Keep In Mind: Biblical Truth About the Holy Spirit - part 2

As I read the Bible, and in particular the New Testament, I’ve come to see the Holy Spirit at work in the life of believers in a two complementary and related – though distinct – manners.  Namely:

• "The Spirit Moves UPON" believers to empower them for service.
• "The Spirit Moves WITHIN" believer to transform character and produce fruit of the Spirit.

The Spirit Moves Upon - A short-term “anointing” of the Spirit with power for service.

This is how the Spirit works in the Old Testament.  Moses is anointed as a leader.  Isaiah has the anointing to speak as a prophet.  Another early reference to this activity of the Spirit is, interestingly enough, to Bezalel in Exodus 31 who is anointed with the Spirit and given the spiritual gift of craftsmanship.

In the New Testament, this work of “the Spirit upon” as an anointing with power for service is referred to as “spiritual gifts.”  Romans 12 and I Corinthians 12 are central to this expanded view of anointing power that builds from the Old Testament but extends to every member of the Body of Christ.  There is a lot to look at here that I often do in an extended seminar setting.

The Spirit Moves Within - A long-term "saturation" of the Spirit that describes a "state of being."

As I see it, there is a new way that the Spirit works in the life of a believer in this time AFTER the cross and empty tomb.  Because Jesus has died and been resurrected, He gives the Spirit to “dwell within” for the work of sanctification: the transforming of our character.  This is the Spirit’s work of producing Fruit of the Spirit that Jesus promises in John 15 and Paul teaches about in Galatians 5:22-26.

Again, there is MUCH more to consider, study and pray about.  I love to do that in a seminar, retreat, sermon series or over coffee.  But in this blog setting, I’m aiming only to give this simple frame work of “the Spirit upon” and “the Spirit within.”

Metaphor: A Living, Lighted Tree

Picture if you like a “Living, Lighted Tree” like we often do to outside trees with Christmas lights.  The tree is “filled with lights” that bring holiday cheer as well as “filled with sap” that bring life to the tree.  We want to grow in the Spirit’s work in BOTH ways for our life.

Sorting Out the English Word “Filled”

As it turns out, there are three Greek words that are often translated by the single English word “filled.”  Two have nuances related to “the Spirit within” and one to “the Spirit upon.”

For example:

• Acts 4:8 – Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, began to speak – is about “the Spirit upon.”  Peter is empowered to speak in that time and place by the Holy Spirit.
• Romans 15:13 – May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace – is about “the Spirit within.”

CLICK HERE for a 9-page “concordance study” of these distinct word groupings.  You will find under each heading 1) a definition from Brad’s work, 2) a word definition from Strong’s Enhanced Concordance and 3) a verse listing of every use of that Greek word (by Strong’s number) in the New testament.  I call a study like this “grist for the meditation mill.”

As always, I'm happy to talk more about what I begin in blog posting like this.  Feel free to contact me through the Harderwyk Ministries church office and we can arrange a time and setting.  Perhaps you would like to help me plan and present more of this information in a small group or seminar?

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I’m indebted to my friend and college classmate Brad Long for helping me see this two-fold nature of the Spirit’s work.  If you can find it, Brad’s book Receiving the Power is very helpful The book is currently out of print.  The last time I purchased it, I got it through the website of Brad’s organization: PRMI.org.  CLICK HERE for the book.  

Keep In Mind: Biblical Truth About the Holy Spirit - part 1

 Keep In Mind: Biblical Truth About the Holy Spirit

 In my experience, many folks are not quite sure what to make of the third person of the Trinity: the Holy Spirit.  This goes for church-going people as well as those who rarely “darken the door.”  We will be doing a lot of learning and reflecting on the Holy Spirit as we begin a new sermon series at Harderwyk for the summer because we will be working through the Book of Acts and the Holy Spirit is a BIG character in that story.

With this in mind, I hope to add some resources on an occasional basis through this series, that “stake-out” the boundaries of biblical teaching on the Holy Spirit.  They grow out of years of study, personal reflection and conversations with people that I shepherd.  So with thanks to all those people who have been part of my journey, let’s get started.

I. The Holy Spirit Is There From the Beginning! – Genesis 1:2 to be exact!  There we read,

Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.  Don’t let yourself think that the Spirit somehow appeared for the first time on God’s stage at Pentecost.  The Spirit is as eternal as God, since the Spirit is God.  Co-equal and co-eternal are two of the “summary terms” for that Bible’s teaching on this.

II. Spiritual Gifts?  Part of the Whole Story As Well! – Growing up, I had the mistaken impression that “gifts of the Spirit” became part of God’s story at the first Pentecost recorded in Acts 2.  Reading the Bible showed me how wrong I was.

Then the Lord said to Moses, ² “See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, ³ and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills—⁴ to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze. - Exodus 31:1–4

That is a great description of the spiritual gift of craftsmanship, which by the way, one might expect from a God Who is Himself a Creative Creator!  So don’t think spiritual gifts – more on those in the future – were not happening among God’s people until Pentecost.  David had the gift of leadership.  Isaiah the gift of prophecy.  I could go on, and will later in the series.

For now: Think of the continuity of the person and work of the Holy Spirit from the Old Testament to the New Testament as we start the Book of Acts.

III. The Holy Spirit Is A Person, Not Simply Some Impersonal "Force" or "Influence" - Let me say it again: The Holy Spirit is a "person," not an impersonal force.  The Spirit is a spiritual person, but a person all the same.  Throughout the Scripture, the Spirit has all the characteristics of personality - will, relationship, quenchable, etc.

Still my favorite presentation of this is the first chapter of "The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit" by 19th century evangelist R.A. Torrey called "The Personality of the Spirit."  It is clear, succinct and full of biblical references for further study.  Here's a taste:

It is also of the highest importance from the practical standpoint that we decide whether the Holy Spirit is merely some mysterious and wonderful power that we in our weakness and ignorance are somehow to get hold of and use, or whether the Holy Spirit is a real Person, infinitely holy, infinitely wise, infinitely mighty and infinitely tender who is to get hold of and use us. (p. 3)

By the way, you can have access to this book and MANY other classics for no or little cost .  Simple download the FREE Kindle app for your computer, tablet, iPad or phone and pull them in from the Kindle option on their Amazon.com listing.  CLICK HERE for this book by Torrey, currently at 99 cents.  CLICK HERE for my favorite Andrew Murray book for free.