How To Receive The Holy Ghost

Written By: Bishop Garfield Thomas  (G.T. ) Haywood
Published by: The Voice In The Wilderness (Vol. 2. - NO. 16)

Many hearts are throbbing within the bosoms of the true children of God for a refreshing shower from the throne on high which will assure them of God’s love and care for his own in these awful days which are filled with dire prognostications.

In the world there are tribulations, anguish, unrest, and sorrow. Calamity after calamity is stalking through the land. Disease, death, and destruction, the devil’s great “Triumvirate” seems to have banded themselves together for the last great day of slaughter. No sooner are the tears dried from the eyes of one people than there is deluge of teardrops from those of another. Earthquakes, wars, famines, pestilence, murder, strife wrecks, robbery, and revolutions have thrown the diplomatic world almost into a panic.

Now that the day of wrath seems to be upon the world, the greatest question that stands before this distressed generation is, “What shall we do?” In a recent public address given by a prominent Bible lecturer, after he had shown by both the Bible and the Press that we were on the eve of the great day of God, asked the question, “What shall we do?” His answer was given by reading Zephaniah 2:3: “Seek ye the Lord, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought His judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness; it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lord’s anger”. At this he closed his meeting. The multitude then departed, but as they went, on their faces could be seen another question arising, “But how shall we do that?” “What does he mean by ‘Seek the Lord?’”

There is sadness of the whole affair. They heard of the troubles that are coming upon this age, but so few know just what to do. To “seek the Lord” means to “seek for the fullness of the Holy Spirit.” The word of God says “Now the Lord is that SPIRIT”. 2 Corinthians 3:17.

The scriptural way to seek the Holy Spirit is given in the book of Acts. The first thing a seeker is instructed to do is to “Repent, believe, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ FOR THE REMISSION of sins” and “ye SHALL receive the gift of the Holy Ghost”.

First: Repent, that is, to look with regret upon your failures of the past, and with a sorrowful heart, turn from them and denounce them forever, and look by faith to Jesus.

Second: Then be baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins; that is, be baptized in water by immersion, but it must be done “in the NAME of JESUS CHRIST”, for there is no other name under heaven given among men whereby we shall be saved. See Acts 2:38; 4:10-12.

If the heart is fully yielded the Holy Spirit will come upon you while you are being baptized. Begin at once praising the Lord with your whole heart and He will pour His Spirit upon you.

Third: If you do not receive the Holy Ghost while being baptized, the next step is to bow before God and let some godly man or woman lay their “hands upon your head” and pray that you receive the Holy Spirit. See Acts 19:5, 6.

Many people receive the Holy Spirit without being baptized in water (Acts 10:43-48), but they are baptized afterwards.

When the fullness of the Spirit comes upon you your experience will bear witness to the records given in the days of the apostles. Then you will “open up to heaven all the windows of your soul”, and the praises of Jehovah will roll forth from your innermost being like streams of living waters. Then will the “Allelujahs” roll and echo upon the breeze.

Bow upon your knees at home, or wherever you are and ask God to fill you with his Spirit. Do not wait. Seek the Lord while He may be found. Call upon Him while he is near!

G.T. Haywood