Have you received the Holy Ghost/Spirit SINCE you believed?
What does that simple question reveal?
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The baptism in the Spirit is a blessing for sure. Every Christian needs the Spirit to pray for them. That's the power of God with dynamite. The holy spirit intercedes for the individual.
Put the context around this quote first.
Who is being asked this question?
What is the setting?
What is the subject?
What is the occasion for speaking?
The question reveals something in and of itself.it reveals you haven't paid attention to the context.
This question was limited to a very specific situation. It is not for general application. So we need to keep the context in mind.
being filled with the Spirit isn't prerequisite to being saved through faith.
It reveals the laziness of UPCI preaching.
Context.
"Paul... came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?”
“No,” they answered, “we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”
“Into what, then, were you baptized?” Paul asked.
“The baptism of John,” they replied.
These men Paul has encountered are clearly disciples of John the Baptist.
Paul explained: “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the One coming after him, that is, in Jesus.”
By the looks of things, they were early disciples of John who probably lived in Ephesus, and went back home before the events of the Gospels unfolded: they were proto-Christians ripe for harvest.
On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.
Now these men have become proper disciples- These are actually the verses you would want to point out if you wanted to demonstrate that being a believer does not automatically mean you have received the Holy Ghost... along with acts 8:16.
And when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. There were about twelve men in all.
Context.
"Paul... came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?”
“No,” they answered, “we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”
“Into what, then, were you baptized?” Paul asked.
“The baptism of John,” they replied.
These men Paul has encountered are clearly disciples of John the Baptist.
Paul explained: “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the One coming after him, that is, in Jesus.”
By the looks of things, they were early disciples of John who probably lived in Ephesus, and went back home before the events of the Gospels unfolded: they were proto-Christians ripe for harvest.
On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.
Now these men have become proper disciples- These are actually the verses you would want to point out if you wanted to demonstrate that being a believer does not automatically mean you have received the Holy Ghost... along with acts 8:16.
And when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. There were about twelve men in all.
We need to distinguish between (a) the gift of the Spirit, (b) the indwelling Spirit, and (c) the filling of the Spirit. These are all different. The gift of the Spirit is given only to those who repent and believe.
Does the Spirit not indwell a believer after receiving the gift of the Spirit (following repentance and belief)?
That is a popular belief. However, Paul asked that question. The question makes a clear distinction. And the account actually confirms that distinction as well.
Most fail to see the obvious. Paul presented the question, "Have you received the Holy Ghost SINCE you believed? to 12 individuals he thought were believers. As such, Paul's question reveals what he understood; believers don't always receive the indwelling of the Holy Ghost at the moment they believe.
In addition, the actual account proves the same point. They heard about Jesus, were rebaptized in water in His name and yet still did not receive the Holy Ghost. Only after Paul laid his hands upon them did the group receive the Holy Ghost.
yes, i have received & live with the Holy Spirit. the H.S. seals the benefits of our being saved. you know you are filled with the H.S. because you can experience a "correspondence" or a communication every day, many times a day. if people want more of the filling of the H.S. the H.S. needs to get more of the person!!!
"But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, IF SO be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his." Rom 8:9