Receive the Holy Spirit

One Good Thing Leads to Another
by Pastor John Hamel

 

Live Table of Contents

 

Introduction

The Apostle Paul Enlightens the Ephesians

A Natural Illustration of This Supernatural Experience

A Common Hindrance to Receiving the Baptism with the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit Baptism Evidence of Speaking in Tongues

Some of the Many Benefits of Praying in Other Tongues

Almighty God's Two Greatest Gifts

 

Introduction

 

"And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, he said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. 

 

"Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on Him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues and prophesied.” (Acts 19:1-6) 

 

The Apostle Paul was used by the Holy Spirit to write the majority of the New Testament. 

 

This should tell us beyond all doubt that Paul knew what he was talking about when it came to the things of God. 

 

When the Apostle Paul speaks every Believer in Jesus Christ should listen.

 

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The Apostle Paul Enlightens the Ephesians

 

At one point in his life and Ministry, for approximately two years, the Apostle Paul pastored a local congregation of Christians in an ancient Greek city called Ephesus.  

 

While pastoring in Ephesus, Paul came in contact with some of John the Baptist’s former disciples.  These Ephesians believed everything John had preached about the coming of Jesus the Messiah.  However, they had not yet heard the full Message of the Gospel

 

These men did not know Jesus had indeed appeared even as John announced He would. They had not yet heard the necessity of being Born Again and making Jesus the Lord of their lives. 

 

They also knew nothing at all about the Baptism with the Holy Spirit which had come into the Earth at Pentecost some weeks after Jesus' ascension back to Heaven. (Acts 2:1-5)

 

The Apostle Paul first explained to these Ephesians how to make Jesus their Lord and Savior, leading them into that experience. Each of them accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior and became members of the Body of Christ.

 

Having explained the Good News of Jesus and leading them into the New Birth, Paul then revealed there was additional Good News - something subsequent to the New Birth. 

 

Paul revealed there was another experience after the salvation experience called the “Baptism with the Holy Spirit.” 

 

This is a special Baptism of Power still available today to all who are Born Again. Paul led them into this experience as well.

 

The Apostle laid his hands on all twelve of these new Ephesian converts, they were baptized with the Holy Spirit and they all spoke with tongues and prophesied.

 

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A Natural Illustration of This Supernatural Experience
  

 

I can imagine Paul explaining the Baptism with the Holy Spirit experience to these Ephesians something similar to the following.

 

Once you accept Jesus as your Savior by saying, “Jesus, You’re my choice” you come into a position of right standing with God. (Romans 10:13; 2Corinthians 5:17,21)  

 

At that time you receive a limited measure of the Holy Spirit’s power.  

 

I compare this Born Again experience to a glass being filled to the top with water. 

 

Like the glass filled with water, the Born Again Believer is now filled with God's power.

 

However, when the Born Again Believer receives the subsequent experience called the Baptism with the Holy Spirit, they are now not only filled with power but they are immersed in power.   

 

I compare this subsequent experience to taking that same glass filled with water and dropping it down inside of a pitcher filled with water.  

 

The glass is now both filled with and immersed, or baptized, in the water. 

 

This is what happens to the Born Again Believer who receives the subsequent Baptism with the Holy Spirit.  

 

The Believer is now both filled with and immersed, or baptized, in Holy Spirit power. 

 

This is a Baptism of Power reserved only for Born Again Believers in Jesus Christ.

 

This is why Jesus said to His Born Again disciples, "You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you." (Acts 1:8) 

 

How about you?  Have you said, “Jesus, You’re my choice” in order to be Born Again and to come into union with Creator God?  

 

Because if you have, you are now a member of God's forever family and a rightful heir of all family benefits.  

 

One of those benefits is the right to pray, “Father, please baptize me with the Holy Spirit and Power as promised, in Jesus’ Name.”

 

Although Paul laid his hands on the Ephesian Believers to receive the Holy Spirit, it is not always necessary for individuals to have hands laid on them to be baptized with the Holy Spirit. 

 

On the Day of Pentecost no less than one hundred and twenty Believers in Jesus were baptized with the Holy Spirit, speaking in other tongues and no one laid hands on any of them. (Acts 1:14-15; Acts 2:1-4)

 

If you are Born Again you can pray and receive the Holy Spirit Baptism and power right there where you are without anyone laying hands on you or praying for you.

 

The only thing necessary is to believe you will receive the Holy Spirit when you ask.   

 

This is an experience that will radically change your entire life forever.  

 

You will receive power in prayer that you never knew before. 

 

Wisdom and understanding of God's Word will become available like never before. 

 

You will receive power to operate in the supernatural Gifts of the Holy Spirit.

 

You will receive power to enable you to be His fearless witness in the Earth.

 

"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 Judea and in Samaria and unto the uttermost part of the Earth." (Acts 1:8)

 

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A Common Hindrance to Receiving the Baptism with the Holy Spirit

 

Someone once asked me, "Pastor, what if I receive a counterfeit to the Holy Spirit?" 

 

I answered confidently, "You will not receive a counterfeit because Jesus said, 'If you know how to give good gifts to your own children, how much more shall your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him?'" (See Luke 11:5-13.)

 

If you are sincere, having turned your back on a lifestyle of sin, refusing to hold unforgiveness in your heart towards anyone for any reason, and believe, not doubt, your Heavenly Father will see that you receive exactly what you ask - the Baptism with the Holy Spirit and power.

 

However, in over thirty years of Christian Ministry and leading Born Again Believers into the Baptism with the Holy Spirit, I have repeatedly discovered the following hindrance. 

 

Many times when Believers are having difficulty receiving the Baptism, it will come into my heart to ask if they read their horoscope.  

 

The overwhelming majority of the time, the answer has been "Yes." 

 

I then explain how seeking any source of power or spiritual guidance from anything or anyone other than Almighty God, grieves the Holy Spirit and drives Him away. 

 

I tell them, "The Bible says in the Book of Leviticus that you are causing God to turn His face against you. If you repent, He will forgive you and baptize you with the Holy Spirit."

 

"And the soul that turneth after such as have familiar spirits, and after wizards, to go a whoring after them, I will even set My face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people. Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the Lord your God." (Leviticus 20:6-7)

 

Horoscopes are rooted in superstition. 

 

Superstition is rooted in evil spirits, the occult, sorcery and witchcraft. 

 

Whenever those who have been involved with horoscope reading or any other form of evil spirits, the occult, sorcery or false guidance repent, they always receive the Baptism with the Holy Spirit and power.

 

There are many other forms of sin which could easily hinder a Believer from being baptized with the Holy Spirit.  However, it has been my personal experience that a Born Again Believer in Jesus Christ reading their horoscope is one of the greatest hindrances.

 

If you have been reading your horoscope and will repent, you, too, will receive the Baptism with the Holy Spirit and power. 

 

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The Holy Spirit Baptism Evidence of Speaking in Tongues

 

When you become baptized with the Holy Spirit, you will know it because you will begin to worship God in an unusual language that you have never before spoken - even as the Ephesians did. 

 

That unusual language called "tongues" is a spiritual prayer language. Some people start out speaking just a few words, others speak many. Either way, you will receive if you believe.

 

"And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues and prophesied." (Acts 19:6)

 

Those unusual words will come right up out of your belly, or spirit, even as Jesus prophesied.

 

"In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried saying, If any man thirst let him come unto Me, and drink. He that believeth on Me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. But this spake He of the Spirit which they that believe on Him should receive..." (John 7:37-39)  

 

When Jesus said "out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water" He was referring to the new supernatural prayer language received by all who are baptized with the Holy Spirit. (Proverbs 18:4; Isaiah 12:3; Isaiah 44:3; Joel 2:28; John 4:14; John 16:7; Acts 2:17-18,33,38)  

 

Jesus was referring to what the Apostle Paul calls "speaking in an unknown tongue."

 

"For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men but unto God..." (1Corinthians 14:2)

 

More commonly today, this experience is called "praying in other tongues."

 

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Some of the Many Benefits of Praying in Other Tongues
  

 

I call praying in other tongues "a hotline to Heaven" because it is a direct line to Heaven's Throne room. 

 

Praying in other tongues is praying in a supernatural language that Satan cannot understand, therefore, he cannot interfere with its fulfillment.  

 

Praying in other tongues is praying in a supernatural prayer language that only God can understand.  

 

"For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the Spirit he speaketh mysteries."(1Corinthians 14:2,3)

 

When a Born Again, Holy Spirit baptized Believer is praying in other tongues, they are praying what the Apostle Paul referred to as "mysteries." 

 

Although they may be mysteries to the Believer, they are not mysteries to God. God knows exactly what is being prayed out because He is inspiring the praying. 

 

Sometimes the Holy Spirit even tells the one doing the praying exactly what they are praying. (1Corinthians 14:13-15)

 

By yielding your tongue to this supernatural prayer language, the Holy Spirit is actually praying through you.  When the Holy Spirit prays through you, those prayers never go unanswered.

 

When a Born Again, Holy Spirit baptized Believer prays in other tongues, they are always praying according to the perfect will of God. This is entirely supernatural.

 

"He (Jesus) that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Holy Spirit, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God." (Romans 8:27)

 

The Apostle Paul also said praying in other tongues is the best way to give perfect praise to God. (1Corinthians 14:17)

 

When prophesying the Holy Spirit Baptism would come to the New Testament Church, the Old Testament Prophet Isaiah revealed something quite fascinating.  

 

Isaiah decreed praying in other tongues would bring supernatural peace, rest and refreshing to the weary, stressed, confused, fearful and even the grieving. This is something to which my wife and I, along with millions of others, can certainly attest.  

 

Sadly, Isaiah also predicted that many New Testament Believers would reject the supernatural Baptism with the Holy Spirit.

 

"For with stammering lips and another tongue will He speak to this people. To whom He said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear." (Isaiah 28:11-12)

 

Yield yourself to this supernatural gift no matter what kind of negative or unbelieving talk you may have heard from the uneducated or the misinformed. 

 

The Prophet Isaiah predicted this kind of unbelief would occur with many Christians.

 

People criticize the Baptism with the Holy Spirit as evidenced by speaking with other tongues because they simply do not know what the Bible teaches.  They either lack knowledge or have been wrongly taught.   

 

People who are down on speaking with other tongues simply are not up on the Bible.

 

However, you have now been properly taught.  

 

Once you have asked for the Baptism with the Holy Spirit, believing you will receive, give God your tongue by yielding to your supernatural prayer language. 

 

As was the case with Christ's disciples on the Day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit will give the utterance but you will have to do the speaking and praying.

 

"And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." (Acts 2:4)   

 

If you will yield to Him in this manner, you will begin to see things happen supernaturally that you had never before considered.

 

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Almighty God's Two Greatest Gifts

 

Being Born Again is a very good thing. 

 

The decision to be Born Again is the most important decision you will ever make in your life.  

 

However, God wants you to know that one good thing always leads to another. In this case, it leads to the Baptism with the Holy Spirit for those who believe.  

 

The New Birth in Jesus Christ is the greatest gift God has ever given to the world.

 

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)

 

However, the Baptism with the Holy Spirit is the greatest gift God has ever given to His Born Again children.

 

"Then Peter said unto them, 'Repent and be baptized every one of you in the Name of Jesus Christ ... and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.'" (Acts 2:38)

 

The Baptism with the Holy Spirit is a gift just waiting to be received. 

 

Visit our tuition-free JHM Online Bible Training Centre where you will find many other informative Bible-based teachings on the Person and Ministries of the Holy Spirit

  

It is important for you to attend a Church with a Holy Spirit filled Pastor who truly believes that with God, one good thing always leads to another! 

 

Be Blessed ... John and Barbara Hamel

 

 

How to Be Born Again (Receive Christ as Your Savior)

 

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