May 11

“...on the day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit came to the church, ‘which is the house of God,’ to abide in her midst forever.  But in individual experience, the power of it is not always known, and each soul needs to come to its own Pentecost. The conscious presence of the abiding Comforter is not realized by every Christian.”  Hannah Whitall Smith, Daily Secrets, 5/10

Hannah calls this consciousness the baptism of the Holy Spirit.  I’ve often wondered if the denominations that believed the baptism of the Holy Spirit was a separate event from salvation were correct in their assertions.  Hannah’s explanation answers this question for me.  It’s not that we receive a separate or fuller filling of the Spirit, because if you are saved you have all the Spirit you’re ever going to get.  Rather, I believe, as Hannah asserts, it’s a consciousness of the presence of the Spirit within.  Just like in baptism where you are immersed in water, you are immersed in the Spirit and His presence cannot be escaped--you are aware of Him and all that He is:  Comforter, Counselor, Sanctifier, Sustainer.  All believers have the Spirit but not all are conscious of Him.  This may account for so many ineffective Christians and those who are considered carnal.  By not being conscious of the presence of the Spirit you will continue to be conscious of your “old man” and be influenced by it.  Between the two who do you think would be better to pay attention to?

“Thou dost show me the path of life; in thy presence there is fulness of joy, in thy right hand are pleasures for evermore.”  Psalm 16:11