The Holy Spirit in the Old Testament
IN THE STUDY:
The Holy Spirit is the personal indwelling of God in the life of the believer, made possible by the Lordship of Christ, to aid the Christian in daily living, and as part of the Church.
To be Christian, is to live in the Spirit. The Holy Spirit ministers within and through us. Our new birth is of the Holy Spirit (John 3:8). Because we are sons of God we have the spirit of God, and because we have the spirit of God we are sons of God (Gal 5:16-25), which would be beyond our unaided ability.
The Holy Spirit enters the life of the believer when Christ is obeyed as Lord, usually at the time of our baptism (Acts 2:38). With some, the Holy Spirit is active prior to baptism (e.g. Cornelius in Acts 10:44-48) and with some after baptism (Acts 19:1-7). We are to be filled with the Holy Spirit, which is usually a growing experience. (More on the “baptism” of the Holy Spirit later).
FROM THE PULPIT:
Each Australia Day, we think about our heritage.
The earliest name given to Australia by the Portugese explorers was “Land of the Holy Spirit”. Was that a prophetic insight? Many people, particularly those who are Pentecostalists or Charismatics, think of the Holy Spirit as coming to the world in the first century, then suddenly “rediscovered” in the twentieth. While the work of the Holy Spirit is certainly obvious in both these centuries, that concept is completely wrong.
Any study of the work of the Holy Spirit must start in the Old Testament. The Holy Spirit was alive and well before Pentecost! 1. The Spirit of God was active in creation (Gen 1:2). Elihu speaks of God’s spirit creating him (Job 33:4). The Psalmist says the same (Ps 104:30). God’s re-creating power in men and creation is likewise exercised through the Holy Spirit (Isa. 32: 14-15; 1 Sam. 10:6). 2. The men of God in the Old Testament, were possessed by the Holy Spirit. Great men spoke as they were moved by His spirit (Gen. 41:38; Num 11: 16-17; 27:18). 3. The Prophets were directed in their prophecies by God’s spirit. (Num. 24:2; 1 Sam. 10:10; 11:6; 16:13; Isa. 48:16; Ezek. 11:5). Isaiah’s great message (61:1) not only applied to his ministry but to that of the One of whom he spoke, Jesus (Luke 4:18).
However, in the Old Testament, the work of the Holy Spirit among believers, was confined to outstanding people in the purposes of God, and for special purposes. The ordinary believer had no sense of divine companionship and inner power from a comforter. That had to wait for the coming of the Messiah (Isa 11:2; 44:3; Joel 2:28). That time came, and Pentecost saw the same Holy Spirit come with power and conviction with divine gifts for every believer who owned Christ as Lord. Pentecost was the advent of the Holy Spirit in the life of ordinary Christians.
AMONG THE PEOPLE:
She was young radiant, and full of the Conference she had just attended. The singing with uplifted hands, the praying in tongues, and the sense of oneness with other Christians from protestant and catholic churches had rekindled her warm love and zeal for Christ. “I know you have been baptised, and have received Christ as Lord and Saviour. But that is only half-way. This is something much more wonderful. Pray to be baptised now with the Holy Spirit and you’ll be a real Christian!” So she urged.
That is the tragic mistake of many people who have grown in the Holy Spirit. To emphasise His presence, and his indwelling power, and divine gifts, is essential. But when a person receives Christ as Lord and Saviour, nothing can be more real or significant. Salvation is complete and needs no additions.
The Christian possesses the Holy Spirit when he possesses Christ. He still needs filling by the Spirit of God, and needs to develop the gifts given, but the Holy Spirit isn’t an extra to be added to Jesus Christ. To have Him, is to have all.
