The Promise of The Holy Spirit

Acts 2:38-39 (NIV) 38 Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The “promise” is for you and your children and for all who are far off--for all whom the Lord our God will call."

Luke 1:19-20 (NIV) 19 The angel answered, "I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. 20 And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their proper time."

Luke 1:57-65,67 (NIV) 57 When it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son. 58 Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy. 59 On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him after his father Zechariah, 60 but his mother spoke up and said, "No! He is to be called John." 61 They said to her, "There is no one among your relatives who has that name." 62 Then they made signs to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child.(Pictionary Board “Whatever his Mother said his name is…that’s it!”) …63 He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone's astonishment he wrote, "His name is John." 64 Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue was loosed, and he began to speak, praising God. 65 The neighbors were all filled with awe, and throughout the hill country of Judea people were talking about all these things….Luke 1:67 (NIV) 67 His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied.

Hindrances to Receiving the Baptism of the Holy Spirit

1. Doubt or intellectual pride.2. Religious tradition.

3. Fear of the supernatural.

4. Unconfessed sin. 

5. Emotional wounds.

6. An unyielded spirit.