I remember many years ago when I first learned what Church was. It was where you went if you wanted salvation. Later, once I learned about the Holy Ghost, we were all encourged to ‘tarry’ for it. At least at the time it seemed like a need. We were all so young, but old enough to decide if we wanted to do this or not. So we knelt and as the saints prayed over us and told us what to pray. Did we need to do this to be filled with the Holy Spirit as the bible shows? I do believe the Holy Spirit filled those of us who were penitent and believed on Christ. But is how we sought after Him necessary?
The Command to Wait
After the resurrection, Jesus spent time strengthening the faith of the disciples. Before His departure, He gave them specific instruction…
”And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.” Luke 24:49
To tarry is to wait or stay somewhere. The disciples received the instruction to wait in Jerusalem for the promise of the Holy Spirit. What else were they asked to do? Nothing. But He does give a clue about why they should go there.
The Birthplace of the Commission
”Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” Luke 24:45-47 ”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 Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” Acts 1:8
Jesus told the disciples that the preaching of the gospel would begin at Jerusalem! That seems simple enough. But why Jerusalem?
”And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.” Acts 2:5
God knew that devout (loyal, devoted, serious, sincere) men would be in Jerusalem during the feast of Pentecost. This was the perfect time for the Holy Spirit to fill the believers. It was also the perfect field in which to sow to being forth a great first harvest of souls for the Kingdom! From this harvest, the gospel began to spread across the globe as these men took the Good News back to their native lands.
So How Did They Receive the Holy Ghost?
“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.” Acts 2:38 ”And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.” Acts 2:2 ”And all that believed were together, and had all things common;” Acts 2:44
There is a common mix of ingredients here. They consist of belief (faith), repentance, and baptism. Isn’t this what Jesus said to do?
”He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved;…” Mark 16:16
One thing we need to take note of is this. He came on them ‘suddenly’. You see, they were not praying or ‘tarrying’ for the Holy Spirit. They were doing what they had become accustomed to doing all along. And the room was not special. It was a room that was at the top of the building, no doubt for quietness and privacy, thence ‘an upper room’ (Acts 1:13)
”Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day's journey… These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.” Acts 1:12,14
It was while they were together that the Holy Ghost came on them. They were not praying at the moment He fell on them. Being on one accord means they were believing and seeking for the same things. There are other examples where prayer was not in progress when the Holy Spirit came.
- He filled John the Baptist in his mother’s womb – Luke 1:15
- By the laying on of hands – Acts 8:17, 19:6
- During the preached word – Acts 10:44
There is one instance when the Holy Ghost filled believers while praying. And they weren’t asking for it. They were praying for boldness to continue preaching the gospel in persecution! (Acts 4:23-31)
Is Tarrying for the Holy Ghost Necessary?
As we have seen, no one tarried for the filling of the Holy Spirit. Scripture tells us that we only need to believe on the Lord and be baptized. The filling of the Holy Spirit is a promise to those who believe. He can come during prayer, when someone is praying for another, or while listening to the Word. He can even come while going about everyday tasks.
”And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:” Luke 1:41
The Holy Ghost filled Elisabeth when she heard Mary’s greeting. Elisabeth’s husband, Zacharias, received the Holy Spirit on the day John's circumcision. No need for shut-ins, tarry services, and hours of pleading to be filled. There are no restrictions on the Holy Spirit. He does not operate in a box. He is free to do as He wills. And His will is to fulfill the will of the Father. So when new converts ask the question about the filling of the Holy Ghost, the answer is simple. He can come anytime, anywhere. Jesus promised Him to those who believe, so He will come. I hope you found this article helpful. Have a bible question? Suggest a topic! If you liked this article, you can subscribe for notification when new articles are posted. You can also find me on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
I would like to learn how to tarrying and get the Holy Ghost.
Greetings Barbara,
Tarrying for the Holy Spirit is an idea taken from Acts 1:4-5 “And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.” and John 21:22 “Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.”. To tarry simply means to stay or delay. What many, myself included, have been taught is that tarrying means to pray and ask God for the Holy Ghost until He comes. This is not what the followers of Jesus did.
They understood Jesus’ words that if they believed He would send the Holy Spirit to them, they were to go to Jerusalem and wait there (tarry) until He (the Holy Spirit) comes. While there, there did not do anything special. No extra prayer meetings, no all-night crying sessions. Just carry on with your normal routine until He comes. In Acts 2, they were together doing whatever they did while together. That could be praying, studying, or just in fellowship. The point was, they were all of one mind, one heart, one faith (belief). And of course, Jesus wanted them together in Jerusalem for what came next; the introduction and spreading of the Gospel.
Barbara, today we only come to faith (belief) in God’s promise that He will send the Holy Spirit if we ask. Yes, we must be willing to turn from sin and commit our ways to pleasing Him. And in time, the Holy Spirit will come. Finally, how will you know He has come? Whether overnight or over time, you will become a new person! You will cease old thoughts, ways, and habits that are not righteous before God and begin desiring to perfect your walk before Him. You learn what God sees as righteous and unrighteous by studying His Word. I hope this helps. Feel free to ask questions if you need.
Godspeed!
Yes
I been baptised before but then I was backslider Now I need Jesus in my Life I have repented I was once filled with the Holy Ghost my question do I have to be baptized again.
Christine, if you were properly baptized before, and you fully understood what you were doing, there is no need to repeat it.
Thank you for this! I have been searching for answers on this subject and your breakdown seems to be most definitive. I was searching not as some who want to discredit others but to understand because some things in church are tradition and practice that is not necessarily mandated by the Father, but can cause confusion for some believers. May God bless you in your endeavors!
Thank you for answering this question!!! I have been filled with the Holy Spirit since 1970 and am now 73 years old.
That’s wonderful! God be praised!
I tarry for the Holy Spirit. I do this by calling on his name no less than one hour. I need to do this daily and 3 times a day. As in Psalm 55:17. KJV. I fall short sometimes. I have noticed many big changes in my life. My desires and wants have changed to what Jesus have said I can have , keep, or do. So my question is why am I calling his name over and over. I admit I do love to call on the sweetest name I know. Please give chapter and verse. I do know God speaks to his prophets, apostles, and disciples to teach us his ways
Addie, you do not need to call His name over and over. He hears the first time we call with a sincere heart. The only voice you need (and will hear in this life) is God’s Word.
Heb 1:1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets,
Heb 1:2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.
Jhn 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Jhn 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
See? God speaks to us by the Word. He speaks to no one audibly since the Apostles. Trust that He hears you when you ask the first time.
1Jn 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.
1Jn 5:15 And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.
I am a recovering stroke victim and I don’t, and I’m a believer experience the Holy Spirit, It has been A little over three years since the strokes do I need to tarry for him or just baptized?
Sir or ma Tarry. His word tells us that he sent his word and it healed our infirmities. We gain so much that we don’t know from the place of staying.
The book of Corinthians make us understand that with unveiled faces we behold as in a mirror the glory of our Lord and are been transformed from glory to glory
God knows what we need for
every circumstances and situations. So he gives us what we need and shows us the right path that is uniquely built for our kind through his word
Has Arthur G has taught us through the holy Spirit. Just Tarry and behold
To tarry, in context of the scripture, simply means to wait, to linger in expectation. “Luke 24:49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.”
Jesus did not mean for the Apostles to constantly pray until that time. He asked them to wait patiently for the promise. This had nothing to do with what is considered tarrying at the altar today. The praying, calling Jesus until something happens is not biblical. No one did this. Think about how long they were waiting in Jerusalem. It could have been days, weeks even.
We are told to acknowledge and repent of sin, believe on Jesus, and be baptized. We are promised the gift of the Holy Spirit through obedience. Tarrying is waiting for that gift.
And as far as if I am teaching by the Holy Spirit? That for each individual to decide. If what you read on this site is scriptural and rightly divided, it is of the Holy Spirit. Otherwise, it is my belief. Even Paul spoke his thoughts…