God the Holy Spirit (Part IV): Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about the Holy Spirit

When did the Holy Spirit first come to Earth?

The Holy Spirit has been on Earth for a long time. 

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was without shape and empty, and darkness was over the surface of the watery deep, but the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the water. (Genesis 1:1–2 NET)

He was involved in the creation of the universe; therefore, it would be safe to say that the Holy Spirit has always been on Earth.

Who has measured out the waters in the hollow of his hand, or carefully measured the sky, or carefully weighed the soil of the earth, or weighed the mountains in a balance, or the hills on scales? Who comprehends the mind of the Lord, or gives him instruction as his counselor? From whom does he receive directions? Who teaches him the correct way to do things, or imparts knowledge to him, or instructs him in skillful design? Look, the nations are like a drop in a bucket; they are regarded as dust on the scales. He lifts the coastlands as if they were dust. (Isaiah 40:12–15 NET)

Why did the Holy Spirit descend from Heaven like a dove to rest on Jesus if He was already here? (John 1:32)

The Holy Spirit is God and is not confined to the narrow concept of time and space in our lives on Earth.  He exists simultaneously in one dimension everywhere in the universe. 

Where can I go to escape your spirit? Where can I flee to escape your presence? If I were to ascend to heaven, you would be there. If I were to sprawl out in Sheol, there you would be. (Psalm 139:7–8 NET)

However, He came in a different dimension to rest upon Jesus in the form of a Dove (1). The Holy Spirit came upon Jesus to empower Him for ministry. 

Then Jesus, in the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and news about him spread throughout the surrounding countryside. He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by all. Now Jesus came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read,and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and the regaining of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Luke 4:14–19 NET)

Remember, Jesus emptied Himself (1) of self (i.e., of His right to all that being God entails) before being born of the Virgin Mary.

You should have the same attitude toward one another that Christ Jesus had, who though he existed in the form of God did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped, but emptied himself by taking on the form of a slave, by looking like other men, and by sharing in human nature. (Philippians 2:5–7 NET)

Consequently, the miracles performed by Jesus were done in the power of God the Holy Spirit, not in Jesus’ power as God. 

with respect to Jesus from Nazareth, that God anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, because God was with him. (Acts 10:38 NET) 

Again, Jesus was very God of God when He walked the Earth; however, He had voluntarily “emptied” (1) Himself of the right to use His power as God.  He came to earth as the “son of man,” empowered by the Holy Spirit to destroy the devil’s works.

Little children, let no one deceive you: The one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as Jesus is righteous. The one who practices sin is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was revealed: to destroy the works of the devil. (1 John 3:7–8 NET)

Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, he likewise shared in their humanity, so that through death he could destroy the one who holds the power of death (that is, the devil), and set free those who were held in slavery all their lives by their fear of death. (Hebrews 2:14–15 NET)

So what changed with the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (i.e., at the birth of the Church)?

The Holy Spirit was already with the Apostles, but Jesus said He would soon come to live inside them forever.

Then I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you forever—the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot accept, because it does not see him or know him. But you know him, because he resides with you and will be in you. (John 14:16–17 NET)

Realize the Holy Spirit in one dimension had been present with citizens of the nation of Israel. However, while Jesus was on Earth, the Holy Spirit came in a different dimension to be with the disciples giving them the power to do the works of Jesus.

Jesus sent out these twelve, instructing them as follows: “Do not go to Gentile regions and do not enter any Samaritan town. Go instead to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, preach this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near!’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give. (Matthew 10:5–8 NET)

However, the Holy Spirit was taken from them when they scattered in the Orchard of the Olive Press (i.e., the Garden of Gethsemane), thus abandoning Jesus. Realize that the Holy Spirit could be taken from someone in the Old Covenant. For example, King Saul had the Holy Spirit taken away for disobedience.

Now the Spirit of the Lord had turned away from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord tormented him. (1 Samuel 16:14 NET)

King David feared this when He committed adultery and murder.

Do not reject me! Do not take your Holy Spirit away from me! (Psalm 51:11 NET)

However, Jesus returned the Holy Spirit to be with them forever on the evening of Resurrection Sunday as they rejoiced in Him.

So Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. Just as the Father has sent me, I also send you.” And after he said this, he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. (John 20:21–22 NET)

Then Jesus came up and said to them, “All authority [Grk: exousia] in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18–20 NET)

Jesus had given them the authority (Grk: exousia (26a)) to make disciples. However, He desired to fill them with the Holy Spirit so they would have the power (Grk: dunamis (27)) to be His witnesses to the nations. However, it was not yet time for Him to do this. (4)

Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and the psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds so they could understand the scriptures,and said to them, “Thus it stands written that the Christ would suffer and would rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.You are witnesses of these things. And look, I am sending you what my Father promised. But stay in the city until you have been clothed with power [dunamis] from on high.” (Luke 24:44–49 NET)

Therefore, Jesus spent the next forty days with the disciples explaining how the Hebrew Scriptures pointed to Himself as their fulfillment. Then when the time came for Jesus to ascend back to Heaven, He told the disciples to wait in Jerusalem until He would send the Promise of the Father, at which time they would be filled with the Holy Spirit.

Then Jesus led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands, he blessed them. Now during the blessing he departed and was taken up into heaven.So they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy,and were continually in the temple courts blessing God. (Luke 24:50–53 NET)

Later, Luke recalls the conversation Jesus had with His disciples. He reviews the words of Jesus instructing His disciples to wait in Jerusalem until they receive the Promise of the Father, which Jesus calls the baptism in the Holy Spirit. Jesus says the purpose of this baptism in the Holy Spirit is to give the disciples the power to be witnesses to Jesus. They would have this encounter with the Holy Spirit ten days later on the Day of Pentecost.

So when they had gathered together, they began to ask him, “Lord, is this the time when you are restoring the kingdom to Israel?” He told them, “You are not permitted to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power [Grk: dunamis (27)] when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the farthest parts of the earth.” After he had said this, while they were watching, he was lifted up and a cloud hid him from their sight. (Acts 1:6–9 NET)

Mary, the Mother of Jesus and Jesus’ stepbrothers (James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas; Matthew 13:55) assembled with the Apostles and other women (perhaps including Jesus’ stepsisters?; Matthew 13:56) in the upstairs room on Mount Zion with one mind continuing in prayer. 

When they had entered Jerusalem, they went to the upstairs room where they were staying. Peter and John, and James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James were there. All these continued together in prayer with one mind, together with the women, along with Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a gathering of about one hundred and twenty people) and said, (Acts 1:13–15 NET)

These followers of Jesus gathered in an upper room totaling about 120, waiting in prayer for this blessed event. Interestingly, this was the same number of priests that played trumpets when the Glory of the Lord filled Solomon’s Temple after the Ark of the Covenant was moved inside The Most Holy Place (1) (2 Chronicles 5:1-14)

Now when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like a violent wind blowing came from heaven and filled the entire house where they were sitting. And tongues spreading out like a fire appeared to them and came to rest on each one of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit, and they began to speak in other languages as the Spirit enabled them. Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven residing in Jerusalem. When this sound occurred, a crowd gathered and was in confusion, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. Completely baffled, they said, “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that each one of us hears them in our own native language? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and the province of Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs — we hear them speaking in our own languages about the great deeds God has done!” All were astounded and greatly confused, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” But others jeered at the speakers, saying, “They are drunk on new wine!” (Acts 2:1–13 NET)

Thousands of Jews had come to Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Pentecost. This feast symbolized their second major encounter with God (i.e., the giving of the law), with Passover being the first. But the giving of the Law was only a foreshadowing of what was to come.

On the day of Pentecost, the great mystery is revealed – God has planned to “tabernacle” within reborn man!

that is, the mystery that has been kept hidden from ages and generations, but has now been revealed to his saints. God wanted to make known to them the glorious riches of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. (Colossians 1:26–27 NET)

Even as the Ark of the Covenant, whose Mercy Seat represented Jesus, dwelt in The Most Holy Place in Solomon’s Temple, the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Jesus Christ, dwells within the reborn spirits of those that are born again. The physical body of a Christian is the temple of the Lord with our spirit, The Most Holy Place where the Holy Spirit dwells.

Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God with your body. (1 Corinthians 6:19,20 NET) (cf. 2 Corinthians 6:16)

And what mutual agreement does the temple of God have with idols? For we are the temple of the living God, just as God said, “I will live in them and will walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.”Therefore “come out from their midst, and be separate,” says the Lord, “and touch no unclean thing, and I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters,” says the All-Powerful Lord. (2 Corinthians 6:16–18 NET)

You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, this person does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is your life because of righteousness. Moreover if the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, the one who raised Christ from the dead will also make your mortal bodies alive through his Spirit who lives in you. (Romans 8:9–11 NET)

Furthermore, Jesus also said the Holy Spirit would come upon the Apostles at this time, too (Luke 24:49. Acts 1:8). Similar to coming upon others in the Old Covenant.

Then the Spirit of God clothed Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, and he stood above the people, and said to them, “Thus says God, ‘Why do you break the commandments of the Lord, so that you cannot prosper? Because you have forsaken the Lord, he has forsaken you.’ ” (2 Chronicles 24:20 ESV)

Again, the Holy Spirit was already with the Apostles, and then at Pentecost, He came within and upon them. 

The Holy Spirit came within them to cause their spirit and spiritual heart that was dead to God to be born again, new, alive, and perfect before God. Indeed it has to be perfect to be the dwelling place of God the Holy Spirit!

Jesus answered, “I tell you the solemn truth, unless a person is born of water and spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. (John 3:5,6 NET)

But “when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared, he saved us not by works of righteousness that we have done but on the basis of his mercy, through the washing of the new birth and the renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us in full measure through Jesus Christ our Savior. And so, since we have been justified by his grace, we become heirs with the confident expectation of eternal life.” (Titus 3:4–7 NET)

I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit within you. I will remove the heart of stone from your body and give you a heart of flesh. (Ezekiel 36:26 NET)  

But you have come to Mount Zion, the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, to the assembly and congregation of the firstborn, who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous, who have been made perfect,  (Hebrews 12:22,23 NET)

Heart circumcision and the Spirit’s indwelling are parallel, and that is part of the parallel structure of these revelations. The parallel is inevitable because the indwelling Spirit performs the heart circumcision. (23)

Paul speaks of an inner circumcision performed by Christ. (23)

In him you also were circumcised—not, however, with a circumcision performed by human hands, but by the removal of the fleshly body, that is, through the circumcision done by Christ. Having been buried with him in baptism, you also have been raised with him through your faith in the power of God who raised him from the dead. (Colossians 2:11,12 NET)

That is the same as the circumcision of the heart performed by the Spirit as the Spirit and the Son work together—more particularly, as the Spirit works through the Son in a believer to perform the circumcision. (23)

For a person is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision something that is outward in the flesh, but someone is a Jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision is of the heart by the Spirit and not by the written code. This person’s praise is not from people but from God. (Romans 2:28,29 NET)

Freedom from the rule of the flesh only comes once one has been buried with Christ in baptism and circumcised by Holy Spirit working through Christ. Burial and circumcision of this kind only come after the full revelation and work of Christ in the new covenant. The Spirit of Christ himself will perform that circumcision of the heart so necessary if one is to love him with all one’s heart and soul—the first and greatest commandment. (23) 

Jesus said to him, “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. ’This is the first and greatest commandment. The second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:37–40 NET)

The Holy Spirit then took up residence in their spirit to cause (1) their transformation into Christlikeness (1) as they yielded to Him (1).

Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God with your body. (1 Corinthians 6:19,20 NET)

I will put my Spirit within you; I will take the initiative and you will obey my statutes and carefully observe my regulations. (Ezekiel 36:27 NET) 

On the last day of the feast, the greatest day, Jesus stood up and shouted out, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me, and let the one who believes in me drink. Just as the scripture says, ‘From within him will flow rivers of living water.’ ”(Now he said this about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were going to receive, for the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.) (John 7:37–39 NET)

Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you? (1 Corinthians 3:16 NET)  

This is the growing of the fruit of the Spirit (1) in our lives.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22,23 NET)

It is the Holy Spirit pouring the Love of God into our hearts.

And hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. (Romans 5:5 NET)

It is the pouring or writing of our Lord’s New Law of Love into our spiritual hearts, thus putting into our spiritual hearts all the Law and fulfilling it:

But showing its fault, God says to them, “Look, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will complete a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. “It will not be like the covenant that I made with their fathers, on the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they did not continue in my covenant and I had no regard for them, says the Lord. “For this is the covenant that I will establish with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and I will inscribe them on their hearts. And I will be their God and they will be my people. “And there will be no need at all for each one to teach his countryman or each one to teach his brother saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ since they will all know me, from the least to the greatest. “For I will be merciful toward their evil deeds, and their sins I will remember no longer.” (Hebrews 8:8–12 NET)

“This is the covenant that I will establish with them after those days, says the Lord. I will put my laws on their hearts and I will inscribe them on their minds,” then he says, “Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no longer.” (Hebrews 10:16–17 NET) 

You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone, revealing that you are a letter of Christ, delivered by us, written not with ink  but by the Spirit of the living God, not on stone tablets but on tablets of human hearts. (2 Corinthians 3:2,3 NET)

“I give you a new commandment—to love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. Everyone will know by this that you are my disciples—if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34,35 NET)(cf. John 15:12,17. 1 John 3:11) 

Love does no wrong to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. (Romans 13:10 NET)

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. (Romans 8:1–4 NET)

The Holy Spirit then came upon the Apostles to empower them with the gifts of the Spirit (1) to continue the ministry of Jesus – destroying the works of the devil!

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the farthest parts of the earth.” After he had said this, while they were watching, he was lifted up and a cloud hid him from their sight. (Acts 1:8,9 NET)

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and the regaining of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Luke 4:18–19 NET)

with respect to Jesus from Nazareth, that God anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, because God was with him. (Acts 10:38 NET)

Does the Holy Spirit always come within (in one dimension) and upon (in a different dimension) a Christian simultaneously today?

Looking at the book of Acts, there is a precedence for the Holy Spirit coming within and upon new believers simultaneously at:

Pentecost (first Jews reborn)

Now when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like a violent wind blowing came from heaven and filled the entire house where they were sitting. And tongues spreading out like a fire appeared to them and came to rest on each one of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit, and they began to speak in other languages as the Spirit enabled them. (Acts 2:1–4 NET)

and

Cornelius’ house (first Gentiles or non-Jews reborn) (Acts 10:44-48. Acts 11:15-17). 

While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all those who heard the message.The circumcised believers who had accompanied Peter were greatly astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles, for they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter said, “No one can withhold the water for these people to be baptized, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he?”So he gave orders to have them baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay for several days. (Acts 10:44–48 NET)(cf. Acts 11:15-17)

After that, it appears that some received the Holy Spirit within them first but later received the Holy Spirit upon them:

But when they believed Philip as he was proclaiming the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they began to be baptized, both men and women. Even Simon himself believed, and after he was baptized, he stayed close to Philip constantly, and when he saw the signs and great miracles that were occurring, he was amazed. Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. These two went down and prayed for them so that they would receive the Holy Spirit. (For the Spirit had not yet come upon any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) Then Peter and John placed their hands on the Samaritans, and they received the Holy Spirit. (Acts 8:12–17 NET)

While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul went through the inland regions and came to Ephesus. He found some disciples there and said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” They replied, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” So Paul said, “Into what then were you baptized?” “Into John’s baptism,” they replied. Paul said, “John baptized with a baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, in Jesus.” When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus, and when Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they began to speak in tongues and to prophesy. (Now, there were about twelve men in all.) (Acts 19:1–7 NET)

Therefore, both simultaneously and as separate events are possible today.

Consequently, it is possible to be born again with all of the Holy Spirit living inside you in one dimension yet not have the Holy Spirit in a different dimension upon you.  Being born again is our “ticket to heaven,” and the Holy Spirit will inculcate Christlikeness in our lives if we yield to His guidance.  However, the Holy Spirit upon us empowers us for the most effective ministry.

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the farthest parts of the earth.” (Acts 1:8 NET)

How do you know if the Holy Spirit is upon you?

This may be the first time you have heard of the Holy Spirit coming upon you, similar to those that heard this for the first time in the book of Acts (see Acts 8:12-17. Acts 19:1-7 above).

So Ananias departed and entered the house, placed his hands on Saul and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came here, has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 9:17 NET)

Do you know if you are going to Heaven if you die?  How do you know?  In the same way, do you know if the Holy Spirit has come upon you?  You can know this just as real as you know that you are saved.  If you are not sure, then accept the Lord Jesus as Savior (1) (if not already saved) and ask for the Holy Spirit to come upon you.

Remember that you get all of the Holy Spirit in one dimension (1) when you are saved and then grow to voluntarily allow the Holy Spirit to have all of you – which is the sanctification journey to transformation into Christlikeness.  However, you may still not have the Holy Spirit upon you in this journey to Christlikeness.  Again, if you do not know the Holy Spirit is upon you, ask!

If you then, although you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11:13 NET)

And we are witnesses of these events, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.” (Acts 5:32 NET)

Is the promise of the Holy Spirit coming upon the believer for today?

Yes, for all that will answer the Lord’s call to repentance!

Peter said to them, “Repent, and each one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and your children, and for all who are far away, as many as the Lord our God will call to himself.” (Acts 2:38–39 NET)

What does the expression “filled with the Holy Spirit” mean? (Luke 4:1. Acts 2:4. Acts 4:8. Acts 4:31. Acts 13:52. Ephesians 5:18)

The expression filled with the Holy Spirit speaks of the Spirit completely influencing the mind and spiritual heart of the believer.  The result is that the Holy Spirit leads the Christian’s mind and spiritual heart.  Realize that the Holy Spirit is not a substance to fill an empty receptacle; He is a Person to lead another person, the believer.  He does not fill a Christian’s life with Himself like you fill your gas tank with gas, nor does He control a person like a robot against their will.

Furthermore, the Holy Spirit does not automatically lead the believer because He indwells him.  The Holy Spirit’s influence over the believer depends on the believer’s active and correct adjustment to the Spirit.  The Lord Jesus did not save us until we recognized Him as the Savior and put our trust in Him for salvation.  Likewise, the Holy Spirit does not lead us in the sense of permeating our will, mind, and emotions until we recognize Him as the One who has been sent by the Father (at Jesus’ request – John 15:26) to sanctify our lives and trust Him to perform His ministry in and through us.

There must be an ever-present conscious dependence upon and absolute subjection to the Holy Spirit, a constant yielding to His ministry, and leaning upon Him for guidance and power if He is to lead the believer in the most efficient manner and with the largest and best results. (2)

This leading will not transpire without sincere desire. 

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied. (Matthew 5:6 NET)

For the kingdom of God does not consist of food and drink, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. (Romans 14:17 NET)

Again, the Holy Spirit, who came upon Jesus in the form of a gentle, innocent, and vulnerable dove (1), does not control a person but instead develops the self-control of a person such that they can voluntarily choose by an act of their will to follow Him unreservedly. 

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also behave in accordance with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, being jealous of one another. (Galatians 5:22–26 NET)

Furthermore, to be constantly under the Holy Spirit’s influence is God’s plan for the normal Christian way of life!

And do not get drunk with wine, which is debauchery, but be filled by the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music in your hearts to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for each other in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. (Ephesians 5:18–21 NET)

What does the term “baptized” with the Holy Spirit mean?

To baptize means – to place into.  Again, God the Father sent the Holy Spirit upon Jesus’ request. Subsequently, Jesus baptizes believers (i.e., puts them into) the Holy Spirit. 

“I baptize you with water, for repentance, but the one coming after me is more powerful than I am—I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He [Jesus] will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. (Matthew 3:11 NET)

I baptize you with water, but he [Jesus] will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” (Mark 1:8 NET)

John answered them all, “I baptize you with water, but one more powerful than I am is coming—I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandals. He [Jesus] will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. (Luke 3:16 NET)

And I did not recognize him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘The one on whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining—this is the one [Jesus] who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ (John 1:33 NET)

The first people to be baptized with the Holy Spirit, because Jesus requested the Father, are the approximately 120 waiting in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost, including Mary Jesus’ mother (1).

Then I will ask the Father, and he [Father God] will give you another Advocate to be with you forever—the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot accept, because it does not see him or know him. But you know him, because he resides with you and will be in you. (John 14:16–17 NET)

When the Advocate comes, whom I will send you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me, and you also will testify, because you have been with me from the beginning. (John 15:26–27 NET)

While he was with them, he declared, “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait there for what my Father promised, which you heard about from me. For John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” (Acts 1:4–5 NET)

Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mountain called the Mount of Olives (which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away). When they had entered Jerusalem, they went to the upstairs room where they were staying. Peter and John, and James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James were there. All these continued together in prayer with one mind, together with the women, along with Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers. In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a gathering of about one hundred and twenty people) and said, (Acts 1:12–15 NET)

So then, exalted to the right hand of God, and having received the promise of the Holy Spirit from the Father, he has poured out what you both see and hear. For David did not ascend into heaven, but he himself says, ‘The Lord said to my lord, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” ’ Therefore let all the house of Israel know beyond a doubt that God has made this Jesus whom you crucified both Lord and Christ.” (Acts 2:33–36 NET)

God the Father sent the Holy Spirit on the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost) to the Upper Room on Mount Zion in Jerusalem. The Holy Spirit came into the room like a rushing wind (1), then the Lord Jesus baptized them in the Holy Spirit as He filled the upper room. 

Now when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like a violent wind blowing came from heaven and filled the entire house where they were sitting. (Acts 2:1–2 NET)

Jesus baptized or immersed them in the Holy Spirit, causing their dead (to God) spirits to be replaced with a new perfect spirit. 

I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit within you. I will remove the heart of stone from your body and give you a heart of flesh. (Ezekiel 36:26 NET)

Some of you once lived this way. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. (1 Corinthians 6:11 NET)

and congregation of the firstborn, who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous, who have been made perfect, (Hebrews 12:23 NET)

The Upper Room became a “womb,” with the spirits of approximately 120 being born again from above!

We typically think of baptism (1) as taking a person and lowering them into a container full of water until they are completely immersed. However, the same effect could be had by having a person stand in an empty container and then fill the container with water until they are entirely immersed or baptized. The latter better describes what happened on the Day of Pentecost as the Holy Spirit filled the room. Thus Jesus immersed or baptized everyone present with the Holy Spirit!

Then Jesus baptized them with the Holy Spirit, the fire of God, with the Holy Spirit taking up residence in their perfect spirits. Therefore, they were placed into or baptized in the Holy Spirit.

And I remembered the word of the Lord, as he used to say, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ (Acts 11:16 NET)

And the Holy Spirit came within them.

For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body. Whether Jews or Greeks or slaves or free, we were all made to drink of the one Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:13 NET)

This is part of the mystery of the Body of Christ – the Holy Spirit (AKA, Spirit of Jesus, Spirit of Christ, or Spirit of Jesus Christ comes inside us to join us all together with Jesus as our Head.

When they came to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them to do this, (Acts 16:7 NET)

You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, this person does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is your life because of righteousness. Moreover if the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, the one who raised Christ from the dead will also make your mortal bodies alive through his Spirit who lives in you. (Romans 8:9–11 NET)

Concerning this salvation, the prophets who predicted the grace that would come to you searched and investigated carefully. They probed into what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating when he testified beforehand about the sufferings appointed for Christ and his subsequent glory. (1 Peter 1:10–11 NET)

for I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ. (Philippians 1:19 NET)

Please allow me to go on record here to state that this in no way makes us God.  We are the creation, and He, the triune God, is the creator! To Him alone be glory forever! 

Now to the eternal king, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever! Amen. (1 Timothy 1:17 NET)

Again, Baptism in the Holy Spirit is when we are born again, placed into the Body of Christ, and the Holy Spirit indwells us.

For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body. Whether Jews or Greeks or slaves or free, we were all made to drink of the one Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:13 NET)

There is one body and one Spirit, just as you too were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. (Ephesians 4:4–6 NET)

Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God with your body. (1 Corinthians 6:19,20 NET)

Therefore, the following terms can be considered synonymous:

• Holy Spirit “within” a person(s)
• Holy Spirit “baptizing” a person(s)

What does the term “anointed” with the Holy Spirit mean?

Jesus stated that the “anointing with the Holy Spirit” is synonymous with the “Holy Spirit coming upon” someone. 

Now when all the people were baptized, Jesus also was baptized. And while he was praying, the heavens opened, and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my one dear Son; in you I take great delight.” (Luke 3:21–22 NET)

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and the regaining of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Luke 4:18–19 NET)

Furthermore, in the book of Acts, Luke identifies that this anointing with the Holy Spirit gave Jesus the power to do the works of God. 

with respect to Jesus from Nazareth, that God anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, because God was with him. (Acts 10:38 NET)

The works of God done by Jesus were the proof positive that God sent Him.

“But I have a testimony greater than that from John. For the deeds that the Father has assigned me to complete—the deeds I am now doing—testify about me that the Father has sent me. (John 5:36 NET)

Jesus states that the Holy Spirit will come upon us to give us the power to continue His works (Acts 1:8).

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the farthest parts of the earth.” (Acts 1:8 NET)

These works are to be one of the proofs to the World that Jesus has sent us.

Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father is in me, but if you do not believe me, believe because of the miraculous deeds themselves. I tell you the solemn truth, the person who believes in me will perform the miraculous deeds that I am doing, and will perform greater deeds than these, because I am going to the Father. (John 14:11–12 NET)

Therefore, the following terms can be considered synonymous:

• Holy Spirit “upon” a person(s)
• Holy Spirit “anointing” a person(s)

Realize all born again have the anointing within them in the person of the Holy Spirit that dwells in our reborn perfect spirits. 

But it is God who establishes us together with you in Christ and who anointed us, who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a down payment. (2 Corinthians 1:21–22 NET)

Nevertheless you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all know. (1 John 2:20 NET)

Now as for you, the anointing that you received from him resides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things, it is true and is not a lie. Just as it has taught you, you reside in him. (1 John 2:27 NET)

However, not all born again have asked God for this anointing to be released to come upon them to give them the power for a much more effective ministry (1). That is, God does not have to send the Holy Spirit down from Heaven when you ask Him for the Holy Spirit to come upon or anoint you for ministry because He already dwells within a believer’s reborn spirit!

On the last day of the feast, the greatest day, Jesus stood up and shouted out, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me, and let the one who believes in me drink. Just as the scripture says, ‘From within him will flow rivers of living water.’ ”(Now he said this about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were going to receive, for the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.) (John 7:37–39 NET)

What about the anointing of the Holy Spirit today?

I believe the Holy Spirit comes upon or anoints people separated by time (i.e., the time from when they were born again, and He came within or rather baptized them in Himself) today more than He does simultaneously.  This is likely due to our ignorance of the Holy Spirit’s ministry today, just like in the later chapters of the book of Acts. 

While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul went through the inland regions and came to Ephesus. He found some disciples there and said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” They replied, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” So Paul said, “Into what then were you baptized?” “Into John’s baptism,” they replied. Paul said, “John baptized with a baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, in Jesus.” When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus [(1)], and when Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they began to speak in tongues and to prophesy. (Now there were about twelve men in all.) (Acts 19:1–7 NET)

However, be of good cheer – it is never too late!  Realize you will never be as effective in ministry or have the power to lead a holy life without the Holy Spirit in and upon you.

But I say, live by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desires of the flesh. (Galatians 5:16 NET)

Steps to having the Holy Spirit come upon you (or receiving the anointing of the Holy Spirit): 

I. We must have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior (1).  This should lead to a public confession and renunciation of sin, then our acceptance of Jesus (Acts 2:38,39). To repent is to change your mind.  Change your mind from an attitude that rejects Jesus Christ to one that accepts Him as Savior, Lord, and King.  Water immersion is the way public confession was done in the scriptures (Acts 2:38) and is the Biblical command for today (Matthew 28:19).

II. We must completely surrender every area of our lives to God (Acts 5:32), including letting go of all sin(s). Ask God to search your spiritual heart for sin (Psalms 139:23,24).  Confess and repent all sin(s) immediately He brings to mind (1 John 1:9).

III. We must have an intense desire for the fullness of the Holy Spirit in our lives (Matthew 5:6).  We must come to the end of ourselves, seeing all our abilities as inadequate.

A young minister, fresh out of Bible school, observed an elder minister preach obviously under the Holy Spirit’s power.  The young man went to the elder and begged to be shown how to have such power in his preaching.  The elder invited the young man to go fishing at a local pier later that day.  The young man accepted the invitation, found the elder, and sat beside him.  There were the customary greetings followed by silence for a long time.  The young man, growing ever anxious to know the secret to the power of the Holy Spirit, asked when would he be told?  At that point, the elder pushed the young man into the lake and held his head underwater.  The young man was thrashing to the surface to take a breath but the old man – stronger than he appeared – continued to hold the young man underwater.  When the young man thought he would die, the elder pulled him out of the water.  When partially recovered, the young man took several deep breaths and asked the elder what he was trying to do?  The elder replied that he was answering his question on how to have the power of God in your life.  The young man said that he did not understand.  The elder then stated that when he wanted the Holy Spirit upon him, just like he wanted a breath of air, he would have Him!

IV. We must ask (1) God the Father in Jesus’ name for the Holy Spirit (Luke 11:13)

V. We must pray in faith (1) to receive the Holy Spirit (Matthew 21:22. Mark 11:24).

Heavenly Father, I confess and repent of the sin of trying to live the Christian life in my ability and power.  I was ignorant of what was available to me in the new birth.  I am laying down my life now for the ministry of Jesus Christ through me, your servant.  Please cause the Holy Spirit who lives within me to come/fall upon me so that I might be anointed to continue the works of Jesus.  Thank you in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Some of you will notice the change immediately.  Others, God will have to align your will with His through trials so that this desire will be from your spiritual heart and not just your head.  Nevertheless, if you have asked in faith – He will come upon you!

What if you have already received the Holy Spirit upon you (or the anointing of the Holy Spirit) but seemed to have lost or misplaced Him?

Timothy had received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit (Acts 16:1) and later the Anointing of the Holy Spirit (2 Timothy 1:6).  Timothy was allowing the persecution that was coming against Christians, empowered by the spirit of fear (2 Timothy 1:7), to neutralize the Anointing of the Holy Spirit (2 Timothy 1:8).  His heart had grown hard from timidity – timidity is a sin (Romans 14:23).   Paul told him to start believing God and stepping out in faith to preach the Gospel and fellowship with those being persecuted to release the Anointing of the Holy Spirit, again (1 Timothy 4:11-16. John 7:37-39). We need to do what the early Jerusalem church did when threatened – they prayed for more boldness!  Boldness is a result of the anointing!

When they heard this, they raised their voices to God with one mind and said, “Master of all, you who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and everything that is in them, who said by the Holy Spirit through your servant David our forefather, ‘Why do the nations rage, and the peoples plot foolish things? The kings of the earth stood together, and the rulers assembled together, against the Lord and against his Christ.’ “For indeed both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, assembled together in this city against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, to do as much as your power and your plan had decided beforehand would happen. And now, Lord, pay attention to their threats, and grant to your servants to speak your message with great courage, while you extend your hand to heal, and to bring about miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” When they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God courageously. The group of those who believed were of one heart and mind, and no one said that any of his possessions was his own, but everything was held in common.With great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was on them all. (Acts 4:24–33 NET)

Holy Spirit series:

• God the Holy Spirit (Part I): Introducing the Holy Spirit
• God the Holy Spirit (Part II): The Holy Spirit is God!
• God the Holy Spirit (Part III): Is the Holy Spirit equal to God the Father and Son?
• God the Holy Spirit (Part IV): Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about the Holy Spirit
• God the Holy Spirit (Part V): The Paradox of the Paraclete
• God the Holy Spirit (Part VI): How is the Holy Spirit Like a Dove?
• God the Holy Spirit (Part VII): Religious Folklore – We Do Not Get All of the Holy Spirit When Saved

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Shalom
(Security, Wholeness, Success)
Peace

Dear friend, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, just as it is well with your soul. 
(3 John 1:2 NET)

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(1) Select the link to open another article with additional information in a new tab.

(2) Kenneth S. Wuest, Wuest’s Word Studies – From the Greek New Testament, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, Reprinted 1999, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49502, ISBN: 0-8028-2280-0