Question:
Do we have the Holy Spirit we are are saved; and there a difference between receiving the Holy Spirit and being filling with the Holy Spirit? If a person doesn’t speak in tongues imply they are not filled with the Holy Spirit?
Answer:
Jesus made it plain that we receive the Holy Spirit by BELIEF in Him. See John 7:37-39 where Jesus said, “In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)” The ‘filling of the Holy Spirit’ has to do with how much does the Holy Spirit have control over us. We have all the Holy Spirit when we believe. No one can say that he has 50%, 75% or 95% of the Holy Spirit. We possess 100% of the Holy Spirit when we saved as the Holy Spirit and cannot be divided up into portions. But the Holy Spirit does not have all of us. We must yield ourselves to obey Him and to the degree that we are obedient we are filled or controled by the Holy Spirit. Tongues has ceased. I Corinthians 13:10. Even when the miracle gifts were still present not every believer spoke in tongues. Look at I Corinthians 12:30 which states, “Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?” Only a few spoke in tongues.