SERMON 161: THE HOLY SPIRIT INDWELLS
Germaine Charles Lockwood

Jesus said in:

Luke 11:9-13: And I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks, it will be opened. If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him! Luke 11:9-13.

Jesus said to His disciples that our heavenly Father will give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him. Jesus said in

John 7:37-39: . . . If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. John 7:37-39.

Those believing in Jesus Messiah would receive the Holy Spirit. The word of God is to be preached to all nations, to every creature, but only those who come to Jesus and drink, those who believe, are promised to receive the Holy Spirit.

On the Day of Pentecost after the resurrection of Messiah, Peter preached the word of God to Jews in Jerusalem. We read in:

Acts 2:38, 39:Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. "For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call." Acts 2:38, 39.

On the Day of Pentecost, Jews received the word of God, but they were promised the forgiveness of sins and the Holy Spirit if they would repent and be baptized.

God calls people by the Gospel of Christ, by His word. 2 Thessalonians 2:14. All people of the world are called by the Gospel, by the word of God. But the Holy Spirit as a gift is promised to only those who repent and are baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins. Consider also what is stated in:

Titus 3:5: not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit. Titus 3:5.

The washing of regeneration is baptism through faith in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, which is salvation. The renewing is done by the holy spirit.

The Apostle Peter said in:

Acts 5:32: "And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him." Acts 5:32.

The Holy Spirit is given to those who obey God. The word of God is given to all people by the preaching of the word, but the Holy Spirit is given only to those who obey.
 
The Epistle to the Ephesians was written to Christians. We begin reading at:

Ephesians 1:12: that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance . . . Ephesians 1:12-14.

The Ephesian Christians had heard the word of truth, the gospel; they believed. Notice that they were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise after they had the word.

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

The Christians in Rome had been given the Holy Spirit.

The Book of Romans was written to Christians. Let us begin reading at:

Romans 8:9: But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. Romans 8:9-11.

The Spirit of God dwells in Christians. The word of God teaches that the Spirit of God dwells in Christians. Romans 8:1-27 clearly teaches this. But we shall read:

Romans 8:26, 27: Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. Romans 8:26, 27.

The Spirit of God helps us in our weaknesses, making intercession for us. It is not right to say that the Spirit of God works only through the word, or that the word does everything that the Spirit does. However, the Spirit works only in conjunction with the word. The Holy Spirit dwells in Christians (Romans 8:11). The Spirit of God helps us in our weaknesses, making intercession for us (Romans 8:26, 27).

1 Corinthians 3:16: Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 1 Corinthians 3:16.

1 Corinthians 6:19: 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? 1 Corinthians 6:19.

Yes, the Holy Spirit dwells in the Christian. The Christian's body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. The word of God does not say that the Holy Spirit dwells in us only through the word. Notice also:

2 Corinthians 6:16: And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people." 2 Corinthians 6:16.

The Christians in Galatia had received the Spirit. We read in:

Galatians 3:2: This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Galatians 3:2.

The Galatians had heard the gospel, the word of God. They had become children of God through faith, being baptized into Christ. Galatians 3:26,27. Then they received the Holy Spirit. Hearing the word of God produces faith.

Romans 10:17: So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:17.

Galatians 3:26, 27: For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Galatians 3:26, 27.

Yes, the Holy Spirit is received by the hearing of faith.

2 Timothy 1:14: That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us. 2 Timothy 1:14.

Yes, the Holy Spirit dwells in the Christian. The Word of God clearly says so.

Ephesians 5:18, 19: And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, Ephesians 5:18, 19.

Christians are commanded to be filled with the Spirit.

Luke 11:13: If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him! Luke 11:13.

Will you ask? Will you seek?

Acts 2:38, 39: . . . Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call. Acts 2:38, 39.

Amen!