Holy Spirit’s Presence in the Christian’s Life

Matthew 1:18-20; John 3:5-8

Jim Davis

A fleshly walk with God and a spiritual walk with God are two vastly different walks. Both may be endeavoring to do what is right, but the results of each are vastly different. One may seek God’s blessing on our physical lives and the other is a walk that focuses on the spiritual blessing of walking with God. One lifestyle is born of the flesh and the other is born of the Spirit. One seeks to come to God on his/her own terms; the other seeks to come to God on God’s terms. Both may recognize the will of God, but one seeks to make it happen through the power of fleshly decisions while the other seeks to follow the direction of God’s Spirit.

If we seek fleshly answers to spiritual problems we will not reap the fruit of the Spirit—instead we will reap the deceitful schemes of the flesh. Jesus ask this question, “Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?” (Matthew 7:16 NIV) You can’t plant thorn bushes and expect to gather figs—you can be reborn of the flesh and expect to reap spiritual blessings. 

Spiritual Birth is by the Power of God’s Spirit

The fleshly walk and the spiritual walk have been in conflict since the day of Abraham—and long before. You remember that God promised Abraham a son though whom all the families of the earth would be blessed. That son, Isaac, was a long time in coming. Abraham thought it was too long. Sarah and Abraham were getting old, so they decided to make God’s plan happen through fleshly means. It was simple being that Sarah was barren; Abraham would beget that promised son through his hand maiden Hagar. It was a fleshly solution to a spiritual problem—but it didn’t work. It brought disaster. Abraham no doubt wanted the spiritual blessing, but his fleshly decision brought heartache.

Galatians 4:28-29
28 Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. 29 At that time the son born in the ordinary way [Ishmael] persecuted the son born by the power of the Spirit. It is the same now. NIV

In Galatians as well as the book of Romans Paul is writing to those who are striving to be a child of God through fleshly decisions—through fleshly efforts. They are finding it difficult to turn loose of a fleshly adherence to God’s law. In doing so they were denying the power of God’s Spirit to bring about the new birth. 

They were so adamant in their efforts that they were seeking to force this fleshly approach upon those seeking to walk in the Spirit. In doing so they were alienating those who had obeyed the gospel from God.

Isaac was born by the power of God’s Spirit because Sarah was too old to give birth. That is why Abraham and Sarah sought a fleshly solution to this spiritual problem. But there was another side to Abraham. He was seeking believe in God’s promise. He was seeking to figure out how God’s promise could be brought about by natural means. When Abraham went into Hagar to have a Son, it was an act of misdirected faith. He believed that God’s promises were real, but he thought it was up to him to make it happen. He was struggling to be a man of faith. There is a world of difference in a person struggling to be a person of faith who is seeking to make decisions of faith while encumbered in understanding as what should be done and the person solely seeking to live a godly life through the power of fleshly decisions with no faith in God.

Romans 4:18-25
18 Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, "So shall your offspring be."  19 Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead-since he was about a hundred years old-and that Sarah's womb was also dead. 20 Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, 21 being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. 22 This is why "it was credited to him as righteousness." 23 The words "it was credited to him" were written not for him alone, 24 but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness-for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. 25 He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification. NIV

The key to Abraham’s faith was that in hope he believed that God would fulfill his promise. However, Abraham tried to make it happen by earthly wisdom. We must not only believe in God’s promises, but we must trust him to bring them to fruition in his own timing and his own way. Today there is a great disparity between men and women of faith who trust in God’s power for accomplishment and men and women who are trusting in power of the flesh to accomplish the purposes of God. 

It has always been the case that those born of flesh have persecuted those born of the Spirit. It happened between Abraham’s fleshly son and the son born by the power of the Spirit. It was happening as the Pharisees and Sadducees opposed Christ. It was happening in the churches of Galatia as they sought to bind circumcision as a fleshly requirement for salvation. It happens today as those born of the flesh dwell on changing the church and the world through fleshly decisions, while those born of the Spirit seek the power of the Spirit to bring about the transformation of the world through the powerful gospel of Christ.

God’s promises are born out of the power of God’s Spirit to bring them to fruition. 

We Must Be Born of the Spirit

The children of God are born by the will of God rather than a decision of the flesh. We may decide to believe in God, but it is God that brings about our spiritual birth through the decisive power of the Holy Spirit.

John 1:10-13
10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God- 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. NIV

The Holy Spirit is present in the begetting of each Christian just as he was present in Christ’s conception.

Matthew 1:18-19
18 This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. NIV

Without the begetting of God’s Holy Spirit there can be no Spiritual birth. 

John 3:3-8
3 In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." 

4 "How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!" 

5 Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.' 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit." NIV

New Testament Christians recognized the Holy Spirit as the one leading Jesus Christ as Christ imparted God’s word to the apostles.

Acts 1:1-5
1:1 In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 3 After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit." NIV

It was the instruction and the power of God’s Spirit that made Christ’s work possible.

Isaiah 61:1
The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,
because the LORD has anointed me 
to preach good news to the poor. NIV

John 3:34-36
34 For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit. 35 The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands. 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him." NIV

Jesus said, “But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.” “Matthew 12:28 NIV”

We may want to think that Christ came under his own power because of his equality with God, but we must not forget that he gave up his equality with God when he became one of us. When he became one with us he became dependent upon the power of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 10:36-38
 37 You know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached- 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him. NIV

Living under the Spirit’s control and power will give us victory as Christians.

Galatians 5:16-26
16 So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.

Nothing mystic about the Spirit’s Power

There is really nothing mystic about the presence and power of God’s Spirit at work in our lives. His power is present in direct proportion to our faith. 

Romans 12:3-8
3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. 4 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 who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. 7 If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8 if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully. NIV

When we exercise our gifts in proportion to our faith—no matter how small our faith is—God’s powerful Spirit will be enabled to begin his powerful work. God’s grace has given us the gifts we need to build the kingdom of God, but we must use them in direct proportion to our faith.
God given abilities are not never mature at the time of discovery ... they are developed through practice. (Doris Freese, Leadership, Vol. 1, no. 3.)
“Some people have the notion that following your spiritual gifts is spending the days and years of your life doing only those things which come naturally, easily, with no effort, discipline, or practice.” (Wesley Tracy, Leadership, Vol. 3, no. 4.)

When faith is small it takes a lot of humility to exercise it. We may not exercise our faith because we may not be humble enough to admit how little we have to offer. It wouldn’t be near as hard to exercise our faith if we knew that we would make a huge impact. Paul seems to be granting that every believer has some spiritual gift. But the primary purpose in getting the attention of each one is to drive home the necessity of appropriating and using his gift with the utmost humility—not in arrogance but in sobriety. 

Is there some gauge that will enable a person to estimate his position with respect to spiritual gifts? Paul answers in the affirmative, pointing to "the measure of faith." He seems more intent on emphasizing the need for exercising the gifts and for exercising them in the right way--"in proportion to [one's] faith." Though this is intimately related to sober judgment, its precise meaning is not easy to determine.

The whole tenor of these verses is that we exercise our gifts with total dependence on the Spirit of God. We do not rely on the flesh to empower our work. We humbly depend upon the working of God’s powerful Spirit.

You have to be humble to be a farmer. You can work and sweat all you want but the harvest is in the Lords hands. You have to be humble enough to accept it. If a farmer has a handful of seed, he must plant them to see God’s power in multiplying them. If he has a bushel—he needs to plant them. The one faithful in little is faithful in much. However, regardless of how much you plant, the outcome is in God’s hands.

It doesn’t matter that you have little faith. Exercise what faith you have. Trust in God’s powerful Spirit. 

“There is something that is much more scarce, something rarer than ability. It is the ability to recognize ability.” (Robert Half, Leadership, Vol. 1, no. 1.)
 “There are too many needful things to be done to wait around for someone to feel gifted.” (Kent Hughes, Leadership, Vol. 14, no. 3.)
The fruits of the Holy Spirit are, it seems to me, largely fruits of sustained interaction with God. Just as a child picks up traits more or less simply by dwelling in the presence of her parent, so the Christian develops tenderheartedness, compassion, humility, forgiveness, joy, and hope through "the fellowship of the Holy Spirit"--that is, by dwelling in the presence of God the Father and Jesus Christ his Son. And this means, to a very large extent, living in a community of serious believers. (Robert C. Roberts in The Reformed Journal (Feb. 1987). Christianity Today, Vol. 32, no. 10.)

Work of God’s Kingdom is done in the Power of the Spirit

Placing your trust in God is much different than placing your trust in your faith. Trusting in our faith is a mistake. I heard a statement on a religious program yesterday where an individual indicated that he trusted in his faith to get him through. Trusting in your faith is nothing more than trusting in yourself. Where does this put the person who knows that his/her faith is too weak to carry them through? Are we promoting faith in ourselves, or are we teaching faith in God. 

First century Christians trusted God despite their weak faith.

The power of God’s Spirit was prevalent in every undertaking in the book of Acts. The book of Acts is about the powerful ministry of the Holy Spirit. We saw that it was present giving instruction to Jesus as he taught his disciples and Christ promised his disciples the continued powerful presence of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 1:1-2
1:1 In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen.

Acts 1:8
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." NIV

Acts 2:4
4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. NIV

The apostles continued to speak as they were filled with the Holy Spirit.

Acts 4:8-12
8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: "Rulers and elders of the people! 9 If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked how he was healed, 10 then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. 11 He is 

"'the stone you builders rejected, 
which has become the capstone.'  

12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." NIV

We are robbed of the power of the Holy Spirit when we allow Satan to test the Holy Spirit and as he fills our hearts with lies.

Acts 5:3-4
3 Then Peter said, "Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? 4 Didn't it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn't the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God." NIV

Trouble always comes whenever we seek to use the power of the Spirit to reap a fleshly reward.

Acts 5:9
9 Peter said to her, "How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also." NIV

God didn’t just give the Holy Spirit to first century Christians, he has given him to all who obey him.

Acts 5:29-32
29 Peter and the other apostles replied: "We must obey God rather than men! 30 The God of our fathers raised Jesus from the dead-whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. 31 God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel. 32 We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him." NIV

It is important to note that the everyday work of the first century church was done by those filled by the Holy Spirit.

Acts 6:3-4
3 Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them 4 and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word." NIV

These men weren’t filled with some super measure of the Spirit; the Spirit’s filling was in direct proportion to their willingness to wait on tables. A person not willing to filled with the Spirit in proportion to his/her faith probably couldn’t see the need of waiting on tables. If they did see the need, they wouldn’t be moved to wait on tables.

Those who stoned Stephen resisted and refused the work of the Holy Spirit as they sought God through the reasoning of the flesh.

Acts 7:51-53
51 "You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just like your fathers: You always resist the Holy Spirit! 52 Was there ever a prophet your fathers did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him- 53 you who have received the law that was put into effect through angels but have not obeyed it." NIV

The powerful Holy Spirit was directing their efforts in evangelism.

Acts 8:26-30
26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Go south to the road-the desert road-that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." 27 So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, 28 and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the book of Isaiah the prophet. 29 The Spirit told Philip, "Go to that chariot and stay near it." 

30 Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. "Do you understand what you are reading?" Philip asked. NIV

The first century church was expanding and growing under the direction and power of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 9:31
31 Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. It was strengthened; and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord. NIV

Luke's reference to Judea, Galilee, and Samaria probably means all the Jewish homeland of Palestine. He insists that the church in the homeland, instead of being torn apart by what God was doing, "was strengthened; and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord," despite a certain lack of understanding and discernment.

Peter preached to the Gentiles under the direction and power of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit practically had to drag him into the presence of the Gentiles. But when Peter exercised himself in proportion to what he believed, powerful things happened.

Acts 10:19-20
19 While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, "Simon, three men are looking for you. 20 So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them." NIV

The missionary journeys of Paul reveal an extraordinary combination of strategic planning and sensitivity to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. 

Acts 13:1-3
13:1 In the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. 2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." 3 So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off. NIV

Acts 16:6-10
6 Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. 7 When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. 8 So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. 9 During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." 10 After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. NIV

Acts 20:22-24
22 "And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. 23 I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. 24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me-the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace. NIV

They were encouraged by the Holy Spirit as they experienced his power accomplishing what would have been impossible for them to accomplish alone. They experienced strengthening through his power.

Today most church growth teaching revolves around techniques and personal goals. There is nothing wrong with technique and goals as long as they are dependent upon the Spirit’s power for accomplishment. In the first century church growth occurred as they were directed and filled by God’s Holy Spirit as they focused on God’s leading. 

When we seek to build the church upon human reasoning it will collapse. It is impossible to build upon the foundation Christ has provided through human wisdom.

1 Corinthians 3:10-15
10 By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. 14 If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. 15 If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames. NIV

The beautiful thing about the first century church was that they were focused on what God was doing through them as they committed themselves to the Spirit of God’s grace.

Acts 14:26-28
26 From Attalia they sailed back to Antioch, where they had been committed to the grace of God for the work they had now completed. 27 On arriving there, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. NIV

Do you know how these disciples with such little faith did such powerful things? They exercised themselves in proportion to their faith—even though their faith was small as a mustard seed.

1 Peter 4:7-11
7 The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. 8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen. NIV

When the Bible admonishes us to be filled with the Spirit, God is simply asking us to allow his Spirit to fill us in proportion to our faith. This allows his Spirit to move in and enable our lives.

Ephesians 3:14-19
14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.  NIV

In the simplest terms, what is the church? It is made up of those who are filled with the Spirit of God in direct proportion to their faith in God.

Conclusion:

The work of God’s kingdom can never be accomplished through fleshly means without dependence upon the powerful working of God’s Spirit. We have been release from the bondage of human effort to serve in a new and living way. 

Romans 7:6
6 But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code. NIV

This “hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.” (Romans 5:5 NIV)

Galatians 5:16-26
16 So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.

If you are not a child of God you can begin by letting circumcise your heart through the power of the Holy Spirit as he cleans your heart of all its sin.

Romans 2:28-29
28 A man is not a Jew if he is only one outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. 29 No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man's praise is not from men, but from God. NIV

The Holy Spirit cleanses our hearts in baptism as it resurrects us to a new life through our death with Christ in baptism.

Colossians 2:9-12
9 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, 10 and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority. 11 In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead. NIV

Lord we pray that the eyes of our hearts may be enlightened in order that we may know the hope to which you have called us, the riches of Christ’s glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way. And we are thankful that he has raised us up by the power of the Holy Spirit to sit with him in heavenly places. (Ephesians 1:18-23; Ephesians 2:6 NIV)