The Empowering Presence Of The Holy Spirit In The Old Testament

EXODUS 31:1-11; 2 KINGS 2:9-15
INTRODUCTION
On a particularly rough airplane flight, a lady became very airsick. Her shoulders drooped, and her head slumped forward—she was totally wiped out. The flight attendant came by to help her. “Come, come now,” the flight attendant said, buckle up and get control of yourself. “Sit up and take courage.” She put her arm under the sick lady’s arm and helped her sit upright in her seat, gave her gum to chew, and then went to get her some water. With the help of the flight attendant, the lady finished the trip in far better condition than she began it in.

This is like the ministry of the Holy Spirit in our lives. He comes alongside to help us when we are in hopeless defeat. He admonishes us, encourages us, and restores hope and faith in our lives.

I. THE HOLY SPIRIT ELICITS PERSONAL RESPONSE TO GOD (PSALM 51:10-12; EZEKIEL 36:25-27)

Last Sunday I said that when man sinned in the Garden of Eden humanity fell (thus Adam and Eve). This fall affected our fellowship and relationship with the Creator God. When Adam and Eve sinned, they died spiritually. Due to this spiritual death humanity could not respond to God. The image of God in the human race was marred. In order for God to restore this broken relationship and fellowship, God took the initiative. God chose Noah to demonstrate His grace and righteousness through him. You all know the story of Noah and the flood. Besides Noah God chose another man from the Ur of the Chaldees, whose name was Abraham. God established an irrevocable covenant with him. Out of Abraham God chose the nation of Israel to bear His name and His light to the nations.

In every generation in the Old Testament God chose priests and prophets to represent Him to the nation of Israel. The work of the priest was to represent the people before God. In other words, the priests and Levites were responsible for the appropriation of the worship of the true God and to offer the sacrifices of the people to God. The prophet on the other hand, was God’s spokesman for the nation. Therefore, the prophet represented God to the people. God spoke to the prophet through His Spirit and the prophet in turn communicated God’s word to the nation. So, God provided the knowledge of Himself through His chosen priests and prophets. He also provided the knowledge of Himself through His mighty deeds. Occasionally too, God’s Spirit fell upon kings of his own choice. The Spirit of God manifested Himself in King Saul. The Spirit of God manifested Himself to King David even when he was just a shepherd boy. When David ascended the throne, God gave the nation a prophet by the name Nathan. You all know the story of David’s affair with Bathsheba. When David refused to admit, confess, and repent of his sin he lost his fellowship with the Spirit of God. He could no longer hear the voice of God (Psalm 32). God out of His grace and compassion for David sent the prophet Nathan to him and you all know the dialogue that ensued between Nathan and David. Out of this dialogue came Psalm 51. This Psalm of David is the Psalm of contrition or repentance and forgiveness. In this Psalm David makes some remarkable statements in verses 10-12. But what I would like to draw your attention to is in verse 11. Have you ever thought about why David prayed, “Do not take Thy Holy Spirit from me?” David was keenly aware of what had happened to his predecessor, King Saul. Because of rebellion and disobedience God had withdrawn His Spirit from Saul. Instead, God allowed an evil spirit to torment Saul (1 Samuel 16:14). David was aware of Saul’s plight because he played his harp for Saul whenever the evil spirit tormented Saul. As David played the harp the king felt better. Therefore, David did not want what happened to Saul to come upon him. That is why David prayed, “Do not take Thy Holy Spirit from me.” Do you see the contrast here? Evil spirit versus the Holy Spirit. Where the presence and the power of God rule the Holy Spirit is at work. Where you do not allow the Holy Spirit to rule and work in your life, evil spirit is in charge. In the Old Testament the Spirit coming upon a prophet or king was temporary. In other words, the Holy Spirit would come upon men and women of God to equip them and leave at will. The good news is that you and I who are believers are not to pray the prayer of David. The Holy Spirit’s residence in a Christian is permanent. We will see this crystal clear when we get into the New Testament.

Ezekiel 36:25-27 is an interesting text. Ezekiel was one of the captives of Israel who were taken to Babylon. While in Babylon he received his prophetic calling from God. Who told you that the presence and power of God were confined to Israel in the Old Testament? Ezekiel wrote his prophetic book from exile in Babylon. In chapter 36, especially verses 25-28 God promises to cleanse the exiles from their sin. God will also remove their stony heart and replace it with a heart of flesh. In other words, God will transform their mind and heart so that they would be obedient and responsive to Him. Moreover, God says He will put His Spirit in them and move them to be obedient to Him. Therefore, it is theologically correct to say that it is the Spirit of God who elicits personal response to God. It is God who bestows His Spirit to enable the human spirit to do the will of God. That is why one of the responsibilities of the Holy Spirit is to convict the world of sin. The Holy Spirit convicts’ unbelievers of sin so that we can share Christ’s love and forgiveness with them.

While Ezekiel 36:26-27 had immediate context and application to the Exiles; it also has a future context and application. The text contains a “new covenant” terminology. This provides a serious note of caution to those of you who have heard the gospel over and over again but have not responded to Jesus Christ. Since it is the Holy Spirit who elicits or brings out your personal response to God, it is more dangerous to resist the conviction of the Holy Spirit. That is why the writer of Hebrews could say, “If you hear His voice do not harden your heart” (Heb. 3:8). Let me explain. When you come to this church and the Holy Spirit convicts you that you need to give your life to Jesus it is dangerous to say to Him, “I am not ready.” When a Christian shares the Gospel with you, it is dangerous to postpone your salvation and say, I am not ready; when I am ready, I will get saved. That line of excuse is not wise. Why? Because it is the Holy Spirit who convicts of sin. There will come a time in your life that the Holy Spirit will leave you alone. God says, “My Spirit will not wrestle with man forever” (Gen. 6:3). Jesus said, “Unless My Father draws you, you cannot come to Me” (John 6:44). Since God takes the initiative in saving you isn’t it prudent and right to say yes to Him when the Holy Spirit convicts you of your lostness? Christian brother or sister when the Holy Spirit convicts you of sin in your life it is in your best interest to confess and turn away from that sin.

II. THE HOLY SPIRIT EQUIPS INDIVIDUALS FOR LEADERSHIP (GEN. 41:38; NUM. 11:17; 2 KINGS 2:9-15)

In the life of Joseph in bondage in Egypt it was the Spirit of God who gave him insight to the dream of king Pharaoh. It was the same Spirit of God who made him a capable leader and administrator in Egypt. It is the same Spirit of God that made Moses the spiritual leader of the Exodus. The Old Testament is replete with men and women who were equipped of the Holy Spirit for leadership. However, the text I want us to examine and learn from is 2 Kings 2:9-15. In this episode Elijah is about to be taken to heaven, for he has completed his work. His servant or attendant Elisha who has walked with him all these years knows that the time for his master’s departure has come.

Elijah the prophet of God then asks Elisha to tell him what he wants him to do for him before he is taken away from him. Let me ask you a question, if a prophet of God were to ask you, tell me one thing you would like me to do for you what would you say? Elisha said to his master Elijah, “Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit.” Many Christians have misunderstood and therefore have misinterpreted this text. Some have concluded that Elisha did twice more than what Elijah did. Some too have expressed that Elisha had twice the power of Elijah, but that is not what the Old Testament text teaches. Elisha did not express a desire for ministry twice as great as Elijah’s did. Rather Elisha was using terms derived from inheritance law to express his desire to carry on Elijah’s ministry. Inheritance law apportioned a double portion of a father’s estate to his first-born son (Dt. 21:17). Elisha could make this request since Elijah the prophet did not have children. In essence Elisha was his spiritual firstborn son. Elijah acknowledged that Elisha had made a difficult request. Why? Because it was not Elijah’s prerogative to assign the spirit. God is the only one who could do that. Therefore, Elijah gave Elisha a sign. The sign was that if Elisha saw when his master Elijah was being taken from him, then his request would be granted. Elijah was a wise man because he knew that it was God who chose an ordinary person and made him/her His prophet or prophetess. It wasn’t an inheritance that was passed on from father to son, master to servant. When Elijah told Elisha the sign Elisha decided to hang around with his master. He never allowed Elijah to leave his sight. Sure, enough the time of Elijah’s departure came, and Elisha was there, and he saw the chariots and horsemen.

He picked up Elijah’s mantle, which had fallen down. You would ask how did Elisha know that God had granted his request to inherit the spirit of Elijah? Compare verse 14 to verse 8 and you have the answer right there. God answered Elisha’s request by giving him the same divine power and Spirit that had accompanied his master Elijah. Therefore, Elisha succeeded Elijah as the prophet of God. So, in the Old Testament the Spirit of God equipped people for leadership. The Bible says the Spirit of the Lord came upon Gideon (Judges 6:34). Literally it means the Spirit of the Lord clothed Himself with Gideon. Gideon was “wrapped up” around the Holy Spirit like a garment. The Holy Spirit continues to equip believers for service in various capacities.

III. THE HOLY SPIRIT EQUIPS INDIVIDUALS WITH SKILL AND STRENGTH FOR CREATIVE ACHIEVEMENTS (EXODUS 31:1-11)

God told Moses that he Himself had chosen Bezalel out of thousands of the Exodus. Bezalel son of Uri; the son of Hur of the tribe of Judah. God filled him with the Holy Spirit and gave him skill, ability, and knowledge in all kinds of crafts. The ability to work as a skilled craftsman was a spiritual gift. The name Bezalel means, “In the shadow or protection of God.”

This man did not have those skills. He had not learned how to be a craftsman, but God will endow him with the ability to do what He has chosen him to do. When God calls you to do something for Him don’t say I can’t. I don’t have the skill and the knowledge. He already knows that. He Himself will equip you to do anything He has chosen you to do. Besides Bezalel God has also chosen Oholiab from the tribe of Dan to be Bezalel’s helper. Why has God chosen them and other craftsmen? Because God wants them to build a Tabernacle for Him. God has chosen them and gifted them to serve Him. Let me ask you a question. Do you have a spiritual gift? If the answer is yes, then the next question is what are you doing with the spiritual gift that God has given to you? Are you using the spiritual gift to serve Him? Are you using the spiritual gift to serve yourself? Have you buried that spiritual gift?

God gifted these men and gave them precise instructions on how to build the Tent of Meeting. When God calls you and gives you a ministry, He does not leave you to guess what He wants you to do. He will evidently show you what He wants you to do. Perhaps some of you need to pray; Lord what do you want me to do. That was the prayer of Paul when he was converted on the road to Damascus. God does not save you to just sit on a pew to listen to sermons. God saves you and gifts you to serve Him. If you sincerely ask God, He would show you exactly what He wants you to do.

Now before I conclude let me come back to the statement concerning those who are under the conviction of sin by the Holy Spirit. In the Book of Acts 7:51, Stephen said, “You always resist the Holy Spirit.” I am using this to tell you another true story.

Dr. George W. Truett preached to a large audience on the text, “Ye always resist the Holy Spirit” (Acts 7:51). As he emphasized the danger of those who have not been saved turning an unhearing ear to the wooing of the Holy Spirit, and finally coming to a place where His voice is no longer heard, an aged man interrupted him, saying, “Dr. Truett, you are describing my case!” “Not knowingly, my brother,” said Dr. Truett. “But you are,” said the old man. “In my youthful years, the Holy Spirit frequently convicted me of sin and my need of the Savior. Each time I refused to obey the Spirit’s call and continued in my sinful ways. The time came when I no longer heard His pleadings. From that time, I have never had the slightest desire to turn from sin to God. I would give anything I possess if I could feel tonight as I felt years ago when the Spirit strove with me!” If the Spirit of Christ is speaking to you today, please respond and respond now.