The key to answering my friend's question lies in Jesus' words in John 7:38, “He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.” All believers have Jesus living in their hearts (or bellies - or “innermost beings,” in the New American Standard). However, we must seek to have the Spirit released to flow out and flood our bodies and souls. We need to be overwhelmed, and drenched in the power of the One within us.

     When Jesus walked on the Earth He frequently healed people, prophesied, and performed mighty miracles. When we give Jesus our hearts we gain the potential to do the same things He did. He said Himself, “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father.” These things will not manifest automatically in our lives though until the Spirit of Christ reveals Himself to us further than He did through salvation. This happens without request often, but the Bible promises us that if we ask it will be given to us (Matthew 7:7).

     Whenever I was first filled with the Spirit I knew I was undergoing something supernatural, but at the same time it was not completely foreign to me. This is because the Holy Spirit is the same God that I had already begun a relationship with. I was simply encountering the reality of His presence in a heavier way than I had ever personally experienced.

     Many Christians fear Spirit-baptism, at least on a subconscious level, because they do not want something different from the glory they have already come to know. They do not realize that the Lord just wants to give them more of what they already know. The gifts He imparts, such as tongues and prophecy, are not new blessings. They are revelations of the Lord's personality, of His love expressed in higher clarity. Such phenomena should not distract us from God's heart, but draw us closer to it.

     Time and time again people in the Charismatic Renewal would testify that upon receiving God's empowerment they were stirred with a greater hunger and passion for things like Bible-study, prayer, and evangelism. This does not mean that Christians cannot have zeal for spiritual things before they get Spirit-filled. We can expect an increase in zeal though, and have our zeal channeled better in the directions God wants to take it. This is why Acts 1:8 tells us, “but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses.” The Christianity we already hold becomes strengthened significantly when we experience the release of God's Spirit.

     The following is a prayer we can all say:

     Jesus, I thank you that you live inside each and everyone of your children. Touch our lives in a greater way, and help us to know you deeper than ever before. Give us all a fresh baptism in your Spirit, with signs and wonders following. We welcome you, and we request a more sure faith in your abiding presence. Come, Holy Spirit!