The Communion of the Holy Spirit by Watchman Nee Read Free Book Online

exaltation. The Holy Spirit falls upon believers to clothe them with the Lord’s power in being witnesses and in manifesting the gifts of the Spirit, thus having power to work for God and to accomplish His will.
    As we read the Old and New Testaments we must distinguish clearly between the Holy Spirit’s work within men and upon men. Then shall we see that there is no contradiction in the many references to the work of the Holy Spirit. Otherwise, we will be puzzled by many seeming contradictions. According to God’s word, each and every regenerated person must have the Holy Spirit indwelling him so that he also may receive the Spirit’s outpouring. The one is “must”; the other is “may.” Without any doubt, as soon as a person believes in the Lord, the Holy Spirit “must” dwell in him. On the other hand, he “may” also receive the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. By simply differentiating these two words you are able to see the wonder of it all.
    Let me illustrate this. One day the Samaritans believed in the Lord and were baptized. The Bible does not say that they received both the indwelling and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Acts 8 records that these people had believed in the Lord and were baptized, but “as yet” the Holy Spirit “was fallen upon none of them” (v.16). So when the apostles in Jerusalem heard about it, they sent Peter and John to lay hands on the Samaritan believers so that they might receive the Holy Spirit. Now if a person is ignorant of the distinction between the indwelling and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, he will find it difficult to explain this incident of the Samaritans who had believed and were baptized and yet had not received the Holy Spirit. Moreover, he will not know how to interpret certain passages in Romans 8, 1 John 4 and 1 Corinthians 6 in relation to this event. For all these passages indicate that as soon as one believes in the Lord that person has the Holy Spirit indwelling him. The fact of the matter is that the Samaritans did not lack the indwelling Spirit, they only lacked the outpoured Spirit.

THE HOLY SPIRIT WORKS WITHIN AND WITHOUT
    The work of the Spirit within man is for life and living, enabling him to bear the fruit of the Holy Spirit. The work of the Spirit upon men is for witness and service, causing us to manifest spiritual gifts. Were a person to be filled with the Holy Spirit inwardly and have the Holy Spirit fall upon him outwardly, he would possess great power in serving the Lord. Yet if he is not filled within with the Holy Spirit and only receives outwardly the outpouring of the Spirit, he may be hurt instead of helped because he can easily become proud. For he who does not know the victorious life in his walk may receive the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, but a few months or years later, his spiritual condition will be exposed to everybody. Hence, we must experience both aspects of the Spirit’s work.

THE HOLY SPIRIT BEARS WITNESS CONCERNING CHRIST
    The Holy Spirit does not bear witness to himself; He bears witness to Christ (see John 15.26). When a person sees the redemption of the cross he can be taught to ask the Holy Spirit to help him believe. This is to lead him to see Christ. As we talk about the work of the Holy Spirit in men, our attention is not on the Holy Spirit himself, because He bears witness concerning Christ. Even when we speak on the victorious life, we only mention how the Lord is resurrected to be our life; we do not focus on the Holy Spirit. For the latter’s work is directly joined to Christ and His work. By seeing the work of Christ, people have the work of the Holy Spirit. By seeing the death of the Lord, they receive the regeneration of the Holy Spirit. By seeing the resurrection of the Lord, they have the Holy Spirit as their life. And when people see the ascended and enthroned Lord, they receive the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
    Not only the Spirit’s outpouring witnesses to Christ, the Spirit’s