Spiritual Questions About God Answered
How can I be filled with the Holy Spirit?
I Believe in the Holy Spirit
I believe the Holy Spirit is God. He is the third member of the Trinity. The Holy Spirit is eternal (Heb. 9:14), he is omniscient (1 Cor. 2:10), he is omnipotent (Luke 1:35), he is omnipresent (Psalm 139:7-8). The Holy Spirit was involved in Creation (Gen. 1:26). He was present at the baptism of Christ (Matt. 3:16-17). The church is told to baptize in the name of the Holy Spirit (Matt. 28:19). He is necessary to salvation (John 3:5-6), He authored Scripture (2 Peter 1:21), He appoints people to be ministers (Acts 13:2), and He can do miracles (Rom 15;19).
I believe the Holy Spirit teaches, (John 14:26), guides (John 16:13), reveals Jesus (John 16:14), convicts people of their sins (John 16:8 KJV), seals believers and acts as a guarantee (2 Cor. 1:21-22), makes choices about where he will distribute the gifts (1 Cor. 12:11), can be grieved (Ephesians 4:30), can be blasphemed (Matt. 12:31), intercedes for the believer (Romans 8:26-27), thinks (1 Cor. 2:11-13), can be lied to (Acts 5:3-4), can be quenched (1 Thess. 5:19), and can be resisted (Acts 7:51).
I believe the Holy Spirit is depicted through the use of many symbols throughout the Bible. He is like a dove (Matt. 3:16), a fire (Acts 2:3), a tongue (Acts 2:3), a wind (Acts 2:2), a still small voice (1 Kings 19:11-12), a lamp (Psalm 119:105), rays of light (Luke 1:35), a cloud (Exodus 16:10), water (Isaiah 32:15), anointing oil (Luke 4:18), a seal or a guarantee (2 Cor. 1:22), a hand (1 Kings 18:46), a finger (Luke 11:20), and clothing (Luke 24:49).
I believe the Holy Spirit was sent by Jesus on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2), to empower believers to witness (Acts 1:8) and to be our Paraclete (John 14:16, 26; 15:26; 16:7), One who is our teacher, helper, comforter, intercessor, and advocate.
I believe the baptism of the Holy Spirit happened to the disciples on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2) and can occur in the life of every believer as an experience subsequent to salvation (Acts 2 – Pentecost, Acts 8 – Samaria, Acts 9:17 – Paul, Acts 10 – Cornelius, Acts 19:6 – Ephesus). The baptism of the Holy Spirit is also known as the infilling of the Holy Spirit. One can be filled, refilled, and filled again (Acts 2:4, Acts 4:8, Acts 4:31, Acts 6:3, Acts 11:24, Eph. 5:18). Just as every believer personally experiences the miracle of Calvary, the believer should also personally experience the miracle of Pentecost. Both salvation and empowerment can happen at the same time (1 Cor. 12:13), but they are two separate experiences and often occur separately.
I believe speaking in tongues is an initial evidence (but not the only evidence -1 Cor. 12:10) of those who have been baptized / filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:4; 10:46; 19:6).
I believe the Holy Spirit is actively at work in the world today. I believe the Holy Spirit is intimately involved in the miracle of salvation (1 Cor. 12:3).
I believe the Gifts of the Holy Spirit are given to the church today (1 Cor. 12:7-10, 1 Cor. 12:28, Eph. 4:11, Rom. 12:6-8, 1 Peter 4:11). The gifts are given as the Spirit wills (1 Cor. 12:11). The purpose of the gifts is to equip believers for ministry until Christ’s return (1 Cor. 1:7). After Christ returns, there will be no need for the gifts (1 Cor. 13:8-10). No one has all the gifts (1 Cor. 12:29-30) but the believer should desire the gifts (1 Cor. 12:31). It is wrong to forbid the use of the gifts (1 Cor. 14:39). The gifts can be misused but this does not mean the believer should not use the gifts at all (1 Cor. 14:40).
I believe every believer should manifest the Fruit of the Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23). Without love, the Gifts of the Holy Spirit are useless (1 Cor. 13).