The Holy Spirit in Prophecy, Pentecost, and the Mystery

Many confuse the Spirit’s work by mixing passages that speak to Israel under prophecy with passages that reveal the Spirit’s work in the Body of Christ under the mystery given to Paul. Scripture is clear that there is one Spirit, yet His ministries differ according to the program that God is operating. Right division keeps these ministries in their proper place so that saints rest in what God is doing today rather than chasing what He promised to a different people under a different administration.

The Holy Spirit in Israel’s Prophetic Program

Under the prophets the Spirit came upon selected individuals to equip them for specific tasks. The Spirit clothed judges and kings with power for service, and departed when the king grieved God. David prayed, “take not thy holy spirit from me” Psalm 51:11, a prayer that makes sense only where the Spirit’s coming and going marked covenant blessing or discipline upon Israel’s leaders. The prophets promised a national outpouring upon Israel in the latter days. “I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh” Joel 2:28 to 32. Ezekiel tied this outpouring to Israel’s new heart, cleansing, and dwelling in the land, Ezekiel 36:24 to 28. These promises look toward Israel’s restoration in their kingdom under the Son of man. They are not the pattern for the Body of Christ.

The Holy Spirit at Pentecost in Early Acts

When the Lord rose from the dead He charged the apostles to tarry in Jerusalem until they were endued with power from on high, Luke 24:49. In Acts 1:4 to 8 He said they would receive power after the Holy Ghost came upon them and that they would be witnesses beginning at Jerusalem. In Acts 2 the Spirit was poured out, and the audience heard Galilean men declare the wonderful works of God in their own languages, Acts 2:6 to 11. Peter said, “this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel” Acts 2:16 to 21. Pentecost was a prophetic sign to Israel. Tongues were real languages that served as a sign to the unbelieving nation, which is why Paul later cites Isaiah 28 in his instruction on tongues, 1 Corinthians 14:21 to 22. Pentecost was power upon the apostles for their prophesied ministry to Israel and the nations. It was not a model for a later second experience for the Body of Christ.

The Holy Spirit in the Body of Christ under the Mystery

With the revelation given to Paul, God made known a new organism and a new administration in which believing Jew and Gentile are baptized by one Spirit into one body. “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body” 1 Corinthians 12:13. This is not water. This is the Spirit placing the believer into Christ at the moment of faith. Paul says if a person does not have the Spirit of Christ he is none of His, Romans 8:9. The Spirit does not come and go. He indwells every saved person now. The believer is sealed with that holy Spirit of promise the moment he hears and believes the gospel. “In whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise” Ephesians 1:13 to 14. There is one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, Ephesians 4:4 to 5. Scripture does not divide this into Spirit within for salvation and Spirit upon for power in this dispensation. The Spirit’s sealing is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, Ephesians 1:14. That is settled security, not a pursuit of a later blessing.

Indwelling and Filling

Indwelling is permanent for every saved member of the Body of Christ, Romans 8:9 to 11. Filling is the Spirit’s control through the word believed and obeyed. Paul commands, “be filled with the Spirit” Ephesians 5:18, and the parallel instruction is “let the word of Christ dwell in you richly” Colossians 3:16. Being filled is not a second reception. It is the ongoing result of the word of God working effectually in the believer, 1 Thessalonians 2:13. The measure is edification, understanding, thanksgiving, and godly walk, not sensation.

Gifts and the Sign Gifts

The Spirit gives members to the Body for profit withal, 1 Corinthians 12:7 to 27. In early testimony there were sign gifts that authenticated God’s work as revelation progressed, including tongues. Paul explains that tongues were a sign to unbelievers, especially to unbelieving Israel, 1 Corinthians 14:21 to 22. He prefers five words understood over ten thousand words not understood, 1 Corinthians 14:19. As the revelation for this dispensation was completed and the foundation laid by the apostles and prophets, the temporary sign gifts faded. “Whether there be tongues, they shall cease” 1 Corinthians 13:8. Today the Spirit’s fruit and the word’s effectual work mark true power and maturity, Galatians 5:22 to 23, 2 Timothy 3:16 to 17.

Prayer and Guidance

Scripture never instructs the Body of Christ to pray to the Holy Spirit. Our access is unto the Father by one Spirit through Christ, Ephesians 2:18. We pray to the Father in the name and authority of the Lord Jesus Christ, with the Spirit helping our infirmities. He makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered, Romans 8:26 to 27. That statement is the opposite of a required uttered prayer language. The Spirit guides through inspired Scripture, not private impulses detached from the word. He teaches by words which the Holy Ghost teacheth, comparing spiritual things with spiritual, 1 Corinthians 2:12 to 13. We walk in the Spirit as we mind the things of the Spirit, which are revealed in Scripture, Romans 8:5, Galatians 5:16.

Clarifying Common Confusions

First, the command to tarry in Jerusalem was given to the apostles in Israel’s prophetic program. It is not given to the Body of Christ. Believers today do not wait for a later power. They receive the Spirit at the moment of faith and are complete in Christ, Colossians 2:10. Second, the claim that there are two manifestations of the Spirit for us today cannot be found in any passage that speaks to the Body of Christ. Paul never tells saints to seek a later experience. He tells saints to walk worthy by the Spirit who already indwells them, Ephesians 4:1 to 3, Galatians 5:25. Third, the idea of a private prayer language for all believers rests on a misuse of Pentecostal signs and a neglect of Paul’s clear instruction that understanding and edification govern the assembly, 1 Corinthians 14:12 to 19.

What the Spirit Produces Today

The Spirit produces assurance through the seal and the earnest, Ephesians 1:13 to 14. He produces liberty from the law through our identity in Christ, 2 Corinthians 3:17, Romans 8:2. He produces transformation by the renewing of the mind through Scripture, Romans 12:2, Ephesians 3:16 to 19. He produces the fruit of love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance, Galatians 5:22 to 23. He strengthens the inner man according to the riches of God’s glory so that Christ may dwell in our hearts by faith, Ephesians 3:16 to 17. None of this waits for a second event. All of this begins the moment the sinner believes the gospel.

The Clear Gospel and the Spirit’s Seal

Salvation today is by believing the gospel that Christ gave to Paul. “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand, by which also ye are saved, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures” 1 Corinthians 15:1 to 4. God saves the one who trusts this finished work with faith in the blood of Christ. “Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood” Romans 3:25. Upon believing, the Spirit seals the believer, Ephesians 1:13 to 14, and baptizes him into the one Body, 1 Corinthians 12:13. There is no tarrying requirement and no later upgrade. We already have all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ, Ephesians 1:3.

Summary

One Spirit operates in different administrations according to God’s revealed will. In prophecy to Israel the Spirit’s coming and power authenticated covenant promises and equipped a nation for kingdom ministry with signs. At Pentecost the Spirit was poured out in fulfillment of prophecy with languages and wonders that addressed Israel. Under the mystery revealed to Paul the Spirit permanently indwells and seals every believer at faith, places us into the Body of Christ, and works through Scripture to edify, to sanctify, and to produce fruit. Hold fast to what God is doing today. Believe the gospel of Christ, trust the blood of Christ, and rest in the Spirit’s present sealing and indwelling according to the King James Bible.