Receiving the Holy Spirit

Before Jesus’ death and resurrection and his ascension back to heaven to be with God the Father, he promised his followers that after he ascended back to the Father that he would send them the Holy Spirit who would be in them and who would teach them all things pertaining to Christ. He would be their comforter, encourager, teacher, counselor, and guide, and he would speak to them the words of God, and he would empower them to live for the Lord and to walk in his ways and to be his witnesses, and to be Christ in them.

So, the apostles, if they heard that there were those who were of faith in Jesus Christ, they would go to them and pray for them and/or lay hands on them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. But since that time, we receive the Holy Spirit at the moment we believe in Jesus and we die with him to sin and we choose to follow him in walks of obedience to his commands in holy living, by the grace of God. For, if we do not have the Spirit of Christ dwelling within us, we do not belong to Christ (Romans 8:9).

[John 14:26; John 15:26; John 16:13; Acts 1:8; Acts 10:44-45; Romans 8:9-14; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; Ephesians 1:13-14; Titus 3:4-7; 2 Timothy 1:12-14]

A Heart Not Right With God

Now there was a man named Simon who was a sorcerer who believed in Jesus Christ. And he was amazed at the miracles and signs being done.

Acts 8:18-24 NKJV

And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, 19saying, “Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”

20But Peter said to him, “Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money! 21You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God. 22Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. 23For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity.”

24Then Simon answered and said, “Pray to the Lord for me, that none of the things which you have spoken may come upon me.”

There are many people who profess faith in Jesus Christ, who want all the benefits that come along with such faith, but their hearts are not in the right place, i.e. they are not right in the sight of God. Their motivations are not godly, not morally pure, and not upright in the eyes of the Lord. For their minds are still set on the things of the flesh, and what are not of God. They are still looking for what’s in it for them, but not with the heart attitude of service to the Lord in putting sin to death and in obeying our Lord.

For their desires are selfish and self-centered, and not godly. Although they profess faith in Jesus Christ, and they may even go through some of the motions of religious practice, perhaps to impress others, and/or to cover up what they are really like, and what they are really doing behind closed doors when no one else is looking, still their hearts are not given over to the Lord to his service to live holy lives, pleasing to God. For their “faith” is all in performance only, but not in actual practice in the power of God.

So God is saying to them that they need to repent, to turn from their sins to now follow Jesus in walks of obedience to his commands. For to repent is to have a change of heart and mind resulting in a change of behavior. It is not just saying we are sorry that we sinned, but it is turning around and now going the opposite direction of what we had been going. We were walking in sin and living according to the flesh, but now we are walking in righteousness in obedience to our Lord’s commands, because we love God.

And many who hold on to their sins, even though they profess faith in the Lord Jesus, do so because they have hearts which are filled with all sorts of bitterness, anger, hatred, unforgiveness, pride, self-importance, and sinful addiction. So they are not willing to relinquish control of their lives over to God, for they want to still be the ones in control. For what they truly worship is not God but the idol of self and selfishness and self-indulgence. So they hold on to what is in their hearts, which comes out in their behaviors.

And yet they may ask others to pray for them, and they may even be somewhat honest about what they are doing, or had been doing, and yet still not relinquish control of their lives over to God. For they want to give the impression that they are going in a forward direction but while they still linger in living according to self. So they are the ones still trying to figure it out but while they ignore what God already said about what they are doing and what the solution is if ever they are to be free from bondage to sin.

[Matthew 7:13-14,21-23; Luke 9:23-26; John 10:27-30; Acts 26:18; Romans 1:18-32; Romans 2:5-10; Romans 3:23; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; Romans 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10,19-20; 1 Corinthians 10:1-22; 2 Corinthians 5:10,15,21; Galatians 5:16-24; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 5:3-6; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 3:1-19; Hebrews 4:1-13; Hebrews 10:19-39; Hebrews 12:1-2; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 1:1-10; 1 John 2:1-6; 1 John 3:4-10; Revelation 2:1-29; Revelation 3:1-22]

Servant of the Lord

Based off Romans 1:1-17
An Original Work / July 26, 2012
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Servant of the Lord;
For the gospel you’re set apart.
Promised through the prophets of old:
Jesus, Son of God.
Through Him, and for His name alone,
We receive His grace
To call people, Him to obey;
Coming from their faith.
Servant of the Lord,
For the gospel you’re set apart.
Promised through the prophets of old:
Jesus, Son of God.

You belong to Christ;
Loved by God, and called to be saints;
Serving God with whole heart and mind;
Preaching Jesus Christ;
Always praying for others’ needs;
Helping hand to lend;
Giving courage to others’ faith,
For the praise of God.
You belong to Christ;
Loved by God, and called to be saints;
Serving God with whole heart and mind;
Preaching Jesus Christ.

Servant of the Lord;
Of the gospel, I’m not ashamed;
For salvation, power of God
To those who have faith.
In the gospel find righteousness:
Being right with God.
Turn from sin, and trust Jesus Christ.
By faith, live in Him.
Servant of the Lord;
Of the gospel, I’m not ashamed;
For salvation, power of God
To those who have faith.

Being Right With God
An Original Work / May 26, 2026
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love