We should learn all we can about the Holy Spirit. We should allow ourselves to be completly imersed in the Holy Spirit. Therefore, ponder these verses relative to the Holy Spirit.
Genesis 1:2
Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters
John the Baptist baptized with water but he knew that Jesus would baptize His followers with the Holy Spirit.
Luke 3:16
John answered them all, "I baptize you with water. But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire."
Luke 3:21-22
When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”
John 1:33
I would not have known him, except that the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’
In order for us to receive the Holy Spirit in greater portion than what he already plays in our life we must ask for forgiveness for disobeying God's law and be willing to be changed. That is all that God requires of us. Then as we walk down the road of life with God He will teach us what to do and say.
Acts 2:37-39
When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off–for all whom the Lord our God will call.”
God is no respecter of person, position or place. To all who are willing to follow Jesus He will give of His Holy Spirit.
1 Corinthians 12:13
For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body–whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free–and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.
Galatians 3:27
for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
We must begin life as new people. You are what you think. If you think you are a child of God you will follow Him. Baptism with water is a symbol of your dedication to God. The gift of the Holy Spirit is an honour from God to those who follow Him.
John 3:5
Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.
Once the Holy Spirit starts to work on our hearts and we allow Him to change us He will bring about a birth of new character.
John 3:6
Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.
John 4:24
"God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."
The Holy Spirit is present in our every day lives. The closer we become to God the more we will hear Him speak to us and see the Spirit work through us.
Acts 4:25
You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David:...
While Jesus was on the earth the Spirit was poured out directly through Jesus. There was an arrangement that God had which stipulated that when Jesus left the Holy Spirit would take place of His physical presence.
John 7:39
By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.
John 14:26
But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
John 16:13
But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.
John 16:15
All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you.
Acts 1:4
On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.
Acts 1:5
"For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit."
Acts 1:8
"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
Acts 2:4
All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
The Holy Spirit is a gift from God. He brings with Him enrichments of character and miracle working that we as humans on our own are not capable of. The Holy Spirit is God working inside of His followers for the benefit of all mankind. All that the Holy Spirit does is directed at bringing His people closer to God and preaching the story of Jesus to the entire world so that all might be saved if they choose to.
There is a phenomenon that is known as the "early" and "later" rains. This is a bit of an agricultural term that is talked about in the Bible. The "early" rain is the rain that falls during spring at the beginning of the planting season to give the seeds a good watering so they can begin a strong growth. The "later" rain is the rain that comes before harvest time in autumn that helps the crops finish their ripening process. It speaks about how God has set up this system so the earth can have food to eat.
Deuteronomy 11:14
Then I will send rain on your land in its season, both autumn and spring rains, so that you may gather in your grain, new wine and oil.
The "early" rain was poured out just after Jesus returned to heaven to officiate for us in the heavenly courts and to prepare us a place to live.
We are now waiting on the "later" rain. This is the final massive out pouring of His Holy Spirit that will ripen the earth for His coming.
This does not mean that in between these two seasons of the earth the Holy Spirit is not working with us. Just as in all seasons there is still rain here and there and God is still working with us. However there are crucial times when a large out pouring of the Holy Spirit is needed to help ripen His people.
Acts 2:17-19
"'In the last days, God says,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions,
your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
and they will prophesy. I will show wonders in the heaven above
and signs on the earth below,
blood and fire and billows of smoke.'"
As Jesus had foretold the Holy Spirit was poured out on His people after He was caught up into heaven.
Acts 4:31
After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
However we must not resist the Holy Spirit. Otherwise how will we be saved if we don't listen to Jesus the only one who can save us?
Acts 7:51
“You stiffnecked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just like your fathers: You always resist the Holy Spirit!
The Spirit can not be bought. It is a gift.
Acts 8:18-24
When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money and said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”
Peter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.”
Then Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me.”
Acts 8:15-17
When they arrived, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, because the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
God will pour out His Spirit on people that search God with their hearts the best they can.
Acts 10:46-48
For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter said, “Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.
The Holy Spirit is like the wind, sometimes taking us to places we don't expect.
Acts 8:39
When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing.
God speaks to us, the more we give ourselves to Him the more we will actually hear Him speak in a still small voice.
Acts 10:19
While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, "Simon, three men are looking for you."
We must listen to God with our hearts for then our hearts will change and we too will receive the Holy Spirit in a large gift sized portion.
Acts 10:44
While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message.
Luke 11:13
If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
Right away when we accept God we start to change and reflect the fruit of the Spirit.
Galatians 5:22-24
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and selfcontrol. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.
Then to help us with the work that Jesus appoints for us He gives us gifts of the Spirit to assist in our labours of love for those around us.
1 Corinthians 12:4-12
There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.
Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.
The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ
