The Eight Blessing Of The Holy Spirit
January 2023
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“I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire.”
— MATTHEW 3:11
On a certain day, probably in May of 1962, as an eighteen-year-old young man, I became so totally interested in knowing God better and becoming full of the Holy Spirit. When I got off work from my job at Safeway grocery store that night, I drove to my home church—the First Assembly of God Church on Frank Phillips Boulevard in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. I got there about 9 p.m., and no one was there to let me in, so I crawled through an open window that opened into the prayer room.
I stayed there about three hours and, during that time, all alone except for the Holy Spirit, I experienced the mighty baptism in the Holy Spirit. I wept a thousand tears of repentance, received a new affirmation of the call to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and, toward the end of this prayer vigil, I heard myself praying in a language that I did not know. I knew that I had been baptized in the Holy Spirit. At that time in my life, I didn’t know how wonderful and important the Holy Spirit would be in my life and ministry.
In this article, I have set forth eight important blessings of the Holy Spirit in the life of the Spirit-filled believer. Please read them carefully and take time to look up some of the Scriptures and allow the good Word of God to make clear to you the manifold blessings of the Holy Spirit.
1) The Holy Spirit convicts of sin. John 16:8 says, “And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.”
2) The Holy Spirit gives assurance of salvation. Romans 8:14 says, “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” And in Romans 816: “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.”
3) The Holy Spirit guides and reveals the truth of life and God’s Word. John 14:26 says, “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”
John 16:13 says, “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth.” And in John 17:17: “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”
4) The Holy Spirit comforts believers in times of great stress. Acts 9:31 says, “Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost.” John 14:16 says, “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever.” II Corinthians 1:4 says, “Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.” And Philippians 2:1 says, “If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies.”
5) The Holy Spirit imparts spiritual gifts and the fruits of the Spirit. I Corinthians 12:4, 6-7 says, “Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit …. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.” And Galatians 5:22-23 says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”
6) The Holy Spirit empowers the believer for ministry. Luke 24:49 says, “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.” Acts 1:8 says, “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 4:31 says, “And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.” And Acts 4:33 says, “And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.”
7) The Holy Spirit prays through us the will of God when we don’t know how to pray. Romans 8:26 says, “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”
8) The Holy Spirit is greatly involved in the sanctification of the believer. Romans 8:11 says, “But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.” Romans 8:13 says, “For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.” Romans 15:16 says, “That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.” I Corinthians 6:11 says, “And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” II Corinthians 3:18 says, “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” II Thessalonians 2:13 says, “But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God has from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth.” And I Peter 1:2 says, “Elect, according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.”
The reality and power of the Holy Spirit is quickened and activated when a believer becomes totally focused on the power of the cross, which is the reality of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Maintaining our sincere focus on the power of the blood of Calvary activates faith to be baptized in the Holy Spirit as well as faith for healing, miracles, and signs and wonders.
All of these eight blessings of the Holy Spirit are made possible by sincere faith in the shed blood of Calvary and understanding God’s great love for you and me.
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