What Does the Holy Spirit Do? Pt. 1

            Last week, we discussed who the Holy Spirit was. This week and next week, we will look at what he does. He does so much that it would’ve been too ambitious to try to cover it all here today. How the Spirit worked in the Old Testament is different than how he works today. This week, we will look at how the Holy Spirit worked in the Old Testament.

            First, the Holy Spirit was involved in some way with creation. “Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.” (Genesis 1:2). Second, he guided and protected Israel. “Yet they rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit. So he turned and became their enemy, and he himself fought against them. Then his people recalled the days of old, the days of Moses and his people— where is he who brought them through the sea, with the shepherd of his flock? Where is he who set his Holy Spirit among them, who sent his glorious arm of power to be at Moses’ right hand, who divided the waters before them, to gain for himself everlasting renown, who led them through the depths? Like a horse in open country, they did not stumble; like cattle that go down to the plain, they were given rest by the Spirit of the Lord. This is how you guided your people to make for yourself a glorious name.” (Isaiah 63:10-14). Third, we spoke through the prophets to reveal Scripture. “Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them, bringing swift destruction on themselves.” (1 Peter 3:15). Fourth, he selectively and temporarily empowered theocratic leaders. An example of this is found in 1 Samuel. “So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David. Samuel then went to Ramah.” (1 Samuel 16:13). These are several ways that the Holy Spirit worked in the Old Testament.

            One area of the work of the Holy Spirit that is often debated is whether he indwelt Old Testament believers like he does now with New Testament believers. There are several strong arguments for and against the Spirit’s indwelling of Old Testament believers. The first argument against the Spirit indwelling Old Testament believers is focused on the New Covenant blessing. “And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.” (Ezekiel 36:27). The argument states that God doesn’t promise the Spirit to his followers until the New Covenant. The Old Testament believers were not under the New Covenant, as we are, so they did not get the Spirit indwelling in them. The covenants that they were living under do not promise the Spirit’s indwelling. Second, we can see in Scripture that the Spirit is described as a future blessing. “On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.” (John 7:37-39). The Spirit had not yet been given to believers.

            On the other hand, obedience is impossible without the help of the Spirit. “Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.” (Romans 8:5-7). This reality holds true throughout time. One needs the work of the Spirit in them in order to be obedient to God. This is the point of us needing the Spirit as believers. We could never live God-pleasing lives that produce Christlike fruit if we don’t have the Spirit living inside of us.

            Both arguments make valid points. I think there is a middle ground that is closer to the answer for this question. The indwelling of the Spirit comes from the New Covenant and involves knowledge of an intimate relationship with God. This relationship is what we as New Testament believers have today. However, we do see evidence in the Old Testament that the Spirit was present in the lives of Old Testament believers and empowered their obedience. They were as incapable of obedience on their own as we are. However, they were not taught to expect and trust in God’s power within them. That comes from the New Covenant blessing. It seems to follow then that the Holy Spirit empowered Old Testament believers rather than indwelt them. The difference between the two seems slim; however, there is a major difference. Old Testament believers did not have the continual presence of the Spirit, fostering an intimate relationship with God; rather, they had moments of the Spirit empowering them to be obedient to God.

            The Spirit does a lot of work in the lives of believers! It is easy to get focused on what he does for the New Testament believer and forget that he was at work in the Old Testament as well. He was continually at work protecting and guiding his nation of Israel. He was empowering his people to obey him and not fall into sin. In many ways, his work with Old Testament believers is similar to how he works with New Testament believers. Isn’t it great that we have a God that is the same yesterday, today, and forevermore!