What the Bible says about the Threefold Relationship of the Holy Spirit with Men, pt. 10

The Proof of The Spirit’s Overflowing

Many in the Pentecostal and Charismatic Movements declare that the only true proof of the infilling (epi, upon or over) of the Holy Spirit is the speaking in unknown tongues. Typically they site Mark 16:17, “And these signs shall follow those who believe: in My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly it will by no means hurt them; and they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” However, this verse is intended to be representative of the Church, and it is wrong to use this verse to teach that all true Christians speak in tongues (compare I Corinthians 12:29-30 - not all believers speak in tongues, because God has not given the gift to all believers), just as it is wrong to teach that handling snakes or drinking poison is evidence of faith.

Paul declares to us in I Corinthians 13:1-3 the only true proof of the Spirit in a persons life, “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.” No amount of speaking in tongues, no amount of prophecy, no amount of understanding, knowledge, faith, giving, or even self sacrifice can ever take the place of love. Jesus said that love alone would be the chief characteristic of those who would follow Him, “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." (John 13:35). And it is the Holy Spirit who pours out the love of God into our lives, “…the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” (Romans 5:5). Further it is the Holy Spirit that Jesus Himself declared would flow forth from our lives, “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." (John 7:38).

The Bottom Line
We have seen how that the Bible describes three different relationships of the Holy Spirit with men. The first, para, tells us that the Holy Spirit is with men, convicting them of their sins and convincing them of their need for Jesus Christ. The second, en, in, describes the relationship of the Holy Spirit, where He comes in and takes up residence in the heart of every believer, as Jesus said, “…and will be in you.” The third, epi, upon or over, used to describe the overflowing of the Holy Spirit, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you…” (Acts 1:8).

As we have said, we believe that all men, in order to know the salvation that is offered through Jesus Christ and experience the full life promised in the Bible, must experience these three relationships with the Holy Spirit Jesus spoke of. We believe that God desires every believer to walk in the power of the Holy Spirit. We believe all believers in Jesus are to ask and seek the overflowing of the Spirit on a daily basis, so that we will have power to be witnesses for Jesus Christ. Whether we refer to the Spirit’s power in our lives as baptism, infilling, or overflowing, clearly we do not want to refuse the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives just because we cannot agree upon the terminology or timing.

Ask yourself, “Is the Holy Spirit flowing out of my life as Jesus declared He would in John 7:38, as “…rivers of living water?” If not, perhaps you do not know Him? If you don’t know Jesus as your Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit is with you, convicting you of your sins, and drawing you to Jesus. You only need to agree with God that you have sinned and ask for forgiveness and Jesus will forgive you and come and make His home in your heart. (John 14:21, 23). Perhaps, you do know Him and He is in you, but have never really experienced the overflowing of His Spirit in your life? You need only to ask and the Father will fill you with the Holy Spirit, “…how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!" (Luke 13:11).

God has given us the gracious gift of His Holy Spirit in and upon our lives, the very gift Moses desired for all men, “…Oh, that all the LORD's people were prophets and that the LORD would put His Spirit upon them!” (Numbers 11:29). The very gift Joel prophesied of "And it shall come to pass afterward, That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh…I will pour out My Spirit in those days.” (Joel 2:28-29). The very gift Jesus prayed for, “And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever -- the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you…” (John 14:16-17), “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you…” (Acts 1:8).

How can we neglect so great a gift? The Holy Spirit desires a relationship with you, whereby you may experience the full life promised in the Word of God. Don’t miss out on the gift of God, the gift of His Spirit. "So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!" (Luke 11:9-13).