Do You have the Holy Spirit – audio

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There is a lot of uncertainty today about having the Holy Spirit. Some people claim they have it, yet others do not feel they do. How can you tell if you do or do not have the Holy Spirit?

Read Jude 1:17-21. Jude describes characteristics of those that do not have the Spirit, and then refers to his fellow Christians as those that have the Holy Spirit.

Those that do not have the Holy Spirit are “sensual (Jude 1:19),” or those that think of only earthly things. They often cause division because they seek their own well-being, and not of others or of Christ. Paul says they are ignorant (not learning Christ), having a blindness of heart (Ephesians 4:17-20).

Jude says faithful Christians have the Spirit (Jude 1:20-21). First, Christians receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38; Romans 8:9,11; 1 Corinthians 6:19; 1 John 4:13) through baptism. As they continue to grow in the faith, the Spirit helps them grow in the knowledge of God’s Word (see Colossians 2:6-7).

Why should one want to allow the Holy Spirit to dwell within? As Jude says, we must continue to pray in the Holy Spirit (Jude 1:20). Sometimes we know we need something, but do not know what. We may think we know what we need, but do not know how to ask. The Holy Spirit helps in this way by making “intercession for us with groaning that cannot be uttered (Romans 8:26).” If we have the Spirit, God will answer our unspoken prayers!