The Holy Spirit is sent as a comforter to help Christians live in God's abundance and endure life's challenges. I believe that the filling of the Holy Spirit is a separate experience following salvation. Jesus promised the disciples He would not leave them alone. “When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me. And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning. (John 15:26-27). In another translation, Jesus refers to the Holy Spirit as the comforter. The Holy Spirit engages our spirits and gives us understanding.
John the Baptist said: “I baptize you with£ water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” (Matt 3:11). John was referring to Jesus.
God created us, Jesus died for us, and the Holy Spirit enables us to communicate with God in a deep and personal way. I understand that some believe that the Holy Spirit comes with salvation, when we accept Jesus as Lord and Savior, and there is truth in this. However, Jesus made a promise to the apostles that He would send them a comforter and counselor.
“When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.” (Acts 2:1-4)
As I read the Word, I understand that God is my creator, and He sent His son, Jesus, to be the fulfilling sacrifice to enable us to reconcile with God. God sent the Holy Spirit to the apostles to encourage them, remind them, shirr them up, and enable them to carry the truth to all people. I am grateful to God for opening my eyes to the truth. When I learned about the Holy Spirit, I opened myself willing to God. The Holy Spirit is a gift from God, and how can I turn that down.
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