On the Day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit was outpoured from above. Apostle Peter responded with the declaration, "This...was spoken of through the prophet Joel...'I will pour forth my Spirit upon all mankind'" (Acts 2:16, 17)

This outpouring from above is an enfolding of our lives in Christ. It is a continual process, filled with many experiences. It means that we no longer need look to heaven for the Holy Spirit. To those baptized in the Holy Spirit that would be a mistake: the Holy Spirit now resides within.

RIVERS OF LIVING WATER

The Feast of the Tabernacles, a reminder of the Jew's wander in the wilderness, was soon to take place. The crowds were anxious for Christ to become their political leader. Top religious officials had already made attempts to kill Jesus.

In an atmosphere electric with keen awareness of physical realities, Christ turned the focus to the spiritual realm. Knowing the true needs of the people, Christ invited them to "drink" of Him and declared of the Holy Spirit: "Out of His belly shall flow rivers of living water" (John 7:38).

Earlier Christ had talked to another in need, inviting her to drink "living water": "The water I shall give you shall be in you a well of water springing up into everlasting life" (John 4:14).

Until Christ ascended into heaven, He was the source of this living water. After His Ascension Jesus gave each believer access to the Holy Spirit's outpouring from above. Christians are now the Body of Christ, and can also have the Holy Spirit's outpouring from within. This outpouring from within is vital, the wellspring to crucial elements of the believer's daily walk with God.

AN OUTPOURING OF PRAYER AND PRAISE

While in France, I went to a restaurant for lunch. Hungry, I could understand several of the items listed on the menu. But when the waiter came to take my order, I could not communicate with him, I did not know his language.

Fortunately, a friend who knew French was also in the restaurant. Seeing my distress, he came to my aid. With his help I communicated with the waiter, soon able to enjoy a delicious French meal.

When we become Christians we committed ourselves to a journey across unfamiliar spiritual territory, to speak a language of faith we knew little about. We frequently found that we had difficulty communicating with God. Often frustrated, we felt that God's promises were empty words.

But the Holy Spirit was outpoured from above to be our friend. The Holy Spirit sharpens our minds, in order that we can know how to pray. He came so each believer could communicate more completely with God, so that the right kind of prayer and praise could flow forth. The Holy Spirit even brought a prayer language, praying in tongues, purposed at praising and worshiping God. With the Holy Spirit our prayer life turns into a constant outpouring to God, allowing us to partake of God's many promised blessings.

AN OUTPOURING OF TESTIMONY

While shopping, a home cell unit leader from *Central Church noticed a lady crying. Approaching her, the cell leader asked, "What's wrong? What's happened?"

The lady shrugged, "I don't want to talk."

"Please talk to me," she entreated. "I have cried many times because of problems. Then I became a Christian, and God helped me. If you will talk with me, I know that God will give solutions to help you in your dilemma."

The crying lady dried her tears. She led her newly found friend to her house, and shared her story: "My husband is teacher. Throughout our marriage he continued his education, while I raised the children. I spent all my time with them, and didn't develop my potential.

"Now my husband despises me. He recently told me that he wants a divorce. He wants to marry someone of his own educational level. I don't know what to do."

The cell leader responded, "I had a similar problem. Then I committed my life to Christ, and He worked in my life and marriage. I now have a happy family."

The lady's tears soon turned into triumph. She became a Christian, later followed by her husband. Not only did he find a new source of joy, but also lost the desire to leave his wife. Their marriage relationship experienced a complete restoration. Through the outpouring of that cell leader's testimony an entire family became dedicated Christians.

This outpouring of testimony is not limited to enthusiastic lay leaders. By the power of the Holy Spirit the Bible becomes more alive and applicable in one's daily life, resulting in a deeper understanding of God's Word. This understanding gives impact tot he outpouring of testimony that follows: "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; you will bear witness for me...to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8).

AN OUTPOURING OF POWER TO DEFEAT SATAN

Despite diverging opinions about the conflict in Vietnam, nearly all agree that it was a war poorly fought. Western forces in Vietnam had the ability to defeat the Communists, but did not. They chose not to win, but to fight a war of containment. Thousands sacrificed their lives for a war finally lost.

Many Christians try to fight a war of containment with Satan. But that is not God's will. God has given every believer the ability and power to defeat Satan, resources that should be aggressively used in the war against the archenemy.

Christ repeatedly exercised this ability and power. Whether it was in the wilderness temptations, with the man near the tombs at Gadarenes, or dealing with the possessed among the masses, Christ was victor.

The same Spirit that was in Christ is now in us. We have the power and authority to drive out devils, to conquer the enemy's terrain, to defeat Satan. The mandate that Christ gave to His disciples, He gives to us today: "Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out devils. You have received without cost; give without charge" (Matthew 10:8, NEB).

AN OUTPOURING OF DIVINE LOVE

A few months ago one *Central Church member moved from a suburban house to an urban apartment. She quickly found that her neighbors' desire for privacy resulted in a mentality of isolationism. "God," she prayed, "how can I make friends with these people? Please help me."

Then she discovered an area of the building used by everyone: the elevator. She started spending two hours a day riding the elevator. If someone got on the elevator heavily laden with groceries, she would respond, "My, those groceries look heavy. Let me help you carry some of them." If someone was struggling with the children or babies, she would respond, "My, what a beautiful baby. Could I hold him while you take care of the other children?"

It was rare that her offers were refused. Not once during these times did she mention Christ or religion. The Holy Spirit had given her clear directions: "Right now just show them love. They need to be shown love."

Word of her kind deeds soon spread throughout the apartment building. Curiosity mounted, and several began to question her: "Why are you doing all this?"

"I'm a Christian," she replied. AI am a member of *Central Church. I was taught that the love God gives us, we should pour out to others."

"I see much love in you," many replied. "This church you go to - *Central Church - do you think that we could go with you sometime?"

So she began bringing her neighbors to home cell unit meetings and to church. Eventually because of one woman's outpouring of divine love, most of the people in that apartment building were led to Christ.

In His own life, Christ displayed an outpouring of divine love before He confronted people with their sins. He did not condemn Zaccheus of unfair tax practices; He invited him to supper. He did not use the event of a wedding feast to proclaim the arrival of the Messiah; He quietly turned water into fine wine. Christ used an outpouring of divine love to build a relationship with people, a relationship that often led to personal commitment.

Every morning people walk up Seoul's picturesque Namsan Mountain carrying water jugs. Tired of the city water that they have been drinking, they want the sweet, pure water drawn only from the mountain's springs and streams.

Love from sources other than God becomes bitter to the taste, and does not satisfy. Many are searching for divine love. God sent His Holy Spirit so that each believer could have an inner outpouring of that caring and divine love, sweet and pure to the taste.

Spirit-filled Christians should never shut up the wellspring of the Holy Spirit that resides within. We must let the inner outpouring of divine love flow freely forth, to satisfy the thirst of a dry, parched world.

*Central Church is now Yoido Full Gospel Church

Article copyrighted 1980 by "World of Faith" magazine, Winter 1980, Volume 2, No. 1, pages 5-6. This magazine is no longer published, but has been replaced by "Church Growth," available at P. O. Box 7; Seoul 150, Korea.