The prophets in Old Testament times spoke by the Holy Spirit. "For no prophecy ever came by the will of man: but men spoke from God, being' moved by the Holy Spirit." (2 Pet. 1: 21.) Jesus, speaking to the Jews, said: "David himself said in the Holy Spirit." (Mark 12: 36.) Peter, later speaking to those who had assembled in the upper room, said: "Brethren, it was needful that the scripture should be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who was guide to them that took Jesus." (Acts 1: 16.)
The Holy Spirit used words in speaking through the New Testament. "But the Spirit says expressly, that in later times some shall fall away from the faith." (1 Tim. 4: 1.) Here we have the Spirit speaking through Paul to Christians.
Jesus preached by the Spirit (Luke 4: 18) ; he gave commandment by the Holy Spirit (Acts 1: 2) ; and forbade his disciples to preach until they should receive the Spirit (Acts 1: 5). He assured his disciples that the Spirit would come and would teach them what to say. "For it is not you that speak, but the Spirit of your Father that speaks in you." (Matt. 10: 20.) "Be not anxious beforehand what you shall speak : but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak; for it is not you that speak, but the Holy Spirit." (Mark 13: 11.) Hence, the words of the apostles were the words of the Holy Spirit.
The apostles received the Holy Spirit on Pentecost and "began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." (Acts 2: 4.) Later Paul made the claim for himself that "my speech and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God." (1 Cor. 2: 4, 5.)
Christ declared that the Holy Spirit would come speaking. He also predicted what the Holy Spirit would say. "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he shall guide you into all the truth ; for he shall not speak from himself ; but what things soever he shall hear, these shall he speak ; and he shall declare unto you the things that are to come. He shall glorify me : for he shall take of mine, and shall declare it unto you. All things whatsoever the Father hath are mine : there-fore said I, that he taketh of mine, and shall declare it unto you." (John 16: 13-15.)
Time and again reference has been made to the dispensation of the Holy Spirit. Each member of the Godhead has had his dispensation with man. God's dispensation began with the creation of man and continued until Christ began his personal ministry. The dispensation of Christ began with his baptism and continued until Pentecost ; the dispensation of the Holy Spirit began with the first Pentecost after the resurrection of Christ and will continue until Christ comes again. We are living in the dispensation of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus said : "It is the spirit Who gives life ; the flesh profits nothing : the words that I have spoken unto you are spirit, and are life." (John 6: 63.)
"Of his own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures." (James 1: 18.)
The word of God is declared : "For the word of God is living, and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and quick to discern the thoughts and intents of the heart." (Heb. 4: 12.)
Holy Spirit In The New Testament
The Apostles had less of a measure than Jesus, but more of a measure than anyone else. The Christians who received Holy Spirit power from the Apostles had more of a Holy Spirit measure than anyone else, but could not impart spiritual gifts like the apostles could. When the Apostles died and the Christians who received spiritual gifts all died, the miraculous measure of the Holy Spirit naturally ended. “Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.” 1 Corinthians 13:8-10
The New Testament presents a wide range of activities of the Holy Spirit; His person, advent, and relation to Christ are all discussed in the New Testament.
All through His earthly ministry Christ had the companionship of the Holy Spirit. "How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish unto God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?" (Heb. 9: 14.).
To understand the mission and ministry of Christ is to understand the work of the Holy Spirit; to appreciate fully the power of the blood of Christ is to appreciate the importance of the work of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit thus reveals Christ in the New Testament. "Wherefore I make known unto you, that no man . . . can say, Jesus is Lord, but in the Holy Spirit." (1 Cor. 12: 3.)
Jesus’ activities cover the full history of the Spirit in his relation to the salvation of souls.
There are about two hundred sixty-four references to the Holy Spirit in the New Testament. Reading and studying these Scriptures will stimulate a higher thought concerning Christ and a deeper appreciation of the Holy Spirit. Christ fills the New Testament; every book contains Christ as its great theme. As Christ fills the New Testament so the Holy Spirit who is associated with Christ fills the New Testament!
Holy Spirit In The Gospels
There are a dozen or more references in the book of Matthew to the Holy Spirit. The first mention is: "When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found with child of the Holy Spirit." (Matt. 1: 18.)
Luke mentions the Holy Spirit by name seventeen times, and one time he makes reference to Him as "the promise of my Father" (Luke 24: 49), John makes about two dozen references to the Holy Spirit ; He makes more references to the Holy Spirit than any other writer of the gospel.
John represents the Holy Spirit as a person of the Godhead; he brings out more emphatically the personality of the Holy Spirit than any other writer. He always places emphasis on the, personality of the Holy Spirit.
John first introduces the Holy Spirit in connection with John the Baptist ; it is John who speaks of the Holy Spirit as "the Comforter"; he promises to send the Holy Spirit from the Father after he returns to the Father.
John records much that the Holy Spirit would do when he came:
1. To be a Comforter to the disciples of Christ.2. To convict the world of its sinfulness, and of its rejection of Christ as Savior and Lord.3. To further equip Jesus’ disciples for ministry.4. To build up the church.
The Holy Spirit in the Book of Acts
There are about fifty-seven references to the Holy Spirit in the Acts; these record the part that the Holy Spirit had in guiding the apostles in speaking and his influence on sinners in conversion.
