Brothers in the Prophets :
The Holy Spirit and Jesus
Next | Index | Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Contact Ron | Tellout
4B. New Life in the Spirit 
The Holy Spirit Refreshes. "Until the spirit is poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness becomes a fruitful field." (1). The metaphor of the heart being like a wilderness until the Holy Spirit renews it and it becomes like a fruitful field. "A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you; and I will take out of your flesh the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you." (2).
This prophecy of Ezekiel that Israel would be renewed and when the Holy Spirit comes upon the people their hearts would be renewed. "And it shall come to pass afterwards, that I will pour out my spirit on all flesh, your sons and your daughters shall prophecy" (3). This prophecy indicates not only the renewal of the Holy Spirit but also that in the new covenant times the Holy Spirit would be given on a wide scale to the men and women of God.
The Holy Spirit Renews
"I will pour my spirit on your descendants, and my blessing on your offspring. They shall spring up like grass amid waters" (4). The Messiah's followers would have the Holy Spirit poured upon them to refresh and renew them for God's service. The fruits of the Spirit are essentially the virtues of Christ. "This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: 'Not by ,might, nor by power, but by my spirit says the Lord of Hosts.'" (5).
When faced with tremendous odds, our own power and strength are insignificant but the Holy Spirit can call on the full resources of God to redeem us. "They inquired what person or time was indicated by the spirit of Christ within them when predicting the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glory." (6). The Spirit of Christ indwelt the prophets as they prophesied to his coming.
Inspirational Poem
"Come, Holy Ghost, our souls inspire, And lighten with celestial fire.
Thou the anointing Spirit art, Who dost thy seven-fold gifts impart."
Conclusions.
Joel indicates that the New Covenant outpouring of the Spirit was general rather than special. The Spirit of Christ was in the prophets.
Notes
(1) Isaiah 32.15 (2) Ezekiel 36.26,27 (3) Joel 2.28,29 (4) Isaiah 44.3,4 (5) Zechariah 4.6 (6) 1 Peter 1.11
"The Relationship of the Holy Spirit and Jesus."
