READ: Acts 19:1-7
“But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God…because they are spiritually discerned” – 1 Corinthians 2:14
As a high school student, I remember organizing a meeting for those who wanted to receive the Holy Spirit.
The meeting was held one Saturday. As we gathered in the classroom, I was very hopeful and expectant. After preaching on the baptism of the Holy Spirit, this minister prayed for us. Afterwards, I realized that almost everybody had received the Holy Spirit and was speaking in other tongues, except me. I couldn’t believe it!
Later one morning while lying on my bed, I routinely asked the Lord to fill me with his Holy Spirit. Before I was aware, I heard a beautiful language coming out of my spirit. I was speaking in tongues at last. I was so happy that I didn’t stop praying in tongues for three hours. I was afraid that the Holy Spirit would go away if I stopped praying! I was afraid that if I stopped praying in tongues, I would not be able to start again.
The question is, “Why did it take me six weeks before I received the Holy Spirit?” The Bible gives us the answer: the natural man receives not! If you are very logical, calculating, critical, analytical and judgmental, you are being natural. When you are natural, you will not and cannot receive (1 Corinthians 3:1).
The Bible says that supernatural things are foolishness to people who are natural. Spiritual people are those who can receive the supernatural. A truly mature Christian is a spiritual person. A mature person knows God.