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Church of God-eim    PO Box 3332 . Modesto, CA 95353    www.cog-eim.org

HOW TO RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT

The Scriptures portray the Spirit of God as the manifestation of God's divine power. God uses His power-- "power of the Highest" (Luke 1:35) to instill attributes of His divine nature and character in us. God's power transform our weak human nature to the extent that we become "partakers of the divine nature" (2 Peter 1:4). By choice we then have to be willing to walk obediently in newness of life—to use God's Spirit to overcome our own weak, evil nature.

The words translated "Holy Spirit" convey the concept of power. In the original Greek the phrase for "Holy Spirit" is hagios pneuma, meaning literally "holy wind." Pneuma can also mean breath, as in "the breath [pneuma] of life" (Revelation 11:11; compare Genesis 7:15). Just as wind is an invisible but powerful force in our physical environment, so the Holy Spirit is an invisible, powerful force in our spiritual growth.

The Holy Spirit can be compared to the flow of electric power. Electricity flows through wires from its source to the devices using it. As long as the flow of the electric current from its source is unbroken,those devices have use of its power. But any interruption of the electric current is accompanied by a loss of power to the devices using it. Constant contact with the source of the electric power needs to be maintained to run an appliance such as a radio or hairdryer.

The same is true of God's Spirit. We have no capacity to permanently store the power of the Holy Spirit for use. If we discontinue our relationship with God, we cut ourselves off from His power working in us. Therefore our "inward man" needs to be "renewed day by day" (2 Corinthians 4:16; compare Titus 3:5). You constantly renew God's spirit by spending time with him in prayer and Bible study.

In Acts 2 we read of the fulfillment of Jesus promise to the disciples that the Holy Spirit would come to them. "When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance" (Acts 2:1-4).

The sound that accompanied the giving of the Holy Spirit was that of a rushing, mighty wind— The sound was of wind, again demonstrating the connection between wind and spirit.

Jesus Christ said His followers would "receive power" when the Holy Spirit came upon them.

Christ made it clear that the Holy Spirit is connected with power. The Greek word translated "power" is dunamis. It is translated "power," "mighty work," "strength," "miracle," "might," "virtue" and "mighty." It is the same Greek root from which we get modern English words like dynamic, which means active, forceful and energetic; dynamo, which is a device for generating electric power; and dynamite, which is an
explosive of great power, energy and force. These give us a sense of the power that would result from the Holy Spirit being given to the early Church.

How do you receive God's spirit?

"Then Peter said to them, 'Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit ...'" (Acts 2:38).

"But Jesus answered, 'I tell you the truth, unless one is born from water and the Spirit, he cannot enter God's kingdom. Human life comes from human parents, but spiritual life comes from the Spirit'" (John 3:5-6, New Century Version).

"Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit ... Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit" (Acts 8:14-17).

The Scriptures, by example, show that God normally gives the Holy Spirit to those who are baptized when the true ministers of Christ pray for them as they are laying their hands on them (Acts 8:14-17; 19:5-6). In Hebrew 6:1-2 the "laying on of hands" is listed among "the simple principles of Christ" that make up the foundational doctrines of the Church—showing it is a procedure we should still practice.