Veroni's Views

The internal work of the Holy Spirit is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in the believer.  Whereas in the Old Testament persons received a special anointing for a specific task, in the New Testament the Holy Spirit is the permanent indwelling presence of God Himself.  This is the result of receiving the Holy Spirit – see John 20.22 and my previous blog.

There is also an external aspect of the work of the Holy Spirit.  After the event described in John 20, Jesus commanded the disciples to “stay in Jerusalem until you have been clothed with power from on high.” (Luke 24.49)  This being “clothed with power” was fulfilled in the dramatic events on Pentecost and subsequently. 

Acts 2.1-4

“When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.  Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.  They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.  All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

Further in Acts the inner work of the Holy Spirit was complemented by visible manifestations. 

This is what Paul was referring to in Ephesians 5.18:

BE FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT

What then is the evidence of being filled with the Holy Spirit?

The accounts of events in the book of Acts describe the following visible manifestations of being Spirit-filled.  The believers became powerful witnesses of Jesus Christ.  There were dramatic signs such as the phenomenon of tongues on Pentecost and other signs e.g. healings etc.  

But what was the evidence of being filled with the Holy Spirit in people’s lives?  AND what will the evidence be in our lives?

1.         Motivation for the work of witnessing to Jesus

Acts 1.8 is fulfilled

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Acts 1.8 is a promise, not a command.  Therefore even under persecution Acts 8.4 “Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.”

2.         Boldness

Think of Peter in Acts 2, 4.29, 31.  The Jewish council were surprised.  “When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.” (Acts 4.13)

3.         Gifts of the Holy Spirit

All the gifts 1 Corinthians speaks of:  word of wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, wonders, prophecy, discernment of spirits, tongues, interpretation of tongues… 

4.         Fruit

1 Corinthians 13, Galatians 5.22:  Love, peace, joy, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,gentleness and self-control. 

Being filled with the spirit is as comprehensive a revelation of God’s power as is possible for a human being to experience

Are you filled with the Holy Spirit?

This is not an unreasonable question, because the solution is clear:

John 7.37, 38
“On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, ‘Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.’ ”

Jesus, whom you know, is ready to fill you with the Spirit who already dwells in you as a believer.