He is the one who was hovering over the waters at the beginning of creation— “The Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters” (Genesis 1:2). He is the one who dwells before the throne of God the Father at the end of creation, fulfilling all the work of God, including the work of changing hearts… “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth” (John 14:16-17).
He’s the one who causes us to put all our trust in Jesus. “No one can say ‘Jesus is Lord’ except in the Holy Spirit” (1 Corinthians 12:3). He’s the one who convicts us and urges us to leave our sins behind— “And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment” (John 16:8). He is the one who gives us rebirth and renewal— “He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit” (Titus 3:5). And he’s the one who puts the spotlight on Jesus— “He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you” (John 16:14).
He’s the one who takes our prayers to the Father—“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words” (Romans 8:26).
In the Gospels, when we see the Lord Jesus being baptised, we see the Holy Spirit, in the form of a dove, descending and resting upon the Lord Jesus in his baptism— “And when Jesus was baptised, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him” (Matthew 3:16). And if you’ve been baptised, then you need to look at that and see that you too have that blessing—the Holy Spirit rests upon you too— “Repent and be baptised, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38).
But the Holy Spirit is not just someone who rests upon us at the beginning of our Christian lives. He is someone who we are urged to be filled with continually and daily—to ask that God would be with us. “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18).
And how we neglect him! He can be grieved; the Bible tells us we can make him sad— “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption” (Ephesians 4:30). Oh, that we would not do that! Oh, that we would be filled every day with the Holy Spirit! “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23).
