The Holy Spirit in the Old Testament
To start, let me clarify that when we discuss the Holy Spirit, we are discussing God. It will be challenging to comprehend the entire problem if we fail to grasp this, which is why it is crucial to grasp it. Through the person of the Holy Spirit, God is being revealed. We won’t have any trouble understanding the Holy Spirit as God if we have a solid understanding of the Trinity. He has existed from the beginning of time. He had an impact on the lives of kings, prophets, priests, and the children of Israel in the Old Testament.
In the Old Testament, There are three places where He was addressed as the Holy Spirit (Psalm 51:11, Isaiah 63:10; 11). He has also been referred to as the Spirit of God in Gen 1:2, 41:38; Exo. 31:3, 35:31; Num. 24:2; 1 Sam. 10:10, 11:6, 19:20, 19:23; 2 Chron. 15:1, 24:20; Job 33:4; Psalm 106:33; Ezekiel 11:24. There are times God refers to him as My Spirit like in Gen. 6:3, Is. 30:1, 42:1, 44:3, 59:21, Ezek. 36:27, 37:14, 39:29, Joel 2:28-29, Haggai 2:5, Zech. 4:6, 6:8.
In other places, you will see Spirit, Spirit of the Lord, Spirit of God, and, in most cases, Spirit (referring to that of men). What differentiates the Spirit of God from that of man or the evil spirit is that the Spirit of God carries a capital S, while that of man and the evil spirit carries a small s.
In the New Testament.
The activities of the Holy Spirit in the New Testament are very visible from the beginning to the end, starting from the incarnation of Jesus through the visitation of Angel Gabriel to Mary, announcing that the Holy Spirit will be upon her and that Mary will be with a child. God Himself is Spirit, confirming what I said at the beginning. He must be worshipped in the Spirit (John 4:23–24). Therefore, when we talk about the activities of the Holy Spirit, we are talking about the activities of God in the New Testament through various means, particularly through his Spirit.
The activities of the Holy Spirit
The Spirit gives life. John 6:63: The Spirit is received by those who believe. If they do, out of them will flow streams of living water (John 7:37–39).
The Angel Gabriel announced that Mary would be with a child. She asked how this would be, and Angel Gabriel declared, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you, so the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.” (Luke 1:35). Mary rushed to Elizabeth, her cousin. As soon as the greetings of Mary entered her ears, “Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit,” and she exclaimed, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear.” She added that she is so favored that “the mother of my Lord should come to me.” (Luke 1:39-44).
When Joseph learned that Mary was with a child, he planned to divorce her secretly, for he, being a just man, did not want to expose her (Mary) to public shame. The Holy Spirit again played a critical role through an angel (Matt. 1:19–25). The bullet points below are additional examples to the activities of the Holy Spirit in the New Testament:
- Maggi/Wise men-Matthew 2:12
- Joseph again took the child to Egypt Matthew 2:13-15.
- John the Baptist-His preaching and rebukes were filed with the Spirit
- Jesus at Baptism-Matthew 3:16-17
- Jesus led by the Spirit into the wilderness-Matthew 4:1ff
In Jesus’ ministry- The Spirit of God has played a critical role in the life of Christ Luke 4:1 (18), he drives out demons by the Spirit of God Matthew 12:28
Empowering: One can be filled with the Holy Spirit; He can possess a person just like an evil spirit possesses a person. E.g., For Elizabeth, was filled with the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:41), Zechariah Luke 1:67, and Simeon Luke 2:25. The Holy Spirit guides; when arrested, the Holy Spirit will tell you what to say (Mark 13:11, Luke 12:11-12).
Ministry
You can receive the Holy Spirit when you ask (Luke 11:13) because God gives his Spirit without limit (John 3:34). Mode of receiving the Holy Spirit: Jesus breathed on them (John 20:22).
In Acts, when the Apostles in Jerusalem heard that the Gentiles had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John. The apostles prayed for them, laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:14–17). Simon the sorcerer saw it and wanted to buy the gift with money so that when he laid his hands on anyone, they could also receive the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:18–25). When Saul of Tarsus was arrested, Ananias laid his hands on him to be healed and that he might receive the Holy Spirit (Acts 7:17–18).
Jesus gave instructions to the apostles by the Holy Spirit to wait until they were filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:1–5). The Holy Spirit gives power for ministry when he comes into one’s life. E.g., Peter before and after Pentecost. Peter spoke about the action of Judas by the power of the Holy Spirit, stating that David was led by the Spirit, and he spoke about what Judas did (Acts 1:15–17). At several times, Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit for specific purposes. When they healed a crippled man (Acts 4:8–10), they praised God after they were threatened. In Acts 4:25, they spoke the word of God boldly because they were filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 4:31). On the day of Pentecost, the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke in tongues (Acts 2:1–33). The Holy Spirit can encourage a congregation to stay strong, to grow in number, and to live in the fear of the Lord (Acts 9:31).
The Spirit of God settled a major tribal crisis in the early church (Acts 6). In Acts 10, Peter received direct instruction not to call anyone unclean, for this was his view of the Gentiles who have accepted the Lord Jesus, but led by the Holy Spirit (v. 19), he went into the house of Cornelius (as against the Jewish tradition of not going into the house of a Gentile). As he was speaking to the Gentiles in the house of Cornelius, the Holy Spirit descended on all who were living in the house, and they all spoke in tongues, as did the disciples on the day of Pentecost (vv. 44–48).
In Acts 11, the Holy Spirit helped Peter explain to them what happened in the house of Cornelius because the Jews quarreled with Peter for visiting a Gentile (vv. 1–22).
Agabus predicted a famine, and the disciples responded by providing for the needs of the brothers in Judea. They did this based on their ability and as they were led by the Spirit of God (Acts 11:27–30). Prophet Agabus prophesied by the Spirit of God that Paul would be facing persecution and even death in Jerusalem, but he (Paul) was not deterred; he was even determined to die for the cause of the gospel (Acts 21:10ff).
The Spirit led Philip to the Ethiopian Eunuch (Acts 8:26–40). The Spirit selected and set apart Barnabas and Saul for a particular ministry (Acts 13), and they ministered in those regions. As the word of the Lord spread, the church was filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
Receiving the Holy Spirit in our lives and ministry is the most necessary and important thing to do. We need to understand that the criteria for receiving the Spirit is to repent and be baptized (Acts 2:38–39). We need to be careful as to how we deal with the Holy Spirit in our ministries; we shouldn’t lie to the Spirit because He can be lied to (Acts 5 in the story of Ananias and Saphira). Because the Spirit doesn’t force himself on us, let’s not resist him. (Acts 7:51).
We must acknowledge teaching as one of Jesus’ core missions. Sure, he performed healings, cast out a lot of devils, and preached, but he also taught the people more than they could have ever imagined. During the Great Commission, Jesus instructed his followers to go and make disciples in every nation, teaching them to obey all of his commands and baptizing them in the names of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It might be challenging to cover all of the Holy Spirit’s teachings. But I think that by working together, we can accomplish a lot and learn new things about the Holy Spirit.
The Spirit of God started manifesting at creation in Genesis 1:1–2. The Spirit of God has worked in the lives of the prophets, priests, and kings in the Old Testament. He is still at work in our daily lives; people who have skills are filled with the Holy Spirit (Exod. 31:1ff, Num. 11:1ff, 16ff). Moses’ spirit is to be distributed to 70 elders, Num. 27:18ff Joshua commissioned because he has the Spirit of God.
The Holy Spirit – Who is he?
He is the third person in the Trinity. God is manifesting in the form of a force and power for enablement. He is a person; therefore, he speaks, intercedes, testifies, leads, commands, guides, appoints, is lied to, is insulted, and is grieved. He is God, and he is eternal.
- The Holy Spirit is a person. He is the one who created you (Job 33:4).
- He is the author of the Bible (2 Pet. 1:20-21)
- He is your only source of true joy, peace, and love
- He is grieved by the wrong conversation and conduct (Eph. 4:29-32)
- The Holy Spirit intercedes continuously (Rom. 8:27;Rom. 8:34)
- Loves singing (Eph. 5:19, Col. 3:16)
- The Holy Spirit anoints (Acts 1:8;10:38)
- He loves to talk to you through men of God, conscience, and the Bible.
THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT ACTS 19:1-7
Baptism of the Holy Spirit and fire is done by Jesus, Matt. 3:11. Sin against the Holy Spirit In Matthew 12:22ff, Jesus healed a man who was deaf and dumb so that he could hear and talk. The Pharisees said it was an evil spirit. Jesus responded in vv. 25–32.
We have enough teaching about the person of the Holy Spirit. We understand that he was there at creation; he has worked in the lives of the prophets, priests, and kings. He has worked with individuals as they relate to God. In the New Testament, we also understand the role he played in founding the church on the day of Pentecost and how the New Testament teaches us that our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit.
It is the Spirit of God that enables us to live our Christian life of evangelism, prayer, living sacrifice, coming together, loving one another, and a balanced Christian life. Rom. 8:11: The Spirit of wisdom and revelation (Joseph Gen. 41:1ff, Daniel Dan. 2:1ff), the spiritual man (Peter on Pentecost day), the spiritual church (Acts 12).
It is only through the Spirit that we connect with God because God is Spirit. We also have a spirit and a soul housed in the body.
- First, there should be a spiritual birth. A child starts developing when he or she is born. John 3:3-8
- Then, have spiritual milk or food. 1 Pet. 2:2
- Worship of the Spirit John 4:23–24 (Concerts)
- How? Offer your body a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to him; it is your spiritual act of worship.
- Speak (pray) in the Spirit. Eph. 6:18
- Fight in the Spirit Eph. 6:10-18
- Live in the Spirit (Gal 5:16)
- Possess the fruit of the Spirit. Gal. 5:25, 19-24
- Keep your spiritual fervor. Romans 12:11
- Do not quench the fire of the Spirit. 1 Thess. 5:19
- Desire spiritual things. 1 Cor. 14:1–5ff
- Be imparted with spiritual gifts. Romans 1:11
- The Holy Spirit’s influence transformed the typical Christian life into something more like him (1 Samuel 10:1–7).
There are 27 spiritual gifts:
1. Prophecy, 15. Apostle,
2. Service, 16. Helps,
3. Teaching, 17. Administration,
4. Exhortation, 18. Evangelist,
5. Giving, 19. Pastor,
6. Leadership, 20. Celibacy,
7. Mercy, 21. Voluntary poverty,
8. Wisdom, 22. Martyrdom,
9. Knowledge, 23. Hospitality,
10. Healing, 24. Missionary,
11. Miracles, 25. Intercession,
12. Discerning of spirits, 26. Deliverance,
13. Tongues, 27. Leading worship.
14. Interpretation of tongues,
Wait, Jesus commanded his disciples. Furthermore, what they went through applies to all believers (Acts 2:38–39). It is our honor to share in the divine nature (2 Pet. 1:3ff). We require the power of God via his Spirit to carry out the work of God; we do not only need ability, knowledge, or skills. God requires human labor. Man needs the might of God. God acts through the Spirit-given authority of men. God can set you on fire. The Holy Spirit is the one doing this. It is the result of a heart that is fervently wanting to be used by God.
CONCLUSION
Do you long for the power of the Holy Spirit? Desire the hand of God to be upon you, the all-essential and all-needed power, because it takes the power of God to advance the Kingdom of God forward. It needs to come into your life repeatedly. Each time there is a lack of power in your life, you can renew it.
By
MH. Kamaidan