WHAT IS THE HOLY SPIRIT?

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judæa, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. (Acts 1:8 KJV)

1. It is a Promise
And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: (Joel 2:28 KJV)


Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. (Acts 2:38, 39 KJV)


That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto. Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, and to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. (Galatians 3:14-16 KJV)

2. It is Eternal Life
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23 KJV)


And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. (Ephesians 4:30 KJV).


3. It is a Sign
It was a Sign for Abraham and his seed. A was a sign of circumcision of the flesh but now, a circumcision of the heart.

Any child that refused circumcision in the Old Testament, which was a foreshadow of the Holy Ghost, was cut off from amongst the people. He could not have fellowship with the rest of the congregation if he refused to be circumcised. Now, pattern that to today. A person that would refuse to receive the baptism of the Holy Ghost can have no fellowship among those that have the Holy Ghost.

4. The Holy Spirit is a Seal

And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. (Ephesians 4:30 KJV). The Seal is not to be broken until it reaches its destination. Only a complete and perfect work is sealed. It is your assurance, it is your protection etc, that you are heaven-bound.

5. It is the Spirit of Christ in You/ Comforter

And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. (John 14:16-20 KJV)

6. It is an Advocate

My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. (1 John 2:1, 2 KJV)

It makes intercession for our ignorance. Sometimes when we got the Holy Ghost, we ignorantly stagger into something. The Holy Spirit’s there to make advocate for us. He is our Advocator. He stands there; He’s our Attorney. He stands there and pleads for us. We don’t plead for ourselves, because the Holy Ghost in us pleads for us. The Holy Spirit giving utterance, sometimes with words you can’t understand, and He makes intercessions for us. That’s what the Holy Ghost is.

The Holy Spirit is all that listed above plus a thousand more. It was made a promise to us in the last days. They didn’t have It in those days; they just had a seal in their flesh as a token and a sign, believing It was coming. And they walked by the shadow of the law, which they were circumcised by flesh.

Today we don’t walk by the shadow of the law; we walk by the power of the resurrection. We walk by the power of the Spirit Who is our true Seal, our true Advocate, our true Comforter, our true Sign that we have been born from above, peculiar, odd people, acting funny, taking God at His Word, calling everything else wrong. God’s Word’s right. That’s Oh, my. That’s what the Holy Ghost is.

Reference: ™WHAT IS THE HOLY GHOST 59 1216 by William Branham

Evidence of the Holy Spirit

Evidence of the Holy Spirit According to the Bible as Revealed to William Branham

Before 1964, William Branham had been preaching that the evidence of the Holy Ghost is the fruit of the Spirit. But one day, the Lord corrected him in a vision.  There are many other quotes, but here are a few. (These quotes have not been edited)

John 14:26  But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

 

It is when you believe Gods word manifested and you walk in the light of it.

Believing the Word of God when it is manifested. He is the Word. So the spirit of God living in a person will not deny the Word.

When the spirit that is in you will punctuate every promise word of God with an Amen. 

(William Branham)

William Marrion Branham

Broken Cistern 1964 

 66 Today I was talking with my good friend, Doctor Lee Vayle, who is present now. And he’s quite a theologian, and so we usually have some_have some pretty good discussions on the Scripture. Very smart.

And he asked me one time what I thought about the initial evidence of the Holy Ghost, “Was it speaking in tongues?” It’s been many years ago.

I said, “No; can’t see that.”

He said, “Neither do I,” said, “though I’ve been taught that.” He said, “What would you think would be an evidence?”

67 I said, “The most perfect evidence I can think of is love.” And so we got to talking on that.

And then I thought that sounded pretty good so I just held that, “If a man has got love.”

But one day the Lord, in a vision, straightened me out. And He said, that, “The evidence of the Spirit was those who could receive the Word,” neither love, nor speaking in tongues, but it’s receiving the Word.

68 And then Doctor Vayle was saying to me, that, “That is Scriptural,” he said, “because, in John 14, Jesus said, ‘When He the Holy Ghost is come upon you, He will reveal these things to you, that I’ve taught you, and will show you things to come.’”So there is the genuine evidence of the Holy Ghost! He has never told me anything wrong yet. That, “It is the evidence of the Holy Ghost, is he who can believe the Word.” You can receive It.

Cause, Jesus never said, “When the Holy Ghost is come, you’ll speak with tongues.” He never said, the Holy Ghost come, you’d do any of those things. But He said, “He will take these things of Mine and show them to you, and will show you things that is to come.” So there is the genuine evidence of the Holy Ghost, according to Jesus Himself.

Paradox 64 0206b

212 But we express so much upon evidences. We Pentecostals put our evidence upon speaking in tongues, and how bad we’ve been fooled in that. And how many of them says, “The fruit of the Spirit is the evidence,” how badly you are fooled by that. No, sir. If you talk about speaking in tongues being the evidence of the Holy Ghost^Which, I do believe the Holy Ghost speaks in tongues. Don’t get me wrong. Yeah, but you say, “A man speaks with tongues, got the Holy Ghost.” We believed that for a while, but we found out it was wrong.

213 Luther said,“Those that said they believe.”We found out that was wrong. Wesley said, “Those that got sanctified and shouted.” We found out that was wrong. Pentecost said, “Those that spoke with tongues.” We found out that was wrong. The Christian Science said, “The fruit of the Spirit is the evidence.” We find out that that’s wrong.

214 I’ve seen witches and wizards drink blood out of a human skull, and speak in tongues; and lay a pencil on the table and write in unknown tongues, and interpret it. See? Now, don’t tell me about that; my mother is a half Indian, see, and I and I know. I’ve seen it and dealt with it.

215 Yet, God does speak with tongues, but that’s no infallible evidence that you got the Holy Ghost. Certainly not. No, indeed. 

Questions and Answers 2 64

1001-Q-281281. Dear Brother Branham, I have been baptized in Jesus’ Name. The Word says you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Does this_does this mean the baptism, the Holy Spirit, or does it mean I should receive the gift_definite_I should receive a definite experience with the baptism? I am anxious to be_to be filled with the_the Spirit. Please excuse the long note as I have been wanting to ask you this question for a long time. Thank you.

Now, there’s a good question. Now, the baptism with the Holy Spirit is a definite experience that a person must receive. Now let me kinda clear that up just for a minute. See? Now, many people have the_the idea^I believe it’s twisted. And maybe right here to the church and to the church that’s listening, there might be a question. Now, when I speak of not believing the initial evidence of the Holy Ghost is speaking with tongues (I_I do not accept that) I believe with God’s help I can prove it in the Bible that that’s wrong (See?), ’cause the speaking in tongues is a gift of the Holy Ghost. How many knows that? Divine healing is a gift of the Holy Ghost, and here Beatles are doing it. See? Satan can impersonate any of those gifts. Witches, wizards can speak in tongues and interpret it. The jungle lands, many times a wizard will speak in tongues, drink blood out of a human skull, and interpret unknown tongues.

1002-44 Now, that’s no evidence of the Holy Ghost. See? You can’t rely upon that. You can’t rely upon the fruit of the Spirit, because the first fruit of the Spirit is love. And the Christian Science exercise more love than anybody I know of, and they even deny Jesus Christ being Divine. See? There’s only one evidence of the Holy Spirit that I know of, and that is a genuine faith in the promised Word of the hour.

Now, those Jews come; they had more religion than the disciples had. They were better trained men in the Scriptures than the disciples was, because they were fishermen, tax collectors, and so forth. And they had real faith and genuine faith in what they were doing. Now, listen closely now; don’t miss this. See? When it come to being fruits of the Spirit, kind and gentle, I guess there wasn’t a one of those priest but what could outshine Jesus Christ in it. He went to the temple, plaited ropes, looked upon them with anger, and turned over their tables, and run them out of the place. Is that right? The Bible said He looked upon them with anger. The Bible said that. That’s exactly right.

1003-46 So see, those priest were gentle, meek, understanding men. When it come to the fruits of the Spirit, they could show more fruits of the Spirit than Jesus ever could. When it comes to theology, they didn’t know_have a school that He come out of. “Whence cometh this man? Where did he come from? What fellowship card does he have? What organization does he belong to? We don’t know where he come from. He was just absolutely an outcast Guy that was borned a illegitimate birth. Why, we could down him here in a few minutes and show you by the laws^” They had a right to do what they did when it come to that. Why? Because they failed to see that He was that promised Word of the hour. The only way they recognized it, when Jesus performed the Word by being able to tell them what they had in their hearts, what they’d been doing^He was a Prophet according to the Word of God. What He said come to pass, every word, word by word.

Christ Is Revealed in His Own Word 65 0822m

27 Today, so confused about the evidence of the Holy Ghost, and so forth. Satan can impersonate any kind of a gift that God has got, but he cannot bring that Word, Word by Word. That’s where he failed in the garden of Eden. That’s where he’s always failed. That’s where them, the tape on “false, anointed ones,” or anointed ones; they can be anointed with the Spirit, speak in tongues, dance, shout, preach the Gospel, and still a devil.

Question and Answers 64

1040-Q-318 318. What is the evidence that a person is really filled with the Holy Ghost?

John 14:26: He will^”When the Holy Ghost is come (See?), He will show you things to come.” See? He’ll be a^He’ll perfect it; man-mades won’t do it; and He is the Word. When He the Holy Ghost is come, He will identify Himself in you with the Scripture. And that is the true sign that the Holy Spirit is in you, because It is the Word.

Now, look. What if you spoke with tongues? I just want to ask you that. Jesus said when the Holy Ghost come what He would do. And what if you spoke with tongues, jumped up- and-down, shouted, and everything else, and then come to the Word; and I’d tell you the baptism of_prove to you by the Scripture as I have, that the baptism using the title of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost is absolutely a misunderstanding in the Scripture; nobody was ever baptized like that, and you go ahead and hang with it anyhow? Could you tell me the Holy Spirit in you would do a thing like that? How can It deny It’s own Word?

Before The Correction

The True Vine And A False Vine 55 0607 

E-52 Heavenly Father, tonight, knowing that hour is close, knowing that we’re living in the end time, knowing that those old trees are going on, here is that vine bringing tonight, filled with the Holy Ghost, bringing forth fruit, the evidence of the Holy Spirit, being among us. How thankful we are, Lord. We could raise our hands and praise Thee and praise Thee over and over for all Thy goodness and mercy. How wonderful and how marvelous are Thy ways. We thank and praise Thee with all of our heart.

C O D Questions and Answers 61 0112

544-209 The evidence of the Holy Ghost is the fruit of It, the fruit of the Spirit. Well, it^Well, now, he say, “I’m a stem; I’m a cocklebur. I’m a stem the same as that wheat’s a stem.” But what kind of a life is in you? The life that’s in it bears stickers, always fussing, and cutting up, and real mean, and ill, and everything. See what I mean? Arrogant (See?), that’s not the fruit of the Spirit. The fruit of the Spirit is meekness, patience, gentleness (See?), all that. See?

He can say, “Well, well, I can shout just as loud as you can. Bless God, the Holy Ghost falls on me.” That may be every speck true, but the life that he lives doesn’t back up what he’s talking about. See? He was a weed; he was a weed to start with.

Hebrews Chapter Six #2 57

495 There’s not one thing left in the Bible, as “evidence of the Holy Ghost,” only the fruits of the Spirit. Find out any place that Jesus said so. Yes, sir. The evidence of the Holy Ghost is the fruit of your Spirit. Jesus said so, “By their fruit you shall know them.” “And the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, goodness, peace, gentleness, meekness. And the fruit of the enemy is enmity, hatred, malice, strife, and so forth; that’s the fruit of the enemy.” So, you can judge by the way you’re living, where you’re standing with God. If your whole heart is in love with Him, and you love Him and are gentle, and live with Him daily, you know you’ve passed from death unto Life. If it isn’t, and you’re otherwise, you’re just impersonating a Christian. That’s right. Which, all carnal impersonations will certainly be exposed. We know that.

Do All Speak With Tongues?

Here are a few questions and answers on speaking in tongues, a controversial issue in Christendom. Every Bible question has a Bible answer. Please approach this prayerfully and let the Holy Ghost guide you in finding the truth about this topic.

1. What is tongues-speaking?

Tongue-speaking is one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

^{1 Corinthians 12
1}Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.
 ⁴Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
 ⁵And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.
 ⁶And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
 ⁷But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
 ⁸For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
 ⁹To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
 ¹⁰To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
 ¹¹But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

From what the Bible says, I understand that there are two types of tongues-speaking;
i. The Unknown tongue-
Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret.-  
1 Corinthians 14:13
ii. The different languages spoken by people which can be understood by speakers of that language.
 I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all: -1 Corinthians 14:18

2. Is tongue speaking an evidence for having the Holy Ghost?

NO. The reason why I do not believe speaking with tongues is the evidence of the Holy Ghost is that I have seen fetish priests in Ghana speak in tongues and someone interprets.   

1 Corinthians 13:1-3

1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

3. Must every Christian speak with tongues?

No. The Bible does not say anywhere that everyone must speak in tongues. Rather, this is what the Word of God says.

1 Corinthians 12:27-31

27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. 

28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. 

29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? 

30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? 

31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.

 Here, it is clear  that God gives people to the gifts as He wills and He does not expect all of us to speak with tongues. But it goes on to say;
  Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.-1 Corinthians 14:39
 

4. Why do some Christians believe that everyone must speak in tongues?

I am not sure why some Christians believe firmly that everyone must speak in tongues. I think they base their belief on Acts 2 and Mark 16. 
However, in Acts 2, the kind of tongues they spoke, the people understood them in their own languages. Also, for Mark 16, the Bible states clearly in Corinthians that not all speak with tongues, not all heal etc.

Acts 2:1-8

1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 

2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 

3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 

4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. 

5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. 

6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. 

7 And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? 

8 And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?


It is evident from this passage that the disciple did not speak in an unknown tongue but rather spoke in languages that the foreigners could understand in their own languages.

^{Mark 16:17-18
17}And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
 ¹⁸They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.


1 Corinthians 12:28-30
²⁸And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
 ²⁹Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?
 ³⁰Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?

Some believe that since the disciples spoke in tongues on the day of Pentecost, every Christian must speak in tongues. This believe is an error because they spoke in tongues for a purpose-there were many people from different parts of the world at the place. So God saw it necessary for the disciples to preach to them in their own languages. And as a result, about 3000 were added to the believers.

Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe. 1 Corinthians 14:22
  

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.  

1 Corinthians 13:1

5. How will I know if someone has the Holy Ghost?
For the evidence of the Holy Ghost, click on the link Evidence of the Holy Spirirt

For more study read on the topic; 1 Corinthians 12, 13 and 14.