Answers

By   •   December 13, 2011   •   Topics:

Q:

I want to receive the Holy Spirit, but no matter how much I pray, nothing seems to happen. Some people say I don't have the Spirit until He overcomes me and takes control of me, but so far it hasn't happened. Why won't God give me the Holy Spirit?


A:

If you have given your life to Jesus Christ and are trusting Him alone for your salvation, then God has already given the Holy Spirit to you. God already resides within you by His Spirit! The Bible says, “We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God” (1 Corinthians 2:12).

Why has God given His Spirit to us? One reason, the Bible says, is to show us God’s truth and give us an assurance of His presence with us. The devil will try to make us doubt God’s love — but by His Spirit and His Word, God assures us of His constant love for us by pointing us to Jesus Christ and His death and resurrection for us. Jesus said, “When he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth” (John 16:13).

God has also given His Spirit to us so we can serve Him. Every believer has been given at least one spiritual ability or gift, and God wants us to use it to build up His Kingdom. (You can find a list of some of these gifts in Romans 12:6-8.) We don’t all have the same gifts, nor are we to worry if our gifts aren’t the same as someone else’s.

Make certain of your relationship to Christ. Then ask Him to show you what gifts He has given you, and ask Him to help you use them for His glory.