You Are Complete in Christ: Understanding the Spirit Within and Upon
You don’t need more of God—you need to yield to what He’s already placed in you. The Holy Spirit lives in you, and when you choose to lean into Him, He comes upon you with power for daily life. You are complete in Christ—now live from that fullness.
The Force From Within
“And you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.”
There’s probably no subject in the modern church that stirs up more confusion and division than the baptism of the Holy Spirit. I’ve had enough questions come through recently—emails, conversations, online discussions—that I figured it’s time to walk through the scriptural foundation of what the baptism of the Spirit really is. Not from a denominational lens. Not to convince anyone they’re wrong. But to simply lay out what scripture says, affirm the finished work of Christ, and help us understand what’s already been given to us in Him.
Because here’s the truth: If you are in Christ, you are not lacking. You are not waiting on God to give you something He’s holding back. You are complete in Him. And when it comes to the Holy Spirit—whether it’s His indwelling presence or His power upon your life—you already have what you need. What remains is your choice to yield.
The New Birth and the Spirit Within
When you put your faith in Jesus—truly trust that what He did on the cross applies to you—something happens. Spiritually, a transformation takes place. Paul calls it a circumcision made without hands in Colossians 2:11. God cuts away the body of sin. You’re sanctified by the lifeblood of Jesus. You’re cleansed. You’re made new. Dead in sin no longer describes you. You’re revived. Alive in Christ.
It’s not just poetic language. Ezekiel 36:26–27 shows what happens in that moment. God says, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you… I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes.” That’s not symbolic. That’s literal. You receive a new heart. Not an old, wicked heart patched up. A new heart. A new spirit. And God’s own Spirit joined to yours.
It’s not like the old covenant, where the Spirit came upon someone for a task and then lifted. No, under the new covenant, you become the very temple of God. The presence that once rested behind a veil now resides in you. Permanently. As Paul said in Colossians 2:9–10, “In Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him.”Complete. Lacking nothing.
So from the moment you say yes to Jesus, the Spirit of the living God takes up residence in you. He joins Himself to you. You’re one. You’re not trying to get close to Him. You’re not trying to earn access. You are in Him and He is in you.
Spirit Upon: The Power to Live and Witness
Now here’s where the distinction matters. You can have the Spirit within you and still not walk in His power. You can be born again and yet live as if you’re on your own. That’s why we need to understand the Spirit upon.
Jesus said in Matthew 3:11, “He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” Now, God is the one who puts His Spirit in you. But Jesus—the high priest of the new covenant—is the one who baptizes you with the Spirit. That word “baptize” means to immerse. Think about water baptism. The goal isn’t to get water in you; it’s to be surrounded by it. Immersed. That’s what Jesus does with the Spirit.
So while the Spirit is already in you, there’s another dimension available: the Spirit upon you. Power for daily life. Boldness to witness. Fruit for character. Gifts for ministry. And it doesn’t come by waiting for God to do something new. It comes by yielding to what’s already there.
Too often we confuse the terminology. We say, “Have you received the baptism of the Holy Spirit?” or “Are you Spirit-filled?” As if those phrases describe separate events or classes of believers. But let’s clarify something: there are only two kinds of people in the world—those who are born again and those who are not. If you are born again, you have the Spirit. Period.
From there, the choice is whether you’ll live under His influence.
Filled with the Spirit Means Yielding
Let’s look at Acts. This is where most of the confusion tends to come from. In Acts 2, the disciples are filled with the Holy Spirit, and they begin to speak in tongues. But then in Acts 4, it says Peter is “filled with the Spirit” again—and this time, he speaks boldly to the religious leaders, not in tongues but in his own language.
This shows us something important: being filled with the Spirit isn’t about getting the Spirit in you for the first time. It’s about yielding to His influence. It’s about being inspired, empowered, and emboldened by the Spirit already within you.
Jesus said in Luke 12:11–12, “Do not worry about how or what you should answer… for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.” That’s what happened in Acts 4. Peter, filled with the Spirit, spoke as the Spirit taught him—not in tongues, but in boldness. And that same Spirit teaches you.
Being filled with the Spirit means living from His influence. Whether it’s for ministry, for patience in traffic, or for loving someone who’s hard to love, it’s all the same Spirit working in you and upon you.
What About Acts 19?
Acts 19 is often used to say you can believe in Jesus and still not have the Spirit. But if we slow down and look closely, that’s not what’s happening.
Paul finds a group of disciples and asks them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” They answer, “We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.” Right away, we see these folks didn’t even know the Holy Spirit was available. So Paul digs deeper: “Into what then were you baptized?” And they respond, “Into John’s baptism.”
So they weren’t believers in Jesus yet. They’d heard the message of repentance from John, but they hadn’t yet heard or responded to the gospel of Christ. That’s why Paul tells them again to believe on Jesus, and after they do, “they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.” That’s when they got born again.
Then Paul lays hands on them, and the Spirit comes upon them—they begin speaking in tongues and prophesying. But the point here isn’t that they were believers lacking the Spirit. It’s that they weren’t believers yet. Once they were, they received what was already theirs.
And Acts 8?
Same deal. In Acts 8, it says the Samaritans had received the word of God and had been baptized in the name of Jesus, but “the Spirit had not yet fallen upon them.” Sounds like they were missing something, right?
Here’s where word study helps. The Greek word for “receive” is lambano, and it doesn’t mean “get something new.” It means “to take, to lay hold of, to appropriate for oneself.” It’s an action. It’s not waiting for God to do something—it’s choosing to yield to what’s already available.
Likewise, the phrase “fallen upon” comes from the Greek epipipto, and in this case, it’s used metaphorically. It doesn’t mean the Spirit fell from heaven like a cloud. It means they hadn’t yet yielded to the inspiration or impulse of the Spirit. They hadn’t responded.
So when Peter and John lay hands on them, it wasn’t that God finally sent the Spirit. It’s that the people finally received—they took hold of what was already theirs.
We’ve turned these moments into doctrines that suggest you get saved, then get the Spirit later. But scripture doesn’t support that. What it shows is people learning to yield. The moment you’re born again, the Spirit is in you. And the power that comes upon you is available the moment you choose to lay hold of it.
You Don’t Need More. You Need to Yield.
Let’s stop waiting for God to send something. He already sent Jesus. He already put His Spirit in you. If you want to pray in tongues, speak. If you want to walk in boldness, speak. If you want wisdom, ask. James says God gives generously to all who ask without finding fault.
When Paul talks about being filled with the Spirit, he’s not talking about getting more of God. He’s talking about living under His influence. Whether that looks like praying in tongues, preaching the gospel, or walking in love, it’s all the same Spirit at work.
We often treat the Holy Spirit like He’s something to “catch,” as if He’s floating around waiting to land on us. But He’s already in you. You just need to say yes. That’s what repentance is—changing your mind, turning to Him, and stepping into what’s true. That’s how we walk in the Spirit. That’s how we see power.
And listen, if you’ve had a moment in your life where you responded beyond your own strength, where you acted out of love or wisdom you didn’t conjure up yourself, that was Him. That was being filled with the Spirit. That was the power coming upon you, not because you earned it, but because you yielded.
Final Thoughts
You don’t need to wait for a fire tunnel. You don’t need someone else’s mantle. You don’t need to hope that maybe one day God will decide to move. You are complete in Christ. You are the temple of the Holy Spirit. You lack nothing.
The anointing abides in you. Jesus lives in you. The Spirit of God is already within you—and when you choose to yield, He comes upon you. For power. For witness. For life.
So the question isn’t, “Will God move?” The question is, “Will you yield?”
As the Spirit leads you—whether into peace, power, or prayer—just follow. And let’s stop making it complicated. As Yoda said: “Do or do not. There is no try.”
How to Ask in Faith: A New Covenant Perspective on Prayer
“You’re not waiting on God. He’s already moved. Now it’s your turn to walk in what He’s done. Think, feel, and see the truth when you pray—and let the reality of Christ’s finished work renew your mind and transform your life.”
#1 Two Kinds of Prayer
“If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us—and we know we have what we asked.”
Prayer is one of the most vital aspects of our walk with the Lord. It's multifaceted—where we interact with Him, where we listen, where we ask, and where we declare. Today, I want to focus on how to ask in faith, and what that looks like in light of the finished work of Jesus Christ. Over the next few weeks, we’ll be diving into this theme of prayer leading up to Easter, but this message sets the foundation by tackling our mindset and heart posture when we pray. When we truly understand what Christ has already accomplished, it transforms how we pray—shifting us from pleading to confident expectation.
Declaring vs. Asking in Prayer
To begin, it's helpful to categorize two basic types of prayer: declaring and asking. While there are many forms of prayer, these two give us a foundational framework. Declaring is when you speak what is already true in Christ—what He has finished, what He has given, what He has promised. Asking is when you request something, often needing wisdom or insight, or drawing from what Jesus has already made available. These are not mutually exclusive forms but work together.
We are not trying to twist God's arm or convince Him to act. As I put it, “We have a unique presentation of the gospel here in that we just really focus on the finished work. We focus on who we are in Christ. We focus on the effects of the death, burial, and resurrection. And we look at the idea that as we behold Him, we become like Him.”
So much of prayer is about reframing. It’s about holding up our situations in the light of what Christ has already done. It’s less about asking God to come down and intervene, and more about learning to see our reality through the lens of our union with Christ.
You Are Already Perfect in Spirit
Before we were in Christ, we were spiritually dead—cut off from God, alienated, lost. But something miraculous happened when we placed our faith in Jesus. “We were dead in our sin… But then when we put our faith in Him, He gives us a new heart. He resurrects our spirit.”
So many believers struggle with the concept of being “perfect in spirit,” but the reality is, “You could say you’re perfect in spirit right now. Say it: ‘I’m perfect.’ And if you think that you're not, then quit being self-righteous.” This kind of bold language may make some uncomfortable, but it’s key to understanding our identity. We’re not saying our flesh is perfect. We’re saying our spirit has been made new—righteous, holy, blameless in Him.
2 Peter 1:3-4 tells us that God “has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness,” and through His great and precious promises, we become partakers of the divine nature. That’s not future-tense—it’s now. This is why we can approach God with confidence. We are not unworthy beggars. We are beloved sons and daughters, qualified by Christ Himself.
The Legal Battle Is Over
Sometimes when we pray and we don't see immediate results, doubt creeps in. We start making lists in our heads—maybe I didn’t give enough, maybe I brought something cursed into my home, maybe I’m disqualified. But these thoughts are rooted in law-based thinking.
As I said during the message, “You start thinking, ‘Maybe I brought some Masonic coins into my home and there's a demon robbing my blessing’… and it’s like, if you start thinking that way, then you get into this legal battle that has already been dealt with.”
Colossians 2:14 is clear: the law that stood against us has been nailed to the cross. That means there's no longer any accusation that has legal standing. “Everything past, present, and future—He nailed it to His cross.” That’s not permission to sin. It’s an invitation to live in freedom, knowing our righteousness is a gift. “I want to live in a way that reflects the holiness He’s done on the inside of me… I say no to sin—not to be accepted, but because I already am.”
Asking According to His Will
When we ask in prayer, we ask according to His will. But what does that mean?
Let’s look again at these anchor scriptures:
1 John 5:14-15 – “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.”
Mark 11:24 – “Whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.” (KJV: “believe that ye have received them”)
Philippians 4:6-7 – “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God…”
John 14:13-14 – “Whatever you ask in My name, that I will do… If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.”
Asking “in His name” means in line with His nature, His character, His authority. “We’re not naming it and claiming it. We’re not calling Bugattis into our lives,” I joked—but the truth is, God isn’t withholding things from us. He wants us to know His will so we can ask with confidence.
And how do we know His will? Scripture, His character, our identity in Him, His promises—and most of all, the finished work of the cross.
Prayer in Light of the Cross
Our model for prayer must be shaped by what Jesus accomplished at the cross. Isaiah 53 gives us a prophetic glimpse into this great exchange:
“Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows… the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.”
So what do we do when we’re depressed, anxious, or overwhelmed? We look to the cross. “You may feel like a loser. But what did He do that I can ask for? He carried my sorrows. He bore my griefs. He felt the shame, the condemnation, the rejection. So now, I can expect healing. I can expect peace. I can expect joy.”
This is not wishful thinking. This is a legal transaction. “It’s yours now. The timing was 2,000 years ago.”
Faith Is Not a Bribe
It’s important to remember that faith doesn’t get God to move. God has already moved. Faith is not leverage; it’s a response. James 1:5-8 tells us to ask for wisdom in faith, “with no doubting.” God gives “liberally and without reproach.”
We don’t go to Him and get reminded of our failures. We go to Him and get reminded of His provision. “He’s not going to say, ‘Well, you haven’t been to church in a while.’ He’s going to remind you, ‘Remember the cross. I dealt with that.’”
Double-mindedness is a battle most Christians face. The Greek word dipsychos means “two-souled”—split between faith and doubt. As I said plainly, “Most of our prayer is doubt-driven and lack-focused.” But that’s not who we are. We can learn to bring our hearts into alignment with truth.
Capturing Every Thought
This leads us into true spiritual warfare. It’s not about chasing demons; it’s about stewarding our inner world. 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 says:
“The weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds… bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.”
You’re not trying to get demons to obey Jesus. “You’re wrestling your thoughts into captivity until your thoughts are in agreement with what Jesus accomplished on the cross.”
That’s the battle. And you do it not just until your thoughts agree mentally, but until your emotions and mental pictures shift too. “Think, feel, and see the truth when you pray.” That’s transformation.
Transformation Through Mind Renewal
Romans 12:2 tells us to be transformed by the renewing of our mind. That’s how you prove what God’s will is. It’s not about striving—it’s about being renewed.
And when it comes to sin? “Stop it. It’s killing you.” Not because God is angry, but because it’s harming your ability to walk in what God has for you. “It’s damaging your capacity to be shaped and molded and transformed by the Spirit of the living God.”
The blood of bulls and goats couldn’t cleanse your conscience. But the blood of Jesus does. He cleanses your heart so you can approach Him boldly, not weighed down by guilt or shame. And when that happens? “You are unstoppable.” Not because of your strength, but because of what you’re letting God do in you.
Practical Application
Let me leave you with something to do:
Pick an area in your life that you want to see transformed.
Read Isaiah 53.
Ask yourself: What did Jesus do on the cross that applies to this?
Meditate on that truth until it brings hope and changes how you see the situation.
“Host the word.” That’s what we do. We don’t strive. We plant the seed, and the seed grows. We stay in faith. We think, feel, and see the truth.
The transformation doesn’t come from trying harder. It comes from beholding Him.
So let me ask you: Are you ready to ask in faith?
Then declare what’s true. Ask boldly. And renew your mind until you’re fully persuaded of what Jesus has already given you.
“Peace, joy, righteousness, healing, provision—rightfully, legally, yours. Now. Say ‘Now.’”
How to Pray: The Lord's Prayer As A Model
Prayer isn’t about convincing God to act—it’s about rehearsing the truth of what He’s already done. “It’s how we merge the realities of heaven with our earthly mindset. When you pray, ask: Who is God in this moment? What did Jesus already accomplish? And what truth do I need to align with today? We’re not trying to twist God’s arm—we’re laying hold of what’s already ours in Christ. For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Him. And through Him, the ‘Amen’ is spoken by us.” (2 Corinthians 1:20)
#2 Two Kinds of Prayer
“For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ. And so through Him, the ‘Amen’ is spoken by us to the glory of God.”
So much of the Christian experience, especially in prayer, has been taught from a place of performance. We think we need to pray long enough, loud enough, or with enough fervency to get God to act. But here’s the truth:
"The reality is, He has moved. He has given us all spiritual blessings in heavenly places" (Ephesians 1:3).
"We know His will because we know His character."
"We know what is legally ours in the blood of Christ."
When you pray, you’re not twisting God’s arm. You’re aligning your heart with what He’s already accomplished through Jesus. You’re reminding your soul that Jesus has already given you everything you need for life and godliness.
Three Questions to Ask When Praying
Whenever you enter into prayer, ask yourself three key questions:
Who is God in this situation?
Is He your Healer? Your Provider? Your Shepherd? Every name of God reflects His unchanging character. Prayer begins by anchoring yourself in who He is. You can trust the character of God and always expect him to be who he is when you pray.
What did Jesus accomplish through His death, burial, and resurrection?
If it was finished at the cross, you have every right to expect to experience it.
"For no matter how many promises God has made, they are 'Yes' in Christ. And so through Him, the Amen is spoken by us to the glory of God" (2 Corinthians 1:20).
Speaking the "Amen" is laying a brick on the foundation of truth. It’s agreement. It’s settled.
What do I need right now?
James 1:5 gives you permission to ask boldly:
"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him."
There’s no shame, no guilt, no reprimand. Just a Father ready to guide you.
Faith, Not Fear
Too often, our prayers are fear-based. We beg, plead, and worry our way through them. But James 1:6-8 warns us about this:
"Let him ask in faith, with no doubting... For he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind... a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways."
We can’t afford to be double-minded. And yet, many of us live as if we are two people. We must bring our thoughts, emotions, and beliefs into unity with what God has declared.
"Faith is a response. It’s seeing God rightly and aligning our lives with that truth."
Bringing Every Thought Captive
We often treat spiritual warfare like a fight against external forces. But the battle is in the mind. We’re told to bring every thought captive (2 Corinthians 10:5), but captive to what?
"Arrest every thought that contradicts the finished work of Jesus, His righteousness, His victory, and His love."
Refuse to entertain thoughts rooted in shame, fear, guilt, striving, or lack. Measure every thought against the obedience of Christ—because it is through His obedience that we are justified and made free.
Walking Through the Lord’s Prayer: A Framework for Transformation
Jesus gave us the Lord’s Prayer not as a rote repetition but as a framework. Here’s how I walk through it, phrase by phrase:
“Our Father, who art in heaven”
Start with relationship. This was a radical shift for Jesus' audience. Calling God "Father" implies intimacy, connection, and identity. Let His Spirit bear witness with your spirit that you are His child (Romans 8:16).
2. “Hallowed be thy name”
This is worship. Acknowledge His holiness and set apart His name in your heart.
3. “thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven”
This is kingdom alignment. Expect heaven to manifest here. Yield your will to His. Repent if your life is out of sync with His desire.
4. “give us this day our daily bread”
Bring your needs to Him. He knows what you need before you ask (Matthew 6:8), and He values you more than birds or flowers (Matthew 6:26-30).
5. “forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us”
Affirm your forgiveness in Christ, and extend that grace to others. Not to earn righteousness, but to walk free from bitterness.
6. “lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil”
This is awareness. God doesn’t tempt (James 1:13), but we ask for discernment to walk in the Spirit and avoid pitfalls.
7. “for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever”
End with Lordship. Affirm His rule, power, and eternal glory over your life.
Jesus’ Model for Prayer
Here’s a simple framework to use as you engage in prayer:
Relationship
Lordship
Worship
Kingdom Alignment
Obedience
Needs
Repentance and Humility
Spiritual Awareness
Authority and Glory
I encourage you to slowly walk through the Lord’s Prayer daily. Write out your responses. Ask, Does this feel true to me? Do I believe this applies to me? What thought or emotion do I need to surrender to walk in this truth?