INDIRECT OPERATION OF THE SPIRIT

Hugo McCord

As a person arises from the water of baptism, his physical “body” (that with which he could commit fornication) is transformed into a “temple of the Holy Spirit” who “is in” him “from God” (Acts 2:38; 5:32; 1 Corinthians 6:18-19). The new Christian rejoices that he is a host to a heavenly Guest (Galatians 4:6). However, he would not know by his feelings that the Holy Spirit lives in him if the Bible had not told him. He would not even know there is a Holy Spirit except by learning from the Bible that there is a divine person called the Holy Spirit.

The presence of the Guest is a precious certification that the newly baptized person is now a child of God, and is a guaranty (if he behaves himself) that heaven awaits (Galatians 4:6; Ephesians 1:13-14; 4:30). Thereafter he is “led” by the Spirit (Romans 8:14), but not by his internal dwelling. If he leads directly from his internal position, no Christian could ever sin, for he who sins is “of the devil” (1 John 3:8), not led by the Holy Spirit.

His leading is external, by his written “counsel,” as a “lamp” for his “feet, and a light” for his “path” (Psalm 73:24; 119:105). The Guest is non-communicative and quiet, but his external “counsel” gets a Christian’s attention. He must himself, if he gives heed to the Spirit’s “counsel,” put “to death the deeds of the body” (Romans 8:13).

Consequently, it is up to the individual Christian himself to “buffet and enslave” his body, lest he be “rejected” (1 Corinthians 9:27, FHV). Some Christians at Corinth, although indwelt by the Spirit, were “weak and sick, and a large number” were “asleep” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20; 11:30), but no one would say that their sad condition was because the Spirit had not done his work.

If a Christian does not behave as he should, he grieves the indwelling Guest, a Guest who wants to stay within “until the day of redemption” (Ephesians 1:14; 4:30). If a Christian misbehaves, the Spirit will leave the backslider (Jude 19). However, he still loves the fallen Christian, and stands “at the door” of his heart, hoping he will repent and open “the door” (Revelation 3:20). The Spirit will not open the door, but when the Christian has done so, the Spirit “will come in to him” again, renewing his indwelling, saying “I will dine with him, and he with me!” (Revelation 3:20). Since the Spirit exercises no compulsion, it is up to each Christian whether or not the Spirit stays within him the rest of his life.

In the Spirit’s “counsel” he gives a command to all Christians: “Keep yourselves filled with the Spirit” (plerousthe, in grammar, imperative mood, middle voice, Ephesians 5:18). All Christians, therefore, decide if they are going to keep themselves “filled with the Spirit.” Non-Christians “cannot receive” the Spirit, and Jesus disowns Christians who do “not have” the Spirit (John 14:17; Romans 8:9).

All of the Christians in the “seven congregations” in “Asia” received the Spirit when they were baptized, but they had no leading by him until they had received the book of Revelation. When that book arrived, their growth in spirituality was up to each Christian: “Let him, who has an ear, hear what the Spirit says to the congregations” (Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22).

If we let him, the Holy Spirit will do many important things for us, but none by a direct contact, all of them only through his word:

1. He puts faith in our hearts: “faith comes from hearing ... the word” (Romans 10:17, NIV).

2. He sanctifies us: “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth” (John 17:17, NIV).

3. He converts us: “The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul” (Psalm 19:7, KJV).

4. He saves our souls: “the word ... is able to save your souls” (James 1:21, NASV).

5. He causes the new birth: “He chose to give us birth through the word” (James 1:18, NIV).

6. He causes the newborn to grow: “like newborn babes, long for the pure milk of the word, that by it you may grow (1 Peter 2:2, NASV).

7. He lives in us: “you are strong, and the word of God lives in you” (1 John 2:14, NIV).

8. He works in us: “the word of God, which is at work in you” (1 Thessalonians 2:13, NIV).

9. He guides us: “You guide me with your counsel” (Psalm 73:24, NIV).

10. He leads us: “O send out your light and your truth; let them lead me” (Psalm 43:3, NRSV).

11. He keeps us from sin: “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119:11, NIV).

12. He keeps us pure: “How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word” (Psalm 119:9, NIV).

13. He gives us wisdom: “the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple” (Psalm 19:7, NASV).

14. He gives us understanding: “I gain understanding from your precepts” (Psalm 119:104, NIV).

15. He lights our path: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path” (Psalm 119:105, NIV).

16. He revives us: “Thy word has revived me” (Psalm 119:50, NASV).

17. He gives us nourishment: “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God’” (Matthew 4:4, NIV).

18. He induces reverence: “Establish Thy word to Thy servant, As that which produces reverence for Thee” (Psalm 119:38, NASV).

19. He counsels us: “Your statutes are my delight; they are my counselors” (Psalm 119:24, NIV).

20. He warns us: “By them [the ordinances of the LORD] is your servant warned” (Psalm 19:9, 11, NIV).

21. He restricts us to the Bible: “so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, ‘Do not go beyond what is written’” (1 Corinthians 4:6, NIV).

22. He gives us insight: “I have more insight than all my teachers, for Thy testimonies are my meditation” (Psalm 119:99, NASV).

23. He helps us when we are afflicted: “If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction” (Psalm 119:92, NIV).

24. He strengthens us: “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power... . Take ... the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:10, 17, NIV).

25. He supplies all our needs: “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness” (2 Peter 1:3, NIV).

26. He completely equips us: “Every scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be equipped, completely furnished for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17, FHV).

27. He brings peace to us: “Great peace have they that love thy law” (Psalm 119:165, ASV).

28. He puts joy in our hearts: “The precepts of Jehovah are right, rejoicing the heart” (Psalm 19:8, ASV).

29. He brings comfort in the hour of death: “Therefore comfort one another with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:18, NASV).

30. He gives hope: “Remember your word to your servant, in which you have made me hope” (Psalm 119:49, NRSV).