One of the most amazing gifts God has ever given the Church is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
This gift was never meant for a select few. It was given to every believer.
“But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things.”
— 1 John 2:20 (MEV)
When the apostle John wrote this, he wasn’t speaking to leaders only. He was speaking to the entire body of Christ. If you belong to Jesus, you have an anointing from the Holy One.
What Is the Anointing?
The anointing is a gift of divine favor and grace. It means God has set you apart and dedicated you for a higher purpose. You are not trying to figure life out alone—God Himself lives inside of you.
Jesus promised this.
“When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth…”
— John 16:13–14 (MEV)
The Holy Spirit leads us, teaches us, and always points us back to Jesus.
John reinforces this truth again:
“The anointing which you have received from Him remains in you…”
— 1 John 2:27 (MEV)
This doesn’t mean we reject teachers or pastors. It means we are not dependent on man alone. The Holy Spirit Himself confirms truth within us.
The Same Spirit Lives in You
Here’s something many believers overlook:
The same Holy Spirit who was in Jesus now lives in you.
“The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him…”
— Isaiah 11:2 (MEV)
Isaiah describes the Spirit that rested on Jesus—and that same Spirit now lives inside every believer.
That means God placed seven divine answers inside you:
The Spirit of the Lord The Spirit of wisdom The Spirit of understanding The Spirit of counsel The Spirit of might The Spirit of knowledge The fear of the Lord
Everything humanity struggles with—confusion, fear, weakness, lack of direction—God already addressed by placing His Spirit within us.
With You, In You, and Upon You
Scripture teaches that the Spirit is with you, in you, and upon you.
“You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you…”
— Acts 1:8 (MEV)
The Spirit in you gives life.
The Spirit upon you gives power—power to live, speak, and witness boldly.
What Happens When People Are Filled With the Spirit?
Throughout the book of Acts, several things consistently happened when people were filled with the Holy Spirit:
Empowerment for witness
Ordinary people spoke boldly about Jesus. At Pentecost, Peter preached, and 3,000 people were saved (Acts 2).
Spiritual gifts in operation
Believers spoke in tongues, prophesied, healed the sick, and saw miracles. These weren’t displays of pride—they were tools for ministry.
Transformed lives
People didn’t just talk differently—they lived differently. The fruit of the Spirit became visible: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22–23).
Guidance and direction
The Holy Spirit spoke clearly, guiding believers where to go and what to do (Acts 8:29; Acts 13:2).
Boldness in difficulty
Even under persecution, believers spoke the Word with courage, not fear (Acts 4:31).
The Bottom Line
Being filled with the Holy Spirit was never about emotional moments—it was about empowered living.
The Spirit equips us to live like Jesus, love like Jesus, and point others to Jesus.
And the good news is this:
If you belong to Christ, this gift already lives inside you.
Remain in Him—and let the Spirit do what He was sent to do.
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