The Timing Of The Spirit’s Overflowing
It is our conviction that this overflowing experience with the Holy Spirit can be both subsequent to and concurrent with salvation.
Let us consider Acts 8:14-17, “Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For as yet He had fallen upon (epi) none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.” Clearly these were believers in Jesus Christ, because they had “received the word of God,” and “They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.” They were born again, water baptized believers whom the Spirit was with (para) before their conversion, in (en) after their conversion, yet they lacked this overflowing (epi, upon or over) relationship of the Holy Spirit. Here the overflowing (epi, upon or over) of the Holy Spirit occurred subsequent to salvation. Let us consider examples of the overflowing (epi, upon or over) of the Holy Spirit concurrent to salvation.
In Acts 19:1-7, “And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples he said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" So they said to him, "We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit." And he said to them, "Into what then were you baptized?" So they said, "Into John's baptism." Then Paul said," John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus." When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon (epi) them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.” These are referred to as disciples and yet something bothered Paul about them, to the point of his asking as to whether or not they received “…the Holy Spirit when you believed.” There are two views regarding this passage of scripture. One is that these had submitted themselves to John’s baptism, believing upon the one who was to come, namely Jesus. Paul here declares to them Jesus as Messiah and subsequently they believe and receive Him as Savior, receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit and (in this case) speaking in tongues. The other view is that these, although formerly disciples of John, were indeed believers that had not yet received the infilling of the Holy Spirit into their lives. This is supported by the fact that Paul did not question the fact that they were believers, only whether or not they had received the Holy Spirit since they had believed. Subsequently they were baptized and when Paul had laid hands upon them, they received the infilling of the Holy Spirit, and (in this case) speaking in tongues. It is our conviction that the latter view is correct.
In Acts 10:34-46 Peter is declaring the gospel to the household of Cornelius, “Then Peter opened his mouth and said: "In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him. The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ -- He is Lord of all -- that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they killed by hanging on a tree. Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly, not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead. To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.” While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon (epi) all those who heard the word. And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also.” In this case, the overflowing (epi, upon or over) of the Holy Spirit occurred concurrent to salvation.
So it would appear from the Book of Acts that this overflowing experience (epi, upon or over) with the Holy Spirit can be both subsequent to and concurrent with salvation as we have read.
Why is this important? We believe that God desires every believer to walk by the power of the Holy Spirit in their daily lives. It is the Spirit that gives us victory over sin, “For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” (Romans 8:13). We cannot live victorious lives apart from the power of the Holy Spirit. This is what Jesus meant in John 15:5 when He declared, “…without Me you can do nothing.” This is what Paul meant in Philippians 4:13 when he declared, “I can do all things through Christ who is my strength.” We must ask and seek the Spirit’s power daily, “…but be filled with the Spirit,” Ephesians 5:18. "Be filled with the Spirit" is God's command and He expects us to obey. The command is plural, so it applies to all Christians and not just to a select few. The verb is in the present tense, "keep on being filled," so it is an experience we should enjoy constantly and not just on special occasions. And the verb is passive. We do not fill ourselves but permit the Spirit to fill us.
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