Meeting The Holy Spirit

Wow! What a title! Meeting The Holy Spirit, but that is exactly what happened on my first known encounter with The Holy Spirit. It was awesome in one sense, and a bit nerve racking at the same time. Why? Because it was a new experience for me. Incredibly, I was already a christian, and had been for about 8 years, I had known God's voice, had a relationship with God, knew God, but I had never had that encounter with The Holy Spirit before, although I had been baptised in the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues. Incredible!

So what was the difference? If I could speak in tongues, that meant I had the gifts of the Holy Spirit, so why didn't I know him? I remember when I was about 12 or 13, I hadn't long been a christian, and I remember asking God if I could speak to the Holy Spirit, as soon as I had done that, the devil gave me a picture of a dark figure with red eyes, which basically scared me so that I daren't think of speaking to The Holy Spirit, I dont remember how long I felt like that, but I do remember the experience. The devil is such a liar!

So, to help explain the difference between being baptised in the Holy Spirit, having the gifts of the Spirit and actually "knowing" The Holy Spirit, I can only share what happened with me.

I remember I was sat in my living room, on my own, and I was reading Benny Hinns book "Good Morning Holy Spirit". How I came to read this book, I cant remember, I remember turning off the tv so that I could read the book properly. The first thing Benny said,

My friend, if you are ready to begin a personal relationship with the Holy Spirit that surpasses anything you ever dreamed possible, read on. If not, let me recommend that you close the covers of this book forever. Thats right. Close the book! Because what I am about to share will transform your spiritual life.

Well, I read that and thought - oooerrrr - he's serious! So I actually made a decision there and then whilst reading the book, that so was I. I was serious too. Benny went on to say that by continuing to read the book, I was basically inviting The Holy Spirit so that I could get to know Him and have a relationship with Him.

Now, at this point, let me just stress, The Holy Spirit has no other agender than to bring Glory to God, to teach your about Jesus and draw you closer to Jesus. So don't get freaked out thinking, hmmm...your relationship should be with God, not The Holy Spirit, well, if thats your opinion, then listen up, if you are an active christian, then you are working with The Holy Spirit everytime you do something in Jesus name, and I dont know about you, but if you are in your work place, its better to know the people you are working with than to go through your day not knowing who you are dealing with.

Ok, so back to sharing my experience. As I was reading the book, I felt a presence on me, I felt my head tip back and rest on the back of the chair, so I could be fully relaxed, I knew I had this presence on me, but I wasn't sure what it was, I kind of thought it was The Holy Spirit, but because it was a new experience, I couldn't be 100% sure, I wondered if it was the devil playing tricks on me, all I did know, it that is was an immense peace, I should have sat and taken it all in, but I just couldn't get rid of the thought that "What is it, what is it".

That night, I went to my room, and I said to God, "Lord, if that experience was of you, then please confirm it to me because I'm really not sure and I dont want the devil to fool me" AS SOON AS I HAD FINISHED PRAYING I looked at my bible, and read:

I read that and KNEW for sure that what I had just experienced, was my introduction to The Holy Spirit! It was as if The Holy Spirit had come to me and just said "Hello". What an awesome experience. But, what comes with having this extrodinary relationship with The Holy Spirit, is knowing that The Holy Spirit will take NO GLORY for himself, therefore, you can't get wrapped up in The Holy Spirit and forget Jesus, NO WAY! It just can't happen, The Holy Spirit is there because God gave him to us so that we could know God and could be close to God, hear God, be used by God, GLORIFY GOD, not only that, but... to change our lives so that we can be made holy and acceptable to God. The Holy Spirit isnt just a luvvy duvvy bouncy fluffy thing, The Holy Spirit is a VERY POWERFUL spirit who is interested in getting the job done. (although he does have a sense of humour, I think it was when I got to the fluffy bit I had to stop and crack up...ehehe)

Another thing to know about The Holy Spirit, is that He is very, very, very, very, very and even VERY precious to God, so much so, that the only sin that God will NOT forgive is any sin against the Holy Spirit, God will not have any of it.

WOW! You see, you can sin against God and Jesus and it will be forgiven, but mess with the Holy Spirit, and your done for. Many christians wonder what the Unforgiveable sin means. Of course, I have asked God to explain it to me myself. I looked on Google to see what other people were saying, one being sinning against the Holy spirit means not accepting Jesus into your heart so that when you die, and not accepted Jesus, then you have sinned against the Holy Spirit. Well, I'm not sure about that, infact, I don't really agree with it, why? because I believe that if you sin against the Holy Spirit, then you are fully aware of what you are doing. If someone does not accept Jesus in their lives, then they don't even know who the Holy Spirit is, this is why I dont agree with the writer.

Its a hard one to explain, but, my opinion of this is, when you know Who the Holy Spirit is and have experienced him, then you turn your back on him, speak evil of him, proclaim things of the Holy spirit are of the devil when you know full well they are of the Spirit, then I believe that is sin against the Holy Spirit. It's like a heart decision to speak against him. Preachers, teachers of the word would be able to elaborate much more on this and probably have better understanding if it than me, but I think I understand enough of it to know it is something I COULD NEVER DO! Why? because the Holy Spirit is someone I love deeply, someone who is so precious to me that I could never knowingly speak wrongly of them in any way, I just couldn't and wouldn't do it. I am so honoured to even know him, and honoured to know that he has put up with so much with me, yet still willing to work with me.

So, this post has gone on a fair bit, but, I hope by reading it, something stirred in your heart which gave you a desire to know the Holy Spirit more, and even if you already know him, I pray you will have a freshness in your relationship with him.

And remember this, The Holy Spirit is only concerned to Glorify God in your life and in the life of others, and if you are used as a channel by God by allowing God to use you though His Holy Spirit, then give Glory to God, not only for the works he does through you, but for giving you such a precious gift to enable these miracles to happen.

PRAISE GOD!