Do Not Rest Prematurely

In order to have a healthy Christian life, it is indispensable that we be certain that we have received the Holy Spirit to dwell in us.

If this was otherwise, Paul would not have bothered to ask, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" These men were obviously recognized as believers (but it's worth pointing out that Satan and demons are also "believers"), but this position was not enough for them. Jesus' disciples were also true believers, yet He commanded them to not rest or be satisfied until they had received the Holy Spirit from Himself in heaven. Paul, too, had seen Jesus' glory and it led to his conversion. But even in his case, the work God required to be done in him was not yet complete. Ananias still had to lay hands on him before he received the Holy Spirit. And it was only after this that Paul was ready to become a witness for Christ.

All of these facts teach us that there are two ways that the Spirit works in us. The first is His preparational work in us, where He acts in us but does not yet take His rightful place in our hearts and lives. The second is the higher and more advanced phase of His working when we receive Him as an indwelling Person who assumes responsibility for our whole inner being. This is the necessary ideal for a full Christian life.