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2) The Spirit-on-us
As has been seen in the section on one baptism, the Holy Spirit baptism is
the second part of being baptized into Jesus. Unlike the Spirit-in-us which
regenerates our spirit, the Spirit-on-us is for spiritual service. ACT 1:8
but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you
shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even
to the remotest part of the earth." That is not to say that the
Spirit-in-us is impotent to perform spiritual acts in behalf of others. It is in
our spirit that we grow in faith and this faith can be release to accomplish the
impossible. The Spirit that clothes us (on us), gives us abilities that are not
subject to a mature faith. When we are clothed in the Spirit, the Holy Spirit
bestows supernatural gifts that can be used by the child of God immediately. It
is not subject to understanding of how they work nor knowing all there is to
know about their particular gift. It is expected by most that they will flow in
a spiritual tongue at the time of baptism in the Spirit. We even see in
scripture that some have prophesied at the time of reception (Acts 19:6).
Because this is not subject to maturity or understanding, it is imperative that
we do not esteem and exalt the immaturely gifted to places of authority. We must
allow them to exercise their gifts and grow in maturity which can mean difficult
times for those who lead them. If we suppress the gifted and deny them the use of
their gifts we stop the work of God and destroy our own harvest.
We can even receive some insight into the Spirit-on-us and the Spirit-in-us
by looking at King Saul's beginnings. 1SA 10:9 ¶ Then it happened when he
turned his back to leave Samuel, God changed his heart; and all
those signs came about on that day. 10:10 When they came to the hill there,
behold, a group of prophets met him; and the Spirit of God came upon him
mightily, so that he prophesied among them. In this
scripture we see Saul leaving Samuel after being told that he would be King over
Israel. As soon as Saul turned to leave The scripture say; God changed his
heart. The changing of the heart illustrates what we call the born again
experience (the Spirit-in-us). In verse ten we see what we call the baptism of
the Spirit (the Spirit-on-us). When Saul met the prophets the Spirit of God came
UPON him and he prophesied.
When the Spirit comes upon us it is to clothe us in Power. It is similar to
when Elisha took the mantle from Elijah, after Elijah was taken up in the
chariot of fire. A mantle is a garment that was worn like a coat, and it was
worn on the body. When the Spirit comes upon us it is not uncommon for us to be
like Elisha and not sense anything different. 2KI 2:14 And he took the
mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and struck the waters and said, "Where
is the Lord, the God of Elijah?" And when he also had struck the waters,
they were divided here and there; and Elisha crossed over. In reading the
account it seems as if Elisha was not sure that the power of God would work for
him as it did for Elijah. Many of us after being Spirit baptized are not sure
that it will work for us. If we act like Elisha and step out in the littleness
of our faith we will also see God part the waters.
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