The people who received the Holy Spirit that night (See the previous post) did not grow up in Christian homes, their knowledge of God was not vast, they had not been previously baptized in Jesus’ name, and I highly doubt they had much faith in God if any to begin with; however, after they heard the preached word, I believe their faith in Jesus was birthed. Romans 10:17 explains the birthing of faith, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

In my opinion, the sermon from the preacher was critical for establishing faith in these people, and remember what Jesus said concerning faith and the Holy Spirit, “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water” (John 7:38). The word believe in this passage of scripture means to put faith in… Put faith in who? In Jesus! As such, the stage was set for the Holy Spirit to fall.

Next, I believe the preacher’s message and the people’s newly established faith in Jesus created a thirst for the Holy Spirit, for when the preacher asked if they wanted the Holy Spirit after they had heard the message, their response was a resounding, yes. They wanted what the preacher had spoken about in his message. Again, remember what Jesus said, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink” (John 7:37) and “Blessed are they which hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled” (Matthew 5:6).

The preacher then added two more steps. He led the people in a prayer of repentance in which they confessed their sins, asked for forgiveness, and made a commitment to forsake sin, then he told them to praise God, and what followed was nothing short of what happened on the Day of Pentecost. People received the Holy Spirit with the initial evidence of speaking in tongues.

Now please understand that I am not sharing with you the formula for receiving the Holy Spirit. I am simply sharing what I witnessed during my mission trip and what I have witnessed countless times since. I am also sharing with you that receiving the Holy Spirit is not that difficult. It really isn’t! The key, from my observation to receiving the Holy Spirit is faith in Jesus, repentance then praise.