There is an experience for the Christian following the New Birth experience. After a person has accepted Jesus Christ as Savior and is baptized into the Body of Christ as a member of God’s family, another experience awaits him that will bring him deeper into the things of God, into a deeper dimension spiritually.
Believers have been confused about this subsequent experience, and theologians and church leaders have debated the subject throughout the centuries. There are still some denominations that believe that the work of the Spirit ended with one’s being baptized into Christ-with being born again. Yet from the bible, we can clearly see two separate and distinct workings. These two workings are the Holy Spirit within us in the New Birth for character, and the Holy Spirit upon us in the baptism of the Holy Spirit for service.
Let us unfold this glorious working of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer by examining Jesus’ own words concerning the work of the Spirit within and upon, and unfold through the Acts and the Epistles the continuing work of the Holy Spirit.
Let us look at four portions of Scripture. Two are in the Gospel of John and the other two are in John 14:17 says, “that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be IN you.” Acts 1:8 says, “but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come UPON you, and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest John 4:14 says, “but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become IN him a well of water springing up to eternal life.” John 7:37-39 says, “Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. 38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’” 39 But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.”
Notice from these four references that the Word of God speaks about both the Spirit within and the Spirit upon. This is called the dual working of the Holy Spirit. We can see from reading these verses, and others that it is quite evident there is a dual working of the Spirit of God. God expects this dual working of the Spirit of God in the lives of those who have accepted Jesus. As we look at this subject from the Bible, we’ll see that there is also a twofold development God expects in His Spirit filled children. I will continue this subject over the next few months. Let the Holy Spirit and the Word of God guide your life,
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