The presence of the Holy SpiritThe Holy Spirit is God, a divine person in the Trinity of God; in the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit works, for example, in creation or on individuals. The Holy... More on Earth is one of the most significant and defining features of the Christian era. Therefore, it is essential to clearly understand the nature and person of the Spirit of God. Unfortunately, many Christians have strayed far from what the Bible reveals about Him. This is why we want to explore some fundamental insights into God's perspective on the Holy SpiritThe Holy Spirit is God, a divine person in the Trinity of God; in the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit works, for example, in creation or on individuals. The Holy... More.

The Holy Spirit in the Old Testament

The Holy Spirit appears in various passages throughout the Old Testament, with the first mention occurring in connection with creation. In Genesis 1:2, we read, "The earth was desolate and empty, and darkness was over the deep; and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters." After humanity's fall into sin, God declares, "My Spirit shall not be with man forever" (Genesis 6:3).

Throughout history, God's Spirit has been an influence and power that temporarily filled certain individuals to enable them to accomplish specific tasks. The Spirit of God came upon people such as Othniel, Gideon, and Samson (Judges 3:10; 6:34; 14:6), David (1 Samuel 16:13), Azariah (2 Chronicles 15:1), and Ezekiel (Ezekiel 11:5), among others, in particular circumstances. He also inspired Old Testament figures to write the Word of God (2 Peter 1:21). David was aware that the Holy SpiritThe Holy Spirit is God, a divine person in the Trinity of God; in the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit works, for example, in creation or on individuals. The Holy... More was speaking through him, as shown in 2 Samuel 23:2. In some instances, the Spirit even worked through non-believers to fulfill specific purposes, as seen with Balaam and Saul (Numbers 24:2; 1 Samuel 10:10; 19:23).

When we consider these references together, it is evident that the believers of the Old Testament were familiar with the Holy SpiritThe Holy Spirit is God, a divine person in the Trinity of God; in the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit works, for example, in creation or on individuals. The Holy... More and recognized Him as a power that enabled them to accomplish extraordinary feats. However, unlike His revelation in the New Testament, the work of the Holy SpiritThe Holy Spirit is God, a divine person in the Trinity of God; in the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit works, for example, in creation or on individuals. The Holy... More in the Old Testament was temporary. He came upon individuals for specific moments and accomplished tasks through them. This understanding helps clarify David's plea, “Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy SpiritThe Holy Spirit is God, a divine person in the Trinity of God; in the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit works, for example, in creation or on individuals. The Holy... More from me.” (PsalmPsalm simply means "song." In the Old Testament, this word only occurs in connection with the Psalms of David and the Book of Psalms. Singers sang a psalm with instrumental... More 51:11). Thus, we can conclude that while the Spirit of God worked on earth, He did not permanently dwell among people until after the Lord Jesus completed His work and returned to heaven.

Furthermore, the Old Testament does not reveal that the Holy SpiritThe Holy Spirit is God, a divine person in the Trinity of God; in the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit works, for example, in creation or on individuals. The Holy... More is a divine person. Although there are hints at this truth within its texts, the full revelation came in the New Testament.

The Holy Spirit in the New Testament

The New Testament reaffirms what we have discovered in the Old Testament. In Acts 1:8, the Lord Jesus speaks about the Holy Spirit who would come to earth. He says, "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses." We can see the effects of this divine power in the testimonies of the disciples, which are prominently displayed in the Acts of the Apostles. This book of the Bible illustrates the power of the Spirit in individuals in a unique way. Importantly, the same power is available to us today because we, too, need the strength to bear witness. If we find ourselves lacking in power today, it is not due to the Holy SpiritThe Holy Spirit is God, a divine person in the Trinity of God; in the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit works, for example, in creation or on individuals. The Holy... More (who does not change) but rather because of ourselves.

Moreover, the New Testament reveals much more about the Holy SpiritThe Holy Spirit is God, a divine person in the Trinity of God; in the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit works, for example, in creation or on individuals. The Holy... More. Unfortunately, many of God's children only recognize Him as an influence or power. While He certainly represents divine power—a concept we often understand too little—He is much more than that. The Holy SpiritThe Holy Spirit is God, a divine person in the Trinity of God; in the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit works, for example, in creation or on individuals. The Holy... More is presented as a divine person in the New Testament.