We observe today a great lack in the life of many true Christians—they know all the Bible teaches; they believe all what the Bible says — and yet they have not the joy of a Christian, not the strength for their daily tasks, and there is no powerful testimony in them—What do you think is the reason of this fact?

     To be a Christian means to be saved by grace. We did not work for our salvation. We believe in Jesus Christ, who took all our sins upon His own shoulders, and carried them to the cross. He paid for them all, and He offers to us the forgiveness of all our sins.

     To be a Christian means that you have accepted this offer and thanked the Lord that He has given you the forgiveness of sins and a new life.

     However, most Christians stop there, and they try to live the new life in their own strength, but this does not work. Therefore, you experience all the ups and downs in your life, all the weaknesses, all the disappointments in yourself and in others.

     The Lord knew this before you, and, therefore, He has promised to every one who believes in Him the wonderful gift of the Holy Spirit. What is lacking today in the life of many Christians is faith in the gift of the Holy Spirit. You cannot live the new life alone. You can make it only by the Holy Spirit, who is given to you.

     Many Christians say that Jesus Christ is sufficient and that He has given us a complete salvation. He really is sufficient, but now many Christians ask: Why then the Holy Spirit?

     How would you explain the relationship between Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit?

     We must never separate Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. They really are one. There is one God—Father, Son and Holy Spirit; so the Holy Spirit is God. He is called in the Bible the Spirit of God.

     Just think what it means: the Holy Spirit is almighty just as God is almighty !

     The Holy Spirit is also called the Spirit of Christ. Therefore, when the Holy Spirit indwells you, He is Christ in you. It means so much to know this, that the fullness of the love of Christ is given to us by the Holy Spirit, who lives in us.

     And now Jesus Christ says, "The Holy Spirit will glorify me!" (John 16:14) So this really is the relationship between Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit: He glorifies Jesus Christ in us. He turns our eyes upon the Crucified and Risen and Exalted Christ, and reveals Him to us in all His beauty, and love, and glory, so that we are overwhelmed by Him.

     The Bible says: "Nobody can call Jesus Lord without the Holy Spirit." (1 Cor. 12:3) Therefore, you need Him to come to know Jesus Christ, deeper, and clearer, and more personal.

     If the Holy Spirit is so necessary for the life of a Christian, then everyone should know how he can get the gift of the Holy Spirit. There are many complicated answers given in our Christian literature. Can you explain in a very simple way how every Christian can get the gift of the Holy Spirit?

     The Holy Spirit really is a Person. He is God, and He is the Precious Gift of Jesus Christ to everyone who believes in Him. Jesus Christ says: "Your heavenly Father shall give you the Holy Spirit." (Luke 11:13)

     This is the offer! What have we to do?

     We can say "No," and we lose the most precious fellowship with the Living Christ.

     But we also can say "Yes," and accept this wonderful gift by faith—the gift of a Person, of God Himself, coming to live in our hearts.

     Jesus made it really simple when He spoke to the woman at the well. She needed help in her personal life, and Jesus knew it all, and said to her: "If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water." (John 4:10)

     She believed in His words and said with confidence, "Give me this water." (John 4:15) And Jesus gave her the great gift of the Holy Spirit, and He became in her a well of living water. She went and brought the good tidings of the Saviour of the World to her village, and many of them believed in Jesus as their personal Saviour.

     We must do the same: accept The gift of the Holy Spirit by faith and pray: "Lord, I thank Thee that Thou hast given me Thy Holy Spirit."

     You speak about the fullness of the Holy Spirit. Many Christians do not know what it really means in the personal experience to be filled with the Spirit. You have had this experience. Will you tell us what it meant in your personal life to be filled with the Holy Spirit?

     I would like to share with you what the Lord did in my life. I became a true Christian when I was five years old. I believe it was through the influence of my godly grandmother, who was the wife of a famous pastor in Germany.

     I knew that my life belonged to the Lord, and that I was called to serve Him. As soon as I finished my studies, I entered into the work of the Lord, but I really was a failure. I preached the gospel to the students in many universities, but I did not see any results. I was discouraged, and disappointed in my own life. There was no joy and no strength, no power and no love.

     I always asked myself: What is lacking in my life? After many years, I met Miss Ruth Paxton, and when I saw her, I knew she had what I needed so much. What was it? I soon came to know when I spoke with her, for it was the word in Ephesians 5:18 she gave me: "Ye must be filled with the Holy Spirit ! "

     But how? She said to me: "You must accept this gift by faith!" This word came like a flash of light into my heart, and I did it. I thanked the Lord by faith for this gift of the fullness of the Holy Spirit, and it really made all the difference in my life.