Have You Received The Holy Spirit Since You Believed?

Turn with me to Acts Chapter 19.

The Apostle Paul has been preaching in Ephesus, and was preaching the True Gospel. He was preaching specifically to Jews – followers of John the Baptist – who believed in the Jesus Who was to come, but had never heard that Jesus had come. These were people had repented, and had been baptized by John. They left John’s side before Jesus revealed Himself, and going back to Ephesus, never heard that Jesus had come! Ephesus is 615 miles from Jerusalem, several weeks journey back in those days. There was no Internet, radio, or even print newspapers. They just didn’t know. God sent Paul to Ephesus to tell these believers the wonderful truth that Jesus had not only come, but died on the Cross and rose from the grave – and whosoever believes on Him shall be given eternal life.

Have You Received the Holy Spirit Since You Believed?

Acts 19:1-2 KJV And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, 2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost {pneuma, Spirit} since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost {pneuma, Spirit}.

Paul’s test for these believers in God was simple. “Have YOU received the Holy Spirit since you believed?”. You see, Jesus taught that once He went to the Cross, every believer in Him would receive the Holy Spirit. Jesus said:

John 14:16-18 NKJV And I will pray the Father, and HE WILL GIVE YOU ANOTHER HELPER, that HE MAY ABIDE WITH YOU FOREVER– 17 “the SPIRIT OF TRUTH, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. 18 “I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.

The Holy Spirit is in every believer in Christ – if they are indeed born again believers. Paul wrote in another place:

Romans 8:9-10 NKJV But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now IF ANYONE DOES NOT HAVE THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST, HE IS NOT HIS. 10 And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but THE SPIRIT IS LIFE BECAUSE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.

Jesus spoke frequently of the Holy Spirit. In fact, He told the Apostles after His resurrection to do nothing until the Holy Spirit came upon them, which He did on the Day of Pentecost. Jesus told them “You will receive POWER WHEN THE HOLY SPIRIT HAS COME UPON YOU, and YOU WILL BE MY WITNESSES” (Acts 1:5, 8). So Paul comes across these professing believers and asks them, “Have YOU received the Holy Spirit since you believed?”. They said, “We haven’t even HEARD of the Holy Spirit”.

Acts 19:3-7 KJV And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, UNTO JOHN’S BAPTISM. 4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that THEY SHOULD BELIEVE ON HIM WHO SHOULD COME AFTER HIM, that is, ON CHRIST JESUS. 5 When they heard this, they were BAPTIZED IN THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS-. 6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. 7 And ALL THE MEN WERE ABOUT TWELVE.

When Paul finds out that these twelve men had believed on the COMING Christ, but did not know that Jesus HAD COME, he shared that great truth with them. Without hesitation these men obeyed the command to salvation. They believed on Jesus, and showed their faith by being baptized as Jesus had commanded. Immediately, God the Holy Spirit came on them, and gave them the ability to preach. The proof of their salvation – a proof these men obviously needed – was seen in the spiritual gift they were given that day.

I’m sure these twelve men went out and helped Paul share the Gospel for the next TWO YEARS.

Acts 19:10 And this continued by the space of two years; so that ALL THEY WHICH DWELT IN ASIA HEARD THE WORD OF THE LORD JESUS, both Jews and Greeks.

These twelve preachers worked with Paul spreading the good news of Jesus’ coming and ascension. False preachers who attempted to use the name of Jesus were attacked by demons (Acts 19:14-16) for preaching falsely. The Bible tells us that …

Acts 19:18 KJV And MANY THAT BELIEVED CAME, and CONFESSED, and SHOWED THEIR DEEDS.

People were being saved, and showing evidence of their salvation by CONFESSION or public proclamation that they believed in Jesus. Further these confessors were SHOWING their faith by living for Jesus. But as the Church grew, it began to challenge the local goddess of Ephesus, the goddess Diana.

The Diana was a Roman goddess, equivalent to the Greek goddess Artemis. The Temple of Diana was in Ephesus. Diana was the goddess of abundance, fertility and protection. If you followed Diana and worshiped her by giving, then it was promised that your wives would bear sons, and your homes would prosper. The worshipers of Diana would go to the silversmiths and get small silver shrines made – costly items – that they could pray to in their homes.

Acts 19:20 KJV So MIGHTILY GREW THE WORD OF GOD AND PREVAILED.

The spirit Of This Lost World Says
“It Is Better To Receive Than To Give”

As the Gospel went out, and began to impact the people of Ephesus, those who used to worship Diana began to worship Jesus. And this cut into the profits of the silversmiths. And a silversmith named Demetrius rose up again Paul and the twelve preachers:

Acts 19:25-28 KJV Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that BY THIS CRAFT WE HAVE OUR WEALTH. 26 Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this PAUL HAS PERSUADED AND TURNED AWAY MUCH PEOPLE, saying that they be no gods, WHICH ARE MADE WITH HANDS: 27 So that not only this OUR CRAFT IS IN DANGER to be set at naught; but ALSO that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and HER MAGNIFICENCE SHOULD BE DESTROYED, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth. 28 And when they heard these sayings, they were FULL OF WRATH, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.

Demetrius caused a riot in the city of Ephesus. Demetrius didn’t care about the consequences of his action. If he could get enough rioters on his side, he could kill off Paul and the twelve preachers, and get rid of this bunch that were cutting into his bottom line.

The Apostle speaks of law enforcement and judicial officials. He says…

Romans 13:1-2 NKJV Let every soul be SUBJECT TO THE GOVERNING AUTHORITIES. For there is NO AUTHORITY EXCEPT FROM GOD, and the AUTHORITIES THAT EXIST ARE APPOINTED BY GOD. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.

Word Study: In the midst of this riot our God used an unbelieving “townclerk” (Greek grammateús, Scribe), a high ranking Official to calm the storm. What this Scribe did was remind the people that Ephesus was a city under Roman Law, and if Demetrius and the other silversmiths were upset, they could carry their grievances to a court of law. He said:

Acts 19:39-40 KJV But if ye inquire any thing concerning other matters, it shall BE DETERMINED IN A LAWFUL ASSEMBLY. 40 For WE ARE IN DANGER TO BE CALLED IN QUESTION FOR THIS DAY’S UPROAR, there BEING NO CAUSE whereby we may give an account of this concourse.

If the crowd continued to riot, the Roman Garrison would be deployed – and they didn’t are WHO started the fight. They would finish it. Rome demanded peace within it’s cities – there could be no democratic ‘mostly peaceful protests’ like we saw during the woke Covid era in America. The Scribe told the crowd that Demetrius, and all the rioters, were playing with fire. And that stopped the riots. Why? Not because it was right, but because they were afraid of the greater punishment that would come on them

There are two spirits in the world today. The spirit of this world and the Holy Spirit of God. The unbeliever has the spirit of this world. The believer has the Spirit of God.

Paul talks about this in

1 Corinthians 2:12-14 NKJV Now WE HAVE RECEIVED, NOT the spirit of the world, but THE SPIRIT WHO IS FROM GOD, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. 13 These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But THE NATURAL MAN DOES NOT RECEIVE THE THINGS OF THE SPIRIT OF GOD, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

The lost do not know Jesus. Those who are indwelt with the spirit of this world believe that “it is better to RECEIVE than to GIVE”. Now that doesn’t mean that a lost person won’t give at all. Many will. But they give from their surplus, from their overabundance. Those who are saved are indwelt by the Holy Spirit of God. The saved are taught by Jesus, as Paul said:

Acts 20:35 KJV I have shewed you all things, how that so LABORING YE OUGHT TO SUPPORT THE WEAK, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, HOW HE SAID, IT IS MORE BLESSED TO GIVE THAN TO RECEIVE.

The Way of Truth that the believer follows is “IT IS MORE BLESSED TO GIVE THAN TO RECEIVE”. But the way that the unbeliever follows is “it is more blessed to RECEIVE than to GIVE”.

The spirit of this world started in the Garden of Eden. God created everything perfect and beautiful, and put humans in the midst of this perfection. God gave man a Garden to tend that had no weeds or insect damage. God gave man work, but not much. We read:

Genesis 2:15-17 NKJV Then the LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden TO TEND IT AND TO KEEP IT. 16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; 17 “but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil YOU SHALL NOT EAT, for IN THE DAY THAT YOU EAT OF IT, YOU SHALL SURELY DIE.”

God gave man a perfect woman – the most beautiful woman on earth. Man was told to “multiply, and fill the earth”, a perfect environment. But then Satan came into Eden, and brought with him the spirit of worldliness. The spirit of worldliness questioned God’s Word. “Has God REALLY SAID?”. Are you sure you didn’t hear God wrong? That Book there, it’s man made, not the Bible. It’s too old, too out dated. Let’s get rid of the Word of God.

Then Satan amplified the spirit of the world. God told Adam to give in the Garden. Jesus told Adam “It is better to GIVE than to RECEIVE”. But the devil said, “No, God told you a lie. God knows that IN THE DAY YOU EAT OF THIS TREE YOU WILL BE LIKE GOD. You’ll know good and evil yourself, and God will be unneeded.” In short, Adam, it is better to RECEIVE than to GIVE.

You could give God LOVE. After all, God loved you.
You could give God TRUST. After all, God gave you the Garden.
You could give God ALLEGIANCE. He was clear in what He said.
You could give God RESPECT. He is your Creator.

Adam didn’t do that. Adam sinned against God. Adam heard God say “It is better to GIVE than to RECEIVE”, but Adam listened to the spirit of the world which says “It is better to RECEIVE than to GIVE”.

Every Evil In America Stems From “It Is Better To RECEIVE Than To Give”

The first murder in humanity happened because of the spirit of the world. Cain, pretending to honor God:

Genesis 4:3 NKJV … in the process of time it came to pass that Cain BROUGHT AN OFFERING of the fruit of the ground to the LORD.

God saw that offering and didn’t like it. Do you know why? The Bible tells us “Honor the Lord with your SUBSTANCE, with the FIRSTFRUITS of ALL YOUR INCREASE” (Proverbs 3:9). When you bring an offering to God, it’s supposed to be THE BEST YOU HAVE. It’s not supposed to be the leftovers. That’s what Cain brought to God. Read the text. “CAIN brought AN OFFERING of the fruit of the ground”. He had a good harvest, but didn’t bring the best. He brought “what I can afford”. He brought something, but it cost him nothing. Why? Because Cain followed the spirit of the world. Cain believed that “it is BETTER to RECEIVE than to GIVE”. And God saw his heart – and rejected the offering.

But what of his brother Abel? The Bible says:

Genesis 4:4 NKJV Abel also brought of the FIRSTBORN OF HIS FLOCK and of THEIR FAT. And the LORD respected Abel and his offering

Abel brought the best to God. Not the leftovers – but the best! And God knew it. He rejected Cain’s offering, but told him, “IF YOU DO WELL, I’ll accept it. But if you won’t repent – sin is controlling you” (Genesis 4:7, paraphrase). Cain didn’t do well, and he killed his brother Abel.

It is better to GIVE than to RECEIVE.

When Cain killed Abel and tried to hide it, God told him “Your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground” (Genesis 4:10). Abel’s sacrifice was righteous (Hebrews 12:24), and we will meet him in Heaven one day. But Cain’s action marked him for damnation. He wandered the earth cursed.

It is not better to receive than to give. This mindset has brought horrors on our world.

Politicians are killing America with debt. Their promise, “We’ll bring home the bacon”. The bacon is YOU. When you believe “It is better to RECEIVE than to give”, it isn’t long before your bank account is tapped out. At 40 trillion dollars, America is headed to tapped out!

Homosexuality and transgenderism says “It is better to RECEIVE than to give”. Man and woman were to multiply and fill the earth. No one who follows this pathway can bear a child. “I feel that I was born ….” is all about I, about receiving. It’s not about giving.

Abortion advocates believe that “It is better to RECEIVE than to give”. A woman receives a few minutes of pleasure, says “it’s my body, my choice”, then chooses to destroy the life within her. The womb used to be the safest place on earth for a child. The spirit of this world has made it the most dangerous.

False religion says “It is better to RECEIVE than to give”. The followers of false religion reject the clear teachings of the Word of God, poo pooing the Holy Book as a human artifact open to rewriting. The United Methodists rejected the teachings of Scripture to placate the spirit of the world, and have suffered for it. It’s world wide membership fell from 12.5 million in 2017 to 10.3 million in 2026. In the United States the most liberal Methodists saw their numbers drop. In 2018, there were 6.7 million members, and they are today at 3.8 million.

The hope for America, just as it was for Ephesus, is a people who flip Satan’s script, and understand “It is better to GIVE than to receive”.

If You Are Saved, The Holy Spirit Lives In You. The Saved Practice It Is Better To Give Than To Receive

Christians are GIVERS, not TAKERS. It sets my teeth on edge when an on the books “member” of the Church I haven’t heard from in years calls up and wants to use me. They want the Pastor as roadside assistance. They want me to be the welfare officer who pays their bills. They want the Pastor to do anything but teach them the Word of God. Why? I believe these people are unsaved. I’ll reach out to them and help them, but the fruit of their lives is that of Judas Iscariot. If a person professes Christ but is always take, take, taking – never giving – that person is living a lie. The Way of truth is “It is better to GIVE than to receive”.

Have YOU received the Holy Spirit since you believed?

True Christians are GIVERS, not perpetual TAKERS. What are some of the things Jesus expects us to give?

1 Give of YOURSELF to God. Romans 12:1 says to “PRESENT YOUR BODIES AS LIVING SACRIFICES, holy, acceptable unto God. This is your REASONABLE SERVICE”. You can’t say “My body, my choice” if you are saved. Jesus owns you. Christians are to “FIRST give yourself to the Lord” (2 Corinthians 8:5; Romans 6:13).

2 Give LOVE to others just as Jesus gave love to you. Our Lord said “Love ONE ANOTHER, as I HAVE LOVED YOU” (John 13:34). The Apostles said “Be KIND AND AFFECTIONATE to one another with BROTHERLY LOVE” (Romans 12:10; 1 Peter 1:22).

3 Give ENCOURAGEMENT to other believers to “PROVOKE ONE ANOTHER to LOVE and GOOD WORKS” (Hebrews 10:24-25; 1 Thessalonians 5:11). It saddens me when supposed Christians sit at home because “I don’t like the way things are going at Church”. If something is Biblically and Spiritually wrong, then BE A PART and encourage Biblical behavior. Hiding at home will not fix a problem.

4 Give FORGIVENESS, MERCY and COMPASSION. “Forgive ONE ANOTHER, even as God for Christ’s sake has forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:35; Luke 6:36; Jude 22). Realize everyone, even YOU, are broken, and we all mess up. Cut people some slack. There was a couple who once belonged to our Church that started attending another younger, more upbeat Church. When her husband fell off a ladder and broke his back, the woman came to me red faced, begging for food. I gave her food from the pantry, gas for her car, to help them until they could get back on their feet. Their progressive “church” never helped them. God’s people are supposed to do good. Period.

5 Give MATERIAL ASSISTANCE to those in need. “Do good unto all men, especially those of the household of faith” (Galatians 6:10). “If someone has this world’s goods and sees a brother in need, he should not shut up his compassion.” (1 John 3:17).

6 Give HOSPITALITY to others. 1 Peter 4:9 tells us “Use hospitality one to another without grudging.”

7 Give THANKS and PRAISE to God by how you live for Him. Christians should be easily distinguishable from those who are lost because of the Holy Spirit that is in them. The Bible says:

Galatians 5:13-14 NKJV For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but THROUGH LOVE SERVE ONE ANOTHER. 14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

1 Peter 4:8-10 NKJV And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.” 9 Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. 10 As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

8 And yes, you should give to your Church. Our Church supports numerous ministries. We feed the poor and needy. We support missionaries both home and internationally. We sponsor a Baptist Church in the Philippines. We give to the Pregnancy Support Center, so young mothers have an option other than abortion. We support the Family Support Center. And yes, your gifts support the Pastor, for which I am eternally grateful.

Let us, dear believers, live our lives so that others can see Jesus in us. Do not be ashamed of Jesus, but share the Gospel of Christ (Romans 1:15; Matthew 28:19-20; 2 Corinthians 5:20). Christians are not supposed to be characterized by what we can get from others, but by what we can give to others – Biblically – for the glory of God. Amen.