Have You Received the Holy Spirit?

DCC SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION GUIDE & DEVOTIONAL

Have You Received the Holy Spirit?

Based on the teaching Have You Received the Holy Spirit?
Original teaching by Pastor Ernie Gruen

Key Scripture

Acts 1:8
“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you…”

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Devotional

The Holy Spirit is not meant to be a distant doctrine or merely a theological idea. Jesus promised His followers power through the Holy Spirit so they could live, pray, witness, worship, and minister beyond their own natural ability.

The central emphasis of this teaching is that the new birth and the Baptism in the Holy Spirit are distinct experiences, and that speaking in tongues is the initial physical evidence and prayer language associated with being baptized in the Holy Spirit.

At salvation, we are born of the Spirit and become children of God.

But throughout the book of Acts, believers also experienced the Holy Spirit coming upon them in power, and again and again this experience was accompanied by speaking in tongues.

The disciples had already received the Holy Spirit before Pentecost.

John 20:22
“He breathed on them, and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.’”

Yet Jesus later told these same disciples to wait for another experience:

Acts 1:4–5
“John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

Then on Pentecost:

Acts 2:4
“And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”

The biblical pattern emphasized throughout this teaching is clear:

When believers were baptized in the Holy Spirit, speaking in tongues was a primary outward evidence of that experience.

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1. The New Birth and the Baptism in the Holy Spirit

The first experience is salvation.

When we believe in Jesus Christ, repent of our sins, and receive Him as Lord, we are born again by the Holy Spirit.

The second experience is the Baptism in the Holy Spirit.

This experience brings believers into a greater dimension of spiritual power, prayer, worship, and supernatural ministry.

A major biblical evidence of this experience is speaking in tongues.

Key Thought

Born of the Spirit — salvation.
Baptized in the Spirit — empowerment.
Speaking in tongues — the prayer language and initial physical evidence of that baptism.

Discuss

* Why is it important to distinguish between salvation and the Baptism in the Holy Spirit?
* What do you see in Acts that supports the idea of two distinct experiences?
* Why do you think speaking in tongues appears repeatedly when believers receive the Holy Spirit?

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2. Pentecost: Filled and Speaking

The clearest example is Pentecost.

Acts 2:4

“They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”

Notice the connection:

They were filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke in tongues.

The tongues were not something they learned. The Spirit gave them utterance.

This was not merely emotional excitement. It was a supernatural prayer and praise language produced through cooperation between the believer and the Holy Spirit.

Discuss

* What does Acts 2:4 tell us about the relationship between being filled with the Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues?
* Why is it important that “the Spirit gave them utterance”?
* What might keep someone from responding in faith and speaking?

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3. Speaking in Tongues as Prayer

Tongues are not only a sign but also a prayer language.

1 Corinthians 14:2

“For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God… in the spirit he speaks mysteries.”

Tongues are primarily directed toward God.

They are prayer.

They are worship.

They are praise.

They allow the believer to pray beyond the limitations of natural understanding.

This describes tongues as the prayer part of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit.

Key Thought

Speaking in tongues is not simply something that happens to a believer. It becomes part of the believer’s prayer life.

Discuss

* What does 1 Corinthians 14:2 tell us about the purpose of tongues?
* How is praying in tongues different from speaking to people?
* Why would God give believers a prayer language beyond their natural understanding?

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4. The Biblical Pattern in Acts

Several passages show believers receiving the Holy Spirit in a powerful and identifiable way.

The Disciples

Acts 2:4

They were filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues.

The Samaritans

Acts 8:14–17

The Samaritans had believed and been baptized, but Peter and John later laid hands on them so that they might receive the Holy Spirit.

Something visible and recognizable happened when they received, because Simon saw that the Holy Spirit was given through the laying on of hands.

Paul

Acts 9:17

Ananias laid hands on Saul so that he would be filled with the Holy Spirit.

Later Paul testified:

1 Corinthians 14:18

“I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all.”

Cornelius’ Household

Acts 10:44–46

“The Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word… For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God.”

They received the Holy Spirit and immediately spoke in tongues and praised God.

The Ephesian Believers

Acts 19:6

“When Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.”

Again, receiving the Holy Spirit was accompanied by speaking in tongues.

Discuss

* What pattern do you see in these passages?
* Which passage stands out to you most?
* Why do you think tongues were such a recognizable evidence that people had received the Holy Spirit?

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5. Tongues as Supernatural Praise

Cornelius’ household gives a clear example of tongues being connected with worship.

Acts 10:46

“For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God.”

They were not preaching to one another.

They were magnifying God.

Praying in tongues is worship.

Speaking in tongues can become a way of praising God when natural words feel limited.

Discuss

* How can tongues function as worship?
* What does it mean to “magnify God”?
* How can Spirit-led praise deepen our relationship with Jesus?

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6. Receiving and Exercising the Gift

Believers must actually speak.

The Holy Spirit gives the utterance, but the believer opens his or her mouth and responds in faith.

Acts 2:4

“They began to speak… as the Spirit gave them utterance.”

You do the speaking; God gives the utterance.

This can be compared to Peter walking on the water.

Peter had to step out of the boat.

Jesus supplied the supernatural power.

Likewise, the believer speaks by faith, and the Holy Spirit supplies the supernatural language.

Our Part

Ask.
Believe.
Open your mouth.
Speak by faith.

God’s Part

Fill.
Empower.
Give utterance.
Supply the supernatural prayer language.

Discuss

* Why is faith necessary when beginning to speak in tongues?
* What fears might keep someone from speaking?
* How does Peter stepping out of the boat help explain this principle?

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7. Do Not Let Fear Stop You

One of the biggest barriers to receiving and speaking is fear.

People may wonder:

“What if I am making this up?”

“What if this is just me?”

“What if I receive something wrong?”

Jesus addresses this fear in Luke 11.

Luke 11:11–13

“If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? … how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”

The Father can be trusted.

If you are sincerely seeking Jesus and asking for the Holy Spirit, you do not need to live in fear.

Key Thought

Faith receives. Fear hesitates.

Discuss

* What fears do people commonly have about speaking in tongues?
* How does Luke 11 answer those fears?
* What does this passage teach us about the Father’s character?

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8. The Proper Use of Tongues

Spiritual gifts can be misused, but misuse does not make the gift itself wrong.

The correction of abuse is not disuse, but proper use.

Some people reject tongues because they have seen spiritual gifts mishandled.

But Scripture does not tell believers to reject the gifts.

Instead, Paul teaches believers to use them properly.

1 Corinthians 14:40

“Let all things be done decently and in order.”

The answer to misuse is not rejection.

The answer is biblical use.

Discuss

* Have you ever seen spiritual gifts misused?
* Why can misuse cause people to reject something biblical?
* How can we practice spiritual gifts in a way that honors Scripture and Jesus?

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9. Have You Received?

The question of this teaching is personal:

Have you received the Holy Spirit?

Not merely:

Do you believe in the Holy Spirit?

Not merely:

Do you believe tongues are biblical?

But:

Have you personally received the Baptism in the Holy Spirit and begun to pray in tongues?

The goal is not simply to understand tongues.

The goal is to receive the Holy Spirit’s empowerment and begin using the prayer language God provides.

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Small Group Discussion

1. What stood out to you most from this teaching?
2. What is the difference between being born of the Spirit and being baptized in the Holy Spirit?
3. What biblical evidence connects receiving the Holy Spirit with speaking in tongues?
4. According to 1 Corinthians 14:2, who is a person speaking to when praying in tongues?
5. Why can tongues be described as the “prayer part” of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit?
6. What fears can prevent someone from speaking in tongues?
7. What does it mean that we do the speaking while the Spirit gives the utterance?
8. How can praying in tongues become part of a believer’s regular devotional life?
9. How should churches encourage tongues while still maintaining biblical order?
10. Have you personally received the Baptism in the Holy Spirit and begun praying in tongues? If not, what questions or concerns do you still have?

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Personal Reflection

Ask yourself:

Have I received the Baptism in the Holy Spirit?

Have I received and begun exercising the prayer language of tongues?

Am I allowing fear, tradition, or uncertainty to keep me from receiving what God has promised?

If I already pray in tongues, am I regularly using this gift in my personal prayer and worship?

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Closing Prayer

Father, thank You for the gift of the Holy Spirit. Thank You that Jesus promised power to His followers. We surrender ourselves completely to You. Remove fear, unbelief, pride, and anything that would hinder us from receiving everything You desire for us. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit. Give us boldness to respond in faith and freedom to pray and worship in the language of the Spirit. Teach us to use the gift of tongues biblically, faithfully, and with Jesus always at the center. May our prayer lives grow deeper, our worship become stronger, and our lives demonstrate the power and fruit of the Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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This Week’s Challenge

If you already pray in tongues, spend 5–10 minutes each day praying in the Spirit, followed by a few minutes of quiet worship and listening to God.

If you have not yet received this experience, spend time reading:

Acts 2:1–4
Acts 8:14–17
Acts 10:44–46
Acts 19:1–6
1 Corinthians 14:2, 14–18
Luke 11:9–13

Then sincerely ask the Father to fill you with the Holy Spirit, trust Him, and respond in faith.