The Holy Spirit: Another Blesser
“All Scripture”, Paul reminds Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:16, is “God-breathed” (NIV), that is, of the Spirit. Peter confirms this in 2 Peter 1:21: “Prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.”
I was reminded recently in rereading Luke 15 of the involvement of the whole of the Trinity in our salvation. The Lord Jesus, as the Shepherd, finds the lost sheep. The Holy Spirit, like the woman, searches to find the lost coin, just like the Spirit searches tirelessly to lead people to Christ. Finally the father receives his lost son back into his house. The son was convicted of his sin and was led to repentance. The Spirit’s work of conviction leads us to Christ. When the father received his son back again we have some remarkable illustrations of the ministry and blessings of the Holy Spirit:
In love, the father received his son. The Spirit leads us to the knowledge of the Father: “You [have] received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, ‘Abba, Father.’ The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God” (Romans 8:15-16).
The son had the best robe put on him. The Spirit brings us into the good of knowing that we stand before God clothed in Christ’s righteousness: “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, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour” (Titus 3:5-6).
The son was given a ring, the symbol of authority and power. We have the Spirit’s indwelling power: “Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4, AV).
The son was given shoes: “Walk in the Spirit” (Galatians 5:16 and 25).
Finally, the fatted calf was killed, and a great family meal was enjoyed in a time of family fellowship and joy: the “fellowship of the Spirit” (Philippians 2:1).
God is the most generous giver. He has given us His Son for our salvation, and He has given us His Spirit to become worshippers and witnesses. May we ensure that we do not grieve this Holy Person: “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption” (Ephesians 4:30). We also have to ensure His work is not “quenched” by our disobedience: “Do not quench the Spirit” (1 Thessalonians 5:19).
In 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 we are reminded that our bodies are the temples of the Holy Spirit: “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 are bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit which are God’s.” When Jesus visited the temple at Jerusalem, it had become a den of thieves and robbers. As He cleared the temple in John 2, He said, “Take these things away! Do not make My Father’s house a house of merchandise” (v. 16). The Spirit of God indwells our hearts. We are to ensure our hearts are not cluttered by things which should not be there and which hinder the Holy Spirit’s power and blessing in our lives. “The God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24).
