It’s impossible to live the Christian life without the Holy Spirit. I can’t stress this truth enough since there are many Christians who don’t know how to receive Him into their lives.
When the apostle Paul laid his hands on the twelve men in Ephesus, “…the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied” (Acts 19:6). Paul himself received the Holy Spirit in much the same manner when Ananias laid his hands on him (Acts 9:17). The disciples in Acts 2 were filled with the Holy Spirit as they prayed to God in one accord, whereas those of the house of Cornelius received Him as they listened to the Word (Acts 10:44-45).
Being filled with the Holy Spirit is usually accompanied by speaking in other tongues, though not in all cases. For example, when Paul was filled with the Spirit as hands were laid on him, there was nothing in the Bible to suggest that he immediately spoke in other tongues. However, we do know he spoke in tongues, because in his letter to the Corinthian church he said, “I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all” (1 Corinthians 14:18).
There are Christians who assume speaking in tongues is the evidence of the infilling of the Spirit, but that’s not true. The Bible declares, “…ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me…” (Acts 1:8). The evidence of the infilling of the Spirit is witnessing with power and that’s exactly what happened to the apostle Paul; he started preaching the gospel immediately.
Don’t look for some stringent modus operandi for receiving the Holy Spirit; just receive Him by faith. The Lord said, “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him?” (Luke11:13). All you need do is ask in faith, and the Father will grant your request.
