The free gift of the Holy Spirit is the result of Jesus’ death, resurrection, and ascension into heaven where he reigns with the Father in glory. The Father poured out the Holy Spirit upon the first disciples of Jesus on the Feast of Pentecost (Acts 2). Jesus told his disciples that anyone who asks the Father in faith will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (Luke 11:13). This is the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecy that there would come a time when God would pour out his Spirit on all flesh (Joel 2:28). 

The gift of the Holy Spirit is not limited to a few but is available to every believer and disciple of Jesus Christ, in every land, every culture, and every place on the face of the earth.

What is the essential and unique role of the Holy Spirit for Christians today? And what can we expect to receive when we ask the Father for the gift of the Holy Spirit? 

Why do we need to be filled with the Holy Spirit?

The Scriptures present us with many attributes of the Holy Spirit and with reasons why we should always desire to be filled with the Holy Spirit:

  1. The Holy Spirit is the giver of life – he fills us with the abundant supernatural life which comes from God.
  2. The Holy Spirit is our guard, defender, and shield of faith 
  3. The Spirit is the Bulwark of Truth who guides and teaches us all the truth
  4. The Spirit is the giver of knowledge and understanding
  5. The Spirit is the giver of wisdom and counsel
  6. The Spirit is the giver of righteousness who helps us to do what is just and good
  7. The Spirit is the giver of discernment who frees us from ignorance, error, and wrong
  8. The Spirit is the giver of power, might, and strength which come from on high
  9. The Spirit performs mighty works and miracles in and through us
  10. The Spirit is the giver of prophecy, revelation, vision, and signs
  11. The Spirit is the giver of awe and reverence for God 
  12. The Spirit is the all-consuming fire of God’s presence and warmth
  13. The Spirit is our guide who leads and directs us in doing God’s will
  14. The Holy Spirit is the purifying fire who cleanses us of guilt and sin
  15. The Holy Spirit is our sanctifier who makes us holy as God is holy
  16. The Spirit of glory transforms us from one degree of glory to another
  17. The Spirit of fortitude instills confidence, boldness, and courage in us
  18. The Spirit is the giver and power of undying love and overflowing compassion
  19. The Spirit is the power of forgiveness and mercy who shows us the way of mercy
  20. The Spirit of meekness makes us meek and gentle of heart like the heart of Jeus
  21. The Spirit of humility makes us willing servants as Jesus served humbly and willingly
  22. The Spirit of hope gives us patience, long-suffering, and perseverance
  23. The Spirit of discipline and self-control helps us grow in self-mastery and maturity
  24. The Spirit is the giver of peace that passes all understanding
  25. The Spirit is the giver of unspeakable joy, happiness, and contentment
  26. The Spirit is the anchor and hope of heaven who makes our hope grow strong and steady
  27. The Spirit is our intercessor who knows our needs and shows us what to pray for.
  28. The Spirit prays in and through us and gives us the gift of tongues and gift of praise. 
  29. The Spirit fills us with generosity and magnanimity
  30. The Spirit is a guiding light when we are lost, confused, or perplexed
  31. The Spirit is our burning bush and pillar of fire who burns constantly within us
  32. The Spirit makes us a tabernacle and temple of God’s presence
  33. The Spirit is the power and strength of saints
  34. The Spirit is the power and strength of missionaries
  35. The Spirit is the power and strength of martyrs
  36. The Holy Spirit is our Helper, Comforter, and Advocate.

God wants to “pour out his Spirit on all flesh” (Joel 2:28). That has been his plan since the beginning and it is his will for us today. We can ignore or resist God’s offer to fill us with his Holy Spirit, or we can ask the Father to fill us with the gift of the Holy Spirit (Luke 10:11).

God is Spirit – we can only know and experience his presence and power at work in his creation, his people, and in our personal lives through the gift and working of his Holy Spirit. God wants each of us to know him personally and experientially as our Father in heaven.

We can only know God personally and experientially as our Father through his Spirit. This is the supreme work of the Holy Spirit who witnesses with our spirit that God is our Father who lives in us and makes his home with us and remains with us.

We can personally and experientially know God’s love for us through the gift of the Holy Spirit. God pours his love into our hearts through the gift of the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5).  May this article inspire you to ask the Father to give you the gift and full release of the Holy Spirit and to renew within you the gifts of faith, hope, and love and the spiritual gifts that equip us for effective mission and growth in holy living for Jesus Christ. 

Don Schwager is a member of the Servants of the Word and he is the editor of Daily Scripture. This article was adapted from Living Bulwark June-July 2015 issue. Used with permission.