Creflo Dollar Ministries Featuring: Confessions and Put Your Foot Down

How to Receive the Gift of the Holy Spirit

by Creflo Dollar

Summary

The Holy Spirit has been sent to us as a gift and a blessing, and He is the helper we need in all areas of our lives. He teaches us to pray in the Spirit in a language we do not even know about. We cannot do anything to deserve this gift; God offers it to us out of His grace and love for us. When we have His Spirit living inside us, we can produce the fruit of the spirit. The manifestations of this fruit include love, joy, and peace. The Spirit empowers us to do what we cannot do on our own; He also gives us individualized guidance and instruction according to each person’s specific needs. His presence reveals God’s truth to us.

1. The manifestations of the Spirit are unmistakable.
   1. And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence (Acts 1:4, 5).
   1. Baptism with water is different than the baptism of the Holy Spirit. The gift of the Spirit is one of God’s promises.
   2. And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance (Acts 2:1-4).
      1. When the Spirit helps us pray about things we do not know about, manifestations will show up in our lives.
   3. For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries (1 Corinthians 14:2).
   1. When we speak in tongues, we speak about things we do not logically understand; however, God knows all about them. We speak secret truths.
   4. Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost (Acts 8:14-17).
   1. When Peter and John laid hands on the Samaritans who had not yet received the Holy Spirit, what they had prayed for came to pass.
   5. Even the Gentiles received the Holy Spirit.
   1. While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter (Acts 10:44-46).

The Holy Spirit speaks directly to each individual with a specific message just for them.

1. And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism...And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied (Acts 19:1-3, 6).
1. After speaking in tongues, a prophecy and an interpretation in English edifies others and builds them up.
2. And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight…And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized (Acts 9:10-12, 17, 18).
1. God gave Ananias specific instructions about where he would find Saul to lay hands on him. When God gives us directions and instructions, He is specific and precise.
3. I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all (1 Corinthians 14:18).
1. Paul was a strong advocate for praying in tongues.
4. In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified) (John 7:37-39).
1. Jesus promised that those who believe in Him would receive the Holy Ghost. The Holy Spirit is like a flood of living water given to those who thirst for truth.

To learn more about the gift of the Holy Spirit, click on the link below for the three-CD series, A Spiritual Gift from God.
http://bit.ly/ASpiritualGiftfromGod3CDSeries

Scripture References

Acts 1:4, 5 Acts 2:1-4 1 Corinthians 14:2, 18 Acts 8:14-17

Acts 10:44-46 Acts 19:1-3, 6 Acts 9:10-12, 17, 18 John 7:37-39