"And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." -Acts 2:4
Holy Ghost Definition
The Holy Ghost was originally prophesied in Joel 2:28 and fulfilled in Acts 2. It's literally God's spirit living within man, and is an amazing gift that God has made available to anyone. Acts 2:38 gives us the exact steps to take in order to be filled with God's spirit.
If we take the definitions from the original Greek (pneuma hagion), we get the revered breath of God. This is why Jesus told Nicodemus being born of the spirit (receiving the Holy Ghost) was like a blowing wind (John 3:1-8).
When the Holy Ghost / Holy Spirit was first poured out in Acts, it was described as a sound from heaven like a mighty rushing wind (Acts 2:2). But we can also think of it as God breathing new life into us.
A New Creature Through Jesus
Paul described the Holy Ghost experience as becoming a new creature: "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17).
In other words, you're a brand new person once you receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. The dominion of your old nature dies and everything is made new in you. That's the regenerative power of the Holy Ghost working inside of you.
It's how a drug addict can be made clean in an instant, or a alcoholic instantly delivered after receiving the Holy Ghost. Those old desires lost their grip and died the moment Jesus filled that person with His spirit.
Is Receiving The Holy Ghost Important?
It's necessary to make heaven
The infilling of the Holy Ghost is the apex of the salvation experience and you can't go to heaven without it. Jesus said in John 3, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God." And in Romans 8:9, Paul said, "Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his."
So it's very clear that the Bible teaches you can't see heaven without being filled with the Holy Ghost. It's the only way to get your name recorded in the book of life, which is mentioned several times throughout scripture.
Only way to make the rapture
We are also near the end of the church age. Many prophetic events are taking place right before our eyes, and we are quickly marching to the last seven years before Jesus returns. This also means the great tribulation is closer than ever before.
So if you want to go up in the rapture and be counted worthy to escape what's coming (Luke 21:37), then you need to be filled with the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Paul said in 1 Corinthians 15:51-52, "Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed."
It's the only way to have power over Hell
Being filled with the Holy Ghost is the only way you can have any power over Satan and his evil spirits. In 1 John 4:4, John said, "Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world."
But if we don't have Jesus in us, then 1 John 4:4 doesn't apply to us. That means you wouldn't be able to overcome evil spirits.
The same holds true for being able to resist the devil. In James 4:7, it says, "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." However, if you're not submitted to God through being filled with His spirit, you have no power to resist the devil.
A perfect example of this can be found in Acts 19. Some Jews who didn't have the Holy Ghost tried to cast out an evil spirit from a man, but they weren't able to. In fact, the evil spirit taunted them saying, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?"
What is the Evidence of Receiving the Holy Ghost?
In Acts chapter 2, we discover how you know if you have been filled with the Holy Ghost: "And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." (Acts 2:4)
When you're filled with the Holy Ghost (or Holy Spirit), you speak with other tongues as God gives you the utterance. This is also referred to as speaking in tongues, and it's literally God's spirit speaking through you.
Examples of speaking in tongues in the Bible
Acts 2 Day of Pentecost
The people that were in the upper room spoke in tongues as God gave them the utterance, and the crowd outside heard them. The Bible says the crowd that heard the upper room folks speaking in tongues were "amazed and perplexed."
Peter then preached and told them how to be filled with the Holy Ghost, which led to 3000 people being added to the church in one day.
Acts 2 is the first occurrence of people being filled with the Holy Ghost, and it was evidenced with the sign of speaking in tongues.
Acts 10 Holy Ghost poured out on Gentiles
Acts 10 gives us the account of the Holy Ghost being poured out for the first time on the gentiles. God led Peter to meet Cornelius and his family to preach to them.
As he preached, the Hoy Ghost fell, "And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also." (Acts 10:45)
But how did Peter and those with him know the Holy Spirit was being poured out on the gentiles? Verse 46 answers this question: "For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God."
Peter knew from past experience that speaking in tongues was the undeniable proof of the infilling of God's spirit. It's how he knew Cornelius and his family received the Holy Ghost, and it's still how we know if someone receives the Holy Ghost.
Acts 19 Disciples of John receive the Holy Ghost
In Acts 19, Paul found disciples of John in Ephesus and asked them, "Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?"
They answered Paul that they hadn't heard of the Holy Ghost and were baptized unto John's baptism.
Paul baptized them in the name of Jesus, prayed over them, and they received the Holy Ghost with evidence of speaking in tongues.
"And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied." (Acts 19:6)
So every time someone received the Holy Ghost in the book of Acts, they spoke in tongues as God gave them the utterance. And that is exactly how it works today.
Why did God use tongues as evidence of the Holy Ghost?
In 1 Corinthians 14:22, Paul explained to the church of Corinth why Jesus chose to use speaking in tongues as the evidence of the infilling of the Holy Spirit.
"Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe."
So God chose to use tongues as a sign to people that are not in the church. We can see the impact of this in Acts 2. Like we discussed earlier, the people that heard the upper room folks speak in tongues were amazed. It opened the door for Peter to preach and witness 3000 people receive the Holy Spirit in one day.
God still uses this sign today in order to have a huge impact on people who aren't in church. It opens the door to have a conversation with them about the Holy Ghost, which can lead to them being filled with God's spirit.
Important Bible Verses on the Holy Spirit
Isaiah 28:11-12
For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.
Isaiah prophecies of the infilling of the Holy Ghost with evidence of speaking in tongues. Jesus uses similar language in Matthew 11:28 when he said, "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."
Joel 2:28-29
And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.
Joel prophecies of the outpouring of the Holy Ghost that initially takes place in Acts 2.
John 14:16-17
And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
Jesus explained to the disciples the Holy Ghost, which would be Jesus in spirit living in them.
Acts 1:5
For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
Acts 2:38-39
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
1 Corinthians 12:13
For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
Paul emphasizes the baptism of the Holy Spirit as an essential part of the salvation experience. He uses the same language Jesus used in Acts 1:5.
Final Thoughts
The infilling of the Holy Ghost is the spirit of Jesus living inside of you, which is essential for salvation, making the rapture, and going to Heaven.
The Holy Spirit breaks the dominion of sin from your life and makes you a new creature that produces the fruits of the spirit: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance.
Receiving the Holy Ghost is only the beginning of an amazing relationship between you and Jesus that grows through prayer, which leads you to the ultimate prize: eternal life with Jesus in Heaven.