If spiritual gifts come through the Holy Spirit, how can I know I have received the Holy Spirit?—Spiritual Gifts FAQ

Question: If spiritual gifts come through the Holy Spirit, how can I know I have received the Holy Spirit?

Answer: If you call Jesus “Lord”, you are doing so by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:2-3). The Holy Spirit has been “given” to you, received by you from God. (Romans 5, 1 Corinthians 6). You are also part of His Church—His Body, and “Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by [or with or in] one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink (1 Corinthians 12:12-13).

 

In pre-Jesus’-resurrection days, the Holy Spirit was present WITH or AMONG God’s people. John the Baptist ushers in the Messiah’s arrival saying that Jesus would coming baptizing not with water but “with the Holy Spirit and fire” (Matthew 3:11; Mark 1:8; Luke 3:16). Jesus promises that God will send the Holy Spirit upon His disciples—to be their advocate, helper, to be with and in them (us) (John 14:26; John 15:26; John 20:22)--once Jesus has risen to the right hand of the Father. This happens at Pentecost—to “all” those together. “All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:1, 4). Peter, then “filled with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:4; 4:8) says if anyone “repents and is baptized in the name of Jesus, that person “will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (2:38). After Jesus’ resurrection, the Holy Spirit dwells WITHIN God’s people—we are FILLED with the Spirit.

 

In Romans 5, we’re told: …God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

 

1 Corinthians 6:17-20 tells us that we are “one with [the Lord] in spirit…and that our “bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God…”

 

Ephesians 1:1-14 says we are chosen, saved, and that when we “believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.

 

Paul reminds Timothy that the Holy Spirit lives in him and other believers: 2 Timothy 1:13-14: “What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus.  Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.”

 

Titus 3:3-8 reminds us that the rebirth and renewal we have experienced in Jesus is by the Holy Spirit: “At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.”

 

The indwelling of the Holy Spirit comes at the time of spiritual birth. Acts 10, in recounting the remarkable story of Gentiles receiving the Holy Spirit, Peter says, “Then I remembered what the Lord had said: ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ So if God gave them the same gift he gave us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could stand in God’s way?” (Acts 11:1-18).

 

When there is some question (see Acts 15) as to whether Gentiles (uncircumcised) were truly “saved”. Paul and Barnabas are appointed and sent to discuss this issue with the apostles and elders in Jerusalem. Peter reminds them that “God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. He did not discriminate between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith…No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.” (Acts 15:1-35).

 

Be assured. If you follow Jesus, you have His Holy Spirit in you.

 

 

(See also Psalm 51:11; Isaiah 63:10; Isaiah 63:11; Mark 12:36; Matthew 3:11; Mark 1:8; Luke 3:16; Mark 13:11; Luke 1:67; Luke 4:1; John 14:26; John 15:26; John 20:22; Acts 1:5; Acts 1:8; Acts 2:1; Acts 2:4; Acts 2:33; Acts 2:38; Acts 4:8; Acts 7:55)

 

 

Important resources:

 

 

Shirley Giles Davis, author of the God. Gifts. You. Your Unique Calling and Design workbook, Your Unique Design Class Guide, Your Unique Design Facilitator Guide, DIOS. DONES. TÚ.: Tu llamado y diseño único (Spanish Edition), and Gifts-Calling-Purpose blog, is a consultant, coach, facilitator who has worked with hundreds of faith-based organizations, nonprofit agencies, and executive leaders in a diversity of fields for four decades. She currently serves as Catalyst for Equipping at her church.

 

Photo © Shirley Giles Davis. 

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