

When He had said this, He breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. John 20:22 BSB

Then the LORD God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed the breath of life into his nostrils, and the man became a living being. Genesis 2:7 BSB
 
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ARBITER01

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When He had said this, He breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. John 20:22 BSB

Then the LORD God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed the breath of life into his nostrils, and the man became a living being. Genesis 2:7 BSB

That seems to sound good and all,...... but when did the church actually start? Was The Holy Spirit given to Jesus to pour out upon the earth in John 20 or Acts 2?
 
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ByTheSpirit

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That seems to sound good and all,...... but when did the church actually start? Was The Holy Spirit given to Jesus to pour out upon the earth in John 20 or Acts 2?

Is there a scripture that states specifically when the church began? I'd be curious to see if there is. I wasn't making the connection between the two, I was pointing out that there are two separate instances of Jesus giving the Holy Spirit in scripture, one while he breathes and the other he pours.
 
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ARBITER01

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Is there a scripture that states specifically when the church began? I'd be curious to see if there is. I wasn't making the connection between the two, I was pointing out that there are two separate instances of Jesus giving the Holy Spirit in scripture, one while he breathes and the other he pours.

It doesn't say they received The Holy Spirit over in John 20,... just that He stated to them to receive The Holy Spirit. There is nothing in scripture after He states that describing them actually receiving Him,... and Thomas is missing in that event also it seems.

Jesus was given The Holy Spirit to pour out after He was seated at the right of The Father, and immediately after Pentecost was He poured out to the 120 who had been waiting for Him.

Jesus didn't give some of the apostles an early filling where others had to wait. That's not how GOD operates.
 
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ByTheSpirit

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It doesn't say they received The Holy Spirit over in John 20,... just that He stated to them to receive The Holy Spirit. There is nothing in scripture after He states that describing them actually receiving Him,... and Thomas is missing in that event also it seems.

Jesus was given The Holy Spirit to pour out after He was seated at the right of The Father, and immediately after Pentecost was He poured out to the 120 who had been waiting for Him.

Jesus didn't give some of the apostles an early filling where others had to wait. That's not how GOD operates.

So you believe that unless a person has the filling of the Holy Spirit, they are not part of the church and not a child of God?
 
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ARBITER01

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So you believe that unless a person has the filling of the Holy Spirit, they are not part of the church and not a child of God?

That's not what I said.

I'm pointing out that the event where the disciples actually received the new Spiritual birth was over in acts 2, not john 20,.... and that is because The Holy Spirit was not given to Jesus by The Father to pour out until that point.

John 20 was just Jesus telling them to receive The Holy Spirit, not where they actually did.
 
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ARBITER01

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The book of Acts can be the most confusing book for some, as well as the most doctrinally rich for others.

2 specific events happened from GOD in this book,.... the Jewish believers were born again and immediately received the filling of The Holy Spirit,.... and Cornelius's house were born again and immediately received filling of The Holy Spirit.

That was the only time that these two events bypassed water immersion, and I think that was because GOD made it happen. It was His stamp of approval.

If we are not careful, we overlook the finer details of His word at times.
 
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ByTheSpirit

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That's not what I said.

I'm pointing out that the event where the disciples actually received the new Spiritual birth was over in acts 2, not john 20,.... and that is because The Holy Spirit was not given to Jesus by The Father to pour out until that point.

John 20 was just Jesus telling them to receive The Holy Spirit, not where they actually did.

That seems to sound good and all,...... but when did the church actually start? Was The Holy Spirit given to Jesus to pour out upon the earth in John 20 or Acts 2?

You asked the question in connection with this discussion. Your implication is the church started when the Holy Spirit was given in Acts 2.
 
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ARBITER01

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You asked the question in connection with this discussion. Your implication is the church started when the Holy Spirit was given in Acts 2.

Exactly.

The church was not started until Acts 2. There was not some event where Jesus was able to give The Holy Spirit to some of the Apostles ahead of everyone else,...... and the reason why is this,...

Act 2:33 Being therefore by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath poured forth this, which ye see and hear.

Jesus wasn't able to give out The Holy Spirit prior to Him being seated at the right hand of The Father, and The Father giving Him The Holy Spirit to pour out. That's why I disagree with you over your statement about John 20.
 
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ByTheSpirit

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Exactly.

The church was not started until Acts 2. There was not some event where Jesus was able to give The Holy Spirit to some of the Apostles ahead of everyone else,...... and the reason why is this,...

Act 2:33 Being therefore by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath poured forth this, which ye see and hear.

Jesus wasn't able to give out The Holy Spirit prior to Him being seated at the right hand of The Father, and The Father giving Him The Holy Spirit to pour out. That's why I disagree with you over your statement about John 20.

But where does scripture state that on Pentecost is when the church began? And by extension, if the church began when the Holy Spirit fell on Pentecost does that mean that those who do not have the Holy Spirit in that sense are not part of the church and this not saved?
 
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ARBITER01

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But where does scripture state that on Pentecost is when the church began? And by extension, if the church began when the Holy Spirit fell on Pentecost does that mean that those who do not have the Holy Spirit in that sense are not part of the church and this not saved?

You keep thinking that Acts 2 is where people were only filled with The Spirit, right?

What did Jesus tell them,....

Act 1:4 And assembling together with them, He charged them not to leave Jerusalem, but to await the promise of the Father, “which you heard of Me;
Act 1:5 for John indeed baptized in water, but you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit not many days after.”


That word in the Greek is this,...

- Original: ἐν
- Transliteration: En
- Phonetic: en
- Definition:
1. in, by, with etc.
- Origin: a primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state), and (by implication) instrumentality (medially or constructively), i.e. a relation of rest (intermediate between G1519 and G1537)
- TDNT entry: 10:57,2
- Part(s) of speech: Preposition

- Strong's: A primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place time or state) and (by implication) instrumentality (medially or constructively) that is a relation of rest (intermediate between G1519 and G1537);
in at (up-) on by etc.: - about after against + almost X altogether among X as at before between (here-) by (+ all means) for (. . . sake of) + give self wholly to (here-) in (-to -wardly) X mightily (because) of (up-) on [open-] ly X outwardly one X quickly X shortly [speedi-] ly X that X there (-in -on) through (-out) (un-) to(-ward) under when where (-with) while with (-in). Often used in compounds with substantially the same import; rarely with verbs of motion and then not to indicate direction except (elliptically) by a separate (and different) prep.

Old translations translated that word as "with",..... but how do you immerse, dip someone with something? You can't,....you can only immerse, dip them "in" or "into" something.

This is how old translations have created bad doctrine and misled people for centuries.
 
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