THE HOLYSPIRIT - WITHIN AND UPON

By Jemima Rayan

It has been my privilege to speak on the subject of the Holy Spirit. I have seen many being filled with the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues. We are living in the last of the last days. The prophecy given to Joel is fulfilled almost every where. " I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;" (Joel 2:28). But there has to be a clear understanding between the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer at new birth and the enduement of power from above which is a separate and a subsequent experience.

Salvation and Baptism in the Holy Spirit:

We find in the Bible that salvation and baptism in the Holy Spirit are two separate experiences. Just because someone is born again does not mean he is filled with the Holy Spirit. This truth is made clear if we go through some passages in the New Testament (Acts 8:14-19, Acts 9:3-17, Acts 10:44-46). The passages teach us how the believers received the Holy Spirit. We also notice that the people were never taught to wait after the Holy Spirit came down on the day of Pentecost. All the believers did was, they received the Holy Spirit.

Let us read Acts 19:1-7: Paul asked the people of Ephesus, "Have you received the Holy Sprit since you believed"? (Acts 19:2). Have you? The answer could be yes or no. They answered that they have not so much heard whether there is a Holy Spirit. Then, Paul laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them and they spoke with tongues, and prophesied.

We see clearly that there could be a condition where a person did not receive the Holy Spirit when he believed! What is Paul talking about? He is talking about the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Even in our Christian world, we see people saved but not filled with the Holy Spirit. Salvation and the baptism in the Holy Spirit are two separate experiences though the Holy Spirit is involved in both.

We need to be extremely cautious about a teaching in these days that the baptism in the Holy Spirit passed away with the apostles. No, it is not. We see in the scriptures that not only the apostles but lay person like Ananias was also used to minister the baptism in the Holy Spirit. Ananias, who was a lay person, was directed by God to lay hands on Saul. Therefore the Holy Spirit is for EVERYONE who believes. "For the promise is to you and your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call" (Acts 2:39)

The Holy Spirit is God's gift for believers today as much as He was to the believers in the early Church. Laying on of hands is a biblical practice even today and is not done away with. God is still pouring our His Spirit on all flesh!

The Holy Spirit Within:

Apostle Paul asks the Corinthians, "Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is IN YOU"? (1Cor 6:19). This verse talks about the Holy Spirit residing in the body of every believer. Jesus said, 'I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide WITH YOU forever (John 14:16). Note the words, 'in you' and 'with you'. Here, we see the Holy Spirit abiding with us if we are believers. In the new life experience, what really happens is God begins to have a 'habitation' in every believer not just a 'visitation'. God does not want to dwell in man-made temples. Our body has now become a place when God dwells. Isn't that awesome? The unbelievers cannot receive the Holy Spirit. That is why Jesus said,' the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him not knows Him; but you know Him (John 14:17)

This result of the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit is to produce 'fruit of the Holy Spirit'. 'The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control' (Gal 5:22). These qualities cannot be produced by any human effort but only by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit takes control of a believer to produce such fruits. The Spirit of God helps in our weakness (Rom 8:26).

Therefore, the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit is to make us produce fruit.

The Holy Spirit upon:

Jesus said to His disciples, 'Behold, I send the promise of My Father UPON YOU; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem, until you are endued with power from on high' (Lk 24:49). Jesus also said, 'You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come UPON YOU'; (Acts 1:8). The Holy Spirit came upon the apostles on the day of Pentecost. There came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Divided tongues of fire sat UPON each of them and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-4). And the Holy Spirit has been here ever since for believers to receive. There is no need for tarrying.

There are nine manifestations of the Holy Spirit. This is a result of the baptism in the Holy Spirit. The gifts are given to bless each other. The Bible says,' the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each other for the profit of all': (1Cor 12:7). Paul writes to the Ephesians,' that you may be filled with all the fullness of God' (Eph 3:19).

Therefore, the infilling power of the Holy Spirit is for ministry.

Let us be filled with the Holy Spirit. Amen.