The Holy Spirit

As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful searches and inquiries, seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow. It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things into which angels long to look. (NASB) 1 Pet. 1:10-12

. . . for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God. (NASB) 2 Pet. 1:21

Did God ignore us? Did God care about us? Whom did the prophets serve according to 1 Pet. 1:10-12? Who was the Holy Spirit helping? The answer is wonderful, “Mankind!”

The Holy Spirit has been active among us since the creation of the world and down to the time of Jesus Christ. What did He do according to the medical doctor Luke?

25. At some time after Jesus became a man, there came a time for Him to be tested. What did the Holy Spirit do according to Matthew 4:1?

It is amazing that the Holy Spirt was active in Jesus’ life and ministry. It is incredible to know that Jesus depended upon the Spirit to help Him do His ministry. Was the Holy Spirit already active in the lives of people? The answer is yes; but according to Jesus, there was more that He would accomplish. According to John 14:16, 26; 15:26; and 16:7, the Holy Spirit was yet to come. What did Jesus mean? In Luke 24:49 Jesus tells His Apostles that the Holy Spirit is yet to come. If the Holy Spirit was already among us, what did Jesus mean that the Holy Spirit was coming? Jesus was saying that the Holy Spirit was coming or would be active in a different way. The Holy Spirit was coming to live within people. All throughout the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit came upon people; but in the New Testament the Holy Spirit now lives inside those who believe in Jesus. For the first time in scripture, we see this statement,

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

This is new. Today the Holy Spirit lives within us when we believe in Jesus Christ. He is our guarantee that we will be in heaven some day.

Conclusion. We have discovered that the Holy Spirit has always been present in the lives of the Old and New Testament saints. He ministered to Jesus and through Jesus. Today He lives inside every true believer in Jesus Christ. He empowers us to live the Christian life. He is not a force but a divine person who loves us (Rom. 15:30), teaches us (1 Cor. 2:13-14), and empowers us (Eph. 3:16). The Holy Spirit is our Helper. He is active in our world, bringing men and women to Jesus Christ. He then is active in changing our lives to become more like Jesus Christ, to be holy like God is holy (1 Pet. 1:16).