The day before yesterday I started a reflection on the following verses, but ended up snoozing through most of my prayer time. I know some days just quieting my mind will cause me to go back to sleep as I settle all the whirling thoughts that normally wake me up; not bad thoughts or anything, just thinking about work, life, etc. I wanted to revisit these verses today, as they really grabbed my attention and I have continued to think about them throughout the last few days.
Romans 8:9-11 NIV:
[9] "You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. [10] But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. [11] And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you."
I love the promise laid out here by Paul that God will give life to our mortal bodies. He is using a simple logic, and makes a solid case that we have in us, in our bodies, indwelling our spirits, the Holy Spirit. This is not some junior version of the Holy Spirit, but the same Spirit that raised Christ Jesus from the dead! Wow! This life, he speaks of, was the life that restored Jesus body. I don't want to go too far down that path, as we know Jesus had a resurrected body that had been in some way transformed. We do know that He was alive, He ate food and had a physical body that others could touch. We also know that certain of his scars remained in his hands and side, and we suppose his feet, although I don't believe they are mentioned specifically. The point here is that this same Spirit, this same life is available to us, and promised to us.
As I was reading this I was thinking that we must each have some personal proof that this is the case, for something this significant should be experienced and known by all. I was reminded, as I thought that, of the several times in prayer and worship that I have felt an actual quickening in my spirit, even in my physical body, as if I was being immersed in electricity. That is my experience, and while helpful for me, it doesn't solve the greater question in my mind, for each of us should know this reality somehow, if we are Christians, as Paul states in verse 10 and 11 above.
I am reminded of a couple of verses from Acts where we are told the Holy Spirit came upon people, and this was visible to others. Here are a couple of the verses - Acts 10:44-46 NIV: "While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. [45] The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. [46] For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God." Later Peter is recounting this event in defense of his actions in going to the Gentiles in Acts 11:15 NIV: “As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on us at the beginning." Here Peter is referring to Acts 2, when the Holy Spirit came up on them at Pentecost, so this was an experience of some power and physical manifestation.
We also have this report of Paul's ministry in Ephesus found in Acts 19:4-7 NIV: Paul said, “John's baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” [5] On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. [6] When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. [7] There were about twelve men in all."
In both of these instances, we see the Holy Spirit coming upon the people in such a significant way, that others could observe His arrival. We also have several references to people being filled with the Holy Spirit the first being Acts 2:4 NIV: "All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them." This filling by the Holy Spirit was also experienced and observed, as we see in the next set of verses:
Acts 4:31 NIV: "After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly."
Acts 13:9-12 NIV:
[9] "Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight at Elymas and said, [10] “You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord? [11] Now the hand of the Lord is against you. You are going to be blind for a time, not even able to see the light of the sun.”
"Immediately mist and darkness came over him, and he groped about, seeking someone to lead him by the hand. [12] When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord."
Acts 13:49-52 NIV:
[49] "The word of the Lord spread through the whole region. [50] But the Jewish leaders incited the God-fearing women of high standing and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region. [51] So they shook the dust off their feet as a warning to them and went to Iconium. [52] And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit."
The last two seem less conspicuous, and seemed more descriptive of the people, than an actual observable event. However, whether that is the case or not, the author, who had penned the previous verses and descriptions was using a phrase that had a certain definition and expectation associated with it, so I believe these do indicate that the move of the Holy Spirit was observable in each of these cases.
We find in other places Paul writing about the different gifts and fruit of the Holy Spirit, helping us to understand some of the other ways the Holy Spirit is present and operating in our lives. Here are some of the most significant sections where Paul describes these:
1 Corinthians 12:6-11 NIV:
[6] "There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work."
[7] "Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. [8] To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, [9] to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, [10] to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. [11] All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines."
1 Corinthians 12:27-31 NIV:
[27] "Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. [28] And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. [29] Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? [30] Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues ? Do all interpret? [31] Now eagerly desire the greater gifts. And yet I will show you the most excellent way."
Romans 12:4-8 NIV:
[4] "For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, [5] so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. [6] We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; [7] if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; [8] if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully."
Galatians 5:22-23 NIV:
[22] "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, [23] gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law."
We see in these lists from Paul, helpful descriptions of some of what the Holy Spirit brings to us as He empowers us and strengthens us. These are meant to encourage and strengthen the Body of Christ and help us to grow and mature. The listed fruit are what we should see as evidence in our lives when we submit ourselves to the Lord and allow the Lord to direct us and guide us. Paul writes that we are new creations and these gifts and fruit are meant to be evidence of this fact.
Finally, the pouring forth of the Holy Spirit into our lives is meant to be a seal, guaranteeing our salvation. We have a couple of different instances where this is mentioned:
2 Corinthians 1:21-22 NIV:
[21] "Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, [22] set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come."
Ephesians 1:13-14 NIV:
[13] "And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, [14] who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession---to the praise of his glory."
Ephesians 4:30 NIV:
[30] "And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption."
Putting this all together, we do receive the Holy Spirit into our very bodies during our salvation, this infilling of Holy Spirit is meant to provide us with strength and encouragement, gifts that are used to strengthen, encourage and mature the Body of Christ, which includes us. This indwelling can be something that is evident to all, accompanied by power and physical manifestation. Holy Spirit in us is a seal of promise that we will receive the inheritance promised. This seal and indwelling is not an optional extra but is standard equipment for all who are saved through faith in Christ Jesus.
While we may participate in denominations or church expressions that are not open to these gifts and understandings of the Holy Spirit, God certainly does not seem to make a distinction, instead promising that all who are saved are so affected and sealed.
My prayer is that in my life, and in the lives of all I know, that we would experience a renewed outpouring and filling of the Holy Spirit. I pray that we would experience a fresh release of gifts and see abundant fruit of Holy Spirit evident in our lives. I pray that this outpouring and infilling would be evident to those around us, to the Glory of God! I pray that we might be encouraged and strengthened in our lives, and see the Church strengthened and matured, purified and made ready! Come Holy Spirit! Give life to our mortal bodies!
Amen and Amen!
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