Have you received the Holy Spirit?

But how do you answer without quoting scripture? But rather from personal experience. What does your personal relationship with Jesus look like, and how does the Holy Spirit work through you? This is what people need to know and hear. Everyone knows the scriptures already, but very few can witness the demonstration of those words in the lives of others.

Yes, one must be a Christian but the difference being is anyone can call themselves a Christian. A true Christian is the difference in that a person must truly repent and not go back to willful sin. This is why God truly judges the heart and wouldn’t give such a holy gift if the person was not ready. That’s just my opinion. When you receive the Holy Spirit, it changes you forever. You have zero desire to sin. None. You know the futility and stupidity in sin and that it leads no where. God rewards you when you repent!! Trust me, He rewards you big-time. Giving up the flesh is extremely hard, He knows this as He made you. The best way to worship God is to give up the flesh! He doesn’t want you to just say you love Him, prove it.

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.
Romans 1:21

Would you put your hand on burning orange grate of a gas grill on high? No, because you know that it’s going to hurt you badly and you know how long it’s going to take to heal that burn to get your hand back to normal and you also know it’s going to leave a scar. It’s the same analogy with sin when you’re born again. Sure, a person could go on and willfully sin and maybe have fun for a brief bit (in all actuality, you won’t have fun because you’re no longer your old self) but afterward, if they truly are in Christ, will find themselves in sheer disappointment and shame for it because the Holy Spirit will convict their conscience and heart and the person realizes they’ve willingly hurt God and let him down.

It’s pointless and leads absolutely no where and only hurts you, there’s zero point to it once you’re awake. You’re different, be prepared to look at everything differently. Be prepared to lose friends and even family members. It’s all good though, you’re leveling up. God is sending you blessings and this will become obvious to you as you grow in hindsight.

For example, I no longer look at a female walking by scantily clothed who may be drop-dead gorgeous as I used to. I now pity her and will even send a prayer up for her. That’s the difference of me then and now.



For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.” It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Hebrews 10:26-31

Here is another personal experience from receiving the Holy Spirit and it freed me that day in prayer. I used to dwell on things mentally often to the point of thinking about something over and over again. I guess the term is rumination but I would do it so often and I’ve done it for most of my life. I think it was wholly demonic looking back like a demon in me, it really caused much mental strain and depression and sometimes anxiety. It could have been work-related or when I was single, a relationship, it really didn’t matter and it could have been so small in scope of life in general but I would find myself in worry often and have done so for much of my life.

Well, the first thing I was freed of when I asked for the Holy Spirit was this worry and continuous thinking, I no longer do it and I’ve been freed mentally for good, I’m not able to put into words what it feels like to be freed from such a prison. And you know what was revealed to me that took this demonic stronghold on my mind away? 4 words.

Take captive every thought.


Those four words just came to me and it’s from scripture!

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
2 Corinthians 10:5


It was an epiphany. Ever since, if I begin thinking negatively or think of anything for that matter that I know isn’t right, I simply think of those four words, “take captive every thought” and I view it as a command from God which it is and the thought instantly vanishes every single time, it’s never let me down. It’s incredible how something so simple has changed my life but that’s how the Almighty works, in such simplicity.

Try it for yourself, maybe it will work for you if you struggle with that mental slavery I found myself in for many years.

100%

Is it your understanding that only Christians can receive the Holy Spirit? Or have you witnessed that non-christians can also demonstrate this lifestyle.

I thought it was the Holy Gost!

It seems to me that only those who are called saints would have the Holy Spirit. Many people claim to be Christian, but many are Christian in name only.

So what does scripture say about saints?

Revelation 14
12Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. 13And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.

Matthew 12:30
“He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.”

So it would seem that a prerequisite for attaining the Holy Spirit, necessitates that to do so one would need to adhere to what is described in Revelation 14:12, because those who do not do so, instead, fit with what Matthew 12:30 says.

Does that sound like a reasonable assessment?

Consider what Christ says here;

Matthew
Chapter 15
22And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.

23But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.

24But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

25Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me.

26But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs.

27And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table.

28Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.

So, while the woman had faith that Jesus could heal her daughter and he did so, with compassion, He also had words of rebuke for her.

The Canaanites were known for offering human sacrifices, worshiping idols, and the attack and oppression of God people and it can be assumed that this woman was an active participant in such things contrary to God. Christ was clear that she isn't part of His calling either through blood or spiritual adoption.

She exhibited some faith, but it is clear in Christ's initial assessment that she wasn't one who kept God's Commandments.

As illustrated here;

Matthew 7:21
“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.”

So...... clearly, one must meet the necessary criteria as described above. Those who do not, clearly do not have the Holy Spirit indwelling.

Would you not also agree that there are many that are not of the christian faith, both before and after the time of Jesus, actually did follow the first two instructions given by him without hearing them from him, or you, or the bible?? That is, to love all creation and to honor the Great Spirit, aka Father?

I disagree with that a person must be a christian to receive the holy spirit. Interesting you posted Romans 1:21, but left off Romans 1:20 : 20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

I'm pretty sure the term "christian" did not exist at the beginning of this world.

That's why I started the thread on what does it mean to be "Christ" like? Don't worship a christ, BE a Christ.

How would one receive the Holy Spirit without being in Christ? It’s not possible and defeats the entire purpose of God’s sacrifice. You can’t receive the Holy Spirit without Christ Jesus.

The New Jerusalem is a new heart..new name and state of mind where Love Reigns..

I didn’t have an experience like that. I was praying alone in my closet. I always light a candle and pray in my closet with my Bible at hand. It gives me such a peace to be in silence and in the dark with the only light coming from a small candle, I feel closest to Jesus there and to the Father but always felt I was truly missing something. After I knew what it was and the truth was finally revealed to me ( I was missing the Holy Spirit!), I asked God if he would impart on me His Holy Spirit if it was his will. I simply asked him for this gift as a child would his father and as Jesus said we should do and I felt it immediately. I actually could hear a voice within myself for the first time immediately give me instruction. He answered any question immediately when I asked. It was unbelievable. I was repentant and had made my mind up of how fake and futile and how fallen this world is and I was done with it. I know He knew my heart and granted me this precious gift. It’s now about continuing daily in my journey and getting stronger and stronger and humbling myself daily and attuning my heart to his direction, wherever it takes me. I used to really be so worldly, just driven by my flesh in so many vices in the past. Sexual lust, females, alcohol, bars, smoking weed, just acting worldly. Granted I’ve always believed in Jesus and knew He was the only way, but I always figured I’d be saved.

It’s been quite a journey but I realize now it’s not just faith but repenting and truly being born again and this only takes place in the heart by the grace of God. In the past, I used to question where I was in life and lust after certain things in life. I realize now how ridiculously absurd that line of thinking was back then and how immature and spiritually dead I was, literally dead. I realize my life has been planned out for me since the beginning and God has been with me this entire time like a father with a toddler helping the little babe along. I realize my little family I have now and all the amenities I have currently is all I could ever need and am so blessed, beyond blessed to have what I have to continue you this journey which in actuality is a war with my family by my side. I now want for absolutely nothing, his grace is sufficient. I also realize what lies ahead is so much greater and I look forward to the wonders ahead!


I just want to help others get to the finish line as well and to never lose hope. It’s a war every single one of us are fighting. We all need each other. Satan wants division, the last thing he wants is unity. The best way to fight him is with prayer and praying for others. Pray for those you see stabbing some poor shop owner in some news article or video. Pray for those teens stealing from an elderly person that they will repent and see the path their on and where it leads. Pray for the souls of these terrible abusers of children, women, and the innocent that Jesus may move their hearts through the Holy Spirit and they will have a check in their consciences and stop completely hurting others. These types of changes can and do happen every day through prayer!

Pray for those who today will die across the world whether it be on their death bed or in a car accident and pray for any and all that if it be God’s will, that they may have a thought to accept Jesus into their hearts before their final breath. Pray for others, your prayer can and does save souls. It’s your greatest weapon.

The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
James 5:16

Aye. It is called Pentecostal Baptism in the churches. When you become a Made Man of God or women.

It sometimes occurs at the water baptism, but not always.

It is a moving experience and after you are empowered.

I had not even attended church in 10 years when it happened to me. I just kept a close relationship with God, he did all the teaching.

Do you struggle with sin? Do you struggle with lust or addicted to drugs? It doesn’t matter what it is or how strong of a hold you think it has over you. The Holy Spirit can and will conquer it with you.