Tag: His Holy Spirit

His Holy Spirit – Part 3

~ iolaHC ~ Leave a comment

1Thessalonians 4:8 He therefore that despises, despises not man, but God, who had also given unto us his holy Spirit. 

The Old Testament saints and disciples of Christ had salvation (Ps. 51:12); the redemption (Ps. 31:5); grace (Ps. 84:11); physical healing (Ex. 15:26); names written in heaven (Ex. 32:32-33; Luke 10:20); the new birth (Gal. 4:28-30); conversion (Ps. 19:7); righteousness (Rom. 4:1-25); the gospel (Gal. 3:6-14; Heb. 4:2); justification (Rom. 4:1-25); holiness; (Acts 3:21; 2Pet. 1:21); pure hearts (Ps. 24:4); sanctification (Ex. 29:42-44; 31:13; Ezek. 20:2; John 15:3); and many other spiritual blessings before Pentecost (John 7:37-39; Acts 2:33).

Therefore, one should not take any of these blessings as evidence of a Spirit baptism. From all this, we gather that the Spirit baptism is the fullness of God in the lives of believers, not the Spirit by measure as in Old Testament times (John 3:34; 7:37-39; Acts 10:38; Isa. 61:1; Rom. 15:29; Eph. 3:19).

Different measures of the Spirit: the Mosaic portion (Num. 11:17, 25); the Mosaic portion divided into 71 portions (Num. 11:16-17, 11:25-29); the Elijah portion (2Kin. 2:9); a double portion (2Kin. 2:9-10); the Elijah portion on John the Baptist (Luke 1:15-17); the earnest of the Spirit (2Cor. 1:22; 5:5; 1Jn. 4:13; Php. 1:19); the Spirit “without measure” (John 3:34; Isa. 11:2; 42:1; 61:1; Luke 4:16-21; Acts 10:38); the Spirit baptism or baptismal measure (Matt. 3:11; 20:22-23; Luke 3:16; John 1:31-34; Acts 1:4-8; 2:1-21; 8:15-24; 10:44-48; 11:14-18; 15:7-11; 19:1-7; Gal. 3:14); the fulness of God (Eph. 3:19; Rom. 15:29); the rivers of living water (John 7:37-39); and the full anointing of the Spirit and enduement of power from on high (Luke 24:49; John 14:12-15).

His Holy Spirit – Part 2

~ iolaHC ~ Leave a comment

1Thessalonians 4:8 He therefore that despises, despises not man, but God, who had also given unto us his holy Spirit. 

The Old Testament saints were filled with the Holy Spirit, but not baptized with the spirit – this only came to pass at Pentecost (Acts 2:1-13); they had, however, many experiences and blessings, as we see as follows: They were filled (Ex. 28:3; 31:3; 35:31; Deut. 34:9; Mic. 3:8) and had the Spirit in them (Gen. 41:38; Num. 27:18; Dan. 4:8-9, 18; 5:11-14; 6:3); within [in union with] them (Ps. 51:10-11; Isa. 63:10-14; Ezek. 11:19); into them (Ezek. 2:2; 3:24; Acts 3:21); and upon them (Num. 11:17-29; Jdg. 3:10; 6:34; 11:29; 14:6, 19; 15:14). He moved many (Jdg. 13:25; Acts 3:21; 2Pet. 1:21), but none were baptized in the Spirit. John the Baptist and others were filled with the Spirit, but not baptized (Luke 1:15-17, 41, 67; 2:25-38). Mary was filled about 35 years before she was baptized with the Spirit at Pentecost (Luke 1:45-56; Acts 1:13-15; 2:1-4). Jesus was filled about 30 years before He was baptized with the Spirit (Isa. 50:4-5; Luke 2:40-52; Matt. 3:16-17). The disciples were filled and had the Spirit in them 3 years before they were baptized with the Spirit (Matt. 10:1-8, 20; Acts 1:4-8; 2:1-4, 33).

The Old Testament saints had gifts [purpose always God’s glory] and the fruit [sign of salvation] of the Spirit (1Kin. 3:12; 17:1 – 2Kin. 13:25; Acts 3:21; Heb. 11:1-40); different measures of the Spirit (Num. 11:16-25; 2Kin. 2:9; Luke 1:17) but not the Spirit baptism or the Spirit “without measure” (John 3:34; 7:37-39). The disciples had gifts and great power years before the Spirit baptism (Matt. 10:1-8, 16-20; Mark 6:7-13; Luke 10:1-42), but were told to get the Spirit baptism before starting their ministry (Luke 24:49; John 7:37-39; 14:12; Acts 1:4-8).

To be continued…

His Holy Spirit – Part 1

~ iolaHC ~ Leave a comment

1Thessalonians 4:8 He therefore that despises, despises not man, but God, who had also given unto us his holy Spirit. 

‘He therefore that despises not man, but God.’ The principle stated here is expressed in various ways in Scripture. God considers certain sins as direct sins against Him: murder (Gen. 9:6), despising the least child or believer (4:8; Matt. 18:10; Luke 10:16;), any mistreatment of a human being (Matt. 25:31-46), or rejection of Jesus and the gospel (John 12:48). If this could be emphasized more there would be less malice, envy, jealousy, and strife among Christians and even among sinners.

‘Given unto us his holy Spirit.’ Every believer has the Holy Spirit in a measure when born again (Rom. 8:14-16; Gal. 4:6). In fact, “if any man have not the Spirit” he does not belong to Christ (Rom. 8:9). This Spirit of sonship or even some gift of the Spirit may be received without having the Spirit baptism or the fullness of the Spirit.

The difference between a filling and a baptism or the Spirit by measure and without measure may be illustrated by a glass and a pitcher of water. To the extent the water is poured into the glass it is filled, but not baptized. By burying the glass in the fullness of the water it is both filled and baptized. Taking the glass out of the fullness of the water it is no longer baptized. So it is with believers. To the extent one is filled with the Spirit he has that measure of power and can do things according to the degree of anointing he has. If he is merely filled and has the Spirit by measure he is limited in spiritual power. If he has the Spirit in all fullness there is no limitation. He can do the works of Christ and the apostles as long as it is always to God’s glory and not to the greatness of the individual (Matt. 17:20; 21:22; Mark 9:23; 11:22-24; 16:17-18; John 14:12; Acts 2:43; 3:6; 5:16; Rom. 15:18-19, 29).

A filling always comes with a baptism, but a baptism does not always come with a filling. At Pentecost, they were both filled and baptized (Acts 1:4-8; 2:4), and many fillings kept coming to them to replenish the Spirit and power they had received (Acts 4:8, 31; 13:52). One must continue to live and walk in the Spirit and be filled with all the fullness of God to maintain that baptismal fullness (Eph. 3:16-20; 5:18; Gal. 5:16-26).

To be continued…