Introduction:
Last week, we looked at the seven steps needed to receive the Holy Spirit. Understanding these steps will help both the receivers and Spirit filled believers to pray with those seeking to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Today, we shall briefly go over the seven steps again, practicalise the steps if there are people who are yet to be filled with the Holy Spirit and/or pray in the Spirit for some minutes with some notes at the end.
Step 1: Understand that God has already given the Holy Spirit and that it is now up to the believer to receive God's free Gift. Acts 19:1-6, Acts 8:14-17
Step 2: Understand that anyone who is saved is ready to immediately receive the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:37-38
Step 3: Understand that once hand is laid on the person seeking to receive the baptism of the Holy Ghost by a fellow believer (irrespective of position or title), s/he is to receive the Holy Spirit by faith. Heb. 11:1
Step 4: The person seeking to be baptized in the Holy Spirit must be clearly told what to expect as s/he receives the Holy Spirit e.g. S/he must cooperate with the Holy Spirit by having to speak out by her/himself as the Holy Spirit moves on her/his vocal organs putting words on her/his lips. Acts 2:4, Acts 10:46
Step 5: Need to help some people get over fear of getting something false or counterfeit Luke 11:11-13
Step 6: The candidate must be clearly told to open her/his mouth and be ready to use his own mouth and vocal chords, for the Holy Spirit will give the utterance, but s/he must yield and give voice to that utterance. S/he must also tell God in her/his heart; “I am receiving the Holy Spirit right now by faith”. It is crucial to understand that the Holy Spirit gives the utterance while the receiver does the speaking. John 7:37-39.
Step 7: Avoid distractions! Only one person giving instructions on helping the seeker yield to the Holy Spirit while others pray in the Spirit (not in their own languages) so that s/he may be encouraged to follow suit so to speak.
Carnality: Carnal Christians (or Christians who are sense-ruled or dominated by the flesh) can be filled with the Holy Ghost. How do we know that? Because the Bible says the Corinthian Christians were carnal, and yet Paul prayed for them that they would come behind in no gift (1 Cor. 1:7). He was not endorsing carnality, to be sure. He was trying to get them to grow up in God and outgrow carnality. But as believers yield to Him, the Holy Ghost will help them grow out of carnality.
Baby Christianity: Baby Christians can be filled with the Holy Spirit. Carnal Christians and baby Christians — indeed, all believers — greatly need to be filled with the Holy Spirit because then they will receive power that will help them (Acts 1:8). Also, if they will walk in the light of God's Word and be led by the Holy Spirit, He will lead them into all truth and help them to outgrow some things in their lives which have perhaps hindered their Christian walk (John 16:13). Therefore, if a person is saved, he is ready to receive the Holy Ghost now. Always lead the believer who is seeking the Holy Ghost to see that truth.
Conclusion
Essential ingredients to reaching our goal (making it to heaven and fulfilling purpose on earth) are being led by the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. We must daily pray in the Spirit to keep ourselves in the love of God and be built up in our most holy faith Jude 1:20-21.
Contributor: Akin Akande