Do you have the Holy Spirit?

10/26/12 In Acts the receiving of the Spirit is described; it is experimental not only inferential. Everyone who received the Spirit not only knew that they had the Spirit but they could point to and describe their experience - this so uncommon today. Paul ask the Ephesians is Acts 19:1-2 … "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" So they said to him, "We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit." We usually ask someone if they believe and if they yes, then we infer that they have the Holy Spirit. Paul doesn’t ask that. He wanted to know if they had received the Holy Spirit. This implies being able by some experience to describe the event in some detail. Acts goes into enough detail and ways of describing the coming of the Holy Spirit. At least six stories or instances in the book of Acts are recorded for us and in every one the coming of the Spirit is with experienced effects. 1. At Pentecost there was hearing and speaking in tongues (known languages) and praising the mighty works of God and had power to witness (1:8; 2:4, 11); 2. in Samaria there is something so obvious in experience that Simon saw it and is amazed and wants to buy the power to make it happen (8:18); 3. in Caesarea at the house of Cornelius there was speaking in tongues (languages) and praising God (10:46); 4. in Ephesus where Paul found the disciples of John the Baptist there was speaking in tongues(languages) and prophesying (19:6); 5. at Paul's conversion there is extraordinary boldness and empowering to witness (9:17, 22); 6. and in Acts 5:32 Luke says that God "gave the Holy Spirit to everyone who is obeying him." So obedience to God is a mark of his presence. Rom.8:9 says that if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ he is not His. Do you have the indwelling presence of God’s Spirit in you? Can you demonstrate it? Prayer: Father, thank that You have given us Your Spirit. May we live by the power of the Spirit and not ourselves. In Jesus name, amen.