Have you ever seen a picture of molten metal being poured into something? As the container it resides in is tipped, the liquid metal comes gushing forth . . . nothing’s going to stop it . . . it fills every inch of the cast . . . seeps into every part of the mold. That’s the picture I’m getting this morning of the Holy Spirit . . .

“For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour my Spirit upon your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants.”  (Isaiah 44:3  ESV)

That’s how the Holy Spirit is encountered . . . He is poured out. Think about it . . . we talk about “meeting Jesus” . . . but I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone ask, “Have you met the Holy Spirit?” You don’t meet Him . . . you kinda get drowned by Him. Jesus stands at the door and knocks . . . the Holy Spirit descends like flames of fire . . . the Spirit is poured out on people.

The word pour has the idea of casting metal . . . carries the idea of a massive volume of molten steel overflowing into a mold. Isaiah though says that it’s also like water being poured on him who is thirsty . . . like floods coming on dry ground. You get the sense that this Spirit who “seals us” (Eph. 1:13) and who has been given to us as a “deposit guaranteeing what is to come” (Eph. 1:14), can be something far more than a gentle dove descending on a soul. There’s a sense of strength . . . a sense of a overwhelming blanketing of one’s whole being. As He’s poured into the molds of our lives, He fills every nook and cranny, and then starts to “harden” as He “takes shape” . . . and while it might be our shape, it is His character which forms . . . His way which prevails . . . His mind which directs.

I think it’s the dynamic spoken of in Hebrews when the author quotes Jeremiah, “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord; I will put My laws into your hearts, and in their minds I will write them” (Heb. 10:16, Jer. 31:33). How does God implant His mind into ours? Through the pouring out of the Holy Spirit into our lives. How does God take sinners and form them into the image of His Son? Through the pouring out of the Holy Spirit into our lives. How committed is God to redeeming us to “the uttermost?” So committed that He has poured His Spirit upon us . . . and into us. Ok . . . so is this something to get a bit excited about?

The Spirit isn’t doled out in measure . . . a little now . . . a little later. No, He is poured out in such “quantity” that He will fill us to the full. He will so consume us that the mind of God will form within our minds. He will so flood us that the deserts of our lives will give way to vibrant pastures. By the bucket, He will dump water such that any thirst can be quenched. I’m thinking that’s some of what the “poured out” Spirit desires to do in our lives.

But while He may be poured out . . . though He can fill and flood . . . though there is no stopping Him . . . He also will not force Himself into spaces which are not open to Him. We can quench the flaming molten liquid being poured into us (1Thess. 5:19) so that He is prevented from fully forming in our lives. In fact, Paul says we very much have a responsibility in the active agency of the Spirit in our lives, “Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be [continually] filled with the Holy Spirit” (Eph. 5:18 NLT). If we choose to fill the mold with other stuff . . . like wine . . . or other lustful pursuits . . . or worldly goals . . . then this powerful, raging, overflowing Spirit will cede to our will. But if we will determine to give way to His presence in our lives, then watch out . . . flood gates will be opened . . . rivers of Christ conforming spiritual metal will be cast into the molds of our lives . . . and we will never be the same . . . we will thrive spiritually . . . we will possess the mind of Christ . . . His laws will be written on our hearts . . . and He will get all the glory.

Father, thank You for pouring out Your Spirit upon this life. Help me to hear His voice . . . to recognize His presence . . . and to get out of the way . . . so that He might do Your perfect work in my life . . . .amen.