If the Holy Ghost is a gift, why....?

Question

If the Holy Ghost is a gift why do some people who want it not receive it?

Surely a gift is given not at your request but by the person giving it.

At Pentecost they where all filled, yet it seems nowadays that this so called free gift has conditions.

If i give you a gift at christmas it is free, it doesnt have any conditions.

I hear Christians saying things like, oh i had to wait a year to get the Holy Ghost etc etc. doesn't make sense to me. Why are there conditions?

Answer 1

I've never heard of having to wait to be filled with the Holy Spirit. I have heard of people going to church and everyone asking and receiving the infilling of the Holy Spirit at a group thing. and I have also heard of someone saying, Father in heaven will you please babtize and fill me with the Holy Spirit in Jesus Christ's name. and they were.

Some people say you need to ask forgiveness for all your sins first, then ask for it.

Answer 2

the conditions vary but I found across the board the one condition is to be like the one who deems that you in fact pass their standards and then they will anoint your head with oil and your cup will run over.

Christ gave the gift of Himself, and it involved nothing from humanity except the same hate and condemnation found towards people who don't believe what they do.  It is a shame that the gift goes unnoticed as well as it is a shame that people don't take their eyes off people and get them on God.  Leave others out because they really don't matter.  It is one on one with God that makes the difference.  Then you don't have to keep hearing all the negitive in your head all the time.  there are no conditions with Christ His gift of love is free.

Answer 3

Check out the story of Simon the Sorcerer and his quest for the Holy Spirit.  Act 8:9-25  

There is a key in this story.

Answer 4

In the religion with which I am most familiar, and it is of Christian denomination, there is only the condition of baptism. Immediately following that, you are given the gift of the holy ghost.  

Answer 5

What happened on the day of Pentecost, in my opinion, shouldn't have happened again. I believe that that day was a representation to how the Spirit of God dwells within you when you give up your old life and decide to follow Him. So, I believe that every person who decides to follow Him has the Holy Ghost. I believe it to be his Spirit. To add more to it, don't confuse "speaking in tongues" with the Holy Ghost.

This "gift" of tongues is being misused among many Pentecostal churches today. Many people are putting experience before the Word of God. And many of those people that put experience first somehow recieve the gift of "tongues" even though they have never read or heard about it being in the Bible. They are misusing it and are ignorant of what they're doing. No, I'm not bashing them, but I've grown up in a Pentecostal church. I've studied the scriptures on tongues.

Answer 6

the Holy Spirit dwells only to those who humbly submissive to God Most High, Lord Jesus Christ. AMEN. Ephesian 4:30.

Mar 1:8  I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.

Luk 3:16  John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire.

Joh 14:26  But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

Act 10:42  And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.

Act 10:43  To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.

Act 10:44  While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.

Besides, it's faith in Christ Jesus is the key it's God the Father Himself draws a believer to Him by searching the hearts. So, thewre are no conditions but only believe!

Mar 9:24  And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief. Mar 5:35  While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue's house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further?

Mar 5:36  As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe.



Mat 9:28  And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord.

Act 15:8  And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us.

Answer 7

A gift does have a condition..it can't be a gift unless you accept it.

"Accept jesus and live" its a free gift.

God loves you...God bless

Answer 8

A gift is not a gift until you accept it.  If you prefer to get drunk and angry, smoke crack, and fight with your friends, you'll be in no mood to accept a gift like this.  Strange, but some people prefer to do this!