River of Life Church
  • Home
  • How Can I Serve
  • Map
  • Pastor Mark Radeke
  • Giving
  • Upcoming Events
  • Contact
  • ReMarkablog
  • Beliefs
  • Event Photos
  • Daily Bible Reading
  • Online Messages
  • Service Volunteer Sign-up

How Do I Get The Holy Spirit?

6/5/2013

2 Comments

 
Picture
In yesterday’s blog I compared the power of the Holy Spirit to power steering on a car. Driving takes more effort without power steering; without the Holy Spirit it takes more effort to go through life. Jesus sent the Holy Spirit from the Father to give us power for living. The Holy Spirit is a free gift, yet most Christians misunderstand how a person receives the Holy Spirit.

Nickey Gumbel in the Alpha Course says, “Every Christian has the Holy Spirit, but not every Christian is filled with the Holy Spirit.” The Holy Spirit is active and present when a person becomes a Christian. It is like a pilot light on a furnace or stove.  Being filled with the Holy Spirit is like turning the switch on and the pilot turns the burners on to full.

The Bible says we receive the Holy Spirit by eagerly desiring, asking God, and believing.
1 Corinthians 14:1
Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy.

Luke 11:9-13
“So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
11 “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”


Perhaps you have experienced being in a room with a person, but not being acknowledged or received because the person you had an appointment with was busy on the phone or with something else. Once their conversation ended they looked you in the eye, shook your hand, welcomed and received you. The Holy Spirit is in the room at salvation, but not received, much like a gift that is unopened.

The Bible describes people receiving the Holy Spirit during the preaching of the Word, by having hands placed on them in prayer, some received after water baptism, others before water baptism, but always after salvation. If you desire the full burners of the Holy Spirit on in your life, ask and believe today and be completely immersed and baptized with Him.


2 Comments
Bri
6/7/2013 01:41:39 am

I'm pretty sure that the Holy Spirit is not a gift like the other spiritual gifts, the very first verse you reference does not say "and desire the greater gifts especially the Holy Spirit" if we look at Paul's letter to the Church of Corinth and put it back in context... it has no reference of the Holy Spirit the way you claim. Jesus tells us the best in the Gospel of John who the Holy Spirit is and why we as believers receive the blessing of Him. FYI the first thing God the Holy Spirit does is convict us of our sin the second is to bring us to repentance and faith in Christ Jesus as the Son of God, the only spotless lamb who could atone for my sin and everyone else's as well.
peace

Reply
Mark link
6/7/2013 02:28:25 am

Bri,
You are correct. The Holy Spirit is THE gift promised by Jesus. The spiritual gifts become available to the believer through the Holy Spirit. Thank you for referencing the gospel of John. Chapters 14 & 15 help us know the who, what and why of the Holy Spirit.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Mark Radeke

    Husband of one, father of five, pastor and friend of many.

    Archives

    December 2022
    March 2021
    April 2020
    January 2019
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    December 2016
    September 2016
    July 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    November 2015
    October 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012

    Categories

    All
    10 Commandments.
    Bible
    Business
    Christian Living
    Church
    Dreams
    Easter
    Evil
    Famous People
    Finishing Well
    Forgiveness
    Freedom
    Global Poverty
    God
    Grace
    Heaven
    Holidays
    Holy Spirit
    Hope
    Kingdom Of God
    Love
    Marriage
    Money
    New Ventures
    Outreach
    Parables
    Parenting
    Peace
    Poverty
    Prayer
    Prophecy
    Retreat Highlights
    Salvation
    Senior Citizens
    Spiritual Gifts
    Trinity
    Trust
    Valentine's Day Stats
    Water Baptism
    Wisdom
    Worship

    RSS Feed