I.        INTRODUCTION

A.      Perhaps sometimes Christians are timid on the subject of the Holy Spirit because of some of the erratic behaviors and the errant teachings of those who falsely claim to have the Holy Spirit.

B.      However, we must not allow such things to deter us from boldly embracing the truth about the Holy Spirit.

                                                             1.      To deny that the Holy Spirit dwells in a Christian is to deny abundant Scriptural evidence that says He does.

                                                             2.      It is also to deprive ourselves of the awareness of the Spirit’s presence within us.

C.      The indisputable fact of Scripture is that the Holy Spirit dwells in a Christian.

                                                             1.      Romans 8:9 states it plainly, “If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.”

                                                             2.      In fact, the Bible reveals that not only does the Holy Spirit dwell in a Christian, but also the Father and the Son dwell in a Christian.  See John 14:23.

                                                             3.      Not only that, but a Christian is said to dwell in the Father, the Son, and the Spirit as well.  Consider John 15:1-11; Galatians 2:20; Ephesians 3:17; 1John 4:12-13.

                                                             4.      These relationships are spiritual.  If we can understand the abiding presence of Christ and the Father, then we can also understand the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

D.      For a Christian, the point of contention about the Holy Spirit should not be whether or not He dwells in a Christian, but rather how He dwells in a Christian.

II.      HOW THE HOLY SPIRIT DWELLS IN CHRISTIANS

A.      Some have falsely advocated that the Spirit operates on Christians with a demon-like possession that overtakes the will of the person.

                                                             1.      There are many records of demon possession in the New Testament in which the person possessed  was entirely controlled by the demons (Matt. 8:28-33; 9:32-34; 12:22; 17:14-21; Mark 1:23-26; 5:1-20; 9:17-29; Luke 4:33-36; 8:26-36; 9:37-42; 11:14).

                                                             2.      There are no examples in the New Testament of this type of possession by the Holy Spirit.  Even spiritual gifts were under the control of their owners (1Cor. 14:32).

                                                             3.      Yet some today behave as if they are possessed by demons and then claim it was the Holy Spirit.

B.      In truth, the Holy Spirit influences people through the word of God.

                                                             1.      The word of God is described as the “sword of the Spirit” in Ephesians 6:17.

a.       This weapon is placed into the hands of a Christian to fight against the “schemes of the devil” (Eph. 6:11).  Whereas the devil uses temptation and persecution to influence men, the Holy Spirit uses the word of God for influence and counteraction against Satan.

b.       The sword of the Spirit represents not only a weapon for spiritual warfare but also power from God (compare to Romans 13:1-4).  All of the power ascribed to the word of God is truly the power of God through the Holy Spirit (Rom. 1:16; 2Cor. 6:7; 10:4; Heb. 4:12).

                                                             2.      The Holy Spirit and the word of God are so synonymous that the terms are used almost interchangeably in the New Testament.

a.       This is not to say that the Holy Spirit is the same as the word of God, but the action of the Holy Spirit happens simultaneously with the hearing of the word of God.

b.       For example, in the parallel passages of Ephesians 5:18-21 and Colossians 3:16-17, notice that to “be filled with the Spirit” is parallel to “let the word of Christ richly dwell in you.”

c.        Likewise, by comparing John 3:3-6 and 1Peter 1:23, one notices that being born of the Spirit is the same as being born of the “living and abiding word of God.”  Peter makes the connection in explaining that the word of God was given by the Spirit (1Pet. 1:10-12).

d.       Another example is seen in 1Thessalonians 1:5 and 2:13, where it states that the power of the Holy Spirit came to the Thessalonians when they received the word of God.

C.      When a person is influenced to obedience by the Holy Spirit through the word of God, the Spirit is described as dwelling in that person.

                                                             1.      In Romans 8:1-14, the Spirit of God is said to dwell in those who walk according to the Spirit and not according to the flesh.

a.       To “walk according to the Spirit” (v. 4) means to follow the Spirit’s direction (be “led by the Spirit,” v. 14).

b.       The Spirit’s direction is not given by forcible coercion, but by the word of God.  The one who voluntarily becomes a doer of the word of God is being led by the Spirit, and the Spirit dwells in him.

c.        Notice that the one in whom the Spirit dwells has set his mind on the things of the Spirit (v. 5).

i.         This indicates that he makes the decision to follow the Spirit’s direction rather than the desires of the flesh.

ii.        God has given every individual the ability to make this choice, contrary to the Calvinist doctrine (consider the choices made by the Gentiles in Rom. 1:20-32).  See also Romans 12:2; Colossians 3:2.

                                                             2.      Similarly, Galatians 5:16-26 shows the influence that the Spirit has on one in whom He dwells.

a.       Again, we see the contrast between being led by the Spirit and following the desires of the flesh.  Again, receiving the Spirit’s influence is according to the choice of the individual.

b.       Verses 22-23 describe the “fruit of the Spirit,” which is the result of the seed of the word of God from the Spirit implanted in the heart (Jas. 1:21; Matt. 13:1-23).

c.        Having set the mind to be led by the Spirit, the body will follow, and the fruit of the Spirit will be borne, which is the proof of the Spirit’s presence within the Christian.  “Every good tree bears good fruit” (Matt. 7:17).

                                                             3.      In 1Corinthians 6:12-20, the Holy Spirit is said to be in those who have been purchased by God.

a.       The context here is similar to that of Romans 8.  The issue is the conflict between the Spirit and the flesh.  Paul pointed out the inconsistency of Christians indulging sin in the flesh when their bodies were supposed to be temples of the Holy Spirit (v. 19).

b.       Those who are purchased by God are the redeemed and saved persons who have subjected themselves to God through obedience to His word, the gospel of Christ (Col. 1:21-23; Eph. 2:11-22).  These are the ones in whom the Holy Spirit dwells.

D.      The Holy Spirit also dwells in the church collectively.

                                                             1.      Just as individual Christians have the Spirit within in them by means of His influence through the word of God, so also the church has the Spirit dwelling in it.

a.       Christians individually are purchased by God (1Cor. 6:20), and the church collectively is purchased by God (Acts 20:38).

b.       Christians individually are temples of the Holy Spirit (1Cor. 6:19), and the church collectively is a temple of the Holy Spirit (1Cor. 6:17).

c.        Therefore, the church must choose to be led by the Spirit through the word of God and must bear fruit according to the Spirit that is in it.  Failure to do these things is a indication of the absence of the Holy Spirit.

                                                             2.      In Ephesians 2:19-22, the church is described as a building in which the Holy Spirit dwells.

a.       The foundation of that building is the apostles and prophets along with Christ, who is the cornerstone, the most important part of the structure upon which everything else depends.

i.         These are the people who revealed the word of God by means of the Holy Spirit (v. 20).  See John 16:13-15.

ii.        Thus, we see again the connection between the word of God and the Spirit.

b.       Christ is the builder of the church (Matt. 16:18) and He built His church to be “a dwelling place of God in the Spirit” (Eph. 2:22).

III.   CONCLUSION

A.      Understanding how the Holy Spirit dwells in us should give us tremendous confidence and zeal.  We can know that God is with us and see His influence in all that we do.

B.      Therefore, let us embrace this truth and be not afraid to speak of the Spirit in our lives.

                                                             1.      If anyone claims to be a Christian, then he must also claim to be a dwelling place of the Holy Spirit.

                                                             2.      If anyone lives according to the word of God, then he is being led by the Spirit.

                                                             3.      If anyone does otherwise and claims to have the Spirit, then he is a liar and the truth is not in him.