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oly Spirit Arrives. We have already discovered that the Holy Spirit
was active on this earth from the creation to the time of Jesus’ ministry.
Yet in John 14:26, Jesus told His disciples that the Holy Spirit, the
Helper, would not come until after He returned to heaven.
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 that I said to you. (NASB) John 14:26 Jesus reminded them the Holy Spirit would come on at least three other
occasions in John 15:26 and 16:7 and in Luke 24:49.
When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, He will bear witness of Me, (NASB) John 15:26 But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper shall not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. (NASB) John 16:7 . . . And behold, I am sending forth the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high. (NASB) Luke 24:49 Jesus told the disciples that both He and the Father would send the
Helper, the Holy Spirit, but only after He returned to heaven. The book
of Ephesians helps us understand that when Jesus spoke of the “promise
of My Father,” He was referring to the Holy Spirit.
. . . In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation - having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance . . . (NASB) Ephesians 1:13-14 Acts 2:33; Galatians 3:14; and Ephesians 1:13 also refer to the Holy
Spirit - “the promise.” In fact, Ephesians calls Him the
Holy Spirit of Promise. The Holy Spirit was the Promised One!
Jesus and the Father had made a promise of something that
would occur in the future. This great promise is recorded in Jeremiah
31:31-34 (Heb. 8:7-13). The promise is also predicted in Joel 2:28-32,
and Peter reminds his audience of the promise on the day of Pentecost
(Acts. 2:33) after he was filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues
(Acts 2:1-13).
But what did Jesus mean that the Holy Spirit would be coming,
if in fact, He had already been here since the creation? We discovered
in our overview of the Holy Spirit’s activity in the Old Testament
that the Holy Spirit did not live within a man or woman continuously
after they believed in God. We discovered that the Holy Spirit left King
Saul, and King David begged that the Holy Spirit would not leave. Before
Pentecost, the Holy Spirit never remained within a believer, a saint,
until he physically died.
But after Pentecost the Holy Spirit would enter a believer
at the point of salvation and remain. During a Passover Feast in Jerusalem,
Jesus explained that the Holy Spirit would only enter those who believed
in Him. Then Jesus added that the Spirit had not yet come.
Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, “From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.” But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. (NASB) John 7:37-39 So what did Jesus mean that the Holy Spirit had not yet come if He had
already been here since the creation?
Jesus was telling His audience that the Holy Spirit would
live permanently in a person. That is why “rivers of living water” would
flow from their insides. They would never thirst again! At Pentecost
the Holy Spirit came in a unique and unusual way. He came and started
living inside those who believe in Jesus Christ. At this time the apostles
experienced the power of the Holy Spirit.
Pentecost. After Jesus ascended into heaven
(Acts 1:9-11), the promised Holy Spirit arrived,
And when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent, rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance. (NASB) Acts 2:1-4 The Holy Spirit came like a wind and they were “filled with the
Holy Spirit” and they “began to speak with other tongues “as
the Holy Spirit gave them utterance.” The Greek words used for “other
tongues” are HETERAIS GLOSSAIS. The actual English meaning is “different
languages;” that is, they spoke in different tongues. The meaning
of HETERAIS is “other of a different kind.” We should note
that another Greek word, “ALLOS,” means “other of the
same kind.” The word GLOSSAIS can refer to the physical “tongue,” but
it usually refers to “language or speech.” Therefore, the
phrase “other tongues” literally means “different languages” or “foreign
languages.” The reaction of the crowd in Acts 2:6 indicates that
the apostles were speaking multiple foreign languages all at the same
time when a multitude of folks from Parthian, Media, Elam, and Mesopotamia
heard the message in their own language.
And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were bewildered, because they were each one hearing them speak in his own language, (NASB) Acts 2:6 What is really amazing is that all of the apostles were talking. It
is described as “sound,” yet they each heard the message
in his/her own language. It is an error to emphasize “sound” and
dismiss “hearing them speak in his own language.” The point
is that they understood the apostles.
Then Peter preached a sermon (Acts 2:14-36) During his
sermon, he told the crowd that the promise of the Father had arrived.
Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured forth this which you both see and hear. (NASB) Acts 2:33 Peter added that the presence of the Holy Spirit was obvious by the
fact the apostles were speaking in tongues. Five verses later he promised
that anyone who had believed could receive the Holy Spirit by repenting
and being baptized (Acts 2:38).
Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (NASB) Acts 2:38 Please note that some teach that this verse implies one must have water
baptism in order to be saved. But we will discover later in the section
titled, “Paul Lays Hands - Acts 10:44” that water baptism
does not save anyone. Acts 2:37 reveals that those to whom Peter made
this promise had believed already. “The article, “Baptism
and Salvation” will provide further information.
Spirit’s New Ministry. The Holy Spirit
had finally arrived and His ministry to those who believed in God began
a new era. He started living inside of believers until they physically
died. This starts when the Holy Spirit places us into the body of Christ
(1 Corinthians 12:13). Scripture calls it the baptism of the Spirit,
For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. (NASB) 1 Cor. 12:13
2 Corinthians 1:22 indicates that the Spirit lives within Christians
as the proof that each believer will spend eternity with Him.
Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us is God, who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge. (NASB) 2 Cor. 1:21-22 Ephesians 1:13 indicates that the presence of the Holy Spirit in our
lives also indicates that God owns us and has secured us for eternity.
. . . listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation - having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise . . . (NASB) Eph. 1:13 Ephesians 4:30 repeats the thought that the Holy Spirit will live inside
us until we go to heaven. This did not happen before Pentecost.
Now the Holy Spirit teaches us (1 Corinthians 2:11-14),
helps us to pray (Romans 8:23), and convicts us of sin (John 16:8). The
Holy Spirit also empowers us to live the Christian life, to follow Him,
and serve others.
. . . to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man . . . (NASB) Eph. 3:16 How does the Spirit do this? This is the focus of the rest of this study.
Acts - “Being Filled.” The
empowerment ministry of the Holy Spirit is described in several ways
in the book of Acts by four key words “filled,” “receive,” “baptized,” and “fell
upon.” We will start with the concept of the Holy Spirit “filling” a
follower of Jesus Christ.
Apostles Were Filled - Acts 2:4. The
first time the Holy Spirit filled anyone in the New Testament occurred
in Acts 2:4 and the apostles spoke in tongues.
And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance. (NASB) Acts 2:4 The Greek word for “filled” is the aorist form of PIMPLEMI
which means “to cause something to be completely full.” This
means that the Holy Spirit completely filled them. It is important to
notice the Holy Spirit was in absolute control of the words they spoke.
The Holy Spirit took complete control of them and spoke through them.
This filling of the Spirit resulted in the ministry of the Word of God
to the crowd, just as it apparently occurred with Moses’ seventy
leaders. Tongues were used to communicate the message to those speaking
various languages.
Peter Preaches a Sermon - Acts 4:8. The
next time the Holy Spirit filled someone occurred in Acts 4:8 when the
apostle Peter preached a sermon (Acts 4:8-12). On the previous day before
preaching a sermon, Peter had healed a man who could not walk. The Jewish
religious leaders did not like the ministry of Peter and John, and consequently
had them brought to the Sanhedrin Council (Acts 4:15). Peter responded
by preaching a message under the influence of the Holy Spirit. He was
filled with the Holy Spirit. |
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