But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you (John 14:26).
I always urge Christians who ask if it’s compulsory to receive the Holy Spirit to remember the Words of Jesus in Acts 1:8. He said, “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” Before then, the Bible says He (Jesus) “…commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father…” (Acts 1:4).
If anyone knew the importance and ministry of the Holy Spirit in the life of a Christian, it was Jesus. When He commanded the apostles not to depart from Jerusalem but wait for the promise of the Father, He was referring to the Holy Ghost. He didn’t want them to go out without the anointing—the divine enablement, power and presence of the Holy Spirit. He wanted them to be endued with power from on high so they could live the life God wanted them to live and do what He wanted them to do.
One time when the Apostle Paul went to Ephesus and met certain believers, he asked them, “…Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?” and they replied, “We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost” (Acts 19:2). Afterwards, he ministered to them and they received the Holy Ghost. Paul, like Jesus, also understood the need for God’s people to receive the Holy Spirit.
There’s no authentic Christianity without the Holy Spirit. No one can live the victorious and triumphant life in Christ without the Holy Spirit. So receiving the Holy Spirit is compulsory for every Christian. The Holy Spirit is the One who gives you the power to live for God. Your offerings and service to God are not even acceptable to Him except they’re through the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:16; Hebrews 9:4).
So if you’re born again and are yet to receive the Holy Spirit, it’s time to do so. Say, “In the Name of Jesus Christ, I receive the Holy Spirit right now, and I speak in other tongues as He gives me the utterance!” Now, go ahead and magnify God in other tongues.
Confession
I’m full of the Holy Spirit, and I can do all things and change any negative situation through His power at work in me mightily. Hallelujah!
Further Study:
Luke 11:13
Acts 19:5-6
(Taken by permission from Christ Embassy Church , aka Believer’s LoveWorld Ministries , Lagos, Nigeria. www.ChristEmbassy.org )
