The Gift of the Holy Spirit, His Workings and His Specific Gifts.

"Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus the Savior."
 1 Corinthians 1: 3

Opening Reading

"You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you." Acts 1: 8

Some Background on the Holy Spirit:

In which we see the role of the Holy Spirit (Ghost) in bringing Jesus into the world....

Mathew 1:20 An angel of the LORD appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home with you as your wife; for what has been conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, [which means ‘God saves,’] because he will save his people from their sins.”

In which we see that Jesus will be giving, imparting the Holy Spirit (Ghost)....

Mathew 3:11 It’s true that I am immersing (baptizing) you in water so that you might turn from sin to God; but the one coming after me is more powerful than I — I’m not worthy even to carry his sandals — and he will immerse you in the Holy Spirit and in fire.

In which we see the Holy Spirit (Ghost) kickstarting the earthly ministry of Jesus....

Mathew 3:16 As soon as Jesus had been immersed (baptized), he came up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, he saw the Spirit of God coming down upon him like a dove, 17 and a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; I am well pleased with him.”

In which we see scripture shows clearly Jesus did nothing without the help of the Holy Ghost....

Mathew 4:1 Then the Spirit led Jesus up into the wilderness to be tempted by the Adversary. 

Acts 10:37 You know what has been going on throughout Judah, starting from Galilee after the immersion (baptism) that John proclaimed; 38 how God anointed Jesus from Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how Jesus went about doing good and healing all the people oppressed by the Adversary, because God was with him.

Who is the Holy Ghost (Spirit):

In which we see the The Holy Ghost is from heaven....

John 1:32 Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit coming down from heaven like a dove, and remaining on him. 33 I myself did not know who he was, but the one who sent me to immerse (baptize) in water said to me, ‘The one on whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining, this is the one who immerses in the Holy Ghost.’ 34 And I have seen and borne witness that this is the Son of God.”

In which we see the Holy Ghost is the Spirit of God....

John 3:34The one whom God sent speaks God’s words. For God does not give him the Spirit in limited degree — 35 the Father loves the Son and has put everything in his hands.

Acts 2:33 Moreover, he (Jesus) has been exalted to the right hand of God; has received from the Father what he promised, namely, the Holy Ghost; and has poured out this gift, which you are both seeing and hearing. 

Jesus gives the Holy Ghost a special place:

Mathew12:31 People will be forgiven any sin and blasphemy, but blaspheming the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. 32 One can say something against the Son of Man and be forgiven; but whoever keeps on speaking against the Holy Ghost will never be forgiven, neither in this world nor in the world to come.

Work of the Holy Ghost or Why you need the Holy Spirit:

In which we see the Holy Ghost is for ministry and, in this instance, brought revelation to Simon as well as led him to the baby Jesus...

Luke 12:25 There was in Jerusalem a man named Simon. This man was just and devout. He waited eagerly for God to comfort Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Messiah of the Lord. 27 Prompted by the Spirit, he went into the Temple courts; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the Law required, 28 Simon took him in his arms and blessed God.

In which Jesus speaks about the work of the Holy Ghost....

John 14:16 I will ask the Father, and he will give you another comforting Counselor like me, the Spirit of Truth, to be with you forever. 

John 14:26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything; that is, he will remind you of everything I have said to you.

In which we see the Holy Spirit give boldness to apostle Peter....

Acts 4:8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said to them, “Rulers and elders of the people! 9 If we are being examined today about a good deed done for a disabled person, if you want to know how he was restored to health, 10 then let it be known to you and to all the people of Israel that it is in the name of the Messiah, Jesus from Nazareth, whom you had executed on a stake as a criminal but whom God has raised from the dead, that this man stands before you perfectly healed.

11 “This Jesus is the stone rejected by you builders which has become the cornerstone.[a] 12 There is salvation in no one else! For there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by whom we must be saved!”

13 When they saw how bold Peter and John were, even though they were untrained and ignorant men, they were amazed; also they recognized them as having been with Jesus.

In which the Holy Spirit gives direction for ministry....

Acts13:2 One time when they were worshipping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said to them, “Set aside for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 After fasting and praying, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.

In which the Holy Ghost would not let them preach....

Acts 16:6 They traveled through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, because they had been prevented by the Holy Ghost from speaking the message in the province of Asia. 

In which we see how messages from God, including scriptures, come to us....

2 Peter1:21 Never has a prophecy come as a result of human willing — on the contrary, people moved by the Holy Ghost spoke a message from God.

In which we see the Holy Ghost prays for us and helps us....

Romans 8:26 Similarly, the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we don’t know how to pray the way we should. But the Spirit himself pleads on our behalf with groanings too deep for words; 27 and the one who searches hearts knows exactly what the Spirit is thinking, because his pleadings for God’s people accord with God’s will.

How to receive the Holy Spirit

In which Jesus states you can ask and receive the Holy Ghost....

Luke 11:13 So if you, even though you are bad, know how to give your children gifts that are good, how much more will the Father keep giving the Holy Spirit from heaven to those who keep asking him!

In which Jesus breathes the Holy Spirit on his disciples....

John 20:22 Having said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Ghost!" 

In which the apostles Peter and John prayed and laid hands and imparted the Holy Ghost....

Acts 8:14 When the emissaries in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the Word of God, they sent them Peter and John, 15 who came down and prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit. 16 For until then he had not come upon any of them; they had only been immersed (baptized) into the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then, as Peter and John placed their hands on them, they received the Holy Ghost.

In which the Holy Spirit fell down and filled people listening to apostle Peter....

Acts 10:44 Peter was still saying these things when the Holy Ghost fell on all who were hearing the message.

Can one buy the Holy Spirit or Can the Holy Ghost be sold?

In which we see the Holy Spirit, and indeed any gift of God, cannot be traded....

Acts 8:18 Simon saw that the Spirit was given when the emissaries (apostles) placed their hands on them, and he offered them money. 19 “Give this power to me, too,” he said, “so that whoever I place my hands on will receive the Holy Ghost.” 20 But Peter said to him, “Your silver (money) go to ruin — and you with it, for thinking the free gift of God can be bought! 21 You have no part at all in this matter; because in the eyes of God, your heart is crooked. 22 So repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord. Perhaps you will yet be forgiven for holding such a thought in your heart. 23 For I see that you are extremely bitter and completely under the control of sin!”

The gifts of the Holy Spirit:

In which we see the Holy Ghost has various manifestations....

1 Corinthians12:4 Now there are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit gives them. 5 Also there are different ways of serving, but it is the same Lord being served. 6 And there are different modes of working, but it is the same God working them all in everyone. 7 Moreover, to each person is given the particular manifestation of the Spirit that will be for the common good. 8 To one, through the Spirit, is given a word of wisdom; to another, a word of knowledge, in accordance with the same Spirit; 9 to another, faith, by the same Spirit; and to another, gifts of healing, by the one Spirit; 10 to another, the working of miracles; to another, prophecy; to another, the ability to judge between spirits; to another, the ability to speak in different kinds of tongues; and to yet another, the ability to interpret tongues. 11 One and the same Spirit is at work in all these things, distributing to each person as he chooses.

Must we all speak in tongues? 


No! Note 1 Corinthians 12:11: The Holy Spirit distributes his gifts to each person as he chooses. 

Some will have more or less. We may not all have the same gifts.

In which we find out we may not all speak in tongues....

1 Corinthians 12:11 One and the same Spirit is at work in all these things, distributing to each person as he chooses.

If you manifest any of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, you have the Holy Spirit. It does not have to be tongues.

Why do some then teach "tongue" is evidence of having received the Holy Spirit?

In which we see that there are various evidences of having the Holy Ghost....

1 Corinthians 12:11 One and the same Spirit is at work in all these things, distributing to each person as he chooses.

If you manifest any of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, you have the Holy Spirit. It does not have to be tongues.

Can one be taught how to speak in tongues?

Not at all! It is not possible to be taught how to speak in tongues. In each case where people received the Holy Ghost, it was instantaneous, spontaneous and there was no gimmick involved. If one has to learn it, know for sure it is not from Heaven. If anyone argues with you, send him to me. 

" "On hearing this, they were stung in their hearts; and they said to Peter and the other Apostles, "Brothers, what should we do?" Peter answered them, "Turn from sin, return to God, and each be baptized in the name of Jesus into forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Ghost!" " Acts 2: 37 -38

Benediction

The grace of the Lord Jesus the Messiah, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. 2 Corinthians 13:14