THE HOLY SPIRIT, OUR FRIEND AND HELPER
The disciples of Jesus had been with him day and night for more than three years. When he told them he was soon to die in Jerusalem, they could hardly bear his words. (Matthew 16:21,11) After his death they were discouraged and downhearted. But after his resurrection there was new hope. Perhaps he would remain with them after all. They wanted to hold on to him so he would not leave them. (John 20:17) However, Jesus reminded them that he would be returning to his Father in heaven. He explained that this was necessary so that the Holy Spirit could come. (John 16:7)
Because Jesus was still united to a human body, his physical presence could be with them only in one place at a time. However, through the coming of the Holy Spirit, his presence could be with believers everywhere at all times. His relationship with his followers was no longer going to be limited to a physical relationship, but a spiritual one; not merely outward friendship, but inward spiritual life and power. (II Corinthians 5:16) His last instructions to his followers were to wait for the promise of the Holy Spirit. (Luke 24:49)
A. The Third Person
Though we speak of the "sending" and "coming" of the Holy Spirit on the Jewish festival, the Day of Pentecost, that does not mean that this is the first appearance of the Holy Spirit or the first occasion of his activity.
The Holy Spirit is introduced in the very first chapter of Genesis, brooding over the waters at the time of creation. (Genesis 1:2) He is spoken of throughout the Old Testament, often in terms of the words and works of God. (Isaiah 63:9) However, this does not mean the Holy Spirit is only some abstract force or influence.
Rather, he is the third person of the Trinity. He is a divine person who expresses intellect, emotion, and will. (John 15:26; 16:12-15; I Corinthians 12:11; Ephesians 4:30) The Spirit has the attributes of deity, and shares in the prerogatives, activities, and honours of God. (Psalms 139:7; Matthew 28:19; John 15:26; I Corinthians 2:10,11; II Corinthians 13:14; Hebrews 9:14; II Peter 1:21) The Bible directly refers to the Holy Spirit as God. (Acts 5:3,4) In 381 the church council, the Council of Constantinople, officially affirmed that the Scriptures teach that the Holy Spirit is fully God.
Symbols of the Spirit
The Bible associates the Holy Spirit with a number of symbols. These symbols help us know something about the Spirit's character and work. The following are some of the symbols briefly described: (1) Wind - he is not able to be controlled, contained, or predicted. (John 3:8) (2) Fire - his work of purifying from sins (Matthew 3:11,12) (3) A Pledge - our promise of a future with God. (II Corinthians 5:1-5) (4) Clothing - clothing God's people with power. (Luke 24:49) (5) Dove - peaceful and gentle presence of God. (Matthew 3:16) (6) Oil - anointing for service (John 2:20) (7) A Seal - showing ownership and security (II Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13,14) (8) Water - the source of life (John 7:38,39)
B. Works of the Spirit
As noted earlier, the Holy Spirit has been active in our world from the time of creation. References are made in the Bible to individual works of the Spirit as he came upon particular individuals. For example, the Spirit gave Bezalel special skill in several kinds of crafts during the construction of the Old Testament tabernacle. (Exodus 35:30,31) However, there are six universal works of the Spirit which are given special attention in the Scriptures.
The Spirit's Work in the World:
Not only was the Spirit active at the time of creation (Genesis 2:1; Job 26:13) but the Bible mentions his activity in the preservation of the world. (Psalms 104:30) This includes having a role in providential guidance of the universe. (Isaiah 40:13) The Spirit watches over our world and assures that it results in God's glory and purpose. Likewise, the Holy Spirit seems to restrain or hold back the full force of evil and its destructive consequences. (II Thessalonians 2:6-8) Without the restraint of the Spirit, sinful man would no doubt destroy himself and his world. God's love and mercy preserves man in order that he might find salvation.
The Spirit's Work in Salvation:
From a human viewpoint, salvation begins with a deep sense of a need of a Saviour. This awareness of our spiritual need is a result of the Holy Spirit's work of conviction. Jesus told us that when the Spirit would come, he would convict or convince the world of three things: of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment. (John 16:8-11) (a) The Spirit would convict of sin because few people did not believe in Jesus. This is more than human conscience and a general knowledge of one's sin. The Spirit brings about a realization that a person's greatest sin is rejecting Jesus, the only answer to his sin. Those who believe in him (Jesus) are not condemned and have eternal life. (b) The Spirit convinces the sinner of righteousness. He helps us to understand that though Jesus was condemned as a criminal, he is truly the only perfectly righteous one. The Father accepted the sacrifice of his righteous life as the payment for our sins. (Romans 4;25) His righteous life is the one and only way for us to come to God. (John 14:6) (c) The Spirit convinces sinful man of the judgment of Satan himself. All who continue in their sinful ways will experience the same condemnation. To avoid the wrath and judgment of God, the sinner must trust in Jesus who took God's wrath for him on the cross. No one can come to God except he be drawn by the Holy Spirit. (John 6:44) No one can confess "Jesus is LORD, except by the Spirit. (I Corinthians 12:3)
When one responds in faith to the convincing work of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit gives saving grace that results in the sinner's salvation. The Spirit is the one who gives new spiritual life to the one dead in trespasses and sins. As God forgives him of his sins because of the sacrifice of Jesus, the Spirit gives spiritual birth. (John 3:3-5) This results in a new nature, a new creation. (II Corinthians 5:17) The Holy Spirit dwells in us making us a temple of God. (I Corinthians 6:19) Spiritual life flows through us as the Spirit joins us to Christ as members of his body. (I Corinthians 12:13) The Holy Spirit applies the saving work of Jesus on the cross to our individual lives. He bears witness to our spirits that we are now children of God, accepted and loved by him. (Romans 8:15,16)
The Spirit's work of Sanctification:
The Holy Spirit dwells in every believer. He begins his work of purifying our lives that have been tainted by sin. He works in our inner being, gradually transforming us, until we are conformed more and more to the likeness of Christ. (Ephesians 3:16-19; Romans 8:29) He produces in us those virtues which reflect the character of Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul calls these the "fruit of the Spirit,": love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Galatians 5:22,23) We are to walk in obedience to the Spirit, for those who are children of God are led of the Spirit. (Romans 8:14; Galatians 5:16)
The Holy Spirit is our Teacher :
The Holy Spirit leads us into all truth. (John 16:13) He will testify of Christ and his work. (John 15:26) If we listen to the Holy Spirit we need never go astray. The Spirit will speak to us through God's Word which he, himself, inspired. (II Timothy 3:16) He will speak to our conscience when we are tempted to do those things which displeases God. (Colossians 3:15) The Spirit reveals to us even the deep things of God, hidden from natural man. (I Corinthians 2:9-14) However, we must remember that the Holy Spirit will never speak to our heart anything that is contrary to his Word, the Bible.
C. The Holy Spirit Empowers for Witness
Every believer receives the Holy Spirit at the time of salvation. (John 3;5,6; Romans 8:16; I Corinthians 12:1; Galatians 3:3) However, there is another experience of the Spirit that comes after salvation. The Bible calls the experience "baptism in/with the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 3:11; Acts 1:4,5) It is to be distinguished from "baptism of the Spirit" which refers to salvation. Baptism with the Holy Spirit refers to the empowering of the Spirit for witness.
When Jesus promised the coming of the Holy Spirit to his followers, he said the Spirit would give them power to be witnesses for him. "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses...to the ends of the earth." (Acts 1:8) Jesus had given them the Great Commission to go into all the world and make disciples of Christ. (Matthew 28:19) Yet, before they were to go, they were to wait in Jerusalem until the Spirit was poured out upon them. The effectiveness of their witness would depend on the Holy Spirit enabling them to speak with wisdom and boldness. Also, the Spirit is the only one who can open sinful man's heart to believe.
The initial outpouring of the Spirit upon the Church was on the Day of Pentecost. (Acts 2:1-16) The followers of Jesus had gathered at the instruction of Jesus, expecting the Holy Spirit to be given to them. When the Holy Spirit came and filled them with power, they spoke in various unlearned languages of the people who had gathered for the Feast of Pentecost. (Acts 2:7-12) "All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them." (Acts 2:4) There was a dramatic emotional response which accompanied this experience, as those who watched at first thought the disciples were drunk with wine. The term baptism basically means to dip, or immerse in something. The experience of Spirit baptism immersed them in the Spirit, making them ready for effective service.
Although those initially baptized in the Spirit/filled with the Spirit, were the disciples and early followers of Jesus, the Bible indicates this is an experience available and important to all believers. (Mark 16:17; Luke 11:11-13; Acts 2:38,39; I Corinthians 13:8-13) Nowhere does the Scripture limit this experience to a certain group of people or time period. Rather, the Bible says this experience is for every generation who comes to faith in Jesus. The Apostle Peter assures: "The promise is for you, and your children, and for all who are afar off - for all whom the Lord our God will call." (Acts 2:39) The Book of Acts, which gives a history of the early church, records several events where this post salvation experience of the Spirit (Baptism in the Spirit; filled with the Spirit) continued among believers in different times and locations.
Jesus was filled with the Spirit before beginning his own ministry, and wanted his followers to be baptized in the Spirit before they began theirs. We need the power of the Spirit for witness just as much today.
Evidence of Spirit Baptism:
How does one know if he has had this subsequent experience of the Holy Spirit? Some have suggested the evidence is greater love, boldness, miraculous power etc. We Christians believe that the Bible teaches that the initial physical evidence for baptism in the Spirit is speaking a "language" that one has not known or learned previously. They do not deny other supporting evidences, but insist this is the evidence demonstrated by all who have been filled with the Spirit. Speaking in tongues (glossolalia) was the evidence of those initial recipients of this Spirit baptism. "All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them." (Acts 2:4) Apparently all were filled and all spoke in other tongues. The evidence was the same for all of them.
Let us examine the other Bible passages that record the Spirit baptism experience to see if this evidence is also present there.
(a) Acts 8:14-19 records the Spirit baptism of new believers in Samaria. They trusted in Jesus and were saved but none had yet received the baptism in the Spirit. Peter and John went down from Jerusalem to Samaria and "placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit." (Acts 8:17) No mention of speaking in tongues is recorded. However, "When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money and said, 'Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit." (Acts 8:18,19) When the Samaritan believers were baptized in the Spirit there was some outward manifestation that attracted Simon's attention. Many Bible scholars suggest that manifestation was speaking in tongues.
(b) Acts 9 records the conversion of Saul, the persecutor, and his subsequent experience of Spirit baptism. "Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul [Paul], he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here - has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.'" (Acts 9:17) Once again there is no mention of Paul speaking in tongues on this occasion. However, Paul gives this personal testimony to the Corinthians: "I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you." (I Corinthians 14:8) Thus, at some point, tongues became a part of Paul's experience of the Spirit.
(c) Acts 10 The household of the Italian centurion, Cornelius were filled with the Spirit after coming to faith in Christ at Caesarea. (Acts 10) The Apostle Peter brought them the message of Jesus. 'While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The circumcised [Jewish] believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues, and praising God." (Acts 10:44-46) Notice that the Spirit baptism of Cornelius and his family is equated to the original experience in Acts 2. And the evidence given for such an equation is that both groups of believers spoke in other tongues.
(d) In Acts 11 Peter went to Jerusalem to explain to the Jewish believers what happened at Cornelius's house. He insisted that Cornelius and his household were baptized with the Holy Spirit - the same gift God had given to them at the beginning. (Acts 11:15-18)
(e) Acts 19 gives an account of believers at Ephesus, where Paul went on his missionary journey, who were filled with the Spirit. They had been disciples of John the Baptist. They knew little about Jesus and nothing about the Holy Spirit. (Acts 19:2,3) After Paul shared the message of Jesus with them, "...Paul placed his hands on them, and the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied." (Acts 19:6) [Notice that speaking in tongues is again specified as a result of their Spirit baptism.]
Though speaking in tongues at the time of Spirit baptism is not mentioned on every occasion, omission of mention does not prove it did not happen. Tongues did accompany the experience at occasions when evidence is recorded. Tongues is definitely presented as evidential as shown in the account of Cornelius and Peter's defense of their experience to his Jewish brothers. However, we are not to seek the evidence of the baptism in the Spirit, but the gift of the Spirit baptism itself. The experience will take care of the evidence. The important thing is that we are filled with the Spirit for powerful and effective witness to Jesus.
The Spirit Gives Gifts:
The Spirit himself is referred to as a gift, promised by the Father and Jesus. (John 14:26; Acts 1:4) However, the Holy Spirit also gives gifts to believers. Some of the gifts of the spirit are listed in I Corinthians 12:4-11: a message [word] of wisdom, a message [word] of knowledge, faith, gifts of healing, miraculous powers, prophesy, distinguishing spirits, speaking in tongues, and the interpretation of tongues. (Other gifts are listed in such biblical passages as Romans 12:6-8; Ephesians 4:4-11; I Peter 4:10-11) The Bible gives us important information concerning these gifts and their usage.
Friend and Helper
The Holy Spirit has come to be our special Friend and Helper. (James 14:16,26; 15:26; 16:7) The Greek word that is used of the Spirit in these versus is Paracletos. Literally the term means "one who is called alongside to help." His specific helping role will vary according to our need. The Holy Spirit is a friend who helps us in relation to our needs in the world around us. If we need comfort, he is our Comforter; if we need counsel, he is our Counselor; if we need direction, he is our Guide; if we need power, he is our Strength. Whatever our need is he is an ever-present help to us.
The Holy Spirit is also our Special Friend to help us in relation to God. In times of temptation he helps us overcome; in times of failure, he restores us; in our desire to be like Jesus, he transforms us. Jesus said the Holy Spirit would be another Paraclete. (John 14:16) The Greek word translated "another" means "another of the same kind." The Holy Spirit is a wonderful friend and help to us, the kind that Jesus himself is.