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What if one of the most damaging ideas circulating in the church isn’t about money or hell… but about the Holy Spirit? What if I told you that the teaching that you need to wait for some dramatic, second experience to really receive the Spirit is not only a misreading of the Bible, but has held millions of Christians in a state of spiritual anxiety?

Now, let’s be clear. This idea—often called a “second blessing” or the “baptism of the Holy Spirit”—frequently comes forth out of sincere intents. For many believers, especially in Pentecostal and Charismatic traditions, it represents a powerful and genuine experience with God. But for countless others, the way this is often taught has created a quiet crisis of faith.

People are led to believe that until you have a powerful, emotional, maybe even spectacular moment after your salvation, you’re somehow incomplete—maybe even a kind of second-class Christian, waiting on the sidelines for the real power to show up. It leaves so many looking at their own lives and thinking,

What’s wrong with me? Why haven’t I had that?

I personally have been in that position. I was baptisted and didn’t feel much of any spectacular things going on in my life. I remember clearly that I asked God the Father to give me the gift of tongues, to let me fall in the Spirit and whatnot. I felt that all others were much better equipped than I was. It was one of the reasons why I decided to go to a Bible school—just to learn more about God and how He works. That way, I would have been able to know what to do to receive His second blessing. The Bible school was one of the best things that happened to me after my conversion. And yes, I learned a lot about the work of the Holy Spirit.

I learned that the Bible’s promise is actually far simpler and, I think, far more beautiful. The truth is that the Holy Spirit isn’t a later reward for the spiritual enhanced Christian, but a guaranteed gift to every single believer the moment they’re saved. And in this video, we’re going to uncover that liberating truth together.

Unrest — The Damaging effect of the Idea

So why do I say that this idea is so damaging? Because its effect is so personal, and it causes schisms in the Church.

Firstly, it seems to create a sort of spiritual hierarchy inside the church. It basically splits believers into two groups: the ‘haves’ and the ‘have-nots.’ Those who’ve supposedly had this “second blessing” are often seen as more mature or stronger, more spiritual, and much closer to God. Everyone else is left feeling like they’re missing something essential. This leaves the church in two groups. One group who are the pride of the congregation, and the other group struggling with doubts and insecurity—the exact opposite of the unity the Spirit is meant to bring.

Ephesians 4:3-4

eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call

1 Corinthians 12:13

For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.

Secondly, this teaching puts the believers under pressure to fabricate an experience. Many will go to conferences, seminaries, and revival meetings. In itself it is okay to do more study but many are mainly going there to receive an emotional high, a specific sign, or a spectacular gift. They have been taught that this experience will be the key to a deeper relationship with God.

And then, when they are in that specific meeting, they will see others who seem to receive this second blessing. They see people falling in the Spirit; they hear people starting to talk in tongues; and they see people who burst out in tears or laughter. But when it doesn’t happen to them, it can lead to doubt. They start questioning their own salvation, thinking, “If I really belong to God, wouldn’t He give me this experience everyone’s talking about?” It dangerously shifts the foundation of our assurance from the solid rock of God’s Word to the shifting sand of our feelings.

This is not only a problem in the charismatic churches, it also happens—albeit in a different form—in the traditional churches. In the more Calvinistic churches of the Netherlands we see pastors teaching their flock that, unless they have received an emotional moment with God, they are not among the chosen people. Hence, there are so few of them who actually attend communion. They haven’t had an experience with the Holy Spirit and thus might not be among the elect.

This obsession with a single event completely misses the point of the Holy Spirit’s work. His presence in our lives isn’t a one-time event; it’s a constant, lifelong, transformative work. We start being justified and then the Holy Spirit will help us to get more and more sanctified, and when we die, or when Jesus returns, we will be glorified. By chasing after this second blessing we risk missing the fundamental miracles God’s Spirit is already doing in us every single day.

But is this pressure, this division, this anxiety what God really intended? Let’s go to the source and see what the Bible actually says.

The Solution Part 1 — The Guaranteed Gift

The Bible’s teaching on this topic is surprisingly clear and deeply reassuring. The Holy Spirit is not something you have to wait for, strive for, or qualify for after you believe. Scripture teaches that the Holy Spirit is given to every person the moment they place their faith in Jesus. It’s not a second step; it is not a afterthought; it’s part of the gift of salvation itself.

The Apostle Paul makes this clear in Ephesians 1:13-14. He writes:

In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

Let’s unpack that, because those words are powerful. ‘Sealed’ was a legal and commercial term back then. A seal meant three things: You owned it, it was authentic, and it was secure. When God gives His Spirit to live in you, He’s marking you as His own child. He’s authenticating your faith as real. And He’s securing you until the very end. This isn’t a temporary seal; it’s a permanent mark of God’s ownership. Yes, God’s Spirit is like a permanent marker on your white t-shirt; not washable.

Then Paul uses the word ‘guarantee.’ The Greek word there, ἀρραβὼν (arrabōn), was a term for a down payment or a deposit. Think about it—a down payment isn’t just a promise. It’s the first instalment of the full price, legally guaranteeing that the rest is coming. The Holy Spirit is God’s down payment in our lives, the first taste of the future glory He has promised us. He is the living guarantee that God will finish the good work He started in you.

And if that wasn’t clear enough, Paul makes it impossible to misunderstand in Romans 8:9. He says,

You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.

The logic here is pretty straightforward. Paul isn’t saying some Christians have the Spirit. He’s defining what a Christian is. To be a Christian is to belong to Christ, and to belong to Christ is to have His Spirit. The two are inseparable. If you don’t have the Spirit, you’re not a Christian. Therefore, if you are a Christian, you have the Spirit. It’s the defining mark of every single believer.

And again, when do you receive God’s Spirit? Right! God gives you His Spirit when you come to Christ. When did you come to Christ? You came to Christ when you started to believe in Him for your salvation. So, even when you come together in the strong Calvinistic tradition, you are a Christian, not because you’ve had a sensational experience. No, you are a Christian because you want to be saved by Christ and asked Him to do so. The Bible teaches that nobody will ask this unless the Holy Spirit urges him to do so!

The Solution Part 2 — What About the Book of Acts?

Here comes the big question:

But wait a minute, what about the Book of Acts? Don’t we see people believing first and then getting the Holy Spirit later?

That is a fantastic and very important question, and it’s probably where most of the confusion starts.

Yes, in Acts, there are a few moments where receiving the Spirit happens after the moment of belief. We see it at Pentecost in Acts 2, with the Samaritans in Acts 8, and with John the Baptist’s disciples in Acts 19. But here’s where we have to be careful when we explain the Bible. It’s a common mistake to take a descriptive book—a book that describes what happened in a unique, historical moment—and treat it as a prescriptive text, a formula that must be repeated by every person for all time.

You have to remember the context. Acts is a book of transition. It’s talking about, and documenting the birth of the church and the enormous changes in how God was relating to humanity. Each of those instances was a one-time-only event in salvation history, designed to show that the Gospel was moving to a new group of people.

At Pentecost, it was the initial outpouring of the Spirit on Jewish believers, kicking off the New Covenant. In Acts 8, when the gospel went to the Samaritans, the Spirit waited until Peter and John showed up to visually confirm that Samaritans were now also included, keeping the Jewish and Samaritan church unified. In Acts 10, when the Spirit falls on Cornelius and his household, it was undeniable proof to a sceptical Jewish church that God’s salvation was now officially for the Gentiles, too.

These events were never meant to be a precise step-by-step howto for your personal life. They were foundational moments for the whole church. When we want to learn about the standard teaching—the normal Christian life—we have to look at the New Testament letters, like Romans, Ephesians, and Corinthians. And there, the teaching is always the same: the Holy Spirit is the direct, guaranteed possession of every believer.

You might want to see my other video on the topic of the Holy Spirit. You can click on the link below.

If this is already starting to lift a weight off your shoulders, do me a favour and hit that subscribe button. This channel is all about explaining stuff like this, and I don’t want you to miss what’s coming next.

The Solution Part 3 — The True Work of the Spirit

So, if getting the Holy Spirit isn’t some kind of second experience, what does He actually do in our lives? The real answer is so much deeper and richer. His work isn’t a momentary flash; it’s a continuous, indwelling presence that changes us from the inside out.

Firstly, the Spirit is the one who changes us to be more like Jesus. This is often called sanctification. Galatians 5 says the proof of the Spirit’s work isn’t necessarily a spectacular sign, but the quiet growth of the ‘fruit of the Spirit’: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. He is constantly at work, chipping away at our old habits and shaping us into the image of Christ.

Secondly, the Spirit is our Teacher. Jesus promised in John 14:26 that the Helper, the Holy Spirit, would teach us and remind us of His words. When you’re reading the Bible and all of a sudden a passage becomes clear, or a truth convicts you or comforts your heart right at the moment you needed it? That’s the Spirit of Truth illuminating God’s Word for you.

Thirdly, the Spirit empowers us to serve! 1 Corinthians 12 says the Spirit gives spiritual gifts to every believer to build up the church. This isn’t about creating a spiritual the A-team with the spiritual BA and Hannibal; No! It’s about equipping us to play our part and serve each other well.

And finally, the Spirit gives us assurance. Romans 8 says that is the Spirit Himself who confirms to our own spirit that we are children of God. That deep, inner knowing that you belong to God—even when you feel weak, even when you mess up—is a direct gift from the Holy Spirit who lives in you.

This is a very intimate, ongoing relationship. We are simply called to “walk by the Spirit”—to live in daily dependence on His guidance and power.

Conclusion

So let’s wrap everything up. The damaging idea that you need a second, spectacular experience to get the Holy Spirit creates a false dichotomy within Christianity with on the one side the enlightened people and on the other side the less spiritual ones. This leaves many Christians desperately reaching to something they suppose to have, and in the progress causing uncertainty and doubt.

But the beautiful truth of the Bible sets us free.

Galatians 5:1

For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

That truth is that the Holy Spirit is God’s non-negotiable, guaranteed gift to every one of His children from the very moment of faith. You are not second-class. You are not missing out.

You were sealed with the Spirit the moment you believed. He lives in you right now, working to change you, teach you, empower you, and to assure you. He is working on your sanctification. The Holy Spirit is part of the good news. He is the one who let you enjoy God’s salvation freely. He is your security.

We may rest in that promise. Stop striving for an experience you already possess in Christ. You are not a spiritual orphan waiting to be adopted. You are a sealed, Spirit-filled child of God.

It is the Holy Spirit who want to help you to become more and more intimate with God the Father. He will help you in your prayers and if you like to know more about prayer you can click on the following link below:

Maybe you know someone who struggles with this idea. Perhaps, he or she is doubtful whether he belongs to God because he hasn’t had some supernatural, dramatic experience. If you do know someone you can share this video with them or her!

Anyway, I’d love to hear your story in the comments—how has this idea affected you, if at all, or how has this truth brought you to live your life in freedom? Just drop a comment below!

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