We know the Holy Spirit is a person and a deity. We know the Holy spirit has always existed just like the Father and the Son. The Holy Spirit helped create the universe and mankind. It is the Holy Spirit who gives us wisdom, directs our steps, produces moral living, and equips us for service to God. It was the Holy Spirit that inspired the prophets and directed the writers of God’s Word. The Holy Spirit does all the heavy lifting for God the Father.
Genesis 1:2 – In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. and the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.
Job 33:4 – The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
1 Corinthians 3:16 – Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
Most of us don’t realize how blessed we are today to have available to us the indwelling of the Holy Spirit of God. Next to salvation, this is God’s greatest gift to us. Imagine having the Holy Spirit of God inside us from salvation until death as our personal friend and helper just for the asking. Before His ascension Jesus promised to send us a Helper and on Pentecost Jesus did just that. The Holy spirit will remain on earth and active in the lives of men until the Second Coming of Jesus Christ our Lord.
In Old Testament times the Holy Spirit was not universally available to people. The Holy Spirit came upon the prophets of God and occasionally priest and kings. The Holy Spirit usually came upon men for a limited time and for a particular task and then He departed. When the Holy Spirit did choose to come upon men He had the option of withdrawing if their conduct displeased Him. That was the case with both Samson and King Saul.
The Holy Spirit was present in the Old Testament times but His ministry was not prevalent. I only recall the Holy Spirit being used three times in the Old Testament. In the New Testament the Holy Spirit is mentioned over 250 times. Since Pentecost the Holy Spirit has been very active in our lives because a merciful and loving God wants to give of Himself in order to help us in every aspect of our lives.