How to Receive the Holy Spirit

The Early and Latter Rain

The early and latter rains were needed by farmers in the Middle East to raise their crops (Deuteronomy 11:14). The early rain fell in the autumn (Hebrew: "yoreh"), which means sprinkling. This rain was essential to cause the seed to germinate. The latter rain, more heavy in nature (Hebrew: "malkosh), fell in the spring. This rain was essential to bring the fruit to maturity and harvest.

These literal rains that produced a literal crop were used by the Lord to describe the work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of Christians both personally and corporately.
"The Lord employs these operations of nature to represent the work of the Holy Spirit. As the dew and the rain are given first to cause the seed to germinate, and then to ripen the harvest, so the Holy Spirit is given to carry forward, from one stage to another, the process of spiritual growth. The ripening of the grain represents the completion of the work of God's grace in the soul. By the power of the Holy Spirit the moral image of God is to be perfected in the character. We are to be wholly transformed into the likeness of Christ.
"The latter rain, ripening earth's harvest, represents the spiritual grace that prepares the church for the coming of the Son of Man. But unless the former rain has fallen, there will be no life; the green blade will not spring up. Unless the early showers have done their work, the latter rain can bring no seed to perfection." Testimonies to Ministers, pg. 506.

For the church as a whole the early rain fell on the day of Pentecost (Acts 1:8; 2:1-21). With the power of God's Spirit received on that day the disciples began to preach Jesus Christ to the world. They began sowing the Seed Jesus (Galatians 3:16) in the world field (Matthew 13:38), and a bountiful harvest began coming in (Acts 2:47). Daily they were adding to the church those who wanted to be saved.

Since that time we are now living in the dispensation, or age, of the Holy Spirit's power—available to all Christians.
"The dispensation in which we are now living is to be, to those that ask, the dispensation of the Holy Spirit." Testimonies to Ministers, pg. 512.
"The outpouring of the Spirit in apostolic days was the `former rain,' and glorious was the result. But the latter rain will be more abundant." Manuscript Releases, vol. 2, pg. 44.

In the prophecy of Revelation 18:1 is the assurance of a great outpouring of power on God's people through the Holy Spirit, which completes the harvest of souls who will be ready for Jesus to come. The latter rain is the harvest time (Revelation 14:14-16), or end of the world.
"It is with an earnest longing that I look forward to the time when the events of the day of Pentecost shall be repeated with even greater power than on that occasion. John says, `I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.'" Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 6, pg. 1055.

James 5:7-8 says, "Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand." There can be no doubt that a great display of God's power, the greatest ever witnessed, lies just ahead. Joel 2:28-31 tells us this outpouring will be just before the end of the world, then Jesus will come!

God has told us how we may receive the personal power of the Holy Spirit in our lives, and the great outpouring of the Holy Spirit's power in the latter rain.

Prayer

Zechariah 10:1 - Ask for the latter rain. 
2 Kings 2:9 - Elisha had to ask for the personal power of the Holy Spirit. 
Luke 11:11-13 - Jesus said to ask for the Holy Spirit. 
Acts 1:14 & 4:31 - The apostles prayed before Pentecost, and prayed again for another outpouring of God's spirit.

"Let them ask in faith for the blessing, and it will come. The outpouring of the Spirit in apostolic days was the `former rain,' and glorious was the result. But the latter rain will be more abundant." Manuscript Releases, vol. 2, pg. 44.
"The dispensation in which we are now living is to be, to those that ask, the dispensation of the Holy Spirit." Testimonies to Ministers, pg. 512.

As we pray we must persist in asking for this blessing. The disciples prayed for 10 days before the day of Pentecost. Elisha had to persist in following Elijah before he received a double portion of the Holy Spirit (Elijah performed seven miracles and Elisha performed 14). God will send the blessing in His time.

"Let there be a work of reformation and repentance. Let all seek for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. As with the disciples after the ascension of Christ, it may require several days of earnestly seeking god and putting away of sin." My Life Today, pg. 58.
"The answer may come with sudden velocity and overpowering might, or it may be delayed for days and weeks, and our faith receive a trial. But God knows how and when to answer our prayer. It is our part of the work to put ourselves in connection with the divine channel. God is responsible for His part of the work. He is faithful who hath promised. The great and important matter with us is to be of one heart and mind, putting aside all envy and malice, and, as humble supplicants, to watch and wait. Jesus, our Representative and Head, is ready to do for us what He did for the praying, watching ones on the day of Pentecost." The Story of Redemption, pg. 247.

Faith

Mark 11:24 - If we ask believing we shall receive.
Galatians 3:2,5,14 - We receive the Holy Spirit by faith. Do not go by feelings or impressions.

"I have frequently seen that the children of the Lord neglect prayer, especially secret prayer, altogether too much; that many do not exercise that faith which it is their privilege and duty to exercise, often waiting for that feeling which faith alone can bring. Feeling is not faith; the two are distinct. Faith is ours to exercise, but joyful feeling and the blessing are God's to give. The grace of God comes to the soul through the channel of living faith, and that faith it is in our power to exercise.
"True faith lays hold of and claims the promised blessing before it is realized and felt. We must send up our petitions in faith within the second vail, and let our faith take hold of the promised blessing, and claim it as ours. We are then to believe that we receive the blessing, because our faith has hold of it, and according to the Word it is ours. `What things soever ye desire when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.' Here is faith, naked faith, to believe that we receive the blessing, even before we realize it. When the promised blessing is realized and enjoyed, faith is swallowed up. but many suppose they have much faith when sharing largely of the Holy Spirit, and that they can not have faith unless they feel the power of the Spirit. Such confound faith with the blessing that comes through faith. The very time to exercise faith is when we feel destitute of the Spirit." Early Writings, pg. 72.

Obedience

A willingness to obey the Lord marks the spirit of every truly converted person. Therefore, only those who are willing to make the effort to obey the will of God can expect to receive the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in their lives (Acts 5:32).

In fact, it is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit that makes us obedient. Acts 5:32 refers to the act of submission to the will of God, or surrender to God's authority.
"Obey" in the Greek (peitharcheo) means to submit, to make friends with God. Obedience is the result of the Holy Spirit taking possession of us (Romans 6 & 8:3-4; Galatians 5:16; Ezekiel 36:25-27).
"O that the baptism of the Holy Spirit might come upon you, that you might be imbued with the Spirit of God! Then day by day you will become more and more conformed to the image of Christ, and in every action of your life the question would be, `Will it glorify my Master?' By patient continuance in well-doing you would seek for glory and honor, and would receive the gift of immortality." My Life Today, pg. 49.

This purifying power of the Holy Spirit personally will prepare each true follower of Jesus to receive the latter rain, which will be bestowed only upon a pure people. According to Deuteronomy 11:14-17 sin keeps the rain from falling. (See also Jeremiah 3:2-3; 5:23-25).
"May the Lord help His people to cleanse the soul temple from every defilement, and to maintain such a close connection with Him that they may be partakers of the latter rain when it shall be poured out." Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 6, pg. 1055.

Repentance

Repentance is a condition to receive the Holy Spirit into our lives (Acts 2:38), and yet we have no power of ourselves to become repentant. Repentance [which is a sorrow for and a turning away from sin] is a gift of God (Acts 5:31 & 2 Timothy 2:25). Repentance is not something you do, it is something that happens to you. Like all other gifts God has promised, if we ask we shall receive.
"And we cannot even repent without the aid of the Spirit of God . . . Repentance comes from Christ as truly as does pardon." Desire of Ages, pg. 175.

Water Baptism

Some assume that if they were baptized by water that they have the Holy Spirit. However, the Bible does not link one with the other necessarily. Consider the following:
Acts 8:15 - In the case of the Samaritan Christians water baptism came well before the baptism of the Holy Spirit through the prayers of Peter and John.
Acts 10:44-48; 11:15-16 - In this case the household of Cornelius received the baptism of the Holy Spirit before they were baptized in water.
Acts 19:2-6 - First Paul baptized the Ephesian brethren in water and then he prayed for them to receive the Holy Spirit also.
Luke 3:21-22 - Not even Jesus automatically received the Holy Spirit because He was baptized, but because He prayed.

"The descent of the Holy Ghost upon the Gentiles was not an equivalent for baptism [by water]." The Story of Redemption, pg. 289.
"No outward forms can make us clean; no ordinance, administered by the saintliest of men, can take the place of the baptism of the Holy Ghost." Testimonies for the Church, vol.5, pg. 227.

Unity

Unity is a condition to receive the corporate latter rain (Acts 2:1 & 4:32), but it is not a condition to receive the personal baptism of the Holy Spirit. It is the baptism of the Holy Spirit individually that brings us all into unity.

Ephesians 4:3, 11-13 - Unity is a gift of the Holy Spirit—it comes from Him.
John 20:22 - The early Christians had unity because of the Holy Spirit.
Galatians 5:22-23 - There could be no unity without the fruits of the Holy Spirit active in the life of each believer.

"We are to seek most earnestly to be of one mind, and of one purpose. The baptism of the Holy Spirit, and nothing less, can bring us to this place." Review & Herald, June 10, 1902.

The Holy Spirit is Bestowed in Various Ways

2 Kings 2:9; Luke 11:13; Acts 1:14, 4:31 - Personal prayer. Jesus invites you to ask for yourself to receive this rich blessing.
"The descent of the Holy Spirit upon the church is looked forward to as in the future; but it is the privilege of the church to have it now. Seek for it, pray for it, believe for it. We must have it, and Heaven is waiting to bestow it." Evangelism, pg. 702.
"For the daily baptism of the Spirit every worker should offer his petition to God." Acts of the Apostles, pg. 50-51.

Acts 10:44-48 - Worship. When we come together to hear the Word of God Jesus is there to give His blessing (Matthew 18:20).
"The convocations of the church, as in camp meetings, the assemblies of the home church, and all occasions where there is personal labor for souls, are God's appointed opportunities for giving the early and latter rain." Testimonies to Ministers, pg. 508.

Acts 8:14-17, 9:17, 19:17-18 - Intercessory prayer and laying on of hands for others.
Some believe that you can only receive the Holy Spirit from someone who is already Spirit-filled. This belief puts too much emphasis on man instead of God, and as we have already seen, the Bible says you can ask for it yourself. No one laid hands on Jesus, or the apostles, or the household of Cornelius. However, the Bible records the Holy Spirit being bestowed on those who were prayed for by others.
"Jesus will add His intercession to your prayers, and claim for the sinner the gift of the Holy Spirit, and pour it upon his soul. And there will be joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth." Sons and Daughters of God, pg. 274.
"Even the babe in its mother's arms may dwell as under the shadow of the Almighty through the faith of the praying mother. John the baptist was filled with the Holy Spirit from his birth. If we will live in communion with God, we too may expect the divine Spirit to mold our little ones, even from the earliest moments." Desire of Ages, pg. 512.

Outward Manifestations

At times the Holy Spirit's presence has been made known by miraculous events. When Jesus received the Holy Spirit He saw the dove and He heard the voice of God (Matthew 3:16-17). On the day of Pentecost the disciples heard the rushing wind, and saw tongues of fire (Acts 2:1-4). On another occasion the disciples felt an earthquake (Acts 4:31). Daniel fell prostrate upon the floor under the power of the Holy Spirit (Daniel 10:8-9). However, in the case of Elijah the Lord's presence was not in the wind, the earthquake, or the fire, but in the still small voice. Let us not assume that if we have not had earthquakes, fires, winds, prostration, or some other amazing external sign that we are not filled with the Holy Spirit.

"The Spirit of God is manifested in different ways upon different men. One under the movings of this power will tremble before the Word of God. His convictions will be so deep that a hurricane and tumult of feeling seem to rage in his heart, and his whole being is prostrate under the convicting power of the truth. When the Lord speaks forgiveness to the repenting soul, he is full of ardor, full of love to God, full of earnestness and energy, and the life-giving spirit which he has received cannot be repressed. Christ is in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. His feelings of love are as deep and ardent as was his distress and agony. His soul is like the fountain of the great deep, broken up, and he pours forth his thanksgiving and praise, his gratitude and joy, until the heavenly harps are tuned to notes of rejoicing. . . Others are brought to Christ in a more gentle way." Evangelism, pg. 288.
"There is danger of those in our ranks making a mistake in regard to receiving the Holy Ghost. Many suppose an emotion or a rapture of feeling to be an evidence of the presence of the Holy Spirit." Selected Messages, book 2, pg. 18.

The Holy Spirit's presence will always be known by the wonderful changes that take place in the life of the believer—the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). These fruits are the true evidence that a life has been changed.