Last year our neighborhood small-group bible study decided to take on a project of studying the book of Acts. Throughout the 14-session study we struggled mightily to understand the Holy Spirit and what it meant to our lives. It’s clear from our lively discussion at Friday’s Crosstalk that the small group members were not alone. As Doug stated at one point midway through our meeting, “… it’s difficult to get our minds around the Holy Spirit.” Nonetheless, Friday’s study went some distance in filling some holes in my own understanding … hopefully yours too.
The Significance of Pentecost
We spent a short time discussing the setting of the first Pentecost – Jesus’ disciples were part of roughly 120 people gathered in a single abode in Jerusalem. Scripture describes a sudden sound, like a fierce wind, and “tongues of fire” which came to rest on each of those present, who suddenly began speaking in various languages, yet somehow able to understand one another.
This event is seen to have been the fulfillment of John the Baptist’s words about the Holy Spirit’s baptizing with fire (Luke 3:16). The symbolism of the phrase “Tongues of Fire” is interesting: “tongues” represent communication of the gospel, and “fire” symbolizes God’s purifying presence. So this “historical narrative” definitely indicated the very presence of Almighty God.
Who is qualified to receive the Holy Spirit?
In John 3 we read that Jesus was approached by Nicodemus, an unusually open-minded and inquisitive Pharisee. Jesus told Nicodemus that to be accepted into God’s kingdom he first had to be born again, or be “born of the Spirit.” Jesus explained (3:8) that we cannot control the work of the Holy Spirit; He works in ways we cannot predict or understand. Yet, God’s gift of the Holy Spirit is available to every true believer.
Has the Holy Spirit always existed?
We tend to think of the Holy Spirit as being available as God’s gift to believers from the time of Pentecost forward to present day. But certainly there were both believers and non-believers before Christ came, the distinction being the faith of Abraham. Members of our group cited a number of scripture references to the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament. Doug reminded us that “Christophanies,” i.e., appearances or non-physical manifestations of Christ, occurred in Old Testament times. So it was generally agreed that God’s Spirit was within people prior to Christ’s birth.
As part of this point Jim W. inserted that, in OT scripture, the Holy Spirit wouldnot constantly dwell within in people’s lives, but would “come and go.” Other members agreed, having read about the “fleeting” nature of the Spirit. This apparent transitory nature of the Spirit raised concerns about how He works within us today.
Doug addressed this in his closing remarks, below.
How do we know the Holy Spirit is working within us?
Some in the group expressed concern/confusion around this question, and here were some helpful responses:
- If you feel convicted of sin, then you know the Holy Spirit is at work in your life.
- Rev 3:20: Jesus: “If anyone hears me, you have opened the door to me and I have come in.”
- When asking God’s Spirit for help, we shouldn't expect any particular “feeling” as confirmation, but as things play-out we’ll see how God’s hand was involved in the outcome. Our spiritual experiences tell us this.
- At the moment of trial things don’t have to radically change for us – we need to be faithful and continue to follow God’s will as documented in scripture.
Every believer is indwelled by the Holy Spirit. God’s Spirit never really leaves us.
But “indwelling” is not the same as “filled with:” Being “filled with” the Holy Spirit is a daily, moment-by-moment thing, and requires constant reading of the Word and an increasingly close relationship with God.