To write on a subject such as the Spirit of God, one must surely approach it with much fear and trepidation. It is not to be lightly considered, nor may we rush into print without carefully choosing our words and phraseology. Many brethren must surely be perturbed over some of the expressions and expressed opinions from various quarters.
When speaking about the Holy Spirit of God, we are discussing something which we know very little about, except that what we do know, is from the Word of God or from personal experience. From the Word of God we learn a good deal about the working of that Power which we say is the Holy Spirit, that is, the Spirit of God.
If it is written in Scripture “Behold I am with you”, then we confidently accept that God is indeed with that person, in certain circumstances. But it is important to stress that phrase “in certain circumstances”.
Extravagant claims are often made regarding “possessing” the Holy Spirit. Certainly in Acts 2 Peter says ” — and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit”, and that word “receive” would seem to suggest that, after baptism, the Jews, to whom Peter spoke, would then “possess” something.
Again, the Apostle Paul said to certain disciples (Acts 19) “Have ye received the Holy Spirit?” — then Paul laid his hands on them and the Holy Spirit came on them; and they spake with tongues and prophesied.
There is also the occasion when Peter saw a vision and ” — the Spirit said unto him, behold three men seek thee”. Peter went to Cornelius, and, after proclaiming the Gospel, while he was yet speaking, “the Holy Spirit fell on all them which heard the Word” —and they spoke with tongues and magnified God. Cornelius and his household had “received” the Holy Spirit.
Those who were in one place on the day of Pentecost “were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance”.
Let us consider those instances where the power of God was manifested — the Holy Spirit came on them; the Holy Spirit fell on them; and they were filled with the Holy Spirit. Surely we must exercise great care when speaking of anyone “possessing” the Holy Spirit.
No one can possess the Holy Spirit in the sense that it is something acquired and at his disposal. Would we think that in those three instances, those men were conscious of their ability to speak in other tongues and, of their own volition, made use of it to magnify God? Not so. They did not possess the Holy Spirit but were possessed by it. Which thought puts a completely different aspect on the operation of the Power of God.
Would we think then that the Holy Spirit having descended or fallen on them or had filled them, would always remain with them to guide them in the ‘Way’? Were Peter or Paul possessed by the Holy Spirit? But we are in no doubt that Peter was among those at Pentecost, and Paul experienced the Power of the Holy Spirit for God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul (Acts 19). So we can certainly say they were possessed by the Holy Spirit. But was it always so in their lives? Were they, in all circumstances, governed by the Holy Spirit?
In Galatians 2, the Apostle Paul says “When Peter was come to Antioch I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed”. Other Jews and even Barnabas were affected by Peter, “They walked not uprightly” but was not Peter filled with the Holy Spirit? or did Peter dissemble because he acted in his own strength? There was an occasion when Paul “decided” within himself that they would carry the Gospel into Bithynia (Acts 16) “but the Spirit suffered them not”.
Now, this must not be construed as criticism of the apostles. It is quoted in an effort to emphasise the need to comprehend, to have the capacity of the mind to perceive and understand. If we can perceive that no one has the capacity to “possess” the Holy Spirit, then we come to understand that the work of the Power of the Holy Spirit is God’s prerogative and exclusively used by Him alone.
Consider the words of the Apostle Peter (Acts 2) “Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and signs and wonders which God did by him in the midst of you”. God’s approval was demonstrated by the miracles, wonders and signs which God did!
Jesus said “Of mine own self I can do nothing”, “But the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works”.
It is the Almighty Creator, maker of Heaven and earth, our Father, by His Holy Spirit who uses men as His chosen vessels to proclaim His message or pronounce His Judgments. He uses men as His amanuensis, and what they have written is given “by inspiration of God”.
Is it possible that we can be used of the Holy Spirit without having a gift of the Holy Spirit? It has been suggested that “if brethren have the Holy Spirit, they would reveal its power in some form; but they do not” — the inference being that if they do not reveal the power then they do not have the Holy Spirit.
We must reiterate, we do not ‘have’ the Holy Spirit at any time. We may be led by it, used by it, but not possess it. But how can it be suggested that if we are in any way used by the Holy Spirit, then we must give evidence of a Spirit gift? Quoting one writer (G. Pearce, “Holy Spirit and Holy Spirit Gifts”): “What Paul writes (1 Cor. 12) is also against the idea of there being two parts to the Holy Spirit Gifts, the miracle working part and the teaching, guiding part. The emphasis of the chapter is that every different Spirit Gift was essential — either the ecclesias today have the whole system described by Paul or it does not exist”.
This statement is in line with the previous quotation that if any brethren are directed or influenced in some way by the Holy Spirit then they must show it by speaking with tongues, healing the sick, raising the dead! and any other miraculous phenomenon associated with Holy Spirit Gifts. In other words, we must see a sign as evidence of the indwelling of God’s power!
Why must we think we are dividing God’s Holy Spirit into two compartments when we say that we can be led by the Holy Spirit, but not necessarily experience “special miracles” by Holy Spirit Gifts? It was the Pharisees who pressed Jesus, on more than one occasion, to show them “a sign from Heaven” and Jesus refused! We recall that, at Pentecost, “they began to speak — as the Spirit gave them utterance”. But because this was so at Pentecost, what reason is there for being so emphatic in declaring that whosoever is led by the Spirit must, of necessity, prove it by some charismatic, supernatural display?
Why should it be thought incredible that God would, in this day and age, direct someone by His Holy Spirit, without having to prove it to doubters by miracle or sign?
Consider the prophet Jeremiah, to whom God said “I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations” and “whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak” for “I am with thee to deliver thee”. Alas! Jeremiah was bowed down with his burden and cried “I am in derision daily, everyone mocketh me”. Then he said “I will not make mention of him nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones and I was weary with forbearing and I could not stay”. But he remembered “But the Lord is with me as a mighty terrible one”.
God was indeed with Jeremiah, over-ruling him by His Spirit, so that Jeremiah could not remain silent; his whole being was encompassed by the Power of God, like a consuming fire. He prophesied and pronounced God’s judgments; but he did not perform any great miracles, though God was with him.
Jeremiah was led by the Spirit of God.
When we sing “Lead us Lord, lead us in Thy righteousness”, we are praying: praying to God, to hear and lead us. Shall God not hear or see us? But Scripture says “the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous and His ears are open unto their prayers” (1 Peter 3). Shall God not answer any prayer? But if he should answer, shall He not by His Spirit, direct us?
Is prayer so one-sided that God expects us to pray for help, for guidance, for deliverance out of evil, but turns a deaf ear to all our pleas and has no intention of answering any prayers? Then why pray?
But thanks be to God in the highest, prayers are answered, though not always in ‘the way we would wish or expect. Many times, surely, .we ask amiss to “consume it on our own desires”. The Apostle Paul said to the Ephesians “Grieve not the Holy Spirit”. Let us not grieve the Holy Spirit by denying its power to guide and deliver us, but “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, unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages”, “that He would grant you according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man”. (Ephesians 3).
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