12/19/2022
When we believe in Jesus Christ as our savior, the Son of God, and are then baptized, we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. This gift plays an important role in our spiritual lives by giving us such things as scriptural understanding, remembrance, prayer when we don’t have the words, and the various other gifts of the Spirit when we need them to obey and do the will of God. In the upper room, following the ascension of Jesus, the disciples received the Spirit, but they were not the first nor the last that the gospel of Jesus tells us of receiving him. We read first of Elisabeth the mother of John the Baptist, and John in her womb, being filled with the Spirit.
“And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!”
Luke 1:41-42 ESV
And John who would become known as John the Baptist received the Holy Spirit in that same instant…
“And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.”
Luke 1:80 ESV
What gifts these were that Elisabeth received; first a child in her barren womb, and then the Holy Spirit for them both. Some say that the Spirit simply visited her and John, but scripture says that she was filled with the Spirit in the same way that it speaks of the disciples, Mary, and the others who were in the upper room when filled and set upon by tongues of fire. But before the disciples there came yet another; Zechariah the husband of Elisabeth and the father of John…
“And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying, “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people”
Luke 1:67-68 ESV
Zechariah had been made mute by the angel when he told that Elisabeth would have a son, and remained mute until he wrote the name of his son (John) on a tablet in the temple. At the moment he did this he was immediately filled with the Holy Spirit and was able to speak… then scripture tells us that he went on to prophesy of his son, and Jesus Christ who would later be baptized by him.
“And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.””
Matthew 3:16-17 ESV
After Jesus was baptized, and the Holy Spirit had rested upon Him, he went into the desert for 40 days and was then tempted by Satan. However, he rebuffed each temptation with scripture. We too are given remembrance by the Spirit and can do the same if we will only employ this gift when we face temptation.
Next to be filled were those in the upper room who were filled with the Spirit much as we are today.
“And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.”
Acts 2:4 ESV
Yes, we are given the Holy Spirit when we believe, and are subsequently baptized, and this is a gift for all those who are called by God to Himself, and answer that call… this gift extends even further and is given to our children as well.
“And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.””
Acts 2:38-39 ESV
So we see the progression of the Holy Spirit as it is given to us in the gospel of Jesus; first appearing before Jesus is born, and then manifesting itself a step at a time until Jesus asks the Father to send him to us as a helper.
“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.”
John 14:16-17 ESV
So do you believe? Are you baptized? Then look inside yourself and you will find the Holy Spirit residing there; helping you, giving you understanding, remembrance, and the other gifts you will need as you grow stronger in faith, and in the Spirit.
Prayer:
Father, thank you for loving us enough to send your son Jesus to live, suffer, die, and be resurrected that we would be cleansed of sin, and freed of death’s sting. Thank you also for your Holy Spirit who remains with us now, and strengthens us. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who is with us always and never abandons us. Praised be your name for every gift you give us as we strive to do your will. Merciful are you who has sent your Spirit to moan for us, and make utterances in prayer on our behalf when we don’t have the words to speak. Great are you who provides us with your Spirit from whom we receive spiritual gifts, so that we can do your will, and serve you as we should. Wash us in the blood of Jesus Lord, and cleanse us of every sin as we are prepared to stand before you in judgement. Give us understanding by the Holy Spirit, and transform us in the image of Jesus, so that we will be pleasing, and worthy in your sight. By your grace you wish that none should be lost, and by that grace we seek to claim the promise of eternity in your presence. Great are you Father, and greatly to be praised!
“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.”
1 Corinthians 12:4-11 ESV
Rich Forbes