The physical scientists have unwittingly demonstrated in a remarkable way that the world is made of God’s spirit. The complex atoms and molecular structures that go to make up solid matter are actually seen to be whirling masses of protons and neutrons —not ‘solid’ at all. Energy arrives on earth in strangely named particles. The universe consists of bundles of energy in barely conceivable forms imploding and exploding. It is one further simple step to perceive that all energy and ‘solid’ matter is basically energy or spirit-power that comes from God. The trees, steel, flesh, water, light, heat and the earth itself are shown to be composed of elements that are admirably understood in the terms of God’s spirit.
Thus, the spirit of God is in all His creation. “And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters” (Gen. 1:2). “Thou sendest forth Thy spirit, they are created” (Ps. 104:30).
To some objects is added ‘life’ — more of God’s spirit. Thus wood is not mere wood, but a growing tree; an animal is not just meat, but a living creature; man is not only a body but a living soul. Of all God’s living creatures, already twice blessed by His spirit, man has a moral capability. Some men suitably respond to this added responsibility and to them is added God’s ‘grace’ — more of God’s spirit. Thus, believers in Jesus, through baptism, are filled, guided, protected and made powerful by God. God comes and dwells with His children and varying measures of power are given to them. This measure has been increased at times, according to God’s will and purpose, so that men, several times in history, have performed open miracles; viz. Moses, his 70 elders, Elijah and the 1st century apostles, to name but a few — more of God’s spirit. Jesus was invested with God’s spirit ‘without measure’. Finally God, who simply describes himself as ‘spirit’, is the source of all spirit.
These are the steps in the power structure of God’s spirit. Added to the power to exist is the power to live by the same spirit; added to that is the power to recognise and obey God by the same spirit; added to that is the power to be His agent and perform His work by the same spirit; added to that is the power to perform miracles by the same spirit; added to that was the power given to the son of God by the same spirit; and God describes Himself as that same spirit.
Power In Us
The first half of the letter to the Ephesians is a remarkable commentary by Paul upon the powerful indwelling of the spirit in the true believer. Under no circumstances can it be entertained that half this epistle does not apply today. Ephesians does not refer to a small portion of one ecclesia who possessed ‘gifts’ — it expounds the power of the spirit available to every believer of Paul’s age and of every age including our own.
In chapter one, Paul gives thanks for the faith of the brethren and sisters, and prays (v.17) “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of Glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him”. The word of God is there for all to see; some, like the Ephesians, take knowledge of it. Paul prays that wisdom and inward assurance may be added to them by God’s spirit. A proportion of that ‘some’ in the ecclesia may be prepared to receive that spirit of wisdom.
Paul goes on to illustrate how it benefits those who believe it can happen, “… the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, and what is the EXCEEDING GREATNESS OF HIS POWER TO USWARD WHO BELIEVE… ” Having said that, Paul now emphasises that God’s power — to transform us, to heal us of our infirmities, to help us in our trials and temptations, to quicken us — is exactly the same power that Jesus possessed, “. according to the working of His mighty power which He wrought in Christ… ” (v.20). And again, it is Ephesians that emphasises that God only has one spirit (Eph. 4:4). But when we perceive how God adds to the work of His spirit in believers in certain times so that His work in them is super powerful and we further note that Jesus possessed God’s spirit without MEASURE, we see that the MEASURE of God’s spirit granted to the believer is the key to understanding the work of the spirit.
We all possess a measure of God’s spirit; but God, at various points in history, to suit His purpose, increased the measure in His servants to the extent that they were granted `gifts’ or performed miracles such as raising the dead. With this understanding, Paul can then say that the spirit available to every believer is even “… according to the WORKING of His mighty power which He wrought in Christ… ” though not according to the same MEASURE.
Holy Spirit
The word ‘holy’ simply means separated or set apart, as for a specific purpose. The ‘gifts’ of the spirit are rightly called “of the holy spirit”. But so is any other special work of God’s spirit — none more appropriate than that which SEPARATES believers from the world. Thus, in any age, when men respond to the gospel call, God separates them and dwells in them “by His holy spirit”. This separating work of the holy spirit goes on today. Have you experienced this work of the holy spirit in your life? Every true believer has.
The gift of prophecy in the 1st century was no more ‘holy’ than the spirit of Moses by which 68 elders prophesied round the tabernacle, 1400 years before Pentecost. In Numbers 11, some were disturbed that the gift of the holy spirit to prophesy was being exercised by two “in the camp” and not at the nominated place; but Moses correctly ruled that if God was pleased to bless them so marvelously out there, they should be allowed to continue.
David, 400 years later and 1,000 years before Pentecost, uses the precise term ‘holy spirit’, “Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me” (Ps. 51:11). God’s spirit worked in David to separate him for a special purpose; we each have a special purpose in God’s kingdom and thus the work of the holy separating spirit is never finished.
Elijah and Elisha, between them, did 24 miracles — surely the work of the holy spirit. This included raising the dead, which a renewed manifestation of the spirit reproduced in the 1st century. Thus when John makes the comment that Jesus spake “of the Spirit which they that believe on him should receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified” (John 7:39), he was referring to a renewal of manifestations of the holy spirit which had not been in evidence for a long time. The gifts of the spirit were not new — but the circumstances of Pentecost certainly were.
Thus, the work of the holy spirit, separating servants of God for His purposes, has ever continued and never ceased. From time to time, God has found reason to increase the measure of this work to the witness of open miracle — and He will do so again in the future. Thus it is that there is no passage of Scripture that proves the passing away of gifts after the 1st century. That cannot be so, for gifts will come again, particularly for the conversion of Israel to Jesus.
It is unlikely that 1 Cor. 13:10 speaks of the passing of gifts, “… when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away”. The time for whatever is referred to here occurring, is surely set by v.12 when Paul and his readers will see all things “face to face”. If, in 2 Cor., it was Paul who saw a vision into heaven 14 years before and could still say, in 1 Cor. 13, he saw “through a glass darkly”, then surely, as stated by dozens of Christadelphian speakers, the time referred to in seeing “face to face” is the kingdom age. Then “that which is perfect” — complete spirit power — will do away with that which we have at present ‘in part’ — merely a MEASURE. Thus, rather than referring to the completed Bible record replacing gifts of the spirit, this passage refers to the perfecting of the saints in the kingdom when we shall experience the completeness of all things “face to face”.
In the meantime, the work of the holy spirit continues; and God is not prevented by Scripture interpretation from the reintroduction of miraculous spirit power manifested through His servants, should His purpose call for it.
However, what we can say is this. The beginning of each of the three great world eras was marked by visible signs of God’s power and the end of each saw that power fade out of sight. Creation and Eden saw the might of God’s power; but by Noah’s time God’s power was not to be seen openly manifested. With Abraham, and later at the Exodus, and in the Tabernacle, God’s presence was unmistakable in power and might, but the glory soon faded and was nowhere to be seen just prior to Jesus.
The Christian era began with wonderful examples of spirit-power, but just like every other age, the glory has long since gone. This is our best indication that miraculous power of the holy spirit would be unlikely to exist today; but because Scripture does not limit God, and furthermore guarantees wondrous signs at Christ’s return, we await with interest the outpouring of that great day.
Filled With The Spirit
There is nothing special or mystical about being filled with the spirit. Paul exhorts all “to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God” (Eph. 3:19). This filling grows out of an experience which is more than knowledge. Three verses before, Paul asks “that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened WITH MIGHT BY HIS SPIRIT IN THE INNER MAN THAT CHRIST MAY DWELL IN YOUR HEARTS BY FAITH”.
The indwelling of God by His spirit, made possible by the faith of the believer, is a theme of Corinthians. Twice (1 Cor. 3:16 and 1 Cor. 6:19) our bodies are called ‘a temple’ in which the holy spirit dwells. Thus, being filled with the fulness of God is related to the indwelling of God by His spirit in every believer.
But we can see from a number of instances that the ‘filling’ may be increased when some, “being filled with the holy spirit”, went forth in added power for a special purpose. Thus, the MEASURE is not one of volume — we are all exhorted to be filled but one of varying strengths. A believer, already an abiding place for God and filled with His spirit, can be strengthened by God for a purpose. The power, already within him, is added to.
As Paul continues his prayer, there are no exceptions. “Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think ACCORDING TO THE POWER THAT WORKETH IN US ” (v.20). We see that God will work among brethren and sisters and the ecclesias as He worked among the children of Israel of old; that God dwells not in a tent, but in people. Just as the glory of God was visible in the tent, so it was in believers; just as God dwelt in the tent without visible power, so He dwells in us today; just as Israel rejected the working of the power and spirit of God among them, so can we today. Paul, in Ephesians again “… in whom all the building, fitly framed together groweth unto a holy temple in the Lord: in whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit” (2:2122).
Thus, God dwells both in the individual and in the ecclesia by His spirit with power.
This indwelling is sometimes called “the spirit of God” (1 Cor. 3:16), sometimes “the holy spirit” (1 Cor. 6:19). It matters not — God has only one spirit. Mark calls the dove that descended on Jesus “the spirit”; Luke calls it “the holy spirit”. Thus, those inner directions of God in us can equally be described as the spirit or the holy spirit dwelling in us. That is perfectly Scriptural. The power of God increasingly works in us as we draw nigh to Him directing our steps, preserving us from danger, curing our infirmities of body and mind, influencing others and the course of events. When the word of God has been received, the ministry of the spirit changes hearts and minds, separates believers and dwells or tabernacles with them, being “able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think”, according to the measure that God is pleased to grant us.
Is Pentecost Happening Today? (Part 7) – Tongues Shall Cease