The Gift of The Holy Spirit
Acts 19:1-7 (NKJV)
1 And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples
2 he said to them, “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.”
3 And he said to them, “Into what then were you baptized?”
So they said, “Into John’s baptism.”
4 Then Paul said, “John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.”
5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
6 And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.
7 Now the men were about twelve in all.
Questions And Answers
- Does the Lord give this gift to Believers?
Luke 11:11-13 (NKJV)
11 If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish?
12 Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?
13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”
- Can the Holy Spirit be imparted to Christians by the laying on of hands?
Acts 19:6 (NKJV)
6 And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.
- Can a person who has received the Holy Spirit speak at any time he wills to do so?
I Corinthians 14:32 (NKJV)
32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.
- Why do people not need to “tarry” to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit?
John 7:37-39 (NKJV)
37 On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.
38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”
39 But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
- Do people need instruction before receiving the Holy Spirit?
Acts 19:2 (NKJV)
2 he said to them, “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.”
- Is there an act of the will on the part of the person receiving the Holy Spirit?
Acts 2:4 (NKJV)
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
- Is it true that those who have received the gift of the Spirit also have the Fruit of the Spirit?
I Corinthians 13:1-2 (NKJV)
1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.
2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
- Is it even proper for the leader of a meeting to stop people from speaking in tongues?
I Corinthians 14:40 (NKJV)
40 Let all things be done decently and in order.
- Is it possible for the Holy Spirit to come upon people who have never spoken with tongues?
John 7:38 (NKJV)
38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”
- Is the gift of the Holy Spirit promised to every believer?
Acts 2:17-18 (NKJV)
17 ‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God,
That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh;
Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
Your young men shall see visions,
Your old men shall dream dreams.
18 And on My menservants and on My maidservants
I will pour out My Spirit in those days;
And they shall prophesy.
A Good and Perfect Gift
James 1:17 (NKJV)
17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.