The Holy Guest, Pt. 2

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Here’s part 2:

I. Personal Actions...

II. Personal Reactions...

III. PERSONAL TRANSACTIONS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

In the Old Testament Scripture we first meet the Holy Spirit in the creation story. God spoke, saying, “Let US make man in our image.” Throughout the Old Testament, we find the Lord appearing to men in many different ways and forms. Sometimes He appeared in the form of fire, then clouds, angels and in other ways. When the Tabernacle was built in the wilderness the Lord’s Presence came in the form of a cloud and He stayed in the Holy of Holies (see Exod. 40:33). The High Priest of Israel went in once a year to offer a sacrifice on behalf of the people.

When the Temple was dedicated by Solomon, again the Lord descended into the Temple and His presence was continually there (see II Chron. 7:1). Because of corruption and outward religious form, the Lord departed from the Temple.

When Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary it was prophesied by Isaiah that He would be called Immanuel, which means, “God with us.” John 1:14 states, “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us . . . .” We know that the Lord’s Presence was in a human temple, namely, the body of Jesus. Jesus referred to this in John 2:19-21 when talking of the temple of His body. He said, “Destroy this temple and in three days, I will raise it up.”

Now, just before Jesus ascended into Heaven after the resurrection, He promised to send the Holy Spirit to the earth. This promise was fulfilled at Pentecost; and God, in the form of the Holy Spirit, came again to dwell among men. During the period of grace, or while the Spirit of God is present with us, our bodies are the temple or dwelling place of God (see I Cor. 6:19).

When we were sinners, the Holy Spirit revealed to us our sin, our Savior, and showed us how our sin had already been judged on the cross. If we are willing to trust Christ with our soul, He enters our body as a guest at our invitation. As we surrender and yield our body to Him, He gives wisdom, power, peace, etc. This can be seen in a fourfold way:

• The incoming of the Spirit (Rev. 3:20)

Rev. 3:20

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

• The indwelling of the Spirit (I Cor. 3:16)

1 Cor. 3:16

Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

• The infilling by the Spirit (Eph. 5:18)

…be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess, but be filled with the spirit. [controlled]

• The instruction by the Spirit (I John 2:27)

But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

At the end of the day of grace, when the rapture comes, the Holy Spirit and everybody that He indwells will depart. God will deal with men during the seven years of tribulation that is to follow, just as He did in Old Testament days. After this, God will come and dwell with men for one thousand years in the person of Christ.

There are many cases in the Bible where the presence of

the Holy Spirit changed the picture and a great difference came about. Power and authority replace uncertainty and lack of assurance when the Spirit comes.

Here are some cases of Holy Spirit Transactions found in the Bible:

1. THE SEVENTY ELDERS. Numbers 11:25: “ . . .and it came to pass, that, when the Spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, and did not cease.” These men were to help Moses in the job of leading the children of Israel in the wilderness. They needed God’s Spirit and power. What a difference it made to them to have the power of God!

2. OTHNIEL, THE JUDGE. Judges 3:10: “And the Spirit of the Lord came upon him, and he judged Israel . . . .” Israel was away from God, and the presence of the Holy Spirit helped Othniel judge a backslidden people back to the blessings of God.