5 - the Holy Ghost

We saw in I Corinthians what the gospel is.
And we learned that we must obey the gospel just as Peter instructed in Acts 2:38.

The Gospel is...

Death
Burial
Resurrection

Acts 2:38 says to...

Repent
Be baptized
Receive the Holy Ghost

In this lesson we will look more closely at receiving the Holy Ghost.

It’s as easy as 1-2-3.

What is the Holy Ghost?

Holy Ghost and Holy Spirit mean exactly the same thing.

John 4:24

God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

God is a SPIRIT. What spirit? The HOLY Spirit. The Holy Ghost is God himself.

Who is the Father?

Matthew 1:18-21

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.
Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.
But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.

Luke 1:30-35

And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.
And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus.
He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

The one and only mother of the man, Jesus Christ, was Mary.
The one and only father of the man, Jesus Christ, was the Holy Ghost.

Jesus spoke of his Father frequently. That Father is the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost is God the Father, God Himself.

What other terms refer to the Holy Ghost?

There are many. Quite a few are mentioned in this one chapter:

Romans 8:9-11

But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

Why should I receive the Holy Ghost?

NOTE: Receiving the Holy Ghost is sometimes called being baptized with the Holy Ghost or being filled with the Spirit.

John 7:38-39

He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
(But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

When you receive the Holy Ghost, LIVING WATERS will flow from the deepest part of you.

Acts 1:4-8

And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.
For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
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.

You receive POWER when you are baptized with the Holy Ghost.

John 14:26

But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

The Holy Ghost will be a COMFORTER for you and will TEACH you.

How can I know if I have received the Holy Ghost?

Acts 10:44-47

While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,
Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?

Peter and the Jews that were with him could tell that these people had received the Holy Ghost for they HEARD them speak with tongues.

Does everyone speak with tongues when they receive the Holy Ghost?

Acts 2:1-4

And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Acts 8:14-18

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.
And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,

Simon was unfamiliar with the things of God. Yet even he was able to tell some how when people received the Holy Ghost. There was clearly a recognizable sign.

Acts 10:46

For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,

Acts 19:6

And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

Speaking with tongues is noted consistently when people received the Holy Ghost in the Bible.