Are you thirsty? Does something inside of you believe "there is more" for you as a believer, in spite of what you've been told? Are you hungry for more of God? It seems that God is stirring up the hearts of believers everywhere—in denominational churches, in independent churches and among the charismatic churches. People are craving more of God!
How well do you know the Holy Spirit? Maybe you've wondered how you could get to know the Holy Spirit better. He is a very real person.
God wants us to have a dynamic relationship with the Holy Spirit; where are yielding to Him, following His lead, staying full of Him and allowing Him to work in and through us.
WHO IS THE HOLY SPIRIT?
The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Godhead or Trinity. The Trinity is made up of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is a person, not an "it" or an impersonal "force." We are supposed to know the Holy Spirit—be led by Him, commune with Him, listen to Him, find comfort in Him, guidance, revelation, help, strength, intercession with Him and power through Him. Is that your experience with the Holy Spirit? Or ... has He been a vague person to you?
The Holy Spirit wants to do a mighty work in and through our lives. The Bible teaches us about two specific things the Holy Spirit wants to do in us.
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BEING "BORN OF" AND "FILLED WITH" THE SPIRIT
There has been much confusion on the role of the Holy Spirit in the life a believer. God is not confused on the subject ... but many believers are.
Some teach that the Holy Spirit draws us to Christ, causes us to be born-again, filled and empowered all in one experience. After that one experience, it's our job to practice "spiritual breathing" which includes us exhaling our sin through confession and inhaling God's Spirit and walking in the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
Other's teach that there are several experiences we can and should have with the Holy Spirit in our lives—including that first the Holy Spirit draws us to Jesus and causes us to be born again and then at a point subsequent to our salvation (moments or years later) we can and should be filled with the Spirit which is evidenced by more power to witness for Christ, a greater freedom to worship in Spirit and truth and the ability to pray and speak in the Spirit—in tongues—a language given by the Spirit.
Sadly, small wars have been fought over these issues. The Holy Spirit has likely been grieved and quenched by people defending their position on the very Holy Spirit Himself.
Let's look at the Word of God and see what the Bible teaches us about this subject of being "born of" and "filled with" the Spirit.
Let's look at these things so that we understand these two distinctions. There is a difference between being born of the Spirit (the Spirit coming within our spirit) and being filled with the Holy Spirit (the Spirit coming upon our spirit). We see it in these verses:
Jesus said that unless a person is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. (John 3:5)
After the believers were filled with the Spirit, they began to speak in tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. (Acts 2:4)
Jesus said the Holy Spirit would dwell with us and shall be within us. (This happens when you are born again.) (John 14:17)
Jesus also said that the Holy Spirit would come upon us. (This happens when you are filled with the Holy Spirit.) (Acts 1:8)
Can you see the four descriptions of the work in the life of a believer? We are "born of" the Spirit first and then we can be "filled with" the Spirit. The Holy Spirit comes to live "within" us and then the Holy Spirit will come "upon" us to empower us. We can be "born of" the Spirit and "filled with" the Spirit.
First: The Holy Spirit will dwell "within us" when we are "born of" the Spirit.
Second: The Holy Spirit will "come upon" us when we are "filled with" the Spirit.
TWO EXPERIENCES FOR THE BELIEVER
Do the Scriptures teach that there are two experiences for the believer? We believe it does.
Why are there small wars, church splits, confusion and extremes on this subject?
Sometimes a new believer can become confused by the various teachings concerning the Holy Spirit. Like any spiritual matter, there can be a "ditch" on either side of the road. As a wise believer, you will want to stay out of the ditch on either side and stay safely in the middle of the road on solid biblical truth. What are the two extremes concerning the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer?
Actually, the Scriptures teach that there is an experience of being filled or baptized in the Spirit subsequent to salvation. But the Bible does not teach that unless a person is filled or baptized, with the Holy Spirit, he or she does not have the Holy Spirit at all. The difference between being born of the Spirit (the experience of salvation) and being filled with the Spirit (the experience of being baptized with the Spirit) is examined in the following Scriptures:
1. "Born of the Spirit"—When we are born again, we are baptized into the Body of Christ.
For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:13, NKJV)
Often this passage will be used to make the case that this verse is talking about being baptized in the Spirit. Let's analyze it a bit more.
Who is the Baptizer in this verse? The Spirit.
Who is being baptized? The Believer.
What are we being baptized into? The Body of Christ.
BAPTIZED: It means "to dip into" or "to immerse."
We can see that the Holy Spirit is the baptizing agent. He is the one doing the baptizing. It is clear that this passage is NOT talking about the baptism or infilling of the Spirit, but rather the baptism of the believer into the Body of Christ. The Holy Spirit baptizes us (dips us or immerses us) into the Body of Christ when we receive and confess Jesus as Lord. At that moment, we are born-again—"born of" the Spirit and He then transfers/baptizes us into the Body of Christ.
2. "Filled with the Spirit"—When we are baptized with the Holy Spirit.
John answered, saying to all,"I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. (Luke 3:16b, NKJV)
Who is the Baptizer in the last part of the verse? Jesus.
Who would He baptize? Believers.
What are we being baptized with? The Holy Spirit.
This passage is talking about the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer - being filled or baptized with the Spirit. When Jesus baptizes us in and with the Holy Spirit—something is set on fire!
We can see from these Scriptures that the Holy Spirit baptizes us and places us into the Body of Christ, immediately, at the time of our salvation, or new birth. This is something that happens automatically to every believer in Jesus Christ. The Lord Jesus then baptizes us with the Holy Spirit, subsequent to our new birth. This infilling of the Spirit is available to every believer who desires more of God. Jesus, in fact, in Acts 1:4,5 commands all believers to be baptized in the Holy Ghost.
COMPARING THE TWO EXPERIENCES
Salvation is the baptism into the Body of Christ.
The baptism in the Holy Spirit occurs when Jesus fills us with the Holy Spirit and endows us with power for service.
In the passages below, we can see how Jesus and various believers were first "born of" the Spirit and then "filled with" the Spirit.
To read Part Two, click here.
For further study, I recommend my book, "Getting A Grip On the Basics."
Copyright © 2007 Beth Jones Ministries All rights reserved.
