Category: Theology 101
The Work of the Holy Spirit (Cont'd)
God gives the Spirit liberally to those who ask (Lk. 10:13; Jn. 3:34); but He was not given until after the resurrection of Christ (Jn. 7:39). The Spirit indwells each believer thereby constituting the individual Christian as a temple of God (1 Cor. 6:12f.).
It is the Spirit who places church leaders (elders) in their positions (Acts 20:28). Paul called the Holy Spirit as his witness of his love for the Jews (Rom. 9:1, 2). The kingdom of God is identified as "righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit" (Rom. 14:17). Where the Spirit is there is liberty (2 Cor. 3:17). He is received by faith, not by works of the Law (Gal. 3:2f.), was promised to the Jews (Gal. 3:14; 4:6), and the person led by the Spirit is not under the Law (Gal. 5:18). The Spirit yields unity and a bond of peace (Eph. 4:3), and the believer can experience fellowship with Him (2 Cor. 13:14; Heb. 6:4).
Believers are immersed in God's Spirit and ought to have a continual, persistent awareness of His presence. This presence ought to cause us to be careful of what we do because we house the Spirit, we take Him everywhere we go, we include Him in everything we do. Of course, this is a tremendous blessing, but it is also a tremendous responsibility. We must not take the Holy Spirit into unholy places.
Conclusion
We pray to God the Father. We trust in God the Son for salvation. We live moment by moment walking in, praying in, dwelling in, seeking, following, and rejoicing in God the Holy Spirit. God's pledge to pour out His Spirit on all men was a significant portion of the promise made to Israel, a promise which we now understand included Gentile believers as well. The word of God makes clear that the Spirit is vital to everything in a believer's life. We must give Him due consideration and attention if we are to take full advantage of God's blessings.