Receiving the Spirit

What does it mean to "receive the Spirit"?

There are two popular doctrines about receiving/retaining the Holy Spirit in the western church. According to the first of these doctrines, all followers must exhibit the spiritual gift of speaking in tongues if they truly have received the Spirit. This line of belief is generally associated with branches of the church that most label as "charismatic" (coming from a Greek word connoting spiritual gifts). According to the other of these two doctrines, a believer receives the Spirit upon their profession of belief, or after immersion baptism with no consistently observable signs of change (it is assumed). This doctrine is generally associated with the Baptist church, and on the extreme side those who do not believe that the Spirit still works as it always has.

Both of these beliefs about receiving the Spirit are false doctrines for reasons found in scripture.

The first - teaching that one must speak in tongues or prophecy in order to prove the indwelling of the Holy Spirit - directly contradicts Paul's teaching about spiritual gifts to the Corinthians in the New Testament (1 Corinthians 12:27-31). Spiritual gifts are not to be worshiped or demanded from a disciple in order to prove salvation. Even though those who have the Spirit will be able to discern through the Spirit and through It's fruit who is false, it is not for the purpose of judgement or categorization of the masses (Matthew 7:16-20, Galatians 5:22-23). Discernment is a gift that helps those who have it identify those who need help, guidance, love, and discipleship.

"Now you are the body of Christ, and individual members of it. And God has placed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, next miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, managing, various kinds of languages. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all do miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in other languages? Do all interpret?" - 1 Corinthians 12:27-31

This second falsehood is most likely more familiar to the majority of people reading this blog. The most commonly accepted/perpetuated idea about the Holy Spirit today in America is that a believer is filled with the Spirit immediately upon immersion baptism, or profession of belief in Jesus Christ. Receiving of the Holy Spirit is generally not addressed very intentionally if at all, nor is it observed in any way. Unfortunately, this is also in direct conflict with multiple accounts of disciples in Acts that believed in Jesus, and were even baptized but did not receive the Spirit until someone had laid hands on them and prayed for them. This is seen and described very clearly in scripture in Acts 8:14-17, as well as Acts 19:1-7. Therefore it is both possible - and scripturally documented - that just because you believe or have been baptized does not mean that you have received the Spirit.

I think that something important to point out here is the difference between belief and faith. For it is faith that is credited to us as righteousness, therefore resulting in our salvation - not belief. There are many people who believe that Jesus was a real person, that he was perhaps the son of God, and that He died for our sins - but again belief that these things are true are not the same thing as having faith. James makes a point to write that, "Even the demons believe and tremble," but it is not credited to them as righteousness (James 2:19). The Hebrew/Greek word for faith used in the New Testament is actually an amalgamation of 5 different Hebrew words from the Old Testament that mean "trust". And we know that those who have faith live as though this life and earth are not their home (Hebrews 11). Faith is propagated in us by the Spirit - therefore the indwelling of the Spirit should be marked by a drastic change in worldview, ideology, and probably lifestyle. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is not an undetectable event that takes place upon profession of belief. We cannot take the receiving of the Spirit for granted.

"When the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had welcomed God’s message, they sent Peter and John to them. After they went down there, they prayed for them, so the Samaritans might receive the Holy Spirit. For He had not yet come down on any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit." - Acts 8:14-17

I do not know if there is a simple or easy way to determine the permanent presence of the Spirit in a believer's life. That being said, every person that I have watched surrender completely to the leadership of the Lord - including ambitions, worldviews, lifestyles, and comforts - has exhibited change and the fruits of the Spirit to a degree that is inexplicably supernatural. I have also seen people healed physically, I have seen the fulfillment of prophecies told in the Spirit, and I have watched people who were once broken stand up to teach and instruct rooms full of people in the way of our Lord Jesus Christ. I have at times even felt the presence of the Holy Spirit physically in my body. All of these things are signs of the presence of the Spirit.

My purpose in writing about this subject is to encourage people to seek the Father's gift of the Spirit in order to honor Him, rather than avoiding the subject or seeking only its power for selfish reasons or fear. It is important because it is the Spirit in us that produces faith, that is therefore credited as righteousness (since no one is righteous - Romans 3:10), that produces salvation. Furthermore, Paul says that those who do not have the Spirit do not belong to Him who gives It (Romans 8:9). Jesus encouraged us to ask the Father for the gift of the Spirit (Luke 11:13). Our union with the Holy Spirit is what gives us access to the power of our Father to work in His name, build up the church, make disciples, and participate in Jesus' ministry.

It is not my intention to create unhealthy doubt or a feeling of condemnation. However, I think it is important to seek the gift of the Spirit from the Father - especially if you have never have - even if you have to work through doubt and heaviness. Many people who grow up in the practice of either of the two doctrines I mentioned earlier have an unhealthy and incomplete understanding about who the Holy Spirit is, and what its work is. It is worse to never experience the power of the Spirit in you than to have to struggle with difficult Spiritual growth. Jesus wants His followers to be filled with His Spirit so that they can carry the presence of the Father with them. I believe that it is false doctrines like those I mentioned above that will result in what Jesus talked about when He said, "On that day many will say to Me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in Your name, drive out demons in Your name, and do many miracles in Your name?’ Then I will announce to them, ‘I never knew you! Depart from Me, you lawbreakers!" (Matthew 7:22-23).

Will I, or any of you be able to stop this from happening? No. The Lord has spoken to us on this matter. However, it is our responsibility not to sugar coat or change what is true about scripture to make it more palatable or sustainable for ourselves, or the ones we are pastoring/teaching/discipling. Following Jesus in any country or age requires faith in Him, not the striving to speak in tongues, and not just belief in the truth. Jesus wants us to trust in Him and love Him so much that we follow in His footsteps and live like He did (1 Peter 2:21).

If He truly loves us - and I assure you He does - He will be faithful to give us the Spirit when we ask Him. He said so Himself. If you haven't, it is time to start praying and asking now. Ask the Father for His Spirit and desire to be filled with His love and power for the building up of His kingdom and the glorification of His name. He is faithful, and He will always be faithful. Just be ready for a whole lot of change in your life, and a wild adventure of faith.