A Child of God - Part 5

Now that one has become born again, that is, has experienced new birth, they begin their wonderful adventure as a a child of God, having been legally adopted into the family of God through faith in Jesus Christ (Romans 8:15-16). When Jesus was about to leave His disciples and return to the Father, He promised that He would send the Holy Spirit into the world to become their Teacher, Guide, Helper and Comforter. (John 14:15-18, 15:26-27, 16:12-15) The Holy Spirit was going to have charge of the ministry and the work of the Church. He was going to guide the Church as a whole, as well as, guide the many members individually. In the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit came upon certain people for a period of time to accomplish the work of God, but now He is to dwell with and in the heart, the spirit, of all who are born again.  

Before we go any further, we need to understand that the Holy Spirit is not an "it" an "ism" nor is He some mystical force. The scriptures refer to Him as a person by using personal pronouns, such as, He, Him, etc. In the scriptures referenced above, Jesus gives the Holy Spirit the same place, the same personality, and the same honor that He gives to the Father and to Himself. The Apostle John reveals this fact this way, "For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one." (1 John 5:7) Notice that John clearly reveals that the Holy Spirit co-exists, is co-equal, is co-eternal, that is, one with the Father and the Word (the Son). Although the Holy Spirit is one with the Father and the Son, scripture clearly reveals that He is also distinguished from the Father and Son. The Apostle Paul shows us this very thing, "There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all." (1 Corinthians 12:4-6)  

The Holy Spirit has the guidance and the plans for the church. Paul shows us, "But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills." (1 Corinthians 12:7-11) In doing these things, the Holy Spirit does not operate independently from the Father and Son. Jesus tells us, "When He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you." (John 16:13-15) 

The Holy Spirit's place of activity today is on the earth. Some of the things He is doing are, convicting the world of sin, (John 16:8), holding back the powers of darkness, (1 John 4:4), recreating sinners, (2 Corinthians 5:17), indwelling the new believers body (John 14:17), empowering believers for ministry (Acts 1:8) and bringing them into the Family of God. (Romans 8:15-16). Since the Day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit's home is the body of those who are born again. "...do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God..." (1 Corinthians 6:19) However, He could not make His home in the human body until man had been recreated, born again. This could not take place until Christ had come and paid the penalty of sin, taken His seat as Mediator, and given eternal life to all who would confess Him as Lord and take Him as Savior.  

Not only does the Holy Spirit indwell the believer at the very moment he is born again, but He also fills the believer. First and foremost, to enter the family of God, people need regeneration, new birth, being born again, but they also can receive the outpouring of the Holy Spirit which is subsequent to the regeneration experience. For the lack of space we will view a portion of scripture as evidence that shows the regeneration experience (indwelling of the Holy Spirit) and the pouring out and receiving of the Holy Spirit (infilling or being Baptized with the Holy Spirit) are two separate experiences. “Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.” (Acts 8.5-6) We read further, “But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized.” (Acts 8.12)  

The Samaritans heard the gospel and believed. They had experienced regeneration, but it is apparent by the following scripture that there was more than just believing and being water baptized. “Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.  Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 8.14-17) There is no doubt that these new converts were saved and had the Holy Spirit dwelling in them. However, the Holy Spirit had not fallen upon them (filled them as on the Day of Pentecost) until Peter and John laid their hands on them. (Also see Acts 19:1-7) 

The Apostle Paul also tells us, “And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit.” (Ephesians 5:18) A literal translation of the verb would read "be being kept filled." The idea is one of keeping themselves constantly filled and being filled with the Holy Spirit, as you yield moment by moment to His leading. "Be filled" is actually in the passive voice and indicates that the action of the Holy Spirit is continuously filling the believer. It is simply another facet of being a child of God and the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Being filled with the Holy Spirit allows the believer to have daily, moment-by-moment effectiveness and fulfillment in their Christian life as a child of God. Not just in the character of Christ, but also in the realm of the supernatural. "These signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” (Mark 16:17-18) "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father." (John 14:12) Isn't it absolutely wonderful to be a child of God? PTL