❖ The Gospel Series ❖

A N E W L I F E W I T H C H R I S T

Holy SpiritHelper and

Counselor

TABLE OF CONTENTSLiving Water 2

God’s Spirit 3

The Spirit Who Lives in Us 4

Evidence of Receiving the Holy Spirit 5

The Holy Spirit and Salvation 8

The Holy Spirit as A Testimony 10

How to Receive the Holy Spirit 11

Holy Spirit—Counselor and Power 15

Fullness of the Holy Spirit 17

Live by the Spirit 18

Fruit of the Spirit 19

Holy Spirit and You 20

If you would like to understand the Holy Spirit in greater depthafter reading this booklet, additional free literature is available.Please see the contact information on the opposite page.

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Living WaterLife without the Spirit of God is like a parched desert, adry well, or a withered tree. No amount of fun, pleasure,or excitement can fill a heart’s thirst for God’s love, secu-rity, and guidance.

But we can quench this thirst once for all if we have thefountain in us that never runs dry. This fountain is theSpirit of God. The Lord Jesus Christ will live in your heartthrough his Spirit, if you believe him and ask him to giveyou this “living water.” He will nourish your soul and giveyou true hope and purpose in life.

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God’s Spirit“God is spirit” (John 4:24). The Holy Spirit is God’s Spirit,or God himself. So when referring to the Holy Spirit, theBible uses the pronoun “he” instead of “it.”

The Holy Spirit carries out his work in different ways.Through the Holy Spirit, God created the universe,anointed his servants and spoke through the prophets.

Nearly two thousand years ago, our Lord Jesus Christ wasconceived by the Holy Spirit through the virgin Mary. TheHoly Spirit also came upon Jesus during his baptism toshow that He was the Savior and filled him with greatpower.

Today, he also moves people to believe and confess theLord Jesus Christ. He convinces us of our sin so that wemay come before God to ask for mercy.

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The Spirit Who Lives in UsGod promised many times through the prophets that hewould pour out the Holy Spirit on the believers, to live intheir hearts. “And I will put my Spirit in you and move youto follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws”(Ezekiel 36:27 NIV).

Our Lord Jesus himself promised that the Holy Spiritwould come and live in them permanently. “And I willpray the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, tobe with you for ever, even the Spirit of truth… you knowhim, for he dwells with you, and will be in you. I will notleave you desolate; I will come to you” (John 14:16-18).

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Evidence of Receiving the Holy SpiritWhen a person receives the Holy Spirit, God gives a sign toshow that the Holy Spirit is in him. The sign is thespeaking of tongues, or the ability to speak in an unknownlanguage that only God can understand.

“For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but toGod; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteriesin the Spirit” (1 Corinthians 14:2). The speaking oftongues is a profound communion with God, for prayerand for praising God.

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When God poured out his promised Holy Spirit for thefirst time on the day of Pentecost (Acts chapter 2), thebelievers began to speak in tongues. Since then, wheneverthe Holy Spirit came upon the believers, it was evidencedby the speaking of tongues. Anyone who has not had thisexperience has not yet received the Holy Spirit, becausespeaking in tongues is the necessary evidence of receivingthe Holy Spirit (see Acts 10:45-47).

Receiving the Holy Spirit is an experience that is audibleand very often visible. It is audible because of the sign ofspeaking in tongues. It is often visible by the movement ofthe body, although this is not a necessary sign. The disci-ples of the Lord Jesus said that they as well as theobservers could “see and hear” the pouring out of theHoly Spirit (see Acts 2:33).

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The speaking of tongues is not a one-time experience only.Because the Holy Spirit dwells in us, we can speak intongues whenever we pray. Through praying in tongues,“the Spirit himself intercedes for us with sighs too deepfor words” (Romans 8:26). Speaking in tongues is beyondhuman expression, and makes our prayers moreeffective because it is a direct, spirituallanguage with God.

As human beings, weall have the desire toexpress ourselves;but the expression isoften not verbal. Inmoments of joy, forexample, we laugh. Intimes of fear, wescream. In times ofsadness, we sob.

Sometimes we ache so deeply that mere words cannotconvey our pain. Sometimes “thank you” hardly expressesour heartfelt appreciation to God. We may have the driveto say something, but to say it clearly and concisely isoften beyond our oral abilities. But when the Holy Spiritprays for us, he replaces our earthly words with a spirituallanguage. Our hearts become satisfied.

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The Holy Spirit and Salvation“Any one who does not have the Spirit of Christ does notbelong to him” (Romans 8:9). Not only do we need toacknowledge Jesus as our Savior, we also need to have theHoly Spirit to receive Christ’s salvation.

“You were washed, you were sanctified, you were justifiedin the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit ofour God” (1 Corinthians 6:11). The Holy Spirit washesour sins away with the blood of Christ, declares us right-eous (justifies), and sets us apart as God’s holy people(sanctifies).

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Sanctification is God’s life-long work on the believer. Wecannot overcome our sinful nature and the devil’s tempta-tions by our determination alone. The Holy Spirit providesus the transforming power we need to live out Christ’sperfect example.

The Holy Spirit enables us to “put to death the misdeeds ofthe body” (Romans 8:13). He strengthens our spirit to denyour own evil desires and to submit to God’s commands.

“God chose you from the beginning to be saved, throughsanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth”(2 Thessalonians 2:13). With the continuing guidance andstrengthening of the Holy Spirit, we will finally enter God’sheavenly kingdom.

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The Holy Spirit is also a “seal” that guarantees God’spromise of a heavenly home for believers (see Ephesians1:13-14 and 2 Corinthians 5:1-5). How do we know thatChrist is alive? We know because his promise of the HolySpirit has come true. How do we know that heaven is real?We know by the Holy Spirit God has poured out on us.

The Holy Spirit as A Testimony“It is the Spirit himself bearing witness with our spirit thatwe are children of God” (Romans 8:16). We once had lostour identity as God’s children because we had sinnedagainst him. But by Christ’s salvation, we are now God’schildren again. God now gives us the Holy Spirit as awitness to tell us that we are his children.

We were also spiritually dead in sin. But God restored ourspiritual life, giving us eternal life. Now God lives in usthrough his Spirit. The Holy Spirit gives us the assurance ofGod’s presence. “And by this we know that he abides in us,by the Spirit which he has given us” (1 John 3:24).

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How to Receive the Holy SpiritKnowing that we need to have the Holy Spirit to be saved,we must ask ourselves, “Do I have the Holy Spirit?” Even ifyou have already accepted Jesus Christ into your heart,you may not have received the Holy Spirit yet.

If God has not given you the sign of speaking of tongues,you have not received the Holy Spirit. This is why theapostle Paul asked the believers he met, “Did you receivethe Holy Spirit when you believed?” (Acts 19:2). Theyreplied that they had not received or heard of the HolySpirit. After baptizing them, Paul laid hands on them, andthey received the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues.

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Be Baptized

To receive the Holy Spirit, we need to go through conver-sion. We must believe in the Lord Jesus as our Savior,humbly repent of our sins, and be baptized into Christ.Baptism goes hand in hand with the promise of the HolySpirit; we cannot have one without the other. “Repent, andbe baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christfor the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive thegift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38).

If you have been baptized in a way that is different fromwhat the Bible teaches, or have not received the full gospelof salvation, you will need to receive baptism and thegospel in the True Jesus Church.

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Obey the Truth

God gives the Holy Spirit “to those who obey him.” (Acts5:32). Since the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth, everyonewho wishes to receive the Holy Spirit must humbly studyand obey the true gospel taught by the true church.

Pray

We also must ask God for the Holy Spirit. The HeavenlyFather gives the Holy Spirit “to those who ask him” (Luke11:13). Prayer is the way to ask for the Holy Spirit.

Begin your prayer by saying,“In the name of the LordJesus Christ I pray.” TheLord promised, “Whateveryou ask in my name, I willdo it” (John 14:13). It isonly by the name ofJesus Christ that we havethe privilege to make a requestto God. So we offer a prayer inhis name.

Then say, “Hallelujah, praise the Lord Jesus.” “Hallelujah”means “praise the Lord.” This is the way the multitude inheaven worships God. In his vision, John “heard whatsounded like the roar of a great multitude in heavenshouting: ‘Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and powerbelong to our God’” (Revelation 19:1).

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While you praise God with your lips, your prayer must alsocome from your heart. With a humble attitude, comebefore God, asking for forgiveness and mercy: “God, havemercy on me, a sinner” (see Luke 18:13 NIV).

Thirst for the Holy Spirit as if thirstingfor water. With faith in God’spromise, and through persistentprayer and earnest longing, youwill receive the Holy Spirit as theLord has promised.

When the promised Holy Spiritcomes upon you, just asrecorded in Scripture, you willbe moved to speak in unknowntongues. You may also experiencewarmth and power from above. TheHoly Spirit is from God; so when youreceive the Holy Spirit, the experienceis not a frightening one, or one wherepeople lose control or consciousness.You will remain conscious and mayend your prayer any time.

This is a wonderful sign from God, andthe same experience that Jesus’ disciples experienced twothousand years ago, when the precious gift of the HolySpirit first came down to man.

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Holy Spirit—Counselor and PowerThe Lord Jesus called the Holy Spirit the “Counselor.” TheHoly Spirit is like a personal friend and teacher who canguide us any time, without having to make an appoint-ment. He is with us forever, if we live by the Lord’s words.

This Counselor teaches us to understand the truth, for heis the Spirit of Truth. “When the Spirit of truth comes, hewill guide you into all the truth” (John 16:13). The Spiritopens our limited understanding, so we can comprehendGod’s will and ways, for “no one comprehends thethoughts of God except the Spirit of God” (1 Corinthians2:11).

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Because the Holy Spirit enables us to know God’s will andtruth, he is able to help us pray effectively. “And he whosearches the hearts of men knows what is the mind of theSpirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saintsaccording to the will of God” (Romans 8:27). Praying withtongues benefits ourselves, much more so than if we praywith our limited words.

The Holy Spirit also gives us God’s power. The power totransform our lives. The power over temptations. Thepower to witness for Christ. “But you shall receive powerwhen the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall bemy witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samariaand to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8).

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Fullness of the Holy Spirit“Be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18). The Bibleteaches us to not only receive the Holy Spirit but to also seekthe fullness of the Holy Spirit. Those who are full of the HolySpirit are able to manifest God’s nature, such as love, purity,power, and wisdom.

According to our Lord’s promise, the Holy Spirit will fillthose who believe in him and humbly ask him throughconstant and earnest prayer.

The fullness of the Spirit is like the continuous flowing outof living water. The Lord Jesus said, “but whoever drinks ofthe water that I shall give him will never thirst; the water thatI shall give him will become in him a spring of water wellingup to eternal life.” (John 4:14). If we are full of the HolySpirit, we will never thirst again because God dwells in ourhearts and fills our souls with peace, comfort, and joy.

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Live by the SpiritThe fullness of the Holy Spirit is a result of letting theSpirit rule in our hearts. “Walk by the Spirit, and do notgratify the desires of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16). Instead ofgiving our minds and bodies to the control of sinfuldesires, we must always think and act according to theHoly Spirit, who guides us to live a life pleasing to God.

“To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mindon the Spirit is life and peace” (Romans 8:6). God givesspiritual life to those who submit to the Holy Spirit. Inother words, the Spirit-filled Christian overcomes sin andcarries the beautiful example of Christ wherever he goesso that people can see Christ through him.

Paul, being filled with the Holy Spirit, was able to say, “Ihave been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live,but Christ who lives in me; and the life I now live in theflesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me andgave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).

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Fruit of the SpiritJust as a good and healthy tree bears much fruit, those whoare spirit-filled also bear spiritual fruit, called the fruit ofthe Spirit. Bearing fruit is a figurative term for exhibitingbehavior that builds others up to the glory of God.

“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kind-ness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control”(Galatians 5:22-23). Such edifying characteristics flow outnaturally from us when we are filled with the Holy Spirit.

Our Lord Jesus said to the disciples, “by this my Father isglorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be mydisciples” (John 15:8). When others see Christ through us,our Father in Heaven receives glory. That is our heart’swish and the purpose of our lives.

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Holy Spirit and YouHeaven is for those who have the Holy Spirit. Beforeclosing this booklet, think about what your next stepshould be.

If you have not accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as yourpersonal Savior, do so right now. If you still do not knowabout the baptism in the True Jesus Church, request abooklet or contact the church. If you have never prayed toGod before, begin a life of prayer today. May the Lordpour out his Spirit into your heart and fill you with hisSpirit. And may his Spirit guide you every moment, untilyou meet with your Savior in Heaven.

TRUE JESUS CHURCH11236 Dale Street

Garden Grove, CA 92841U.S.A.

1.888.878.3463www.tjc.org

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