The Holy Spirit Presence in/upon the Believer
The Godhead or Trinity consists of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Three but yet one! United in all things!
There is no one formula for impartation and/or manifestation of the Holy Spirit in the believer. God is in control and can do it as he pleases. Indeed, the scriptures indicate multiple deposits and/or manifestations of the Holy Spirit in the believer’s life for varying purposes. This may include different gifts at different points in the believer’s life. It is reasonable to conclude that the reborn receive some measure of the Holy Spirit at rebirth. This is because the scripture says that which is born of Spirit is spirit (John 3:6).
Some people claim the phrases Holy Spirit and Holy Ghost do not refer to the same spirit. But there is no spiritually useful difference; it is simply the translators word choice as there were different people who translated different parts of the text.
The scripture says if one does not have the Spirit of Christ he is none of his (Rom 8:9). Some say this phrase “Spirit of Christ” refers to the Holy Spirit. Some say it refers to the Light of Christ. I think it refers to both. For a true believer has (1) the Holy Spirit and (2) the Light of Christ projected from him at least most of the time. In any case, as Ephesians 4:1-6 says there is One Body, One Spirit, One Lord, One Faith, Baptism, One God, and One Father. So there are not two Spirits in the sense that the Holy Spirit is a spirit. So when the phrase “Spirit of Christ” is seen as referring to a spirit in the sense of the Holy Spirit/Ghost, it is referring to the Holy Spirit/Ghost.
Also, some of the apostles seems to have received the Holy Spirit or at least different manifestations of the Holy Ghost on different occasions. For in John 20:22 they received the Holy Ghost after Jesus resurrection but before the Day of Pentecost. Yet, they seemed to have received another deposit and/or manifestation of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:4).
The contrasting accounts of the three day delay in Paul’s being filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 9:9, 17) and Cornelius and friends (Acts 10:44-48) being filled with the Holy Spirit immediately upon hearing Peter preach supports this idea of no one formula or way God uses. It is God’s responsibility to impart and/or manifest the Holy Spirit in the believer as he wills and as we seek Him. He does so according to his own timing and purposes and to the degree and method that brings him glory.
To ask Jesus into our lives and to believe in and accept Jesus is to begin the process of asking or praying for all God has to offer; this should include the Holy Spirit (Luke 11:9-13; Acts 1:13) as we should be aware of the importance of the Holy Spirit. Our responsibility is to be aware of the availability of the Holy Spirit, to seek Him and welcome Him in our lives. It is also our responsibility to speak, preach, and otherwise make others aware of the Holy Spirit and to offer Him to others as they did in bible days.
Biblical differing examples of the activities involved in having the Holy Spirit include prayer (Acts 1:14, Acts 8:15), preaching (Acts 10:44), and laying on of hands (Acts 8:17, Acts 19:6). These are not mutually exclusive as all may be present and only one may be present. Yet, none may be present as there may be other ways God uses to impart the Holy Spirit within the believer.
We must trust God to preserve and protect the believer at all times according to God’s will. God is sovereign and controls the interaction and presence of the Holy Spirit in human lives. As John 3:8 says: The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
The Hebrew word ruach (Strong’s H7307) translated spirit is feminine when applied to both God and man. Yet, its grammatical gender does not give rise to any authentic gender claim concerning God or man. For God is a spirit neither male nor female in a human sense. For example the Hebrew word ruach is used regarding the spirit of Jacob in Gen 45:27. It is probably like when we refer to nature as she and mother.
Scriptures on the Holy Spirit Presence in/upon the Believer
In Luke 1:5 we find: For he [John the Baptist] shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb.
In Matthew 3:11-17 we find:
(11) I [John the Baptist] indeed baptize you with water unto repentance. but he [Jesus] that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: (12) Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire…
And John 3:5-8 says:
Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. (6) That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. (7) Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. (8) The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
And Luke 10:17-20 says:
And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name…(20) Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.
In Luke 11:13 Jesus says:
If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
In John 7:38-39 Jesus says:
(38) He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (Ref. John 4:10)
(39) (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
And John 14:17 says:
Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
And John 20:19-24 (post resurrection) says:
Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. (20) And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord. Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. (22) And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: (23) Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained. (24) But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.
And Luke 24:33 and Luke 24:46-49 (post resurrection) says
(33) And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them,
And said unto them, (46) Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: (47) And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. (48) And ye are witnesses of these things. (49) And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.
And Acts 1:4-9 (post resurrection) says:
(4) And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. (5) For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence… (8) But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. (9) And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
And Acts 2:1-4 says:
And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. (2) And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. (3) And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. (4) And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
And Acts 4:8 says:
Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, And Acts 8:5-24 says:
Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them… (12) But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. (13) Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done. (14) Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: (15) Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (16) (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) (17) Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. (18) And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, (19) Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. (20) But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. (21) Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. (22) Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. (23) For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity. (24) Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.
And Acts 9:3-20 says:
(3) And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: (4) And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? (5) And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. (6) And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do…and brought him into Damascus. (9) And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink. (10) And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias…But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: (16) For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake. (17) And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. (18) And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized. (19) And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus. (20) And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.
And Acts 10:23-48 says:
Then called he them in, and lodged them. And on the morrow Peter went away with them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him. (24) And the morrow after they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius waited for them, and had called together his kinsmen and near friends… (44) While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. (45) And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. (46) For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, (47) Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? (48) And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.
And Acts 11:15-17 says:
And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning. (16) Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost. (17) Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?
And Acts 19:1-7 says:
And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, (2) He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. (3) And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism. (4) Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. (5) When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. (6) And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. (7) And all the men were about twelve.
And Romans 8:9-11 says:
(9a) But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. (9b) Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. (10) And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. (11) But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
And 1 Corinthians 12:3 says:
Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.
And 1 Corinthians 12:13 says:
For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
To God Be the Glory!
