Receiving The Holy Spirit

On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. John 7:37-39

How do we receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit?

Step #1: Repentance. On the Day of Pentecost, Peter said, “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” (Acts 2:38). Repentance is an inward change of heart and attitude toward God that opens the way for the sinner to be reconciled with God. Thereafter, baptism is an outward act by which the believer testifies to the inward change wrought by God’s grace in his heart.

Step #2: Thirsting. The one essential condition for receiving the fullness of the Holy Spirit is to be hungry and thirsty (John 7:37). God does not squander His blessings on those who see no need for them. Many professing Christians who lead good, respectable lives never receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit simply because they see no need for it. Since they are satisfied without this blessing, God leaves them that way.

Step #3: Asking. Jesus places upon God’s children an obligation to ask their heavenly Father for the gift of the Holy Spirit (Luke 11:13). Sometimes, Christians make foolish remarks like: “If God wants me to have the Holy Spirit, He will give it to me. I don’t need to ask Him for
it.” This attitude is totally unscriptural! If you want the Spirit, ask God persistently for it.

Step #4: Drinking (John 7:37). Drinking is an active process of receiving. This infilling of the Holy Spirit cannot be received by a negative or passive attitude. No one can drink except of his own active choice, and no one can drink with a closed mouth. God cannot fi ll a closed mouth. Simple though it may seem, there are those who fail to receive the fullness of the Spirit simply because they fail to open their mouths and trust the Holy Spirit to give them a new heavenly language called “tongues.”

Step #5: Yielding. Paul speaks of a twofold surrender to God in Romans 6:13:

1. The surrender of yourselves—will and personality,
2. The surrender of your physical body—namely, to open your mouth by faith and start speaking out in tongues.
   

Begin your walk in the Spirit now. Take each of these steps and share them with other believers who may not yet know the fullness of the Spirit’s baptism.