SERIES: The Work of the Holy Spirit
SERMON: “The Promise of the Holy Spirit Coming and Indwelling His people in the New Covenant”
(Part 2)
PRESENTER: Rev. Dr. JoAnne P. King
DATE: May 14, 2023
As we move this discussion to the New Testament scriptures, we will observe that the Holy Spirit provides the Lord’s people with wisdom, understanding, and power that they might perform according to God’s will. However, as mentioned earlier, there is a change in methodology under the New Testament Covenant administration.
Before a new administration takes over, God always has a prophet give a prophesy about a new promise or some blessing that will take place or be made available in the future. In this case, the ministry of the Holy Spirit in the New Testament age was introduced in the promise that God made to Israel of a “new covenant” as recorded in Jeremiah 31:31-34: “Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:
Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was a husband unto them, saith the Lord:
But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.
And they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know me [through personal experience], from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”
Under the New Covenant, God’s law is written in the hearts of His people. This is addressed by Apostle Paul in:
2 Cor. 3:1-6, 17-18 Amp: “Are we starting to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, like some [false teachers], letters of recommendation from you? [No!]
Such is the confidence and steadfast reliance and absolute trust that we have through Christ toward God.
Not that we are sufficiently qualified in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency and qualifications come from God.
He has qualified us [making us sufficient] as ministers of a new covenant [of salvation through Christ], not of the letter [of a written code] but of the Spirit; for the letter [of the Law] kills [by revealing sin and demanding obedience], but the Spirit gives life.”
“Now the Lord is the Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty [emancipation from bondage, true freedom].
And we all, with unveiled face, continually seeing as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are progressively being transformed into his image [one degree of] glory to [even more] glory, which comes from the Lord, [who is] the Spirit.”
There are scriptures that promise the coming of the Holy Spirit:
John 1:29-34: “The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
This is he of whom I said, after me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me.
And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.
And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.
And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.
And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.”
Two significant points on the above passages are:
- As John the Baptist declares, it is through the Person and work of the Son of God that baptism with the Holy Spirit is realized.
- After Jesus was risen, but before He ascended to the Father, He told the apostles that they should wait in Jerusalem for the promise of the Father, for in just a few days they would be baptized with the Holy Spirit. With the Holy Spirit, they would receive power and be witnesses of Him.
Acts 1:4-8: “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.
For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
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.”
John 7:37-39: “In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, if any man thirst let him come unto me, and drink.
He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
(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.)”
One significant point on the above passage is:
- In chapter seven of John’s gospel, Jesus equates the ministering of the Holy Spirit in and through those who believe on Him to living waters. But, the Holy Spirit would not be given until He had been glorified, (ascended to the Father).
John 14:3, 15-18, 23-26: “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am there ye may be also …
If ye love me, keep my commandments.
And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter [a Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Counselor, Strengthener, Standby], that he may abide with you forever;
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.
I will not leave you comfortless: [as orphans, bereaved and helpless] I will come back to you …
Jesus answered and said unto him, if a man love me, he will keep my words: [teaching]; and My Father will love him, and We will come unto him, and make Our abode with him.
He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me.
These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, Whatsoever I have said unto you.”
Three significant points on the above passages are:
- In John chapter fourteen, Jesus refers to the Spirit as “another Comforter,” and says, “I will not leave you comfortless, I will come to you.” In this passage, when Jesus says that He will come, the context shows that He is referring to the Holy Spirit.
- In verse 23, the statement that He and the Father will come and make their abode with those who keep His word is again, in reference to the Holy Spirit dwelling in them.
- And, that the Holy Spirit comes in His name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], and will teach them “all things” and bring to their remembrance the things that He had said to them.
John 16:12-16: “I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.
Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will shew you things to come.
He shall glorify me: for He shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. [Remember, the Holy Spirit is representing Jesus.]
All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore, said I, that He shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
A little while, and ye shall not see Me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see Me, because I go to the Father.”
Two significant points on the above passages are:
- In chapter sixteen, Jesus says that “the Spirit of truth” will guide them into all truth. It should be noted that the Spirit will not speak of Himself, but that the Spirit will receive of the things concerning Christ and show those things to His disciples, thereby bringing glory to Christ.
- Thus, the focus of the ministry of the Holy Spirit is the Lord Jesus, in reference to His person, His death, His resurrection, and His position at the right hand of the Father. And, on this foundation the Holy Spirit’s ministry is directed toward conforming God’s people to the image of His Son-2 Cor. 3:17-18.
Hebrews 9:13-17: “For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling the unclean [a defiled, person] sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:
How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal [Holy] Spirit offered himself without spot [that is, without moral or spiritual imperfection as a sacrifice] to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
And for this cause, He is the mediator [and negotiator] of a new covenant, [that is, an entirely new agreement uniting God and man], so that those who have been called [by God] may receive [the fulfillment of] the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has taken place [as the payment] which redeems them from the sins committed under the obsolete first covenant.
For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.
For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise, it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.”
Two significant points on the above passages are:
- In the new covenant, the law is written, not on tables of stone, but in our hearts by the Holy Spirit. And, this new covenant was instituted by the death of the Lord Jesus. His blood, when rightly understood, frees our conscience from the dead works of the Old Testament to serve the “living God.”
- He is not worshipped through ceremony, ritual, and external formalities. “God is spirit [the source of life, yet invisible to mankind], and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth. -John 4:23-24” Amp.
In the New Testament, the Holy Spirit Dwells
Within People
In the New Testament, the Holy Spirit’s normal ministry is to “fill” a believer or to dwell within. Only after Jesus’ departure did the Holy Spirit start to fill Christians. All believers are sealed and indwelt by the Holy Spirit at the point of their salvation. Some refer to being filled with the Holy Spirit to the “anointing.”
Do not get drunk with wine, for that is wickedness (corruption, stupidity), but be filled with the Holy Spirit and constantly walk in the Spirit.”
In Galatians 5:16-23 Amp., “But I say, walk habitually in the Holy Spirit [seek Him and be responsive to His guidance], and then you will certainly not carry out the desire of the sinful nature [which responds impulsively without regard for God and His precepts].
For the sinful nature has its desire which is opposed to the Spirit, and the [desire which is opposed to the Spirit, and the [desire of the] Spirit opposes the sinful nature; for these [two, the sinful nature and the Spirit] are in direct opposition to each other [continually in conflict], so that you [as believers] do not [always] do whatever [good things] you want to do.
But if you are guided and led by the Spirit, you are not subject to the Law.
Now the practices of the sinful nature are clearly evident: they are sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality (total irresponsibility, lack of self-control), Idolatry, sorcery, hostility, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions [that promote heresies], Envy, drunkenness, riotous behavior, and other things like these. I warn you beforehand, just as I did previously, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”
In closing, I leave you with these passages of scriptures found in 1 Thessalonians 5:19-24 Amp.: “Do not quench [subdue, or be unresponsive to the working and guidance of] the Spirit.
Do not scorn or reject gifts of prophecy or prophecies [spoken revelations—words of instruction or exhortation or warning].
But test all things carefully [so you can recognize what is good]. Hold firmly to that which is good. Abstain from every form of evil [withdraw and keep away from it].
Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you through and through [that is, separate you from profane and vulgar things, make you pure and whole and undamaged—consecrated to Him—set apart for His purpose]; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept complete and [be found] blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Faithful and absolutely trustworthy is He who is calling you [to Himself for your salvation], and He will do it [He will fulfill His call by making you holy, guarding you, watching over you, and protecting you as His own].”
Let’s give the Lord a praise offering for revealing the scriptures that promise the coming of the Holy Spirit. This confirms for us that what the Lord has promised, He will fulfill.