How to Receive the Holy Ghost
By Pastor Joel – Open Heaven Christian Church – Fisher, Arkansas
A New Testament Study (KJV)
The New Testament reveals that the Holy Ghost is the promised gift of God given to believers in Jesus Christ. Jesus promised that the Father would send the Holy Spirit, and the apostles taught how people receive Him.
The Scriptures show several consistent elements:
Faith in Jesus Christ
Repentance
Baptism in the name of Jesus Christ
Prayer and laying on of hands in some cases
God giving the Holy Spirit to believers
Let us examine the New Testament Scriptures themselves.
John the Baptist Prophesied the Baptism of the Holy Ghost
In Matthew 3:11, John makes reference to Jesus as the one who comes after him and “baptizes you” with the Holy Ghost!
Matthew 3:11 (KJV)
“I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire.”
Mark 1:8 (KJV)
“I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.”
Luke 3:16 (KJV)
“John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire.”
These verses show that Jesus Himself is the one who gives the Holy Ghost, not anyone else can give the Holy Ghost to anyone. Believers in Jesus can pray for one another so they can “receive” the Holy Ghost, but it is Jesus that baptizes them.
Jesus Promised the Holy Ghost
Luke 11:13 (KJV)
“If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?”
John 7:37–39 (KJV)
“In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.
He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
(But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)”
John 14:16–17 (KJV)
“And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.”
John 14:26 (KJV)
“But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”
John 15:26 (KJV)
“But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me.”
John 16:13 (KJV)
“Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak.”
Jesus Gave the First Sign of the Spirit
John 20:22 (KJV)
“And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost.”
The Holy Ghost is the very breath of God that a believer receives when they ask God for His Holy Spirit. The Lord breaths on them and they receive the Holy Ghost. Yes Holy because it is God himself breathing on them and God is Holy.
The word Holy Ghost is the same word as Holy Spirit and “Spirit” in the original Greek is the word pneuma (πνεῦμα) which translates “breath” or wind, and in the Hebrew language “Spirit” is the word Ruach (רוּחַ) which also translates “breath” or wind.
Jesus Commanded the Disciples to Wait for the Promise
Acts 1:4–5 (KJV)
“And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.
For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.”
Acts 1:8 (KJV)
“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”
The Holy Spirit empowers believers who receive the Spirit of God.
The First Outpouring of the Holy Ghost
Acts 2:1–4 (KJV)
“And when the day of Pentecost was 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 all the house where they were sitting.
And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”
As God pours his Holy Spirit upon believers, they may even speak with tongues as the Spirit gives the utterance of words in an known or unknown language Acts 19:6. The known words are prophetic utterance, and the unknown words is the Holy Spirit himself praying the perfect will of God. 1 Corinthians 14:14.
The Apostles Explain How to Receive the Holy Ghost
Acts 2:38–39 (KJV)
“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
The remission of sins (repentance) and through water baptism Luke 3:3, Luke 24:47, Acts 2:38 the Holy Ghost can be received.
For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.”
This is the clearest New Testament instruction, God wants every believer to receive the “in-filling” of His Holy Spirit.
The Holy Ghost Given Through Prayer
Acts 4:31 (KJV)
“And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.”
When a believer experiences the filling of the Holy Spirit, they will become very bold in the Lord.
The Holy Ghost Given Through the Laying on of Hands
Acts 8:14–17 (KJV)
“Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:
Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:
(For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.”
While not necessary, the “laying on of hands” by men and women of God who are also filled with the Holy Spirit, other believers can be filled with the Spirit. Jesus is the one baptizing and filling them with the Holy Spirit and not the person praying and laying hands on them.
Paul Received the Holy Ghost
Acts 9:17 (KJV)
“And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus… hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.”
God filled the Apostle Paul with the Holy Spirit then used Paul to write most of the New Testament. Special “spiritual gifts” from God are given when one receives the Holy Spirit. See 1 Corinthians 12, and Isaiah 11.
Gentiles Receive the Holy Ghost
Acts 10:44–47 (KJV)
“While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished… because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God.”
The Holy Spirit will fill your mouth with words in a heavenly spiritual angelic language. 1 Corinthians 13:1. This language may be a known language that men can understand, or a heavenly angelic language that only angels and God know and understand.
Praying in “tongues” helps our weaknesses and the Holy Spirit makes intersession on our behalf when we pray in tongues. Romans 8:26-27
Another Example in the Early Church
Acts 19:2–6 (KJV)
“He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?
And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost…
When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.”
The Apostle Paul ask “believers” if they were filled with the Holy Spirit yet? Then they believed what Paul was telling them and they too received the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues and prophesied after being filled with the Holy Spirit when Paul laid hands and prayed with them.
We need more people in this world like the Apostle Paul who will pray for others to receive the Holy Spirit of God.
The Apostles Teach That Believers Receive the Spirit
Romans 8:9 (KJV)
“Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.”
1 Corinthians 6:19 (KJV)
“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God?”
Galatians 3:2 (KJV)
“This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?”
Ephesians 1:13 (KJV)
“In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise.”
Ephesians 5:18 (KJV)
“And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit.”
Summary: The New Testament Pattern
From all the New Testament scriptures, the biblical pattern for receiving the Holy Ghost is:
Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ (John 7:38, Galatians 3:2)
Repent of sins (Acts 2:38)
Be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ (Acts 2:38)
Pray and seek God (Luke 11:13, Acts 4:31)
Receive the Holy Ghost from God (Acts 2:4, Acts 10:44)
The promise is universal to anyone who will believe on Jesus, repent of their sins, and ask God to fill them with the Holy Spirit:
Acts 2:39 (KJV)
“For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.”
PRAYER:
Father God, I receive the Lord Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I ask you Lord Jesus to forgive me of all my sins. I ask you to give me and fill me with your Holy Spirit. I lift my hands toward heaven and I receive your Holy Spirit right now by faith in Jesus name. I open my heart to you Holy Spirit, Fill Me Lord Jesus and fully submerge and baptise me in the Holy Ghost in Jesus name I pray. Amen
