LORD’S DAY, OCTOBER 8
Genesis 1:1-4
Judges 6:33-40

Make this a holy day!

THE HOLY SPIRIT IN OLD TESTAMENT TIMES

That God the Holy Spirit was present and active in Old Testament times, long before Pentecost, is clear to any serious student of God’s Word. How otherwise could the Old Testament saints have been regenerated, walking by faith and generally perform works acceptable to God? It was the Spirit who prompted true prayer and spiritual worship, and produced fruit in the lives of believers in much the same way as He does now. The best example of Holy Spirit inspiration was in the writing of the Old Testament books (2 Pet 1:21).

But the earliest activity of the Spirit was in the creation. Before the worlds were fashioned and the “things which are seen were not made of things which do appear” (Heb 11:3), and “the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep,” God’s Spirit “moved upon the face of the waters” (Gen 1:2). God generated life and by His Spirit perfected His work of creation. From the Old Testament record we see that the origin of life, its maintenance, and development depend entirely on the Spirit’s operation.

The Spirit coming upon certain chosen men of God endowed them with courage and physical strength, men such as the Judges whom God raised up for the deliverance of Israel (Judges 3, 6, 11, 14, 15). In the intellectual sphere, the Spirit gave certain men special wisdom and artistic skills (Exod 28:3; 31:3; 35:30-31). Great leaders such as Joseph, Moses, Joshua, David; and prophets such as Elijah, Elisha, Isaiah, were men on whom God’s Spirit came in mighty fashion.

THOUGHT: “Breathe on me, Breath of God, fill me with life anew. That I may love what Thou dost love, and do what Thou wouldst do.”
PRAYER: Fill me, O Lord, with Thy Spirit, for Thy purpose.