How do I know I have the Holy Spirit?
Let me start by saying; It’s one thing to have the Holy Spirit, it’s another to KNOW you have the Holy Spirit. The former is a reality while the latter is an experience.
The advent of the HS is a confirmation of the words of Jesus to His disciples in the book of John 14:16. Those words also perfectly align with the word of God through his prophet, Joel, in the book of Joel 2:29.
To fully walk in the shoes of Jesus (which is God’s will), you’re going to require His Spirit. God knew this and made provision by sending His Holy Spirit to dwell within us.
What a reality!
This is more evidence of God’s exceeding love for all who are in Christ as we consider the Holy Spirit’s ministry and its importance in the life of a believer.
The Holy Ghost also carries the desire of the Father to have a relationship with anyone who believes in His Son, Jesus. It’s an invitation, not a compulsion, to journey together.
Every day of your life, you get to commune with God, host your Maker, and be led by Him.
That’s the experience!
How do you know if you have the holy spirit?
I believe that a crucial point in every believer’s walk with God is when they come to the realization that they host God on the inside.
I believe the growth of our relationship with God will be stunted if we are unable to discern the presence and activities of the Holy Spirit within us.
But good news. You can know if you have the spirit of God. The presence of the Holy Ghost in the life of a person is discernable. It isn’t hidden from the believer nor from other witnesses.
Have I received the holy spirit? How do I know I have the Holy Spirit?
There are a handful of ways through which the presence of the Holy Ghost in your life can be made known. They could come in the general form of;
- Symptoms: manifestations apparent to you.
- Signs: changes and/or marks evident for all to see.
- Spiritual encounters: out-of-the-ordinary, supernormal experiences.
1. He’ll announce himself to you.
Method: Symptom.
Using various means, the Holy Ghost will announce his presence in the life of a believer and continue to do so until said believer is convinced of it. There will be multiple (as many as needed) confirmations of his presence throughout a believer’s walk with God.
One way he announces himself is through our mind chatter. Ever had a random opinion on a subject matter and later discovered, it is founded on the Word of God? That’s the Holy Ghost, who is of the same nature as the Word of God, aligning you with the Word of God.
The Holy Ghost announces himself through our proficiencies in handling God’s word.
2. Success in the things of God.
Method: symptom.
Ever stumbled upon a passage of scripture you’ve never read before and realized you already practice it? Or listened to an anointed sermon and the crux of that sermon is something you just learned during your personal bible devotion?
That’s the Holy Spirit.
As a Christian, if you are getting something right and experiencing spiritual maturity, it is because you have the aid of the Holy Spirit.
Whenever our successes are not commensurate to the efforts we put in, watch carefully during reflection. The difference is the Holy ghost and he will take the credit (Zech 4:6).
3. The Declaration.
Method: Symptom; Focus Text: 1 Cor 12:3.
‘Jesus is Lord’ is not some arbitrary statement to say and be saved. Anyone can say those words.
But the one who confesses it and believes it (Rm 10:9), celebrates because that person has witnessed the saving power of the cross and is convinced of the teaching and testimony of the Holy Spirit (John 16:13, John 15:26); Jesus is God’s son and chosen Messiah.
4. The Baptism.
Method: supernatural encounter.
Baptism of the Spirit is a supernatural experience that sometimes features a focused overpowering influx of wind; a motif of the spirit(Acts 2:2). Baptism into the Spirit and of the Spirit usually occurs after the belief in Jesus Christ(Eph 1:13).
I had a dream of this sort once. I didn’t have the slightest clue what it meant until later. Yes, it is possible to have the Holy Spirit and not know it.
The Greek word, Pneuma translates as spirit but literally means wind or breath. According to some bible scholars, its use in the bible implies a physical indicator of the presence and activity of God.
5. Laying of Hands.
Method: supernatural encounter; Focus Text: Acts 8:17
Normally, when a person touches you it’s usually not enough to make your knees weak and cause you to fall. But impartations occur when spirit-led servants of God lay their hands on you or make an anointed prayer on your behalf.
Reflect: Were hands laid on you? Did you receive something extraordinary?
6. A new me
Method: symptom
In the new covenant, we received true circumcision (the exchange of a stony heart for a fleshy one) and the Holy Spirit’s ministry of righteousness (2 Cor 3:9).
Behold, old things have passed away and new things have come. (2 Cor 5:17)
Have you experienced a miracle of changed desires or a reordering of priorities? Have you found new interests, cultivated new healthy habits, and parted ways with toxic habits?
Yes? then you’ve been reborn. If you have been reborn then you are born of the Spirit.
7. Coherence with God.
Method: symptom; Focus text: Amos 3:3.
A peaceful and harmonious co-existence with God signifies a semblance in spiritual makeup and connotes the experience of eternal life right here on earth.
Since Adam, mankind has rebelled against God in sin. Then, Jesus, a life-giving spirit came on the scene and reconciled us to God.
Being able to remain in Christ — staying at the center of God’s agenda, and walking in obedience— is proof you have the spirit of God and a profound way to know you have the Holy Spirit.
8. Crying Abba!
Method: symptom.
One of the ministries of the Holy Ghost is adoption into sonship. Like Jesus, we can cry “Abba” which means Father (Rm 8:15). When the Holy Spirit is within you, you begin to interact with God as His child and truly see him as your father (Rm 8:16).
9. Change of friends.
Method: sign; Focus texts: 1 Cor 15:33, Amos 3:3.
Because of our Godward desires, we tend to gravitate toward those who have similar desires and visions. This is how we develop godly associations that preserve and promote our godly characteristics.
Fortunately, ungodly friendships will naturally wane off in the absence of the fuel of companionship, shared experiences, and relatable common grounds.
Are the friendships of your old life growing apart or completely broken off? Good!
If a person is an average of his 5 friends, then a discerning eye can look at the person who walks with friends who walk with God and conclude whether or not they have the spirit of God.
10. Flowing in the gifts of the Spirit.
Method: supernatural encounter.
The manifestation of the gifts of the Holy Ghost is an indication of the Spirit’s influence on a person.
In 1 Corinthian 12:8-11, Paul highlights several gifts of the Spirit including word of knowledge, word of wisdom, tongues, healing, miracles, and so on. Joel’s prophecy (Joel 2:28) includes dreams, prophecies, and visions on the list (Acts 2:17-18).
As we flow in these gifts and work the supernatural (feats that are impossible with man), we’re reminded that we carry power; A power not of ourselves.
11. Sponsored in the will of God.
Method: symptom.
The Spirit of God works in a believer to accomplish the desires of God (Phil 2:13). Disciples who have received and are running with a God-given assignment have become partners with the Holy ghost.
That divine supply of wisdom, power(Acts 1:8), and material resources for an assignment indicate the Holy Spirit is working with you. When there is enablement, it’s a result of the unction of the Holy Ghost.
12. By His fruits.
Method: Signs.
The fruits of the Holy ghost listed in Gal 5:22-23 are the results of a continued presence of the Holy Ghost in the life of a believer.
Do you display the kingdom virtues of humility, power, love, and self-control (2 Tim 1:7), especially in areas you once struggled with?
That’s a sign to know that you have the Holy Spirit.
13. Review Feedback.
Method: sign.
Receiving and reviewing feedback is an easy and readily available way of knowing whether you have the spirit of God.
There is a rich pool of information gradually gathered from our daily conversations and interactions with people in our lives. Take note of what your family members, colleagues at work, and fellow believers are really saying about your behavior and lifestyle.
14. Searching the deep things of God.
Method: Symptom; Focus Text: 1 Cor 2:7-9.
The Holy Spirit searches the depths of God (1 Cor 2:10) and knows The Father’s thoughts. The reason you are able to spiritually discern the secrets of God’s kingdom is that God revealed it to you through His Spirit inside you (1 Cor 2:12).
Yeah, those inspirations and epiphanies are by-products of spiritual discernment. They also announce the presence of the Holy Spirit in a spiritually-maturing Christian.
Conclusion
You know if you have the spirit of God.
Now, you know where you stand when the bible mentions those with the spirit of God. The devil can no longer downplay your place and security in Christ.
At what point were you convinced you have the Holy Spirit on your inside?
