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I did arrive, but not at the Baptist congregation. I arrived at the meeting with the holiness brand for Jesus. And that night I walked to the altar, knelt, and I supposedly received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. I prayed, shouted, and spoke in odd guttural sounds. Others were all around me, praying over me, and rejoicing that I had been branded by the Ghost.
An older friend showed up at the meeting, a not-holiness Baptist. He said he had sensed divine guidance to go there that night. He met me after I left the altar and, when the meeting ended, went with me home. He concluded I would be in big trouble, and he was right. I would likely receive physical punishment.
When we arrived to my home, he went inside with me and interceded for me, explaining matters and asking for my father to understand and forgive. He was calm in doing this, and he spoke in love. I sat and listened, thankful I was not alone to be held accountable for my disobedience. And my father was not simply concerned about my disobeying, he was trying to protect his son from being involved in something he held in suspicion. So, his motive, whether some would say right or wrong, was coming from a sincerity for my best interest.
My friend left, and my father and I were alone. I was not punished. We spoke briefly, both in kindness. That matter was over, never referred to again. That, however, was only because a man followed divine guidance to that church meeting and discovered his purpose was to stand with me and intercede in love for me. This is the gracefulness of Grace at work.
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Ironically, since this whole event was about a baptism in the Holy Spirit, in the Christian Bible Jesus speaks of a helper to be with us. The Greek is paraclete. This word means “one called alongside of” and is often translated “comforter.”
I will ask the heavenly Parent, and that one will give you another helper who will be with you always. That helper is the Spirit of Truth. The world cannot accept her [in Jewish thought, "spirit, Spirit" was feminine], because it doesn't see or know her. You know her, for she lives with you and will be in you.
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