Receive The Holy Spirit

Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is to make Him out to be evil. [1] For example, if we don’t talk about Him because of the tongues or gifts controversy or snake handling controversy. If we fear to enter dialogue about the Holy Spirit because of these issues, we are essence saying the Holy Spirit is undesirable in our midst.

The truth is the Holy Spirit bears witness to Jesus. He reveals truth to us. The Holy Spirit empowers us to testify for truth and to worship the Father in truth. He is the love of God shed abroad in our hearts. [2] His baptism is a baptism of love for God and others. He is not an unclean spirit. He is the HOLY Spirit. He helps us to say no to sin, and yes to righteousness.

The Holy Spirit is the Comforter (Paraclete) who comes along side of us. He is our Advocate and Helper. He sighs in groans too deep for us to discern when we don’t know how to pray. He is Christ in us, the hope of glory. [3] God indwells people by His Spirit. Instead of Jesus walking in one place in Galilee, we have Jesus walking all over the world in many places at the same time, through His people the Church.

The Church is where the Holy Spirit is. The Church began when the Holy Spirit filled believers in Christ on the Day of Pentecost. Jesus is the baptizer in the Holy Spirit. We must be born of the Spirit to enter God’s kingdom. People profess that Jesus is their Lord by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit bears fruit in believers. He gives grace-gifts to believers. In a world full of put-downs, the Holy Spirit is the builder-up. The Holy Spirit is the source of our fellowship with God.

Jesus is still saying to disciples today, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” [5]

[1] Matthew 12:31-32
[2] John 15:25; John 16:13; Acts 1:8; John 4:24; Romans 5:5
[3] John 14:26; Romans 8:26; Colossians 1:27
[4] Acts 2:4; Mark 1:4; John 3:6; 1 Corinthians 12:3; Galatians 5:22-23; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11; 2 Corinthians 13:14
[5] John 20:22