Several Kinds of Manifestations Are NOT the Evidences of Receiving the Holy Spirit

(1)Confession and repentance does not mean receiving the Holy Spirit. Simon Peter confessed and repented his sins, with a broken and contrite heart. But at that time, Jesus had not been glorified and the Holy Spirit had not yet come down.

(Luke 5:8) When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!”

(2)Believing in Jesus does not mean receiving the Holy Spirit; Being baptized does not mean receiving the Holy Spirit.

The People in Samaria believed in Jesus and were baptized, but nobody of them received the Holy Spirit. Only until apostles Peter and John went to Samaria and prayed for them to receive the Holy Spirit, they received the Holy Spirit.

(Acts 8:5,12,14-16) Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

(3)Being able to cast out demons, heal the sick, raise the dead, and preach the gospel does not mean receiving the Holy Spirit.

When Jesus was in the world, he gave power and authority to the twelve disciples, so they were able to cast out demons, heal the sick, raise the dead, and preach the gospel, but the Holy Spirit had not yet come down at that time.

(Matthew 10:1,5,7-8) And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease. These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: “Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.

(4)Good deeds do not mean receiving the Holy Spirit; prayers answered by God does not mean receiving the Holy Spirit.

The household of Cornelius were devout and feared God, who gave alms generously to the people and prayed to God always. But at that time, nobody of household of Cornelius received the Holy Spirit.

(Acts 10:1-2) There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment, a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always.

(5)Having revelation of God, having special dreams and visions do not mean receiving the Holy Spirit.

In the Old Testament, prophets and kings were often revealed by God, and God also spoke to them in special visions and special dreams. But in the time of the Old Testament, Jesus had not come and had not been glorified yet, and the Holy Spirit had not yet descended.

(Genesis 15:1) After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.”

(Numbers 12:6) Then He said, “Hear now My words: If there is a prophet among you, I , the Lord , make Myself known to him in a vision; I speak to him in a dream."