Holy Spirit

Who is the Holy Spirit? Jesus Christ our Lord told us: "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." (John 14:26)

The Holy Spirit is the the third person in the Trinity i.e. Godhead. Jesus Christ promised the Apostles that he would send the Holy Spirit after his crucifixion and resurrection. And, this we know was fulfilled on the day of Pentecost.

"And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, & it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, & began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." (Acts 2:1-4)

The Trinity/Godhead in the Christian doctrine describes the nature of God:

The Holy Spirit communes with us and we with the Holy Spirit as Jesus Christ Emmanuel, God with us. We take the Holy Spirit's leading which is scripturally tuned and peaceful. The Holy Spirit is not grievous or a hard task master to our being and always strikes toward harmony in the Word of God. The Holy Spirit's actions are in gracious order and always secures us in Christ. The Holy Spirit brings about the santification and perfecting of the saints as applied to the new covenant that is in Christ Jesus. This is the Holy Spirit indwelling in each Believer. (Romans 8)

One important roles of the Holy Spirit not mentioned yet - is that the Holy Spirit helps us to pray.

"Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered." (Romans 8:26)

Because of the help we receive from the Holy Spirit and what Jesus Christ accomplished by His death, burial, and ressurection we can now come boldly to the Throne of Grace. (Hebrews 4:16)!

The Holy Spirit will intercede in our behalf, as we give Him the place to do so, and because He always prayers according to the will of our Father, the Holy Spirit makes our prayers acceptable. As we seek Him the Holy Spirit actually will guide us and teach us how to pray. Not in formed or memorized words - but in spirit and in life - continually fresh and anew. We then as Believers are constantly strengthened in our prayers and provided confidence and anointing in our prayer times, but always as we make the Holy Spirit a priority in our communing and worship of Father God and our Lord Jesus Christ.

If you don't have that personal close relationship with the Holy Spirit, prayerfully use this message as a reminder and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal Himself to you. It is His nature, His reflection, His anointing that propels us onward in our walk in faith with Jesus Christ daily in spiritual strength and power. Don't let another day go by without seeking Christ's Holy Spirit with you right now! You will never be the same and that is how it is should be.

What Does ‘Baptize in the Holy Spirit’ Mean?

The phrase 'baptize in (or with) the Holy Spirit' was spoken of by John the Baptist. All four of our gospels record that he said, "I have baptized you with water, but he (i.e., Jesus) will baptize you with the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 3:11; Mark 1:8; Luke 3:16; John 1:33). The only two writers in the New Testament who refer elsewhere to the phrase 'baptize with the Spirit' are Luke in the book of Acts, and Paul in 1 Corinthians. Luke refers to it twice, quoting John each time (Acts 1:5; 11:16), and Paul refers to it once (1 Corinthians 12:13).

Baptism with the Holy Spirit is an experience you have with God after conversion in which the Holy Spirit falls upon you in such a way that your heart bursts forth in the utterance of tongues (speaking in an unknown language). Does this always happen? No. But, it is it to be expected? Yes. Know that you are sealed with the Holy Spirit upon your Salvation, so this is a different experience in faith and believling.

What we should seek (and this applies to all Christians) is that God pour His Spirit out upon us so completely that we are filled with joy, victorious over sin, and boldness to witness. And the ways he brings us to that fullness are probably as varied as people are. It may come in a tumultuous experience of ecstasy and tongues. It may come through a tumultuous experience of ecstasy and no tongues. It may come through a crisis of suffering when you abandon yourself totally to God. Or it may come gradually through a steady diet of God’s word and prayer and fellowship and worship and service. However it comes, our first experience of the fullness of the Spirit is only the beginning of a life long journey and a life long spiritual battle to stay filled with the Spirit. Because we should always be seeking Jesus Christ and His fullness and His transformtion power in our lives, as we understand His Word and His will in our lives.

Pray to Be Filled With the Holy Spirit Right Now

Have you met God’s conditions? Do you hunger and thirst after righteousness? Do you sincerely desire to be controlled and empowered by the Holy Spirit? If so, I invite you to bow your head and pray this prayer of faith right now. Expect God to fill you. Without begging or pleading, just say:

Dear Father, I need You. I hunger and thirst for a more vital relationship with You. I admit that I have been in control of my life. As a result, I have sinned against You. Thank You for forgiving my sins through Christ’s death on the cross for me. I now confess and turn from my sins and surrender the control of my life to the Lord Jesus. By faith I invite You to fill me with the Holy Spirit as You commanded me to be filled. You promised to fill me if I ask according to Your will. I pray this in the authority of the name of Jesus Christ. To demonstrate my faith, I now thank You for filling me with Your Holy Spirit and for taking control of my life. Amen.

Now, if you sincerely prayed that prayer, you are filled with the Holy Spirit. You will begin to experience a greater love for God. You will want to more spend time with Him in studying His Word and in prayer. You will desire to speak in the gift of tongues, that the Holy Spirit has baptized you with. You will want to exercise in the Gifts of the Holy Spirit. You will want to trust and obey God and His Word. You will want to share your love for Christ with others who do not know Him.