A STUDY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT (Part Ten)

By Bob Myhan

ow the Holy Spirit dwells in the faithful Christian’s heart can be better understood if and to the extent that one understands the nature of the heart in which the Holy Spirit dwells.

The Bible rarely refers to the physical heart of an individual. The word, “heart,” in fact, almost always denotes that which is spiritual. Consider the fourfold nature of the heart. It is intellectual. We think and reason in it (Matt. 9:4; Mark 2:8) and we understand with it (Matt. 13:15). It is emotional. Hate, desire and love are associated with it (Lev. 19:17; Rom. 10:1; Mark 12:30-31; 1 Peter 1:22). It is ethical. Its thoughts accuse or else excuse one another (Rom. 2:14-15) and it condemns us (1 John 3:20-21). It is volitional. It forms intents and purposes (Heb. 4:12; 2 Cor. 9:7) and we obey from it (Rom. 6:17).

Thus, for one person to be in the heart of another it is only necessary for him to be an object of that one’s thoughts and/or emotions.

When the apostle wrote to the saints at Corinth, “you are in our hearts, to die together and to live together” (2 Cor. 7:3), he surely did not mean that they were in his physical heart but that they were on his mind, in his thoughts and in his prayers.

Consider the following excerpt from the final discourse of Jesus with the apostles.

"If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him." Philip said to Him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us." Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, 'Show us the Father'? Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves.” (John 14:7-11)

What did Jesus mean? Was the Father literally in Jesus’ physical body? Surely, He was not.

Consider the occasion of Jesus’ baptism by John.

When all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also was baptized; and while He prayed, the heaven was opened. And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven which said, "You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased." (Luke 3:21-22)

Clearly, on this occasion, the Father was located in heaven, the Son of God was located on earth and the Holy Spirit was located between heaven and earth “in bodily form like a dove.” The Father is omnipresent and was, therefore, present with Jesus but His form was in heaven, not in the physical body of His Son. The Holy Spirit was also present with Jesus, yet not inside Jesus’ physical body. Thus, we must distinguish between the form and presence of God. His form is in heaven (Deut. 26:15; Matt. 6:9). But as He looks “down from” His holy habitation, He is everywhere present. However, He is not everywhere located.

Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: "The Lord knows those who are His," and, "Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity." But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. (2 Tim. 2:19-21)

Thus, God seals His children as and to the extent that they “depart from iniquity” and cleanse themselves from vessels of dishonor. Likewise, the Father was in the Son in that He had sealed the Son with the works that the Son did and the character that the Son exhibited.

For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world (Titus 2:11-12).

If and to the extent we are “denying ungodliness and worldly lusts” and living “soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world,” the Holy Spirit dwells in our hearts.

The Holy Spirit, through our faithful obedience to the word that He revealed, enables us to finitely develop the Divine nature within ourselves.

Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1:2-11)

If, and to the extent that, we are “partakers of the divine nature,” the Holy Spirit dwells in our hearts.

[To be continued]

DIVINE PROVIDENCE (Part Five)

Providence and Individuals (Concluded)

By Bob Myhan

od gave man the ability to make free will decisions, though not with impunity. He may influence those decisions, however, in any number of ways. This should not be difficult for anyone to grasp, since God has all nature at His disposal. Remember, nature came into existence by His will; nature was put in order by His will; and nature is both balanced and regulated by His will.

The dreams of Joseph, which proved to be prophetic, were surely not coincidental. God could have caused those dreams because He knew that Joseph would relate them to his brothers and that their envy and hatred of him would increase, which would, in turn, influence their decision to be rid of him.

The respective dreams of Pharaoh, his butler and his baker could also have been caused by God in order to influence their decisions regarding Joseph.

God could have produced more rain at Shechem than at Dothan so the grazing lands of the latter would be lusher than those of the former. This would influence the decision of Joseph’s brothers to move the flock.

God could as easily have influenced the decisions of Potiphar, Potiphar’s wife and the jailer. “There is nothing too hard” for God (Jer. 32:17).

Providence and Civil Government

Civil government was ordained by God.

Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God's minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God's minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience' sake. For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God's ministers attending continually to this very thing. (Rom. 13:1-6)

Inasmuch as all civil governments are ruled by a man or group of men, God can influence civil governments by influencing those who rule them. He can also influence civil government by influencing the governed. By influencing the butler and baker of Pharaoh, for example, He influenced Pharaoh. And by influencing Pharaoh, He influenced all of Egypt.

[To be continued]