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2 One Must Understand the Essentiality of the Holy Ghost
Jesus said to the Samaritan woman, "If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee. Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water" (John 4:10). The Bible says, "...if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his" (Romans 8:9).
When Paul asked the Ephesians if they had received the HolyGhost, they said, "We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost" (Acts19:2). TheEphesiansweretaughtaboutJesus,yettheyhadnotheard thatthebaptismoftheHolyGhostwasavailableforthemtoreceive. When they heard Paul preach about the essentiality of the Holy Ghost, they glad ly followed Paul's instructions, and they too received it.
3 One Must Believe the Holy Ghost is Promised for Everyone
Faith plays an important role in receiving the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost falls only upon believers. Jesus Himself said, "He that believeth on me as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water (ButthisspakeheoftheSpirit,whichtheythatbelieveonhimshould
preive- for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; b^ause that Jesus was not yet
^lorified)" (John 7:38-39; cf. Mark 16:17; Acts 19:1-6; Ephesians 1:13-14; Acts 11:15-17)-
A One Must Be Thirsty in Order to Receive the Holy Ghost
As a man walking in a desert longs to satisfy his thirst, one must seek the
jloly Ghost with thirst and deep longing. David expressed this type of desire in a psalm: "As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my
soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?" (Psalm 42:1,2; cf. 63:1). Isaiah also said, "Ho, everyone that thirsteth, come ye to the waters..." (Isaiah 55:1; cf. Isaiah41:17-18). Jesusinviteseveryonesaying,"Ifanymanthirst,lethim come unto me, and drink... out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water"
(John 7:37-39; cf. Ezekiel 47:1-12; Matthew 5:3; Luke 11:9-13).
5 One Must Come Close to God with an Open Heart and One Mind
"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...and
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