The more we study on the Person of the Holy Spirit, the more excited I become because He not only reveals Jesus to us but helps us in our walk with the Lord as we surrender to Him. He’s faithful to reveal the Father’s will and plan for our lives when we’re listening and attentive to His ways of communication.
Before we continue looking at New Testament passages involving the Holy Spirit’s role in the life of the believer, let’s examine a few classic examples of His ministry in the Old Testament.
Samson was a judge in Israel before Israel had a king. His birth was announced by an angel of God, and he was called to be a Nazarite separated unto God all the days of his life. He was not to drink wine or strong drink, nor cut his hair as a symbol of his vow and dedication to the Lord.
Although Samson was called of God, he had a weakness with women that eventually cost him his life and ministry. However, during his lifetime, the Spirit of God would come upon him and give him supernatural strength to fight against the Philistines who were oppressing the people of Israel.
On one occasion, Samson was able to kill 1000 Philistines with the jawbone of a donkey (Judges 15:14-15). Later, at the end of his life, he killed 3000 Philistines by pulling down the pillars that upheld the temple where they were worshipping their false god and jeering at Samson (Judges 16:26-30).
All these super feats of strength were accomplished through the power of the Holy Spirit as part of Samson’s calling and gifting from the Lord. You can read about his short life and mighty accomplishments in the book of Judges chapters 13 through 16.
All throughout the Old Testament we see the term, “the Spirit of God” or “the Spirit of the Lord” came upon various individuals to judge, reign, prophesy, battle, or accomplish humanly impossible feasts for the glory of God.
Gideon, Samson, Jephthah, Saul, David, and several others were anointed of God to govern the people and do His will. This special anointing came upon these individuals from time to time, however, they were not indwelt by the Holy Spirit the same as New Testament believers in Christ.
Unlike Old Testament saints, we’ve been given the Holy Spirit as the guarantee of our inheritance in Christ (Ephesians 1:13-14). In addition, the Holy Spirit comes to dwell in us forever (John 14:16-18). He doesn’t come and go as He often did with the Old Testament saints.
As New Testament believers we’ve been privileged to freely receive the Helper, who is the Holy Spirit, and His abiding manifest Presence. Something Old Testament prophets and saints longed for continually.
Prophecies were uttered by the Old Testament prophets concerning the outpouring of God’s Spirit, but none of them knew when it would occur. It wasn't until hundreds of years later, when Christ gave His life for our salvation, then rose from the dead and ascended into heaven, this promise of the Holy Spirit outpouring was fulfilled.
From that time until now the Holy Spirit has been actively working in the earth to convict men of sin, righteousness, and judgement (John 16:8-10) and empower believers to be witnesses for Christ (Acts 1:8).
Since that Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4), nearly 2000 years ago, the Holy Spirit has been operational in the earth in the regeneration and New Birth (John 3:5-8) and the sanctification, transformation, and empowerment of believers (Romans 15:16).
He enters our life at the New Birth when we confess Jesus Christ as our Lord, and we’re born again. He then empowers us, when we receive the Baptism with the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8, 2:4, 10:44-48, 19:1-6).
We’ll discuss this more in our next post. Until then, may God our Heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus Christ richly bless and keep you.
James Brown
CST 12/11/2023