Holy Spirit in Us
by Debbie Poer
What do you understand about the identity of the Holy Spirit? How does the Holy Spirit influence and affect your life?
I grew up in a church that acknowledged the Holy Spirit as one part of the Trinity of God. But I’m not sure we ever truly talked about the Holy Spirit being the part of God living in us. Throughout the years of my faith walk I have come to a better understanding of the Holy Spirit – not complete by any means but always understanding more of the Spirit’s characteristics and influence.
Since before the beginning of time the Holy Spirit has been and from Genesis to Malachi, we encounter Him. As early as Genesis 1:2 we are introduced to the Spirit of God who “was hovering over the face of the waters.” In one of the oldest books of the Bible, Job 33:4 tells us “The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.” Both of these point to the Holy Spirit being alive and active.
Over time the gifting or indwelling of the Holy Spirit changed. In the Old Testament the Holy Spirit seemed to be given to specific or set-apart individuals and for specific purposes. In Numbers 27:15-23 Joshua, “a man in whom is the Spirit,” was commissioned by God to succeed Moses. In Judges 3:10 we read, “The Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he judged Israel,” speaking of Othniel, whom God raised up to deliver the Israelites from their enemies. In Numbers 11:11-23 we also see a time when God takes a portion of the Holy Spirit from one person (Moses) and gives it to other individuals (the 70 elders of Israel). And in the Old Testament God speaks in Isaiah 42:1 of putting His Spirit upon His Servant in the future – Jesus.
Early in the New Testament we continue to see the Holy Spirit placed upon individuals. Both Mary and Elizabeth are filled with the Holy Spirit as God prepared the way for the birth of Jesus. Things changed when Jesus came to earth. At His baptism the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in the form of a dove as God spoke a confirmation of who He was (Luke 3:22). After his baptism the Holy Spirt led Him into the wilderness where he was tempted by Satan, only to return to Galilee “in the power of the Spirit” after those 40 days (Luke 4:1-14).
But then Jesus begins to talk with his disciples about the Holy Spirt in a different way. In John 14:15-17 Jesus speaks of a Helper he will send to abide with the disciples forever. He further clarifies the Helper in John 14:26 when he says, “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things that I said to you.” And finally, in John 16:7-11, He says to them:
Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgement: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
With that, He told them to wait in Jerusalem for they would be baptized with the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:5).
Wait they did. It was the Day of Pentecost, they were gathered, there was suddenly a sound from heaven like a rushing mighty wind, divided tongues as if on fire sitting on each one, and they were filled with the Holy Spirit. From that moment they began preaching and teaching the saving power of Jesus. It was just an instant that changed the disciples from confused followers of Jesus to men who were courageous and bold in sharing Him.
On that Day of Pentecost when Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, was asked by those present what they must do, he replied, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38).
I’ve learned a lot about the Holy Spirit through the years, but it is more than learning who He is – it is doing. Every example in Scripture of someone being filled with the Holy Spirit involves their doing something – leading, judging, preparing, preaching, sharing. In fact, after telling His disciples they would be filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus’s final instructions to them and to us was/is to “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19).
We each must decide – do we live by the flesh or by the Spirit? Either are difficult paths, but if we choose to live by the Spirit, He is there to guide us in the right way, we are not alone as those who live by the flesh (Galatians 5:16, 25). If we have responded to Peter’s simple truth to repent of our sins and be baptized, then we too are called by Jesus to follow His command to “go.” And if the Holy Spirit dwells in us, there is no saying “I can’t.” Of course, we can’t if we do it in our own power. However, in the power of the Holy Spirit, we can. And when we become disciples who are making disciples, we are part of Acts 1:8, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
What have you decided?
