December 27th, 2021
by Robert Presson
by Robert Presson
“The Spirit… dwells with you and will be in you” — John 14:17
God has always been looking for a place to dwell. All throughout the Old Testament, He was looking for a place on earth that He could call home. From Eden, to the Tabernacle, to the Temple, God desired to be with His people. But there is a shocking transition that takes place in the New Testament. And if you can understand this transition, you can begin to understand the purpose of the Holy Spirit.
In the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit did not permanently indwell people. He showed up in designated places, such as the Tabernacle. He would also empower people for a task in a given moment, but He did not take up permanent residence in people’s physical bodies.
At the Last Supper, Jesus taught His disciples about the Holy Spirit. He told them in John 14:17, “[the Holy Spirit]… dwells with you and will be in you.” They had not yet received the indwelling of the Spirit — they had only seen the activity of the Holy Spirit in the life of Jesus. That is why the Spirit was “with them” but Jesus said He would be “in them.” A few days later, after His resurrection, He breathed on them and said “Receive the Holy Spirit” (John 20:22). This is the moment the Holy Spirit transitioned from being with them to being in them. The same God who was looking for a place to dwell with His people in the Old Testament had now finally found a place of dwelling — and that place of dwelling was not just with His people, but in His people. Jesus announced this transition, “He is with you and will be in you,” as a herald of a new era in which man would become the dwelling place of God.
If you’re born again, God isn’t just with you — He is in you. He is not just near you — He is a part of you. This oneness is the key to understanding the New Covenant and the key to understanding the Holy Spirit. You have become one with the Holy One.
God has always been looking for a place to dwell. All throughout the Old Testament, He was looking for a place on earth that He could call home. From Eden, to the Tabernacle, to the Temple, God desired to be with His people. But there is a shocking transition that takes place in the New Testament. And if you can understand this transition, you can begin to understand the purpose of the Holy Spirit.
In the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit did not permanently indwell people. He showed up in designated places, such as the Tabernacle. He would also empower people for a task in a given moment, but He did not take up permanent residence in people’s physical bodies.
At the Last Supper, Jesus taught His disciples about the Holy Spirit. He told them in John 14:17, “[the Holy Spirit]… dwells with you and will be in you.” They had not yet received the indwelling of the Spirit — they had only seen the activity of the Holy Spirit in the life of Jesus. That is why the Spirit was “with them” but Jesus said He would be “in them.” A few days later, after His resurrection, He breathed on them and said “Receive the Holy Spirit” (John 20:22). This is the moment the Holy Spirit transitioned from being with them to being in them. The same God who was looking for a place to dwell with His people in the Old Testament had now finally found a place of dwelling — and that place of dwelling was not just with His people, but in His people. Jesus announced this transition, “He is with you and will be in you,” as a herald of a new era in which man would become the dwelling place of God.
If you’re born again, God isn’t just with you — He is in you. He is not just near you — He is a part of you. This oneness is the key to understanding the New Covenant and the key to understanding the Holy Spirit. You have become one with the Holy One.
Recent
Archive
2024
January
April
2023
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
November
2022
February
June
No Comments