PDF Print version        When the Holy Spirit Indwells the believer

Jesus told the disciples to stay in Jerusalem until they receive Holy Spirit, then they would have power.  For many people who come to Christ, the “power” promised by Jesus never seems to come. Why?  Life is a struggle from one sin to the other, a life of defeat.  What did Jesus mean?

The Holy Spirit is not an option in the life of the believer, without the Holy Spirit, there is no salvation.  As Paul declares in Romans 8:9, without the Spirit of Christ he is not His.   Therefore, it is important for us to make sure we are have the Holy Spirit dwelling in us, making sure our salvation. 

Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. Romans 8:9b

          Jesus declares in John’s Gospel, “unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3).  Jesus later explains, to be born again means to be born of the Spirit, where the Spirit of God dwells in the believer.  God Himself takes up residence inside our earthly body, God’s Spirit guiding our spirit (Romans 8:26-2).  So if God is dwelling inside us, why do we struggle? 

What does the indwelling of the Spirit mean?   

   In the process of redemption, after the Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin, He draws the soul to Christ and salvation, imparting faith as a gift of the Spirit.  The faith allows the soul to see their guilt of sin and turn from sin (repentance), asking God to forgive their sins, through the blood of Christ. Through the death of Christ, the sins of the repentant sinner are paid for on the cross, they are declared justified before God, on account of Christ.  The Holy Spirit then enters the new believer and is deposited as a guarantee. The soul is a new creation before God, Born Again, justified in Christ. 

With the Holy Spirit dwelling in us, our bodies become literally, the Temple of God.  We are now separated, from this world, because God has taken residence with us, we are restored to God. We are the purchased possession of Christ, whose blood paid for our sins.   

13 In Him 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, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.  Ephesians 1:13-14 

Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?
 I Cor. 6:19 

The word for Holy, Saint and Sanctify are derived from the Greek word, a&gioß Hagios, meaning separated, or set apart.  A person coming to faith means God has set that person apart from those in the world.  Scripture calls all who are saved as saints, or holy they are separated.  We are born again, born of the spirit, not of the flesh.   

What happens with the Holy Spirit dwelling in us? 

Jesus told the disciples to wait in Jerusalem until they receive the Holy Spirit, which would result in power.  The Greek word for power is duvnamiß Dunamis, from this word, we have the word dynamite, the word means strength power, ability.  The Holy Spirit not only transforms us into a new creation, we receive power to do the work at hand. 

We may look the same on the outside, but inside we are a new creation, we are born again, with the Holy Spirit and His power.  On Pentecost, the Spirit came upon the disciples, equipping them with power to bring the gospel forth from Jerusalem.    The power of the Spirit was not only for the disciples in Jerusalem, but also for us. 

We can apply the benefits and power of the Spirit in our own lives, understanding what the Spirit does in our life. 

1. The Holy Spirit is our teacher guiding us into truth (See also John 16;13, I Cor. 2:10-11 

"But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.  John 14:26 

2. The Holy Spirit intercedes on our behalf  

26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
Romans 8:26-27 

3. The Holy Spirit gives us joy and peace 

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23 

4. The spirit gives us gifts for ministry (Ephesians 2;8) 

4 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:
I Corinthians 12:4-7 

5. The Spirit gives us boldness to witness (I Tim. 3:13) 

And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness. Acts 4;31 

6. The Spirit gives us power  (Zechariah 4:6)

that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man,  Ephesians 3:16

 19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power 20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,  Ephesians 1;19-20 

7. The Spirit gives us the power to live godly lives 

"I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them. Ezekiel 36:27 

8. The Spirit helps us to pray 

praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints Ephesians 6:18 

9. The Spirit gives us wisdom and revelation 

17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, 18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints 
Ephesians 1:17-18 

10.  God the Father speaks through us by the Spirit 

 "for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.  Matthew 10:20 

            The Holy Spirit, who dwells with us, gives us power which the world does not comprehend.  For many of us the potential, which dwells within us, is never realized because we will not take God at His word.                                                                                     

 The Holy Spirit in Old Testament times 

      Before the period of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit dwelt selectively, and could be removed (Psalm 51:11).  The Holy Spirit came upon those who were to minister for the Lord, for example, the Spirit rested upon the seventy elders of Israel.

Then the Lord came down in the cloud, and spoke to him, and took of the Spirit that was upon him, and placed the same upon the seventy elders; and it happened, when the Spirit rested upon them, that they prophesied, although they never did so again. Numbers 11:25 

     The Holy Spirit also filled Joshua, David, Daniel and others,  that the Lord’s work could be completed.  The prophets looked forward to a day, when God’s Spirit would rest upon humanity and sins would be forgiven.  Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Joel looked forward to such a day when the Spirit would dwell in men eternally and sins removed.  (Isaiah 59:21, Ezekiel 36:26-27, Joel 2:28-29, Jeremiah 31:31-33)  

"As for Me," says the Lord, "this is My covenant with them: My Spirit who is upon you, and My words which I have put in your mouth, shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your descendants, nor from the mouth of your descendants' descendants," says the Lord, "from this time and forevermore."  Isaiah 59:21 

      The death of Christ, the Messiah would pay for the sins past, present and future, the Mosaic Covenant was only a foreshadowing of the eternal sacrifice of the Messiah, who would redeem humanity.  

11 But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation.  12 Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.  Hebrews 9:11-12 

Only with the eternal sacrifice of Jesus Christ, could the Spirit of God dwell eternally with humanity, since Jesus atoned for all sins.  Today, we have a relationship with God, which those in the Old Testament period, could only dream of, we have an eternal relationship with God through the Spirit, dwelling in us.     

What does Baptism of the Spirit mean? 

         The word Baptism comes from the Greek word, bavptisma Baptisma, meaning submersion or immersion.  The most famous person associated with this term is John the Baptist, who preceded Jesus in ministry, preparing Israel for the coming of Messiah.  John baptized people with full-body immersion in the river Jordan, for the repentance of sin.

         John’s ministry was contrasted with Jesus by baptism, John we are told baptized with water, but Jesus would baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire (Judgement).  So what is being referred to here?   

"I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. Matthew 3:11 

         John the Baptist prepared people for salvation, through repentance, his work was in anticipation of the Messiah, who would pay for the sins of world.  Therefore, when we come to Christ, we are baptized in the Spirit, meaning we are saved.            

For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body-whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free-and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. I Corinthians 12;13 

Baptism in water is a symbol of identification with Jesus, we are dying with Christ, our old nature dies and a new one emerges. (See also Matthew 28:19)                                                                         

3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?  4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. Romans 6:3-4 

So physical baptism is merely a picture of what happens in the Spirit.  For this reason, after someone believes, they are baptized.  We identify with the with Christ’s death and resurrection, which allows us to be baptized by the Holy Spirit.   Every “True” believer needs to be baptized by the Spirit, since there is only one Baptism (I Cor. 12:13). 

Can lack of faith prevent God’s Spirit

Why then do we lack power, if we accept Christ and the Holy Spirit dwells in us?  The answer for many is belief, do we really believe God can accomplish what He promises in His word?  This is not new, throughout the scriptures God has always operated through faith.  From the Garden of Eden, the Serpent had Adam and Eve question, not believe what God commanded.  They fell because of lack of belief.

Lack of faith prevents God from working in our lives.   Hebrews chapter 11 notes the heroes of the faith. What made them special? They believed God.  Do we really believe God’s promises?  

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Hebrews 11:6 

God delivered Israel from Egypt through mighty miracles, yet they spent forty-years wondering in the wilderness of Sinai.  Why?  What went wrong?  Again, Israel lacked the faith in God’s power and ability.  They refused to trust God, even though He delivered them from Egypt.   Only Joshua and Caleb were allowed to cross into the Promised Land, because they trusted God.  They believed he could deliver them from the giants in the land.  They pleaded with Israel to trust God, but they were nearly killed, by the people because of their faith.

God allows us to listen in on the conversation, between Israel and the two spies, Joshua and Caleb and the rest of the nation. These two reported through eyes of faith, and the other ten through unbelief.   Therefore Israel sent twelve spies into the land, the two who we know about are Joshua and Caleb.  All twelve spies saw the same land, but 10 came back with a bad report, while Joshua and Caleb came back with a good report.  

                                           Report of the 10 spies

27 Then they told him, and said: "We went to the land where you sent us. It truly flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. 28 "Nevertheless the people who dwell in the land are strong; the cities are fortified and very large; moreover we saw the descendants of Anak there. 29 "The Amalekites dwell in the land of the South; the Hittites, the Jebusites, and the Amorites dwell in the mountains; and the Canaanites dwell by
 the sea and along the banks of the Jordan."
Joshua and Caleb

30 Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, "Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it."  

Ten spies

31 But the men who had gone up with him said, "We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we."

32 And they gave the children of Israel a bad report of the land which they had spied out, saying, "The land through which we have gone as spies is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people whom we saw in it are men of great stature.

33 "There we saw the giants (the descendants of Anak came from the giants); and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight."   Numbers 13:27-33 

Notice the contrast between the two groups, what did Joshua and Caleb have that the others lacked?  It was faith in God’s ability.  They knew God could give them the land if He wanted.  How did the ten spies see themselves, compared to the men of Canaan?  They were like grasshoppers; their lack of faith, not God’s ability prevented them from entering the land of promise.   Their lack of faith also caused them to wander in the deserts of Sinai for the next 40-years.

Do we say the same thing to God?   Israel wanted to go back to Egypt; they did not trust God’s ability.  Many times when we struggle, we look back to the time before we came to Christ, thinking what was it like in our “Egypt”.  We get frustrated with the battle over sin or our problems, they become our giants and we are like grasshoppers.  Why can’t we defeat them, lets go back to Egypt!, we hear ourselves saying.  

Just as in the days of the Exodus, our battle is a battle of faith, not a physical battle.  Will we trust the Lord to deliver us from our giants, or will lack the faith?  Do we believe God has the ability? Listen to Joshua, as he pleads with Israel to trust the Lord.

6 But Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes; 7 and they spoke to all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying: "The land we passed through to spy out is an exceedingly good land. 8 "If the Lord delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us, 'a land which flows with milk and honey.' 9 "Only do not rebel against the Lord, nor fear the people of the land, for they are our bread; their protection has departed from them, and the Lord is with us. Do not fear them." 10 And all the congregation said to stone them with stones. Now the glory of the Lord appeared in the tabernacle of meeting before all the children of Israel. 11 Then the Lord said to Moses: "How long will these people reject Me? And how long will they not believe Me, with all the signs which I have performed among them? Numbers 14:6-11 

Lets apply this situation in our own life, the Lord asks Moses how long will they not believe Me?  Do we really believe we can have victory?  Do we really trust the Lord?  Are we like Joshua and Caleb or are we like the ten-spies?   

We need to evaluate our relationship with the Lord, if we are like the 10-spies, what can we do to change?  We need to take our thoughts captive to word of God, not what the world thinks and says. 

How much faith should we have?

So how much faith do we need for Holy-Spirit empowered lives?    God understands our lack of faith for this reason despite our lack he still answers our prayers.  We just never know the full potential of God’s answer for us because we lack.    Contrast the examples below

         The Lord will do marvels even with a small amount of faith, but many times our unbelief prevents us from going beyond what we expect.  In the Gospel of Mark, the father of demon-possessed boy begged Jesus to save his son; Jesus told him “all things are possible to him who believes”.  The man replied, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!"(Mark 9:23-24).  Jesus and the boy’s father both knew he faith, even though the faith was lacking.  Therefore he asked Jesus to help his unbelief. 

         The man did not rest in his unbelief, he prayed Jesus to take him to a higher level in faith.  We too, must not rest in unbelief; we need to beg the Lord to increase our faith.   

How can we increase our faith? 

            One way is to examine our areas of doubt, and do something about it.  Where do you lack in faith?  Do we question the existence of God?   Whether the Bible is true?   Is Jesus really the Messiah?  

            Maybe we need to get answers to these questions, so our faith can grow.   Well, we can take these questions to the Lord, just like the giants in the Promised Land.

            Bible prophecy for me has played a great role in building faith, because God presents the evidence of Himself through His word.    When I had doubts about Jesus, I read Isaiah 53 and Zechariah 12:10, both which reveal the role of the Suffering Messiah, 700 and 520 years before Christ.   The Seventy Weeks of Daniel, tells us the exact month, year and day, Jesus would die 539-years before he is born. 

            Whatever our issue, God provides the answers, we just need to ask Him to help us increase our faith. We should not rest in unbelief.  

 Obedience follows faith                                                                       

            Israel struggled in the wilderness because they did not believe the Lord.  The result of their lack of faith was their disobedience.  Obedience and disobedience follows our faith in His words.  The more we believe, the more we respond, the less we believe the less we respond.  Is God really watching?  Does God really care what we do?  Well if we do not think God cares or watches, then we do what our flesh wants to do. 

            What is the result of having God’s Spirit in us?  We now have the power, literally the “Dynamite” to live a life pleasing to the Lord.   Do we have enough faith to obey?           

16 Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? Romans 6:16