THURSDAY July 7, 2022

The With, In and Upon Experience

“If anyone loves Me [Jesus], he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.”
John 14:22-23

There are three distinct ways in which the Holy Spirit operates in a person’s life. First, there is the with experience; this is when the Holy Spirit comes alongside an unbeliever to convict them of their sin and to help convince them to come to Christ for salvation: “And when He [the Holy Spirit] has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment...” (John 16:8). The Holy Spirit helps bring people to their knees to accept the love, grace and mercy of God.

Second, when a person repents of their sins and invites Jesus into their life, this becomes the in experience whereby the Holy Spirit makes Himself at home within them. Jesus now reigns in their life:

“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).

Third, another term is the upon experience, when the Holy Spirit empowers the believer for Christian service. When a person is baptized by the Holy Spirit, they become a strong witness for Jesus Christ, and they impact others around them. The reference to the upon experience is found in Acts 1:8, when Jesus told His disciples:

“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Are you able to recognize the Holy Spirit’s work in your life? Is He with you, convicting you of sin? Then respond to His promptings to accept Christ. Is the Holy Spirit in you? He gives you assurance of your salvation as you abide in Him (John 15; Galatians 4:6). Is the Holy Spirit upon you, empowering you to be a witness? Ask God to anoint you with His power.

“He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”
~John 7:38~

For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!