I was raised Southern Baptist, walked away from God early in my teenage years, and renewed my relationship with Him at the age of 24. I had an experience soon after that of being baptized in the Holy Spirit, that I cannot fully explain, yet I believe is biblical and radically changed my relationship with, understanding of, and yieldedness to the Lord.

However, since then I have not leaned on that one experience, but have intended, as you say, to live full, or being continually filled with the Spirit of God. It’s about living a life experiencing God and being led by His Spirit. I want to be filled with Him so He can have His way with me and be glorified in my life. I expect wonderful, glorious, supernatural experiences with God, all of which must line up with the Bible and be for the glory of God, not me, with the end goal of bringing His rule, His Kingdom, from heaven to earth through my life.

I feel like there’s a fresh move of the Spirit of God in the earth bringing us all together with the heart you expressed – “I want all of God’s Spirit. In me, on me, around me.” Where we all bow our knees to see Him as He is and respond to Him with lives of worship, He’ll keep us on right paths. Thanks for posting on this.

Harold

Regardless of the various phrases in Acts or what the modern church may decide to call it, since Jesus refers to the Spirit as “counselor” and that he will guide us “into all truth,” I think it is clear that Jesus expects the work of the Spirit to continue beyond the initial receiving of salvation.

Fred, you referred to the ongoing work as a “bonus,” and I would agree that because of much of the modern experience in the church, it does seem like a bonus. However, this ongoing work was probbaly essential to the survival of the early church. If we truly believe our prayer “thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven” then it is essential to the modern church as well.

1 Corinthians 12:7-11
Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues,and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.

1 Peter 4:10
Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.

Many “full gospel” folk believe that when you are born again, the Holy Spirit “overshadows” you the way He did Mary and places within you the spirit of Christ. Then comes back to “reside” upon being “baptized with the Holy Spirit”.

I, like you, believe you receive the Holy Spirit when you are born again.

For me, you receive the Holy Spirit upon new birth, you receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit once and you can be “filled” on a continual basis.

I’ve seen more arguments on this topic than I have tongues! lol

Mostly I have a question. Could this also mean going to the well and getting “Living Water”?

John 4:14

Have a good day!