Have You Received Since You Believed?
When Paul was in Ephesus he met some disciples and asked them if they had received the Holy Spirit when they had become believers. Their answer to him was no. (Acts 19:2)
Receiving the Holy Spirit may or may not take place at the time when a person believes. It is meant to be part of the salvation experience just as water baptism but does not necessarily take place in any particular order or in any given time frame.
Those at Jerusalem tarried many days before they received the promised Holy Spirit. (Acts 1:4-8; 2:1-4)
The Samaritans when they believed Philip preaching the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were being baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus but it was not until Peter and John came down from Jerusalem and prayed for them that they receive the Holy Spirit. (Acts 8:14-17)
The Gentiles received the Holy Spirit at the time when they believed the word of God that Peter was preaching and then were baptized into the name of Jesus Christ. (Acts 10:34-48)
When the people asked Peter what they should do after they had heard his message, he responded by telling them to first repent and then to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins. These two things were stated in the form of a command. After stating this he said that they would (future tense) receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 2:38-39 Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized, everyone of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive (future) the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For to you is the promise, and to your children, and to all who are far off, even as many as the Lord our God will call to himself.” WEB
The Holy Spirit is said to be given to those that obey God. We see two ways we can obey God is by repenting and by being baptized.
Acts 5:32 We are His witnesses of these things; and so also is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.” WEB
Other ways we can obey God is to keep asking, keep seeking and keep knocking until we receive the Holy Spirit that God has promised to us.
Luke 11:9-13 “I tell you, keep asking, (command) and it will be (future) given you. Keep seeking, (command) and you will (future) find. Keep knocking, (command) and it will be (future) opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives. He who seeks finds. To him who knocks it will be opened. 11 “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, he won’t give him a snake instead of a fish, will he? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, he won’t give him a scorpion, will he? 13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give (future) the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?” WEB
- We are not only told to ask, seek and knock but we are told to continue to do so until we receive.
One may ask them self how does one know when they have received the gift of the Holy Spirit. In all cases there were miraculous signs that surrounded the event when the Holy Spirit was poured out but the thing mentioned that took place at the actual time that they received the Holy Spirit was that there was given to them the ability to speak in an unknown language.
Acts 2:4 They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other languages, as the Spirit gave them the ability to speak. WEB
Acts 10:44-46 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all those who heard the word. 45 They of the circumcision who believed were amazed, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was also poured out on the nations. 46 For they heard them speaking in other languages and magnifying God. WEB
- The reason given here for them knowing that the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out was that they heard them speaking in other languages.
Acts 19:6 When Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke with other languages and prophesied. WEB
The common thread seen in these accounts is that when the believers received the Holy Spirit, they all spoke in other languages.
When we are called to seek after the gift of the Holy Spirit we are not called to seek after the sign but to seek after more of his presence in our lives. What added blessing we may receive because of God coming and dwelling in us is because of his goodness that he desires to share with his people.
So, let us all seek his face and receive of his promises. Let us not be content with walking the Christian life apart from his spirit dwelling in us. Let us seek his promised Holy Spirit and seek to continually be filled (Eph 5:18) with all his fullness. (Eph 3:19)