Just like the MANTLE that was passed on from Elijah to Elisha was a sign of God’s anointing and power, so too the Holy Spirit is our MANTLE.
But how do you receive the Holy Spirit?
Well just like the MANTLE of ELIJAH, you cannot vote on who gets it, or pay to receive it as Simon the Sorcerer found out.
Acts 8:18 And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, HE OFFERED THEM MONEY,
19 saying, “GIVE ME THIS POWER ALSO, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”
20 But Peter said to him, “Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money!
21 You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for YOUR HEART IS NOT RIGHT IN THE SIGHT OF GOD.
22 Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you.
23 For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity.”
24 Then Simon answered and said, “Pray to the Lord for me, that none of the things which you have spoken may come upon me.”
Does the example of Simon the Sorcerer sound familiar?
Have you ever heard a pastor or a visiting speaker say, “If you pay money, you too can have power, healing, forgiveness, salvation, the baptism of the Holy Spirit?”
I have. How the wicked hearts of men and the seduction of the devil continue to pervert God’s very best for us. Men like Simon the Sorcerer still exist today. But today they sometimes come dressed in suits. Men with wickedness in their hearts caused by bitterness and iniquity. Notoriety, fame and power is their aim cloaked in spirituality. That’s sorcery.
I was once travelling through Lagos in Nigeria with a wonderful pastor and a few of his leaders and we saw many billboards promoting church or ministry conferences. I have never seen so many billboards promoting “Glory revivals”, “Fire conferences”, “Prophets and Apostles”.
But the one that really struck me the most as an example of Simon the Sorcerer spirit, was a young man who had the words “I prophesy, you testify.”
I actually began laughing when I saw it at just how far away from God this young man was, but I suppose many beautiful people have been seduced into following him. I would say to him what Simon Peter said when he addressed this spirit 2000 years ago – “Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money! You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for YOUR HEART IS NOT RIGHT IN THE SIGHT OF GOD. Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity.”
So what IS the truth about receiving the Holy Spirit?
Here’s what Jesus said.
Luke 11:9 “So I say to you, ASK, AND IT WILL BE GIVEN TO YOU; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
10 For EVERYONE WHO ASKS RECEIVES, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.
11 If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish?
12 Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?
13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, HOW MUCH MORE WILL YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER GIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT TO THOSE WHO ASK HIM!”
That sounds a. It different to the heart of Simon the Sorcerer and some of the wolves in sheeps clothing that are lurking in the Christian church masquerading as pastors, evangelists, prophets and apostles.
Are you BAPTISED in the HOLY SPIRIT?
Whenever I train serious young men or women of God in the ways of God and of His Kingdom, I always give the following instruction:
1.Go and read the book of Acts and underline every time you see the words “HOLY SPIRIT”.
2. Then read exactly what the HOLY SPIRIT was doing at the time with the believers and the non believers. Write it down.
3. Spend time studying and so BECOME AND EXPERT on the ministry of the HOLY SPIRIT – because THIS IS YOUR MINISTRY. EVERYTHING they did, YOU CAN DO.
4.Then go and DO IT ALL in the Power of the HOLY SPIRIT.
Will you do it?
When you do tell me what happened?