Understanding the Holy Spirit

The power, Filling, and Work of the Holy Spirit in the Christian

By,
Jeremy W. Pfeister

Originally Written for:

Liberty University
Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary
BIBL 364-B07, Study of Acts

Published: 21 April 2015

 Understanding the Holy Spirit

Abstract
For many people, whether Christian or otherwise, the subject matter of this paper is often
hard to understand. Many simply feel overwhelmed by thoughts of the Holy Spirit and all the
differing opinions found throughout the world, whether from differing Christian denominations
or from scholarly study. In spite of this apprehension, understanding God’s gift of the Holy
Spirit is fundamental to the life of the Christian.
If you are a Christian reading this paper from help in understanding how the Spirit works,
Great! I am so excited that you are taking this step to sure up your faith. If you are a seeker of
God and still not sure how it all works, I hope and pray that God will use this paper and the
Biblical truths herein to press you forward into faith in the Savior Jesus Christ. All-In-All, I write
and make this paper available so that it might build up and encourage the Kingdom of God. I
wrote it during my final year as a Graduate Student at Liberty University. It has changed some
since that time, hopefully for the better, but the truths within remain the same.

Jeremy W. Pfeister M.Div. 1|P a ge

 Understanding the Holy Spirit

Understanding the Holy Spirit

The power, Filling, and Work of the Holy Spirit in the Christian

The Holy Spirit, of the New Testament, did not suddenly begin His ministry when Jesus

left the earth. On the contrary, the Spirit had been doing His work throughout all of history and

has always existed. When discussing the Holy Spirit LaSor states;

“Before Pentecost, the Spirit was a special possession for a special purpose. The
Spirit came upon men to enable them to construct the Tabernacle, to compound
incense for the holy service, to prophesy, ect. From Pentecost on, the Spirit was to
be the common possession of the Lord’s people… Before Pentecost the Holy
Spirit was not looked upon as belonging to all Israelites… After Pentecost, the
gift of the Spirit belonged to all believers.” 1

While the Spirit does not belong to us, He is a gift to us that resides in us. The Bible calls those

who have put their faith in Christ “temples” of the Holy Spirit. Furthermore, LaSor points to the

fact that the Spirit was at work long before Jesus walked upon this earth. It is important to take

note of the role that the Spirit takes after Jesus ascends into Heaven and how He affects the life

and actions of the believer. To do this it is essential that the student examine a few integral parts

of the history of the Spirit’s actions within the book of Acts and the Bible on a whole. This

paper will examine the promise that Jesus made to give the Holy Spirit to His followers, how the

Spirit was poured out initially after Jesus left earth and what the role of the Spirit is today.

The Promise of the Holy Spirit

Jesus made several references, some of which were promises and prophecies, to the fact

that after He left this earth He would send the Holy Spirit. On the subject Erickson wrote; “In

1
William Sanford LaSor. Church Alive, Acts. (Glendale: Regal Books Division. 1972) 48

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 Understanding the Holy Spirit

Jesus’ teaching we find an especially strong emphasis on the work of the Holy Spirit in initiating

persons into the Christian life. Jesus taught that the Spirit’s activity is essential in both

conversion, which from the human perspective is the beginning of the Christian life, and

regeneration, which from God’s perspective is its beginning.”2 In the book of John chapter seven

Jesus makes references to Isaiah 58 and other prophecies 3 and states; “Anyone who believes in

me may come to me! Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures

declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’” (When he said “living water,” he was

speaking of the Spirit…).” Here Jesus lets those following Him know that He will give them His

Spirit if they follow Him, also that it is only through Him that they can receive the Spirit. Jesus

states many times that He is the only way to the Father and here makes it clear that He as well is

giving the Holy Spirit to those who trust in Him.

In dealing with those who do not profess faith in Christ Jesus, one often finds great

confusion over this fact. Many “non-believers” are blinded from the truth and struggle with just

what faith is, and just how through faith they are supposed to follow this Holy Spirit. In the

process of evangelism it is the Holy Spirit’s task to work in the heart of men that they might

understand that through faith in Christ Jesus the Spirit is able to do His work. This is a

foundational, yet often misunderstood, truth for Christians to understand when sharing the

Gospel of Jesus Christ.

In John chapter sixteen Jesus tells His followers that it is better for Him to leave this

world in order that the advocate (other translations are comforter, counselor and encourager) can

come. He told them the advocate would be sent to them. This advocate was the Spirit. This

2
Millard J. Erickson. Christian Theology Second Edition. (Grand Rapids: Baker Books. 1998) 888
3
Albert Barnes. Notes on the Bible. Taken from e-sword.

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 Understanding the Holy Spirit

verse is an encouragement to the believer, or should be, because it explains that Jesus did not just

leave His followers without hope or leadership in this world. Instead, Jesus left an advocate who

speaks to God on the believer’s behalf, comforts and ultimately steers the Christian in directions

that are glorifying to God.

The book of Acts chapter one records a discussion Jesus has with His disciples that is

central to the belief Christians have in the Holy Spirit. This is the end of Jesus’ earthly ministry,

He is about to ascend into heaven, and He encourages His followers in verse five: “John baptized

with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” These men were

learning that in just a few days the Spirit that they had heard of for so long, who had done great

things through the prophets of old, would descend on them and they would be forever a part of

God’s kingdom. Surely they were it filled them with excitement and anxiety that soon God

would use them in such incredible ways of which only their imagination could yet conjure.

Later, in the same chapter, verse eight Jesus tells them, “But you will receive power when the

Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses telling people about me

everywhere.”4 Bruce writes, “As Jesus had been anointed at His baptism with the Holy Spirit

and Power, so His followers were now to be similarly anointed and enabled to carry on His

work.”5 So here was yet another foretelling, by Jesus, that this advocate and counselor, the Holy

Spirit, was coming to them. Not long after this event the same men would truly encounter this

baptism and filling of the Spirit.

4
NLT
5
F.F.Bruce. Commentary on the Book of Acts. NICNT. Rev. ed. (Grand Rapids, MI:
Eerdmans, 1988.) 36

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 Understanding the Holy Spirit

The Festival of Pentecost: The First Pouring Out of the Holy Spirit

Acts chapter two begins with the believers meeting together in one place. Suddenly there

came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they

were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of

them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the

Spirit gave them utterance.6

This is an amazing day, for here the Spirit was given to believers of Christ not only for a

day, or for a certain task but forever. Bruce, commenting on this time states, “Instead of the

political power which had once been the object of their ambitions, a power far greater and nobler

would be theirs. When the Holy Spirit came upon them, Jesus assured them, they would be

vested with heavenly power.” Here it was the power of God and the Spirit of God instilled in

these men at one time. Most theologians would see this as Towns does; “On the day of

Pentecost, the group in the upper room were both baptized and filled.” 7 Here the believers are

baptized in the Spirit, marked as one of God’s chosen holy followers, and filled, given power by

the Spirit. It is important that we note here: this is the first time any believer has experienced the

baptism of the Spirit.

The Timing of Pentecost

Pentecost was a festival of the Jewish tradition. It was a perfect time for the Spirit to be

given to the believers as it was a time when many devout Jews were congregating together in

6
Acts 2:2-4 NLT
7
Elmer L. Towns. Theology for Today. (Mason: Cengage Learning. 2008) 296

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 Understanding the Holy Spirit

Jerusalem readying to worship God. This was the festival of the first fruits 8 a time that the Jews

worshiped God and made sacrifices of their first fruits. It was a time just after harvest. A time to

be thankful for what God had given them. Here the first believers are re-born, and they now had

much to be thankful for. God had just given His spotless lamb for the sins of the world. This was

the ultimate first fruit sacrifice. This event would have taken place about fifty days after Jesus

had been crucified, and forty-seven days after He was proven to be God after conquering the

grave. Again, this is the first time in history that a believer, in this case a group of believers, was

baptized in the Holy Spirit.

The Purpose of the Holy Spirit in Our Lives

There are a few reasons for the Holy Spirit in our lives. In fact the believer cannot know

all the Spirit does. We know that the Spirit intercedes for us before the Father. John chapter

seventeen verse eleven tells that He works in Christian hearts and lives, on a universal level, in

order that all believers would work and act as one. The book of first Corinthians chapter twelve

verse thirteen states; “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or

Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.” So here

we know that the Spirit’s work in us is to make us all part of the one functioning Body of Christ.

Towns states; “This spiritual union happens at salvation and is the positional basis by which God

deals with him.”9 So this baptism, from the Spirit, is the way by which He makes (positional)

the believer a member of the Body and confirms salvation.

The Spirit also works in the believer at specific times. This action is called filling. This

action is when greater power is given to the believer for a time and for a specific purpose. In the

8
Charles Spurgeon. The Pentecostal Wind and Fire from: The Essential Works of Charles Spurgeon. (Uhrichsville,
OH: Barbour, 1982.) 479
9
Elmer L. Towns. Theology for Today. (Mason: Cengage Learning. 2008) 654

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 Understanding the Holy Spirit

Old Testament this is the most common form of Holy Spirit filling. For instance the healings of

the book of Acts have not continued into today, instead, they were for a specific time to prove

the work and power of Christ. Those were signs given to the world showing Jesus was really

God and that these men were truly who they said they were, chosen followers of the One True

God. There is more action that the Spirit performs in the life of the believer. These are just a

sample.

Does the Spirit Ever Leave the Believer?

The Scriptures are clear on this point. No, the Spirit that is given to the believer at

baptism never leaves the believer. This Spirit is a constant. However the filling of the Spirit can

leave the believer as it is simply for a time. In John fourteen verse sixteen Jesus states, “And I

will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you

forever.” Here we have a promise from Jesus that He will intercede on behalf of the believer that

the Father would not take away the Spirit. First Corinthians three sixteen tells us that the Spirit

is living in us, we are a temple to Him. This dwelling is not a night by night hotel experience for

the Spirit. This is a making of a home every day in the life of the believer.

Evidence of the Holy Spirit

A logical question for any believer then is, “How do I know, for sure, that the Holy Spirit

is in my life?” Spurgeon would say this; “If He does not so work, we should search ourselves to

see what it is that hinders Him and whether there may not be something in ourselves that vexes

Him so that He restrains His sacred energy and does not work among us as He did before.” 10 In

other words, if God has been doing great things through us, or if we are wondering why He is not

10
Charles Spurgeon. The Pentecostal Wind and Fire from: The Essential Works of Charles Spurgeon.
(Uhrichsville, OH: Barbour, 1982.) 480

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 Understanding the Holy Spirit

doing great things through us, it is possible that we must take stock of our lives to find sin that

may be holding Him back from using us.

A life that is changed by the Holy Spirit will exhibit the fruit of the Spirit. Ephesians five

has a few of these fruits listed: “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,

singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto

God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; Submitting yourselves one to another

in the fear of God.” Here is a test that can be used to examine one’s self to see if that Spirit is

enabled to do His work. Steven in Acts chapter six verse five is spoken of as a man that the

other believers could see was full of the Spirit. Others could see that God and His Sprit were at

work in this disciple, who later gave his life in defense of God’s Word. The fruits of the Spirit

are listed in the Bible by Paul as Love, joy, peace, patients, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

gentleness and self-control.11 If the believer questions the Spirit’s working through him, he need

only look as far as those fruits. No fruit, no spirit.

Conclusion

We know now that the Holy Spirit has a huge role to play in the life of the believer. The

Baptism of the Spirit is a positioning of that believer into the Body of Christ and is instantaneous

at the moment of salvation. This positioning can never be taken away from the believer either.

The Filling of the Spirit is a special act or ability of power that is given to the believer for a short

time in order that the believer may be a witness for Christ. Ultimately the Spirit, if not hindered

in the life of the believer, will bear fruit. That fruit is the testimony that the man is a true son of

God.

11
Galatians 5:22

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 Understanding the Holy Spirit

References

Barnes, Albert. Notes on the Bible. Taken from e-sword.

Bruce, F. F. Commentary on the Book of Acts. NICNT. Rev. ed. (Grand Rapids, MI:
Eerdmans, 1988.)
Bruce, F.F. The Acts of the Apostles: The Greek Text. 3rd ed. Rev. (Grand Rapids, MI:
Eerdmans, 1990.)
Cadbury, Henry J. The Book of Acts in History. New York, NY: Harper, 1955.
Erickson, Millard J.. Christian Theology Second Edition. (Grand Rapids: Baker Books. 1998)
Kent, Homer A., Jr. Jerusalem to Rome: Studies in the Book of Acts. (Grand Rapids, MI:
Baker, 1972.)
LaSor, William Sanford. Church Alive, Acts. (Glendale: Regal Books Division. 1972)
Spurgeon, Charles. The Pentecostal Wind and Fire from: The Essential Works of Charles
Spurgeon. (Uhrichsville, OH: Barbour, 1982.)
Towns, Elmer, L. Theology for Today. (Mason: Cengage Learning. 2008)
Vine, Victor E. “The Purpose and Date of Acts.” The Expository Times 96 (1984)

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