The earthly abode of the Holy Spirit

[methinkshe]

The ones that "call down" the Holy Spirit as though at our command,

I always thought of those as prayers, not commands.

Yeah, I know, so did I to begin with.

But when one thinks about it and examines Scripture, why do we, as believers who have received the Holy Spirit on conversion/regeneration, pray for the Holy Spirit to come down when He has already been sent by the Father in Heaven to facilitate our regeneration and is already dwelling in us?

I began the o.p. by stating my concern re the location of the Holy Spirit. I thought it was a very minor point. However, having read the the first 6 chapters of the book, "War on the Saints" I am beginning to think that it is hugely important not only to know the location of the Holy Spirit on earth, but also the location of the Father and the Son - i.e. in heaven. Do we pray to "the god within" which equates to eastern mysticism and universalism, or to the God in Heaven and the Son seated at His right hand? How does the Holy Spirit fit in to this?

I'm on a journey......praise the Lord! I love to discover more of His wonderful truth!

[nebula]

What did you think of this question I asked:

Has anyone else ever puzzled over this one?

Acts 4

23 When they [Peter and John] had been released, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 And when they heard this, they lifted their voices to God with one accord and said, "O Lord, it is You who MADE THE HEAVEN AND THE EARTH AND THE SEA, AND ALL 25 who by the Holy Spirit, through the mouth of our father David Your servant, said, 'WHY DID THE GENTILES RAGE, AND THE PEOPLES DEVISE FUTILE THINGS ? 26 'THE KINGS OF THE EARTH TOOK THEIR STAND, AND THE RULERS WERE GATHERED TOGETHER AGAINST THE LORD AND AGAINST HIS CHRIST.' 27 "For truly in this city there were gathered together against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28 to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose predestined to occur. 29 "And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and grant that Your bond-servants may speak Your word with all confidence, 30 while You extend Your hand to heal, and signs and wonders take place through the name of Your holy servant Jesus." 31 And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness.

This happened after Pentecost.

[methinkshe]

What did you think of this question I asked:

Has anyone else ever puzzled over this one?

Acts 4

23 When they [Peter and John] had been released, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 And when they heard this, they lifted their voices to God with one accord and said, "O Lord, it is You who MADE THE HEAVEN AND THE EARTH AND THE SEA, AND ALL 25 who by the Holy Spirit, through the mouth of our father David Your servant, said, 'WHY DID THE GENTILES RAGE, AND THE PEOPLES DEVISE FUTILE THINGS ? 26 'THE KINGS OF THE EARTH TOOK THEIR STAND, AND THE RULERS WERE GATHERED TOGETHER AGAINST THE LORD AND AGAINST HIS CHRIST.' 27 "For truly in this city there were gathered together against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28 to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose predestined to occur. 29 "And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and grant that Your bond-servants may speak Your word with all confidence, 30 while You extend Your hand to heal, and signs and wonders take place through the name of Your holy servant Jesus." 31 And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness.

This happened after Pentecost.

Been thinking about this but now you have put me on the spot, this is where I have got to....and please, I only offer this as my current thinking not as a definitive answer.

I think that the incident recorded was an exception rather than a rule. A bit like the way the Holy Spirit descended on Jesus in the form of a dove, but that doesn't mean that all believers thereafter have to claim a dove resting on their head to believe the Holy Spirit has come into his/her life.

This was a once and for all demonstration of the veracity of the Holy Spirit to demonstrate that He was, indeed, from God. It was not meant to be a rule of thumb for all that followed thereafter.

That's where I am at the moment, anyway!

But I am always willing to be corrected.

[Treasure]

I believe the name of the song you're referring to is called "Send it on Down." The church that I attended for years sang it regularly and I wondered and was bothered by the same thing.

That book will have to be added to my growing wishlist.

[methinkshe]

I believe the name of the song you're referring to is called "Send it on Down." The church that I attended for years sang it regularly and I wondered and was bothered by the same thing.

That book will have to be added to my growing wishlist.

It's available in its entirety online at the link I supplied.

That's where I have been reading it from.

Thank God for 100 yr old books that are out of copyright and therefore are freely available!

[OneLight]

You are correct in stating that the Holy Spirit is already with us, but some believe they can be "refilled", as in ensuring you have enough oil for your lamps, where the oil is the Holy Spirit and the lamp is us. Personally, I believe that when we neglect God in our lives, we begin take back parts of our lives we once gave to His Spirit. He is always there, but we only allow Him to have only so much of us to work with. The rest we keep to "ourselves". The more of us we give to God, the more the Holy Spirit fills us. Seeking the refilling of the Holy Spirit actually is a way of recommitting our life to Him, releasing that part of us that we had been holding onto.

When the Day of Pentecost came to the Upper Room, there sat upon each believer tongues of fire. Fire not only represents judgment, but also purification.

Hope this helps.

Dear OneLight,

Belatedly, I have just realised I need to correct your above statement that I have underlined.

Acts 2:3

They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. NIV

or

"And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them." KJV

So the manifestation "seemed to be like tongues of fire" or was "LIKE as of fire" rather than they WERE tongues of fire.

I know it is a small difference but I really need to get into the detail at the moment, therefore I must get the detail correct in my mind.

I hope you understand that I am not trying to be pedantic but rather to discover the WHOLE counsel of God, from Genesis to Revelation, and to do this I must be very careful that I accept only that which is said in God's Word as opposed to loose transliterations.

Your sister in Jesus,

Ruth

You are correct. I was not quoting scripture. Yet, they could only describe what they saw to the best of their ability. Your question was about fire. Yes, fire is a judgment, but also a refining fire that purifies, so the detail of them being like fire does not matter in this case, but your concern of if the fire is a judgment or a refinement. Look up what is said about the refiner's fire in Malachi 3.

[OneLight]

Wow! This book - "War on the Saints" - is a real eye opener.

It was written 100 years ago but is so apposite today that it might have been written yesterday.

I am now on chapter 6 and all those discomforts I have known in my spirit (which, tbh go far beyond what I have voiced in my o.p., since 2 of my children are caught up in an "emerging church" type fellowship within which I have been unable to find any unity in the Holy Spirit) have been answered, so that I am beginning to understand the hows and whys of my spiritual unease with their ways.

Please. please, has anyone else read this book and examined it in the light of Scripture?

It answers so many of my questions that I cannot believe that it has entirely escaped the attention of the church of Jesus.

What think you, my Berean brothers and sisters?

I think I will stick to scripture and allow His Spirit to guide and teach me. There is so much to glean from His words that I don't have time to read that books of men.

[oak]

First, thank you for helping me out in my search with your post response.

Further in regards to your post, Revision

I just realized I repeated what was previously said - made some mistakes and I apologize. . However The Spirit once you receive it doesn’t remain stagnant. a) We are told to “not quench the spirit” 1 Thes 5:19. This presupposes that the Spirit within you can change. Also, Peter and Paul were of the Spirit therefore why did Paul rebuke Peter about circumcision: “I opposed him face to face” Gal 1-11Therefore I see nothing wrong with your congregation asking for more of the Spirit (especially if they are doing it in Christ's name. Further I hope Onelight convinced you fire is not only for condemnation As far as rapture I feel it comes in the beginning due to Peter’s sermon at the Pentecost: “And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Acts 2:21. Yes to your last question because I feel Revelation sounds more like the OT for starters.I believe The Holy Spirit is as ubiquitous as love is , here on earth.

[Fraught]

the Holy Spirit lives within believers:

Romans 5:5

and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Romans 8:9

However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.

2 Corinthians 1:22

who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge.

1 Peter 4:14

If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.

1 John 5:6

This is the One who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ; not with the water only, but with the water and with the blood. It is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.

and the kicker: Deuteronomy 30:14

But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may observe it.

[oak]

Fraught, the spirit dwells in the human body but if it