The Promise of the Holy Spirit

 

 The Promise of the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is the Third Person of the Trinity. He is *God, the Holy Spirit . Not an it but a He with a personality. To be able to understand Who He is and His work in a believer's life, you must start from the acknowledgement that He is a person. He is the One described in the Word as the Spirit of the Lord. Tracing it from the Scripture, you can see that in the beginning before creation, the Spirit of the Lord was moving around the face of the waters. In Gen 1:26, He was present in the let us (God the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit) make man in our own image and likeness. Reading through the Scriptures you will realise He was operational even before the time of Pentecost came. You will find it in Scripture that the Spirit of the Lord came mighty upon someone and they were able to... prophesy, others fight and win war. 

 The Spirit of the Lord before came upon specified people and was on them for the work of ministry; for empowerment to serve God.* In the book of Samuel when both Saul and David were anointed as Kings of Israel, the Bible says that the Spirit of the Lord came upon them. The Bible says in Luke 1:15 that John the Baptist would be filled with the Holy Spirit from birth and this for the purpose of his assignment; to prepare the way for the Lord. The Bible was also written through inspiration by the Holy Spirit so He was operational on the men and women of God who wrote the Old Testament. 

In Joel chapter 2, a promise is given; *a Promise that God will pour His Spirit upon _ALL_ flesh.* It goes;

Joel 2:28-29;

[28]“And it shall come to pass afterward That I (God) will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your old men shall dream dreams, Your young men shall see visions.

[29]And also on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days.

God promised to now pour His Spirit upon ALL flesh and with manifestations. The Holy Spirit would bring about prophecies, dreams and visions . All these are *communication methods* from God that would come through the Holy Spirit. The Bible in 1 Cor 2:10 that *God reveals to us His deep things through His Spirit Who searches all things.* By Him we know of the things prepared for us and the things to come. 

Jesus in the book of John speaks about the coming of the Holy Spirit. In John 16:7, He tells the disciples that it is to their advantage for Him to go away for if He doesn't the Helper (The Holy Spirit) would not come but if He (Christ) does go, He will send the Holy Spirit to us. I once thought to myself how would it be advantageous for Jesus to go away? It then came to my heart that there is a difference between being with Jesus and having Jesus live in you. That was the advantage that Christ would live and now indwell in us through the Holy Spirit.

John the Baptist talked of *Jesus as He Who would baptize us with the Holy Spirit and with fire.* Before His (Christ's ascension), He made it known to His disciples that He would send the Promise of His Father (God) upon them. They were to tarry in the city of Jerusalem until they are filled with power from on high. Acts 1:8 says that *you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you* so this power was to come by the Holy Spirit. After Christ ascended, the disciples went to Jerusalem where they were in tarry (waiting and expecting the Holy Spirit). There is something about expectation in matters concerning the Holy Spirit. Jesus said that to the thirsty, He would fill with the Water of Life and this He spoke of the Holy Spirit. 

The narration of the coming of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2 commences this way; 

Acts 2:1

[1]When the *Day of Pentecost had fully come* , they were all with one accord in one place.. 

I asked myself the other day why fully come?Was there a day that it was? The reason as to why the writer writes the Day of Pentecost had fully come is because the Holy Spirit was still operational on specified people to serve to God and this time He was being poured out to all people; all who were expectant of Him, all who believed in Christ; the Baptiser with the Holy Spirit and fire to dwell in and empower them. It was so that the Holy Spirit descended as per the promise of God through prophet Joel. 

Acts 2:2-4 says;

[2]And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind* , and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.

[3]Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them.

[4]And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues , as the Spirit gave them utterance. 

The Holy Spirit came in signs; the sign of wind and the sign of fire (divided tongues as of fire). That does not mean He is a wind neither does it mean He is fire. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of the Lord and He may take form like He took the form of a dove during Jesus' baptism. He is illustrated in different ways. The Bible in;

John 3:8 says;

[8]The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

This was Jesus' response to Nicodemus after he marvelled at the saying and truth that you must be born again/anew to enter the Kingdom of heaven. The new life in Christ is produced by the Spirit. Jesus talks about the wind blowing; you hear it's sound but you can not see where it comes from and where it goes. He continues to say it is so with everyone born of the Spirit. The sound in this context is the effect or the transformation. You will never know how the Spirit works (where the wind comes from or where it goes) but you will see His effects. Of the Spirit is transformation. As we behold the glory of God as in a mirror we are transformed just as by the Spirit of God. 

After the sound of the wind, there also appeared tongues of fire that rested on each one of them. John the Baptist prophesied that Jesus would baptize us with the Holy Spirit and with fire. Fire has different meanings; it may mean to ignite, to light up, to cause to operate, to fill with passion and enthusiasm. When the Holy Spirit comes upon you, you become quickened, fired up and empowered for good works in Christ Jesus and purpose. Another point to note is that the tongues were resting on each of them meaning He fires up everyone He comes upon. 

They were then all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. There was an evidence of the Holy Spirit upon them; an evidence of new language. When the Holy Spirit comes upon you, there must be an evidence that He has filled you. There is what He changes, there is what He makes new in you, there is a transformation He brings forth that is substance and proof that He is working in you. Many have stated that the Holy Spirit first changes your language as informed through the disciples first evidence of speaking in other tongues. It is through the Word of God that the worlds were framed so the Holy Spirit gives you a language to frame your world in conformity with God. He not only changes your language but also your way of life.

 The Holy Spirit comes upon you when you repent and believe in Jesus.

Acts 2:38;

[38]And Peter answered them, Repent (change your views and purpose to accept the will of God in your inner selves instead of rejecting it) and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of and release from your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Repentance is key and true repentance bearing fruits worthy of repentance characterised by change of your mindset to your actions and receive baptism in the name of Christ Jesus for forgiveness of sins and the Holy Spirit shall come upon you.  

The Holy Spirit seals your belief. It is so that Paul asked the disciples at Ephesus in Acts 19:2 whether they received the Holy Spirit when they believed. Ephesians 1:13 says;

[13]In Him (Jesus) you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.

You were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise when you believed in Christ Jesus and He is the guarantee of every other promise. Ephesians 1:14

[14]Who (Holy Spirit) is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory. 

He is an assurance of the fulfillment of every other promise, inheritance until full redemption and acquiring possession of it. He is the first promise after salvation. 

The Holy Spirit is in you through believing Jesus . Welcome Him and develop a relationship with Him so that just as He lives in you and you in Him, you may walk in Him for that is when fullness of Christ in you manifests.