What is the Holy Spirit? The Holy Spirit (or Ruach HaKodesh in the original Hebrew language) is the part of YHWH (God’s name in Hebrew) that he sent upon the earth to dwell with His children. He is our Comforter and Protector. He is the voice inside us which guides us, encourages us, and rebukes us. To the nonbelieiver He is the voice that draws them to Him (1 Corinthians 12:3) as no one can confess Jesus (Y’shua in Hebrew) is Lord except by the Holy Spirit. His Presence can be found from the very first chapter in Genesis, Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of YHWH was hovering over the waters.      Genesis 1:2 to the last chapter in Revelation, The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" He is a portion of YHWH that is everywhere. Once you become a believer in Jesus (Y’shua) the Holy Spirit then dwells within you. We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of His Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus (Y’shua) is the Son of YHWH, YHWH lives in him and he in Yahweh. 1John 4:13-15 It’s quite natural for many of today’s Believers to think of the Holy Spirit as a New Testament (Renewed Covenant ) manifestation. Many of us have grownup believing that no one was ever filled with the Holy Spirit until after Pentecost (Shavuot). Yet the Scriptures tell us that John the Baptist was to be filled with the Spirit (Ruach) from birth. For he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth. Luke 1:15 His father and mother, Zechariah and Elizabeth, were also filled with the Spirit. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, an Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Luke 1:41 His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:       Luke 1:67 Shortly after Y’shua’s birth we are told of Simeon, a righteous man who was not only filled with the Spirit but was moved by the Spirit and even had revelations from the Spirit. Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen Yahweh’s Messiah. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. Luke 2:25-27 This shows us that the Spirit was at work in the lives of righteous men and they could be filled with that same Spirit prior to Pentecost (Shavuot). But was this manifestation limited to the New Testament era? YHWH said to Moses: "Bring me seventy of Israel's elders who are known to you as leaders and officials among the people. Have them come to the Tent of Meeting, that they may stand there with you. I will come down and speak with you there, and I will take of the Spirit that is on you and put the Spirit on them. They will help you carry the burden of the people so that you will not have to carry it alone. Numbers 11:16-17 In the verse above we see that the Spirit of YHWH was on Moses but we also see that YHWH is going to take from that Spirit and impart it to others. So not only could someone be filled with the Spirit in the Old Testament, but it could be imparted to others as well. The Ruach of the Old Testament was not, as some have mistakenly been taught, a limited power capable of being in only one place at a time. The Spirit was everywhere and could rest upon as many people as He chose. At Yaweh’s command the Spirit could even be imparted from one man to the other by the laying on of hands. So YHWH said to Moses, "Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit, and lay your hand on him. Numbers 27:18 In Genesis 41 Joseph is summoned to interpret a dream for Pharaoh. Joseph informs Pharaoh that he cannot do this but YHWH can. As Joseph gives Pharaoh the interpretation of his dream, Pharaoh recognizes the wisdom of his words, prompting him to ask the following of his officials. So Pharaoh asked them, "Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of YHWH?" Genesis 41:38 Joseph was filled with the Spirit of YHWH. Pharaoh, a pagan and therefore a worshiper of false gods, could even recognize the Spirit of YHWH in Joseph. All of these people were filled with the Spirit and yet many have been taught that this is a New Testament occurrence, and only after the great out pouring on Pentecost (Shavuot). This leads us to the next question. If people could be filled with the Spirit prior to Pentecost (Shavuot) then what was the gift that Y’shua (Jesus) spoke of in Acts1: 4&5? Before you become a believer in Y’shua, you are like a dirty, empty cup. When you repent of your sins, ask for forgiveness, and confess Y’shua as your Lord and Savior he comes in and washes you, cleansing you from all your sin. The Spirit of YHWH then enters you. Picture that dirty, empty cup being scoured clean and then filled with pure sparkling water. You are becoming a new creature in Y’shua. You experience the indwelling of the Ruach. But that was just part of the gift. When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. Acts 2:1-4 2:17 They were filled with the Spirit, like any believer is but there was more. It says the Spirit came to rest ON them. This is not the same as the indwelling. Then it says they began to speak in tongues. People on the streets gathered to them in amazement because they could hear them in their own native language! When some started to make fun of this outpouring of the Spirit, Peter stood up to chastise them. "Fellow Jew and all of you, who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: In the last days, YHWH says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. I will show wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon toblood before the coming of the great and glorious day of YHWH. And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.    Act 2:17-21 Not only was YWHW sending a portion of Himself to dwell in his children, he was sending a portion of Himself to dwell on them and giving them spiritual gifts! Speaking in tongues, prophecy, visions, and more! He was empowering His children through the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit). But did everyone who was saved received these gifts? While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples and asked them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" They answered, "No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit."Acts 19:1-2 Here we clearly see these people are disciples, that means they are believers, they are saved. Yet they have not received or even heard of the Spirit! Now if we know from 1John that everyone who receives Y’shua has an indwelling of the Spirit, then there must be more than one way that the Spirit works within us. If not, then how could the disciples above not have it? What Paul was referring to above is what we call the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. That is when the Spirit rest on you or comes upon you. Remember the comparison for being saved? A dirty empty cup is washed clean (Messiah cleansing us from our sins). Then pure sparkling water is poured into that cup (the indwelling of the Spirit that every believer receives). But in the baptism of the Holy Spirit it’s as if you take the clean, full cup and you put it in a lake of pure, sparkling water. The water is now in and all around the cup (person), engulfing it. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit can come at the time of salvation but not always. As we have seen from the verse above it is hard to have something you aren’t even aware exist. There are other examples of someone being saved and yet not having received the baptism of the Spirit. When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. When they arrived, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, because the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus (Y’shua). Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. (Acts 8:12-17) Again we see that they had accepted the word of YWHW, they were saved, yet they had not received the Holy Spirit! Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also, Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. Acts 6:3,5 Why did they specify that the men had to full of the Spirit if every believer automatically receives everything the Holy Spirit has to offer? They didn’t specify to chose a believer because everyone among them, dwelling with them, etc., would have been a believer. But not everyone had received the Holy Spirit! But why? "If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" Luke 11:13 They hadn’t asked for it! The baptism of the Holy Spirit is a gift from the Father. One that is available to every believer for the asking! But you have to ask. If not, then every believer would have it and the Scriptures clearly show that not every believer did. He tells us we have to ask for it therefore it cannot be automatic at the time of salvation! In Acts 4 Peter and John are relaying the events that had taken place when they were brought before the Sanhedrin, to the other disciples. Now, Peter and John and those disciples with them had already received the indwelling of the Spirit during Pentecost and yet; After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of YHWH boldly. Acts 4:31 Here we see them receiving a fresh indwelling of the Spirit. The Spirit operated through them at different levels on different occasions. In Luke 12 Y’shua told his disciples that they would be brought before authorities but that they should not worry, the Holy Spirit would teach them at that time what to say. Not before, but at the appropriate time. Many people have been taught that the outpouring of the Holy Spirit was a New Testament phenomena only and is not for today. What do the Scriptures say? "Fellow Jews and all of you, who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:In the last days, YHWH says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. I will show wonders in the Heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."      Act 2:17-21 In the last days He will pour His Spirit out. We know He did it a Pentecost and beyond but did He stop, as so many people have been lead to believe? Well, let’s look at the phrase "last days", have they happened yet? More specifically, has the sun turned to darkness and the moon to blood? If not, then his out pouring of the Spirit is still here. It was not just a "New Testament thing" but a gift for every believer that asks. This gift was for everyone during the New Testament times and those to come. Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Yeshua the Messiah for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—forall whom Yahweh our God will call." Acts 2:38-39 The word in Greek used for children is teknon, Strong’s # 5043, and means child, children, offspring and their descendants. He then clarifies this further by saying all whom the Lord willcall. Who’s called? All believers! This means you and me! It’s available to any believer if they will only ask. Why should we desire the baptism of the Holy Spirit? This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of YHWH, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. 1Corinthinans 2:13-14 With the Spirit comes greater understanding and intimacy with our Creator. We cannot fullycomprehend all He has to say to us without His Holy Spirit. The Spirit will draw us closer to Him and we will walk a straighter path because of Him. If we allow the Spirit to work through us, then we will be able to carry out the Fathers will in our lives. Who better to know the perfect will of the Father than His Spirit? After all, when Y’shua told His disciples to preach the Good News to all the world He told them to wait until after they had receive the Holy Spirit. He didn’t want people carrying news of Messiah into the world without the discernment and knowledge of the Holy Spirit! Shouldn’t we honor that desire of His also? Have you been baptized in the Holy Spirit? Would you like to be? First you must be a believer, if you are not then click on this link. (What must I do to be saved?) Second, you must be obedient to YHWH and willing to let him lead you. (Acts5: 32) If you’re ready then pray this prayer; Dear Heavenly Father, I desire everything you have for me. I pray that you will send your Holy Spirit upon me. Please, baptize me in the Holy Spirit. I thank you and receive thisgift with faith. Thank you for the gifts of the Spirit. If you prayed the prayer above then you have, by asking and receiving in faith, been baptized in the Holy Spirit. You will never view the Scriptures the same way again. According to Acts the proof of being baptized with the Holy Spirit is speaking in tongues. (Acts2:1-4 and 19:2-7) Speaking and praying in tongues is the Holy Spirit in you speaking and praying the perfect will of our Father. If you desire to know more about speaking in tongues then click here (Is the Baptism in the Holy Spirit Scriptural and for Today?) Please understand, YHWH will not force you to open your mouth and speak. He will give you the voice but you have to open your mouth and make the utterances yourself. It might just be one or two sounds but give it time and you will soon have your prayer language. If you have prayed this prayer or you have any questions, we would love to here from you. Please use the following link to email us.