We’re going to start a series on the Holy Spirit. I know you have heard so much about the Holy Spirit. Some bibles translate him as Holy Ghost; some translate him as Holy Spirit. You have probably heard different opinions, comments, thoughts, and expressions about the Holy Spirit. Some people call him “it”; some call him “that thang”. But he is the third person in the God head, and I want to talk about him in the baptism of the Holy Spirit which Jesus said would take place when he comes. Some people say being baptized in the Holy Spirit and speaking with other tongues is of the devil. You hear all kind of comments and all kinds of teaching, but I thought it would be wise to go find out what the scriptures says. If we can’t follow the scripture, what Jesus said, and what they wrote by the inspiration of the Spirit, I don’t know what we can follow. I certainly can’t follow the opinion of men; I can’t follow ideas and theories. So, here is what Jesus said and the is subject, “But ye shall receive power”.

• Acts 1:8 KJV

8 “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 Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

• Acts 1:8 AMPC

8 “But you shall receive power (ability, efficiency, and might) when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be My witnesses in Jerusalem and all Judea and Samaria and to the ends (the very bounds) of the earth.”

This is what Luke wrote, and we will back up to verse 1 because we want to bring clarity to what the scripture says about the Holy Spirit and being filled with him. Is it scripture to be filled with the Spirit and speak with other tongues? Is it for every believer or just some believers? We want to answer all these questions with the scripture. I believe that it is time that believers find out who they are, what they have, and what God has given them, so we can become more effective in our faith walk and christian walk with the Lord each day.

Many have the idea that going to church on Sunday morning is when we really have church. Don’t you know you are the church everywhere you go? You ought to be a living example everyday you are a believer that you are the church. The Holy Spirit has been given to us to help us. So listen to what Luke, who has been given the credit of recording the book of Acts, says

• Acts 1:1 KJV

1 “The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,”

Notice, “he began”. It never said he finished. Even the book of Acts is not finished. We are living. Therefore the book of Acts is still being written. Verse 2 says

• Acts 1:2-8 KJV

2 “Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:”

3 “To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:”

4 “And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.”

5 “For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.”

6 ”When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?”

7 ”And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.”

8 ”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 Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

Notice he said “But you shall receive power”. We will look at John Gospel chapter 14 verse 16. This was before Jesus went to the cross and here is what he said

• John 14:16-17 KJV

16 “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;”

17 “Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.”

Now if there is not a experience subsequent to the New Birth or being born again how would the world get born again if they couldn’t receive life. So he didn’t say the world couldn’t be born again, but the world can’t receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit or receive the infilling of the Holy Spirit without being born again. You have to first experience the New Birth. So he was telling them “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;”. Who will abide with you forever? “Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive,”. Let me ask you a question, why did Jesus come? What did he come for? He came to do what? Seek and to save that which were lost. Once a person is born again, then he can receive the Holy Spirit as his helper. Listen to how the Amplified reads

• John 14:16 AMPC

16 “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—”

The Greek word for comforter, the Holy Spirit, is called the Paraclete. The Amplified translated the word Paraclete these 6 different ways “(Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby)”. All of them are very important, but if I would like to emphasize one to get an overall understanding of his operation, I would pull out Helper. He is sent to help me. As a comforter, he helps me. As a counselor, he helps me. As a strengthener, he helps me. Not only is he a comforter, counselor, and strengthener, when he stands by me he helps me. So he is sent to indwell you and me. He is not going do my praying. He is not going do my witnessing. He is there to help me. He is my helper. Jesus said “I will not leave you comfortless”.

Continued in next article