ALLOW THE HOLY SPIRIT TO WORK BOTH WITHIN AND UPON

The Holy Spirit desires to work fully in our lives. He comes within us the moment we are born again and begins to cultivate in us the characteristics of a Christian, the ninefold fruit of the Spirit. Galatians 5:22-23 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, (vs 23) Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law". Within us, He (Holy Spirit) becomes, as Jesus said, ".... a well of water springing up into everlasting life" (John 4:14).

But the Holy Spirit also desires to come upon us through the experience of baptism in the Holy Spirit. He desires to empower us to serve the purposes of Christ in God's strength, not our own. He desires to bring us into a deeper spiritual experience than we have His indwelling Presence alone. He yearns to flow through us to bless mankind as the "rivers of living water" Jesus spoke of in John 7:38.

And the Holy Spirit desires to manifest Himself through us as He wills in the ninefold gifts of the Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:7-11 "But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. (vs 8) For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; (vs 9) To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; (vs 10) To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: (vs11) But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

Let's allow God's Holy Spirit to work in our lives not just to bless us, but to empower us to be a blessing. Let's allow Him to be in us both a well of spiritual water to satisfy our thirst, and rivers of living water flowing through us to meet the needs of others! Let's allow Him to work with us as both the Spirit within and the Spirit upon!