Not everyone trusts God enough to be saved. Intellectually you have the faith to believe that Christ is the Son of God. You accept Christ as your Savior and are baptized. However, you may not have a personal relationship with Christ and you may not have received the Holy Spirit. Without the Holy Spirit, you have not had a “saving faith”. If you repented and changed your life completely, it would be done only with the help of the Holy Spirit. Otherwise Satan, the great deceiver, will have you believe you’re okay and have been saved.

Some will tell you that the only way you will know you have the Holy Spirit is if you speak in tongues. Matthew, Mark, John, Peter and others never taught that. I Corinthians 14:9b – “Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air.”

In Acts Jews from many nations, speaking and understanding in different languages came to Jerusalem to celebrate holy days. When the Apostles preached the gospel as explained in Acts, they spoke in a language that others could understand. They did not talk in gibberish that no one knew what they were saying. As a result, 1,000’s of Jews were converted to Christianity. God is not the author of confusion. Speaking in tongues that no one understands is NOT a sign that you have the Holy Spirit. I do believe the gift of languages still exists today.

The Bible is very clear that Christians are given gifts but not everyone has the same gift. The gift of tongues was given to a Christian who could talk in a language people could understand in order to spread the gospel to every nation on earth. Acts 10:44 – “While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message.” When Peter went to the house of Cornelius they understood Latin. Peter taught in Arabic.

The Apostles who spent three years with Christ had little faith. They saw Christ perform all kinds of miracles, yet they did not have the faith to trust Him in all things. It wasn’t until the resurrection and Pentecost, when they received the Holy Spirit that a big change in their faith took place.

James 2:18 – 19 – “But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.”

Matthew 5:6 – “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” Jesus is saying that if we have a hunger and a thirst for righteousness we will have a repentant heart and are filled with a righteousness that only the Holy Spirit can provide. Christ is not necessarily saying we are to begin working harder on living a more pure life. I believe He is requesting that we become more obedient to God’s Word and more submissive to the Holy Spirit’s guidance.

Let’s assume we have been living a Christian life for a period of time and we have become content with where we are spiritually. Is it possible to lose our passion to become more spiritual? Can we lose our desire to hunger and thirst to be more holy? It is very likely if we accepted Christ intellectually and not with a repentant heart or a saving faith. Without the Holy Spirit there usually is little change in one’s behavior and beliefs. Maybe for only a short time, then one reverts back to your old ways.

What is it that God wants from each one of us as Christians? He is looking for a body of believers that will live with Him through eternity. What is the number one requirement to enter that final destiny? The answer is to love through our personal relationship with Christ. He wants our unconditional love toward Him and the same love to others. Can you visualize living in an eternity where everyone had that kind of love for God and for others? How do we obtain that kind of love? It will only come through the Holy Spirit’s help.

The Bible repeatedly says God is not interested in our works but He cares about what is in our hearts. Is His love really in our hearts? If so we have learned there can be no hate or a lack of forgiveness. What God requires can only be obtained by allowing the Holy Spirit to change who we are. We must let the Holy Spirit become very active in our daily lives. If we are not seeing supernatural occurrences from time to time we probably have not accepted the Holy Spirit. Shouldn’t we expect the Holy Spirit to be manifest in most everything we do? He will if we pray and ask for His help. He will not force Himself onto us.

• Hebrews 4:5 – The Holy Spirit was given to testify that Christ came to give us a New Covenant and told us God would put His laws in our hearts and write them on our minds and our sins and lawless acts would be remembered no more.
• Luke 11:13 – God will give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him.
• Hebrews 2:4 – The Holy Spirit will give us signs, wonders, various miracles and gifts. If we have seriously surrendered our lives to Christ the Holy Spirit will make us aware that He is with us.
• II Timothy 1:13 & 14 – The Holy Spirit will help you live a holy life by giving you faith and love in Christ Jesus.
• Luke 12:12 – The Holy Spirit will tell us what to say.
• Acts 1:8 – We shall receive power from the Holy Spirit.
• John 14:26 – The counselor, the Holy Spirit will teach us all things and will remind us of what Jesus taught.
• Acts 13:12 – The Holy Spirit will speak to our spirit and give us directions and where to go.
• Acts 20:23 – The Holy Spirit will warn us of potential problems.
• Galatians 5:23 – 24 – The Holy Spirit will give us joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
• 1 Thessalonians 4:7 – 8 – Those who will not live a holy life rejects God and the Holy Spirit will not be given to him.
• Ephesians 1:13 – The Holy Spirit will mark you with a seal to guarantee your redemption and salvation.

God knows who will live a holy life. He knows who will be serious and who will not. He knows who will fall away and who will develop a personal relationship with Christ and live in accordance to His will and His Commandments. You must have the Holy Spirit, for He is the only guarantee of your redemption and your salvation.