Scripture contains two groups of nine in connection with the work of the Holy Spirit in a believer’s life:
- The nine fruit of the Spirit are a result of the Holy Spirit’s indwelling Presence.
- The nine gifts of the Spirit are a result of the Holy Spirit’s infilling power.
Let’s look at the ninefold manifestations of the fruit that result from the Holy Spirit’s indwelling Presence.
GALATIANS 5:22–23
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Paul is talking here about the fruit of the recreated, born-again human spirit. We see an example of it before the Day of Pentecost when the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit.
LUKE 24:51–52
51 And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.
52 And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy.
According to Galatians 5:22, joy is a fruit of the recreated human spirit. In Luke 24:52, the disciples had great joy but were not yet filled with the Spirit. Therefore, the fruit of the spirit could not be a result of the baptism in the Holy Spirit.
As we obey God’s Word, the Holy Spirit within us causes us to grow in love, joy, and peace. So a main purpose of the Holy Spirit’s indwelling Presence in a believer is for fruit bearing.
If you are a believer, the Holy Spirit is in you to help you.
The Amplified Bible, Classic Edition calls the Holy Spirit a Comforter, Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby (John 14:16). We don’t need anything more than that. Many believers have missed the reality of what God’s Spirit came to do in us.
Rely On the Helper
Sometimes when Christians need help, they look frantically for someone to pray for them. They cry on someone’s shoulder, shed some “crocodile tears,” and quote a few scriptures. But when they are alone, they’re in the same mess they started with. They forget they have a Helper on the inside. They don’t have to pray for a Helper; they already have Him in them.
The Holy Spirit is our Guide. John 16:13 says, “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth.” Not only will He do that, but Jesus said (speaking to God), “Thy word is truth” (John 17:17). The Holy Spirit will also guide us into the truth of God’s Word.
The Holy Spirit will guide us in all the affairs of life. Romans 8:14 says, “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” No one can be guided or led, however, without placing themselves in the hands of the Guide.
It is useless to pray, “Lord, guide me—give me directions,” unless we allow ourselves to be guided.
By way of illustration, the Carlsbad Caverns have guides to escort visitors. No one would want to go through the pitch-black caverns without one. Visitors would never get out if they didn’t follow the guides!
Many folks get into a mess in life because they don’t follow the Guide. But for the Holy Spirit to guide us, we must put ourselves in His hands.
When we have guidance, we can be prepared ahead of time. The Bible says the Holy Spirit will show us things to come (John 16:13). He will guide us into all truth and will lead us in the affairs of life.
When I traveled on the evangelistic field, I depended on my Guide. My wife and small children were at home, and the Holy Spirit always warned me ahead of time of a family need. I often had no communication with them, but I knew by the Spirit of God when someone was sick.
Help From Within
If you are a believer, the Holy Spirit is in you to help you. As you learn to listen and look to Him, He will guide you.
Under the Old Covenant, God spoke about the New Covenant He would establish with His people. This verse gives us a clue about how New Covenant believers are to be guided.
JEREMIAH 31:33
33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.
This Old Covenant promise was fulfilled in the New Birth—in the recreation of man’s spirit.
2 CORINTHIANS 5:17
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Where does God make us a new creature? In our heart, or spirit, by the regeneration of the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5).
God said He would put His law in our “inward parts”—in our spirit being. It is by the Holy Spirit that God’s laws are written in our hearts (2 Cor. 3:3). We will know by the Spirit what to do in every situation, for He is our Guide into all truth (John 16:13). We need only look inside to see what the Spirit within is leading us to do (Rom. 8:14).
The Holy Spirit, our Helper, has made His home in believers. All we could ever need Him to be for us, He is. He is our Comforter, our Guide, our Counselor, and our Teacher.
If we know Who dwells within us and believe God’s Word, then no matter what or whom we face, we will have no fear. The Greater One Who lives in us is greater than he who is in the world. And He will put us over in life!
Faith Nugget
God For Us, With Us, and In Us
Having God for us guarantees our success: “If God be for us, who can be against us?” (Rom. 8:31).
God is with us in every place in life and in every situation (Matt. 28:20, Heb. 13:5).
Not only is God with us and for us, He is also in us. As born-again Christians, we are the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 3:16–17, 6:19; 2 Cor. 6:16).
After we became new creatures in Christ, then God, in the Person of the Holy Spirit, chose to dwell within us. Now the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead is in us (Rom. 8:10–11)!
Author
Kenneth E. Hagin
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