So, the evidence of a Spirit filled person is that he shows his devotion to Christ everywhere he goes, because it is in his heart and spirit and not just in his outward conduct.
Seems like a contradiction.
How does a person “show his devotion to Christ, everywhere he goes”, if not by his outward conduct?
Our lives certainly do undergo a change when we receive the Holy Spirit, as the process of transformation begins and our conduct and speech, as well as our heart attitude is changing.
However, this may take some time as we mature and grow.
The question of the thread title is how do you know you have the Holy Spirit?
This is a good question, which may have different answers from different people who may or may not agree on what this means.
What I hope we can agree on, though many don’t, is what the Bible says about receiving the Holy Spirit.
Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, saying, “Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”
Acts 8:14-19
Two keys verses stand out to me here in this passage.
- They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
- when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money
Some points to consider —
The people of Samaria had received the word, the Gospel message, and had been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus, had yet to receive the Holy Spirit, so the Apostles came down to lay hands on them so they could receive the Holy Spirit.
Simon was able to
see that through the laying on of the apostles hands, the Holy Spirit was given.
JLB