Introduction
The Holy Spirit is an essential part of the Christian faith, and it is crucial to understand its role in the lives of believers. As Pentecostal and Charismatic Christians, we believe in the continuing work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers. We believe that the Holy Spirit empowers us to live a life that is pleasing to God, to understand the things of God, and to serve in the church.
In this blog post, we will examine the question, “When did the Holy Spirit come?” We will explore the manifestation of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament, the Gospels, and the significance of the Holy Spirit’s coming to the Christian faith. This post aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the Holy Spirit’s role in the life of a believer and its significance to the Christian faith.
As we delve into the topic, it is essential to note that the Holy Spirit is a person, not a force or power. The Holy Spirit is the third person in the trinity, and the Bible refers to it as the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ, and the Comforter. The Holy Spirit has been present throughout history, but its manifestation changed after the coming of Jesus Christ. Let us examine the manifestation of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament and the Gospels to gain a deeper understanding of the Holy Spirit’s role in our lives as believers.
The Holy Spirit in the Old Testament
In the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit was present, but its manifestation was different from what we experience in the New Testament. The Holy Spirit would come upon people for a specific task, such as prophesying or leading the people of Israel. For instance, the Spirit of the Lord came upon Samson, and he was empowered to defeat the Philistines (Judges 14:6,19). Also, the Spirit of God came upon King Saul, and he prophesied with the prophets (1 Samuel 10:10). However, the Holy Spirit did not permanently indwell in people in the Old Testament.
The Holy Spirit in the Gospels
In the Gospels, Jesus Christ promised to send the Holy Spirit to His disciples after His ascension to heaven. In John 14:16-17, Jesus said, “And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.” Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would come and dwell in His disciples forever, which is a significant difference from how the Holy Spirit manifested in the Old Testament.
In Acts 1:8, Jesus again promised the Holy Spirit to His disciples, saying, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” After Jesus’ ascension to heaven, the disciples gathered in the upper room, waiting for the promised Holy Spirit. In Acts 2:1-4, the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples, and they were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in tongues. This event is known as the Day of Pentecost and marks the coming of the Holy Spirit in a new way.
The Significance of the Holy Spirit’s Coming
The coming of the Holy Spirit is significant to the Christian faith because it empowers believers to live a life pleasing to God. The Holy Spirit is the seal of salvation, and it helps believers to understand the things of God. In 1 Corinthians 2:10-14, Paul writes, “But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.”
The Holy Spirit also empowers believers to live a life pleasing to God. In Galatians 5:22-23, Paul writes, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” These fruits are the evidence of the Holy Spirit’s work in the believer’s life, and they enable the believer to live a life that is pleasing to God.
The Holy Spirit also enables believers to serve in the church and carry out the mission of spreading the Gospel. In 1 Corinthians 12:7, Paul writes, “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all.” The Holy Spirit gives believers spiritual gifts that enable them to serve in the church and carry out the mission of spreading the Gospel.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Holy Spirit has been present throughout history, but its manifestation changed after the coming of Jesus Christ. In the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit came upon people for a specific task, but it did not permanently indwell in people. In the New Testament, Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit to His disciples, and the Holy Spirit came upon them on the Day of Pentecost. The coming of the Holy Spirit is significant to the Christian faith because it empowers believers to live a life pleasing to God, understand the things of God, and serve in the church.
As Pentecostal and Charismatic Christians, we believe in the continuing work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers. We believe that the Holy Spirit empowers us to live a life that is pleasing to God, to understand the things of God, and to serve in the church. We should, therefore, seek to be filled with the Holy Spirit continually and to allow the Holy Spirit to work in our lives and lead us in all things.
Let us pray that the Holy Spirit will continue to work in us and empower us to fulfill God’s purpose for our lives. “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13, NKJV).