When Nansen started on his Artic expedition many years ago he took with him a carrier pigeon, strong and fast. After 2 years in the desolation of the Artic regions, he one day wrote a tiny little message, tied it under the pigeon’s wing, and let it loose, to travel 2,000 miles to Norway over ice, snow and death. He took the trembling little bird and flung her up from the ship, up into the icy cold. Three circles she made, and then, straight as an arrow, she shot south: 1,000 miles over ice, 1,000 miles over the frozen wastes of ocean, and at last dropped into the lap of the explorer’s wife. She knew, by the arrival of the bird, that it was all right in the dark night of the north. The presence of God’s Spirit in our lives assures us that He lives in heaven.
We know the Holy Spirit is God, part of the Trinity. We know He is a Person, not just an impersonal force. But is it true He lives inside of us? Does God really indwell us? If so, we always have His presence and guidance (John 16:8). He is there to produce the fruit of the Spirit in us (Galatians 5:22-23) and empower us with spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12:1-11). He reveals God’s truth to us (John 14:26), comforts us (John 14:18, 27), convicts of sin (John 16:8) and helps us in expressing our thoughts in prayers (Romans 8:26). If He is not within us, none of these would happen.
Yet some Christians believe that not all Christians are indwelt by the Spirit. Others believe that certain leaders have ‘more’ of the Spirit than others and can perform special acts. They even believe these men can pass on the Holy Spirit to others. People then elevate those who claim this and give them the credit and worship that belongs to God alone. They steal His glory for themselves! We are all equal in God’s sight. The Spirit fills and ministers to all of us equally.
PROOF FROM THE BIBLE The Bible tells us that the Holy Spirit lives in every believer from the moment of salvation (John 7:37-39; 14:16-17; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; 12:13). This is literally Jesus’s presence in us by the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 13:5; Romans 8:10; Galatians 2:20; Ephesians 3:17; Colossians 1:27). The Holy Spirit is always in every believer from the moment of salvation. How much we let Him control and lead us depends on our allowing Him to fill us completely (Ephesians 5:19). There is never a mention of some having ‘more’ of the Spirit than others, or being above other Christians or having the ability to pass on the Spirit to those whom they choose.
In the Old Testament the filling of the Spirit was rare and was usually related to the ability to serve in some particular area. Undoubtedly, the Spirit of God was behind the work of the inspiration of the Old Testament, and those who wrote Scripture were guided infallibly in what they wrote (Romans 3:2; Hebrews 5:12; 1 Peter 4:11). The Spirit of God in the Old Testament gave men wisdom (Genesis 41:38-40; Numbers 27:18; Judges 3:10; 6:34; 1 Samuel 10:10; 16:13). The Holy Spirit also gave men special skills in the Old Testament, such as the tailors for the priestly garments (Exodus 28:3) and the workmen who built the tabernacle (Exodus 31:3; 35:30-35). In the case of Samson, the Holy Spirit’s filling gave him superhuman strength (Judges 13:25; 14:6, 19; 15:14).
Today He indwells every believer from the moment of salvation (John 7:37-39; 14:16-17; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20), produces the fruit (good works) in believers (Galatians 5:2-16) and baptizes (identifies) all Christians into the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13). He is the One Who restrains sin in general (2 Thessalonians 2:7), convicts unbelievers of sin (John 16:8-9) and seals (guarantee of assurance) believers (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13; 4:30). He guides and directs believers and teaches and reminds us of God’s Word (John 14:26). He gives spiritual gifts to each believer and through gifted believers ministers to the whole Body (1 Corinthians 12:4-13).
We are commanded to be filled (controlled) by the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18) by continually being in total submission to God (Galatians 5:16, 25) and not allowing any sin or disobedience in our lives (Ephesians 4:30; 1 Thessalonians 5:19). Sinning against God is defined in the Bible as grieving the Spirit (Isaiah 63:10-11; Ephesians 4:30). All these are strong proofs that the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Jesus. But there is one additional proof.
PROOF FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE Those who are Christians can affirm from personal experience the change in them from before to after salvation. There is no accounting for this other than God Himself living inside and ministering to all our needs as promised. It is not a transformation we could have made on our own; it had to come from a source outside us, and that is God Himself through His indwelling Spirit.
John 14:16-17 I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.
John 14:26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.
How do you know God’s Spirit lives in you?
What would be different if He didn’t?
What can you do better to hear and follow Him today?
cto Rev. Dr. JERRY SCHMOYER
Christian Training Organization
Jerry@ChristianTrainingOrganization.org
(India, Africa & Spanish Outreach, Spiritual Warfare, Family Ministries, Counseling, World View)
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