The Holy Spirit is Sent from God not Man

It is a common misconception that one must speak in tongues in order to be saved. The Holy Spirit gives certain gifts to those according to the measure of their faith. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God. The third person of the Trinity and must be treated with the same reverence as God the Father and God the Son. The Holy Spirit shows us the ways and will of the Father who is in heaven. So, why is this difficult for Christians to understand? The secret can be seen in the second statement. It is because of their measure of faith in Him. Will God give the gift of the Holy Spirit to one who does not believe in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. No! Is the Holy Spirit only given to those who are of the pentecostal or charismatic movements? No! The Holy Spirit has been given to those who have truly given their hearts and souls to the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior. The Holy Spirit is given as a guide and an empowerment for the ministry of Jesus Christ. He is not for individuals to profit from Him but for Him to be glorified. Praise the Lord!

The Sending of the Holy Spirit on Who?

And it shall come to pass afterward
That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;
Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
Your old men shall dream dreams,
Your young men shall see visions.
And also on My menservants and on My maidservants
I will pour out My Spirit in those days. (Joel 2:28-29 NKJV)

The important thought to consider when looking at these verses of scripture is not “who” the Spirit of God was being poured out on, but “why” was it being poured out. When looking at the scripture in the gospel, it is evident that the intent was to empower and strengthen those whom Jesus prepared to establish His church to go forward with it. But consider those who were intended to receive the message. Keep in mind that the people of Israel, God’s chosen people, were to be the priesthood to the nations of the world. They were called to a task. These verses are directed to Israel, but it is informing them of His intent to give His Spirit to all who will receive Him, not just Israel but all people. He made this statement to make known His intent to receive the entire world unto Himself and not just Israel. Why then did He pour His Spirit on the group of one hundred twenty people in the room that day in Acts chapter two? Because these were the ones faithful to Him to that moment. They walked and talked with Jesus and He taught and demonstrated everything for them. Even though they did not fully grasp the eternal rewards of this action, they believed and trust in faith that God never breaks a promise, and He was faithful to His promise.

Why did God go through the list of those groups of people that He would give the gift of the Holy Spirit? Because, He wanted the people to understand that Spirit is for everybody who believes in Him and follows His statutes faithfully. God is not partial nor a respecter of persons when it comes to those who love Him. He is stating here that He does not differentiate regarding age, sex or social status, He is faithful and just and wants everyone to comes into a relationship with Him. The scripture that follows in Joel are those not as frequently quoted but are just relevant to the intent of God.

And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth:
Blood and fire and pillars of smoke.
The sun shall be turned into darkness,
And the moon into blood,
Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord.
And it shall come to pass
That whoever calls on the name of the Lord
Shall be saved.
For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be deliverance,
As the Lord has said,
Among the remnant whom the Lord calls. (Joel 2:30-32 NKJV)

The key to this section in Joel is the middle part that states “and it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” This is inclusive to all people. It opens a whole new emphasis for the faithful people of Israel. God still considers them the chosen people, chosen for an eternal task, but it hones their target and makes it more defined. At this point God has given new opportunity to the rest of the world. In times past, God sent His Spirit to certain people for a certain task. He sent the Spirit to empower and guide Moses and His people out of Egypt. He sent His Spirit to empower and guide Joshua to lead His people in the conquest of the now Holy Land. He also empowered the Judges to deliver His people from their enemies, and the list goes on and on. With time, the list grows until it comes to establishing the new and final covenant (Jeremiah 31:31-34) with not only His people, Israel, but with the entire world. Are you living in the New Covenant of the Lord?

But now I go away to Him who sent Me, and none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’ But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they do not believe in Me; of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. (John 16:5-11 NKJV)

The Holy Spirit is sent to you for a reason. The reason being to help you in your walk with Him and growth in righteousness. The purpose for the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer is to empower for service to the Lord Jesus Christ, to also to love one another as He loves us. It is understandable that they were feeling grief when being told that they could not go with Him. When you lose someone close to you, someone that you truly looked up to, it brings a sense of loss that seems cannot be filled. But, this is not so with the Holy Spirit! This is the same Spirit that filled Jesus and guided His obedience to the Father. The Holy Spirit is sent for a purpose. This purpose is for the work of God and to glorify Him. It is through the work of the Holy Spirit that true conviction is found because the Holy Spirit is God’s pure and untainted love. Conviction of sin, righteousness and judgement are the results. Are you encouraged in the fact that God has sent His Spirit to you to empower you for His work in ministry?

And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” (Acts 1:4-5 NKJV)

This is the reminder that what He and the Father have promised will be fulfilled. The comparison of water baptism and the Holy Spirit baptism is one great controversy and debate in the church even today. It is said that we must argue and fight over the most precious gift of God. The arguments are over, for example, whether you are saved if you do not speak in tongues. Not everybody has been given that gift, are they not saved? That is not for you or anybody else to judge, it is between them and the Lord Jesus Christ. There are many other gifts of the Holy Spirit and tongues are only one of them. The Apostle Paul in first Corinthians chapter fourteen really works to dispel the idea of a superiority of gifts given by God. Tongues and Prophesy are the two dealt with in this chapter. But, above all things, love must be the foundation and the cornerstone onto which these gifts are received and then shared. The resurrected Jesus told them to wait on the promise of the Father and He will fulfill what He has promised.

And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:7-8 NKJV)

The problem with humanity is that in all things we are prone to speculate beyond our pay grade. He will give you the Holy Spirit when He will give Him. This is not for a pastor to decide or anyone else to decide. It is empowerment for Jesus’ continued ministry. It is not us to be exalted but Him and Him alone. Denominations box the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit individually into boxes of convenience. Most denominations put their box of the Holy Spirit away primarily because of fear of the unknown. Some exalt the Holy Spirit to the beyond God status and if you do not have the evidence of the Holy Spirit in tongues then cannot be a Christian. But, how are we to be His witnesses to all the ends of the earth if we box Him up and give Him our limitations? The Apostle Paul says in his letter to the church in Rome that the Spirit has been given to all in accordance to the measure of their faith and grace from above. This topic we will go into more detail at another time. But, the power has been given to all who believe and are willing to receive Jesus as Lord and Savior and will live in His ways.

So, when the Holy Spirit was poured out on those in the upper room, it was not because they were Jewish traditional followers. It was because they were faithful followers and disciples of the living Christ, Jesus the Son of God. Jesus told them that it is in the Father’s own authority that the Spirit and the power of God is to be given, so why is the Holy Spirit exclusive to some and so feared and repulsed by others? Lack of knowledge and understanding on the part of all people. Jesus told us simply that the Holy Spirit is a gift from God the Father. It is the promise that He made while He walked the earth and at His ascension. So, why are we living according to the flesh in all cases concerning the Spirit of God? Are we not the created in the image of God and therefore formed as a temple of the living God through His Holy Spirit? Think and pray on these things as you go through your week.

Let us pray

Heavenly Father, please grant me wisdom in all Your ways according to Your Will. May Your Holy Spirit guide and lead into all Your righteousness. Write upon my heart and in my mind the Truth of the gospel and my mouth speak only Your words because Your Word is Truth. Help me Lord in my walk to get closer to You in all that I do and say. In Jesus’ name, Amen.