The Spirit In You

I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams.

Acts 2:17

SOMETIMES PEOPLE IN the Christian world don’t agree about precisely how a person receives the Spirit. Does he automatically indwell us after salvation? Or do we have to do something to get the Spirit into our lives?

Peter’s words, quoted from Joel 2:28, are reassuring. They tell us that the Spirit will be poured out upon all people who believe in Jesus. Some strange phenomena may follow—young men having visions that probably would provide guidance and hope in a situation, and old men dreaming dreams that teach them something deeper of God.

Do you wonder if the Spirit is in your heart and life? Here’s the test: Have you put your faith in Christ? Has your life changed—in big or small ways—under his power? Have you repented of things you know are wrong? Have you discovered certain talents and abilities for serving God that you never noticed before?

God promises to give his Spirit as his personal representative to all his people. He will withhold him from no one who truly believes.