Holy Spirit Questions

[ChessCastle]

I had a conversation with a friend at work today, and I thought I might pose of of the unresolved questions here while I searched for answers myself.

We began talking about the Holy Spirit and I asked him if he knew at what point we are granted the Holy Spirit. Neither of us were very certain of the answer to this but my initial thought is at baptism. His initial though is when you believe.

My next question, was whether the Holy Spirit is given to everyone who is christian. The logic behind this question is, the Holy Spirit guides, yet there are some areas where the apparent guidance has taken groups in opposing paths.

Next is can you lose the Holy Spirit once you've recieved it? He doesn't think its possible, but I'm not sure.


CC

[Fish and Bread]

The Holy Spirit is active in the world and can work in the hearts and minds of anyone that God wants to work in, providing that such persons are open to it and freely choose to listen. They need not even be Christian. In fact, I'd imagine that many non-Christians become Christians in part because the Holy Spirit is leading them to do so. :)

That said, I also believe that we are only guaranteed that the Holy Spirit is permanently present in the hearts and minds of baptised Christians. :) Baptism is in part the assurance that the Holy Spirit is with us and will always be with us. It is when we are sealed as Christ's own forever, through the sacrament of baptism, that the Holy Spirit comes upon us, if it has not already, and after that point it is guaranteed to permanently be there. That doesn't mean, however, that the Spirit of God is always talking to us or that we need always listen to it. :) It just means that it's with us. :)

John

[gitlance]

The Early Church saw two endowments of the Holy Spirit: the indwelling of the Spirit was given at Baptism, while the outpouring of the Holy Spirit for the operation of the gifts and charismata was given at Confirmation.

The early Christians were taught to expect the workings of miracles and such at the moment of confirmation by the bishop.

What is interesting, is that this is very similar to the Pentecostal idea of the initial filling of the Holy Spirit, and the 2nd subsequent outpouring of the same Spirit in the believer's life.

Check out St. Irenaeus and Hilary of Poitiers for more on this. St. Irenaeus said that the Church only existed where the charismata and the bishops together were.

[Naomi4Christ]

I had a conversation with a friend at work today, and I thought I might pose of of the unresolved questions here while I searched for answers myself.

We began talking about the Holy Spirit and I asked him if he knew at what point we are granted the Holy Spirit. Neither of us were very certain of the answer to this but my initial thought is at baptism. His initial though is when you believe.

My next question, was whether the Holy Spirit is given to everyone who is christian. The logic behind this question is, the Holy Spirit guides, yet there are some areas where the apparent guidance has taken groups in opposing paths.

Next is can you lose the Holy Spirit once you've recieved it? He doesn't think its possible, but I'm not sure.
CC

Some people are aware of when they first received the Holy Spirit - for others, it was a very gradual thing, and for others, they have always been a Christian from as early as they can remember. The important question is not how or when you became a Christian, but that you are one now.

The Holy Spirit is given to those who sincerely ask for it. There may be barriers to receiving, such as unconfessed sins, but once you have sorted these out, the Holy Spirit should come in abundance. The Holy Spirit can also be moving in someone before they themselves realise it.

The Holy Spirit is one way that God guides us - the main way is via the scriptures, and there is also common sense, Christian fellowship and, of course, the Holy Spirit.

I don't think it is possible to fully lose the Holy Spirit - but you can fall away from faith and become a prodigal son. God so wants you back and is eager to fill you with the Holy Spirit again as soon as you ask. In our Christian lives, we have to keep praying to be filled with the Holy Spirit to equip us for every new day or challenge - and our ever merciful God is ready to give us what we ask for. God wants us to have a relationship with him, which is why we have to constantly ask for his help in our lives - being filled with the Holy Spirit is not a one-off.

[karen freeinchristman]

Some people are aware of when they first received the Holy Spirit...
___
The Holy Spirit is given to those who sincerely ask for it.
Is this what it means when someone says that they were "baptised in the Holy Spirit"? I asked that question on another thread, but never got a clear answer.

[Naomi4Christ]

Is this what it means when someone says that they were "baptised in the Holy Spirit"? I asked that question on another thread, but never got a clear answer.

Yes - but I don't think it is particularly Anglican terminology.

Baptism in the spirit also seems, in my opinion, to elevate the 'Road to Damascas' conversion over 'gradual awakening' and 'always been a Christian'. I know that I would never wish on my children a time that they did not know Christ, so I wouldn't really want it to have to come down to a 'Road to Damascas' for them.

[karen freeinchristman]

Baptism in the spirit also seems, in my opinion, to elevate the 'Road to Damascas' conversion over 'gradual awakening' and 'always been a Christian'. I know that I would never wish on my children a time that they did not know Christ, so I wouldn't really want it to have to come down to a 'Road to Damascas' for them.
:amen:

I agree that it shouldn't be elevated over the 'always been a Christian'.
Thanks, Naomi!

[Thomas2618]

My next question, was whether the Holy Spirit is given to everyone who is christian. The logic behind this question is, the Holy Spirit guides, yet there are some areas where the apparent guidance has taken groups in opposing paths.


Yes, the Holy Spirit guides. This is not to say, however, that all are going to follow Him perfectly. The "apparent guidance" has not taken groups in opposing paths (for it is God's will that there be One Church)- certain groups choose not to follow the guidance they are given. I know there are certainly times when I have not gone where I was led, for I am far from perfect.

[gitlance]

JUST SO WE ALL HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING:

The Holy Spirit is not an "it," but a "he". HE is the third person of the blessed Trinity, and not some impersonal force.

Thank you.

[Thomas2618]

excuse me...sorry. Will go edit

[higgs2]

JUST SO WE ALL HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING:

The Holy Spirit is not an "it," but a "he". HE is the third person of the blessed Trinity, and not some impersonal force.

Thank you.
Actually, many people think of the Holy Spirit as "she", or embodying the feminine aspect of God. :)

[Thomas2618]

If we are assigning genders... and person in the Trinity would be He as the Trinity is God and the Church is His Bride...thus the Church being female...just my two cents though...