And when Jesus had said this, He breathed on His disciples and said unto them, "Receive ye the Holy Ghost." (John 20:22)
He said unto them, "Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?" And they said unto him, "We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost." (Acts 19:2)
"In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the Word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise." (Ephesians 1:13)
"But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." (Acts 1:8)
"Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the Word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John, who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost. (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost." (Acts 8:14-17)
"Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And He that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because He maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God." (Romans 8:26-27)
Sadly, there is much confusion between the use of the Holy Spirit and the Holy Ghost in the scriptures. The dilemma becomes even more complicated by the false teaching of the trinity in modern day churches. Still, the scriptures are clear on this point, and as we have declared before, God is NOT the author of confusion.
"For in Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily." (Colossians 2:9)
JESUS was God Spirit veiled in an Adamic sin prone body coming forth out of Heaven to seek and to save His creation from an otherwise lost eternity. JESUS did not come to condemn the world. That was not His purpose. His purpose was for all of Adam’s fallen offspring to receive redemption which He by Himself was going to secure as a gift. The gift of redemption whereby all persons through faith would be granted an opportunity to be saved from sin.
In fact, when JESUS said to His disciples that He was going to leave and they would see Him no more (in the flesh). He also added that He would not leave them comfortless. This is why JESUS breathed upon them saying prophetically that they would receive of His breath -- whose breath is the breath of the Holy Ghost.
Then He opened their understanding that they might more accurately comprehend the scriptures. In Acts chapters 1-2, the first 3,000 believers all received the Holy Ghost.
Up until this moment, the Holy Ghost had never been imparted to anyone. This is because the Holy Ghost was not as yet given, because JESUS was not yet glorified. (Acts 1:1-8) With the outpouring of the Spirit was the pronouncement that JESUS was and is now glorified! God glorified His Son JESUS, thus declaring, that JESUS both LORD and the CHRIST!
Paul the last of the apostles, chosen of JESUS to bear His Name [JESUS] to the Gentiles could say the following concerning the gospel. That which he preached was not of man and neither was it taught by man, Moreover, neither did he [Paul] receive the gospel message of man but rather through the Holy Ghost revelations of JESUS the Christ!
Remember, after Jesus ascended, He commanded the apostles THROUGH the Holy Ghost. (Acts 1:8)
Moreover, JESUS said when we receive His holy Spirit, then His indwelling Spirit shall lead and guide believers into all truth. His Spirit indwelling within believers "shall glorify Me - JESUS - and shall bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said to you!"
Take the time to study His Word. In so doing, grow in the grace and knowledge of God our Saviour through His Word. Stand in the offering plate with Jesus!
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