Receiving the Holy Spirit - Worthy Christian Forums

There's been alot of discussion about the Holy Spirit lately. When its done with love and reverence, it's a very good thing. Would anyone care to share what your Church teaches about receiving the Holy Spirit---when/how/why it occurs?

If possible, explain why you believe as you do.

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In my Church, we receive the Holy Spirit at Baptism as in Acts 2:37-38.

This is not to say that the Holy Spirit is not working on the unbaptized.
Its interesting to note that Jesus explains to His Apostles that there is a difference between having the Holy Spirit with you---and having Him in you. (John 14:17)

We then receive the Holy Spirit again in Confirmation. This brings an" increase and a deepening of baptismal grace". (CCC#1303) The purpose of Confirmation is to prepare us to effectively share the Gospel in the power of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:14)

In addition, our Church allows for a special anointing with the Holy Spirit at liturgies held for healing and spiritual renewal. (James 5:14-15)

And, of course, we are always praying for the Holy Spirit to work more powerfully in and thru us.

Generally speaking, the anointing with the Holy Spirit is not outwardly apparent, (though sometimes folks do "fall down" when anointed) but produces a real and dramatic change in the spirit of the anointed.

In my personal experience of an anointing service, the Holy Spirit filled the room with love and brotherhood. The change in the level of fellowship before and after the service was almost tangible. The fruit of the Spirit was alive and flowing in those anointed.

When you are filled with the Holy Spirit, and allow Him to work thru you, His "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control" is evident.

We do the Holy Spirit an injustice when we approach one another without displaying the fruits and claim to speak for Him. For "God is not mocked". (Gal 6:7)

I don't pretend to always---or even usually--to act in the power of the Holy Spirit. But when I do, He is faithful to use me as His instrument. All of us baptized believers have the Holy Spirit living in us. Whether we experience this as a rushing wind or a small still voice, it is just as valid and real.

So, what do you think?
Please pray before you post (I did), and respond in the way of the Holy Spirit "in a spirit of gentleness" (Gal 6:1)

Peace,
Fiosh
(IMG:http://www.worthyboards.com/style_emoticons/default/wub.gif)

Shalom Fiosh,

I would rather share what the Scriptures say about receiving the Holy Spirit, because while churches differ in their actions and beliefs, the Scriptures do not.

This is what I believe the Scriptures say about when and how we receive the Holy Spirit:

We receive the Holy Spirit (in all fullness!) when we are born-again.



Nowhere in Scripture are we commanded to be "baptized with the Holy Spirit." We are commanded to be filled (Ephesians 5:18), but never to be baptized with the Holy Spirit.



I believe this verse is used incorrectly as a command to be "baptized" in the Holy Spirit, it says that INSTEAD of being filled with wine, be filled with the Holy Spirit. IOW, walk in the Holy Spirit, not the flesh.

Jesus baptizes us with the Holy Spirit when He saves us:


We are all baptized in the Holy Spirit when we are saved and we do receive spiritual gifts. However, not everyone has the gift of tongues. Not every person has every gift, although we all have the Holy Spirit, HE gives the individual gifts to the individuals:



We are filled with, joined with and baptized in the Holy Spirit and into the Body of Messiah (family of G-d) when we are born-again.


We do not receive the Holy Spirit in bits and pieces. G-d does not "fill us" partially, but FULLY!
G-d does not give us a little bit and make us ask for more, HE FILLS US with the Holy Spirit (that is baptism) and that means filled.
The word filled means to be full.

We should be concerned with how much of ourselves we are giving the Holy Spirit to do His work in our lives.

The Scriptures say plainly that we are filled with the Holy Spirit when we are saved. Jesus' sacrifice is ALL we need. We do not need "something else". Jesus has done it all and given us all. We simply need to walk in it and Him. To teach that we must ask for more diminishes the work of the Cross and renders Jesus' sacrifice as ineffective.

The Scriptures say:

I appreciate your comments, Vickilynn. I have not read them fully, as I'm just about to leave the house.

Your comments are a good illustration that while we can all read what the Scriptures say, we differ on how we interpret them. Men and women who are far more knowledgeable, wise, holy--- and have spent their lives studying Scripture--- differ in their interpretations.

Neither you or I hold the perfect interpretation. And, I think you did address this in your statement, "This is what I believe", and I thank you for that. I guess ideally we can state the Scripture, and then share our understanding of it....in love and gentleness.

We should state what we believe, and/or what our Church teaches, with conviction---absolutely! But we understand that we are all flawed individuals in our understanding of the awesome mind of our God.

I thank you for responding in love and gentleness---with conviction---to this topic.
Peace,
Fiosh

I recieved the HS when i recieved christ. And since i haven't ever been baptised by water, it can't be that act that does it.

Want me to come over and dunk you?

At the moment of salvation

Shalom Fiosh,
Thank YOU! I am grateful that we can have a discussion of Biblical topics with grace, gentleness and respect, even with differing views. We all need to remember, we are not enemies, but FAMILY in Jesus. Yes, we may have differing views and interpretations of Scripture, but the bottom line is, we all profess to love Jesus and we should be able to discuss in love.

I appreciate you opening this discussion with grace. I pray it stays that way. (IMG:http://www.worthyboards.com/style_emoticons/default/wub.gif)

uhhmm ok if you want. just let me put mah fishing pole down so i don't lose it! (IMG:http://www.worthyboards.com/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

I believe pretty much the same why Vickilynn stated above. When we believe the Holy Spirit resides in us, and He is always with us. Sometimes we listen when He speaks and sometimes we don't, but He is always there.

You know what after thinking a little about it. The holy spirit posesses us upon salvation. But unlike demons who possess some people, the Holy Spirit will do as he is told by that individual. IF you tell him to shutup and leave you alone, he will and reside in you quietly.
But his prescense will disturb the conscience until you ask for forgiveness.

Demons on the other hand will not sit down and shutup but takeover completely not allowing you to decide for yourself.

So when christians settle down enough, and start listening and let the HS take over with their permission, he can bestow on that person the abundance of whatever he wants to give the christian.
Gifts are given and taken away. they are only given to those whom the Holy Spirit thinks is ready to recieve them

But the Holy spirit is present from the moment of salvation and he never leaves that christian. So there isn't any Recieving the Holy Spirit after salvation, only the allowing the Holy Spirit in you to come forth and do the work.