Luke: The New Testament Theologian of the Holy Spirit

Luke 1:15 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will drink no wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother’s womb.

Introduction:

Today's post is aimed at introducing the reader to Luke's Gospel and his second volume, the Book of Acts, regarding what He has to write about the Person and work of the Holy Spirit. No other writer in either Old or New Testament writes as much about the Holy Spirit's working as the Holy Ghost as does Luke (over 50 references in all!) To keep today's post at a readable length, I will give the reader main headings with accompanying scripture from Luke and Acts that refer to the Holy Spirit. May the reader find these to be encouraging, informative and insightful to the glory of Jesus Christ!

1. Filling of the Holy Spirit.

In the life of Christ: Luke 1:15,17,35,41; 2:25; 3:32; 4:1

In the life of the church: Acts 6:3,5,11:24; 13:52

2. Conception

In the humanity of Christ: Luke 1:35

The believer's New birth: Acts 2:33,38; 8:15,17,19; 10:45-47; 19:2

3. Leading/prompting

In Jesus' life: Luke 2:27,27

In the church's life: Acts 1:2; 8:29; 11:12; 13:2,4; 15:28; 16:6; 19:21; 20:22,23; 21:4

4. Baptism

Jesus' baptism: Luke 3:16

Spirit's baptism (to inaugurate New Covenant church) promised on the day of Pentecost by Jesus: Acts 1:5

5. Anointing of the Spirit

Jesus' anointing: Luke 4:18; 10:21; 12:12

Anointing of the Holy Spirit in the church: Acts 1:8; 4:8,31; 5:32; 6:10; 11:28; 13:9; 20:28; 21:11; 28:28

6. Warnings of blaspheming the Holy Spirit

Jesus' warnings: Luke 12:10

Possible blaspheming by individuals: Acts 8:9-24

7. The Person of the Holy Spirit is God

Jesus says the Spirit to be fully Divine: Luke 12:10

The Holy Spirit is explicitly equated to be fully Divine: Acts 5:3,4,9

The Holy Spirit who operates as the Holy Ghost

Matthew 1:18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. (KJV)

Today's post is going to briefly explain a curious translation characteristic of the KJV concerning the Holy Spirit.  In 89 spots we find the phrase "Holy Ghost" and in at least 6 spots we find the translation "Holy Spirit".  Why? Let's first clear up what is not being meant in the rendering of these phrases:

1. The "Holy Ghost" and "The Holy Spirit" are not two separate entities nor two aspects of God.  
2. The "Holy Ghost" is not in reference to a manifestation of Jesus Christ back on earth once again (right now) following His ascension into Heaven.1  

With those two observations, lets now attempt to see if we can probe into why it is the KJV chose to render the Third Person of the Trinity, the Spirit of God, by these two titles.

1. The phrases "Holy Spirit" and "Holy Ghost" refer to the Person and Working of the third Person of the Trinity
In most of the texts that we see the translation "Holy Ghost", we could literally translate from the Greek: "The Spirit of Holiness".  In the texts that render Him as "The Holy Spirit", we could literally render the Greek text: "The Spirit who is Holy".  In the contexts of all the verses, "Holy Ghost" and "Holy Spirit" are referring to God as He is revealed in the third Person of the Trinity.  

A study of Strong's Exhaustive Concordance yields the following facts about these two phrases: "Holy Ghost" occurs 89 times, with almost half of those instances found in the Book of Acts.  Whenever we read all of those verses, the Holy Spirit's functions, empowerment of God's people and activity of His office are in view.  It is also interesting to note that, at least in the KJV, the phrase "Holy Ghost" only shows up in the New Testament, telling us that His ministry is of a different degree than that of the Old Testament. 

Whenever we look up the phrase "Holy Spirit", we only find the phrase appearing three times in the Old Testament and 4 times in the New with regard to the actual Person of the Holy Spirit Himself.  Interestingly enough, four passages (Luke 4:1; John 7:39; Acts 2:4; 1 Cor 12:3) contain both, reminding us that the Person of the Holy Spirit cannot be separated from His official capacity as the Holy Ghost. 

In sum: the title "Spirit of Holiness" (i.e Holy Ghost) is in reference to The Person of the Holy Spirit operating in His presence, power or office.  Whereas the title "The Spirit who is Holy" (i.e Holy Spirit) is in reference to the Person Himself. 

A brief illustration of what we're trying to communicate
Much like my role as a dad, or my role as a husband - I as a person occupy those different things.  They define what I do, and are closely associated with whom I am.  My functions in the life of my family flow from who I am in their lives.  In a more profound way, the Holy Spirit and His Work are so intimately linked that for all intents and purposes, there is no way to separate Him from His work.2

2. How the distinctions between "Holy Spirit" and "Holy Ghost" aid in understanding the Person and work of the Holy Spirit
This subtle distinction helps us to put together a biblical theology of the Person and work of the Spirit of God in the Bible.  The KJV translators in 1611, as well as older English translators, used the Old English word "Ghost" in its meaning of referring to a being of spiritual or immaterial nature.  The word "ghost" of course has changed significantly since then, which is why in English translations after the KJV, we see all the texts changed to the sole rendering "Holy Spirit".3 

The KJV translators had something in mind when they rendered the work, the presence or the power of the Spirit of God as "Holy Ghost".  Furthermore, in studying the Greek texts of the remaining instances where they render "Holy Spirit", it appears they were interested in pointing out the Spirit of God's "personality" or "Personhood".  Even without these two distinct titles, we can still make sense of the distinction between the Holy Spirit's power and personhood from the texts which speak about Him.   

3. The term "Holy Spirit" refers to the third Person of the Trinity and the phrase "Holy Ghost" refers more to His office or activity
I would never want to press this distinction to the level of separate points, but rather distinct points.  As one theologian as pointed out, if I were to distinguish your soul and body, it would not affect you; however if I were to separate your soul and body, you would die. Just as the Second Person of the Trinity, Jesus Christ, cannot be separated from His offices as Prophet, Priest and King, so too with the Holy Spirit.4  

Conclusion: Understand the Holy Spirit's personality and power in your own life
It does help at least to think of the Holy Spirit's personal involvement as "God in us" who exercises His power or office in and through us as "The Holy Ghost".  His aim is to point us to Jesus Christ.  I hope the above discussion has aided the reader in thinking more closely about the significance of the Person of the Holy Spirit's work in His official capacity as the Holy Ghost. I will close with the following observations from Dr. Larry Pettegrew, Senior Professor of Theology at The Master's Seminary, Sun Valley California: "When we understand the biblical teachings about the New Covenant ministry of the Holy Spirit, we ought to become more spiritual."5 Later on Dr. Pettegrew observes: "Only when we consistently observe the promptings of the indwelling Spirit in our own personal lives as He reminds us of biblical truths, and are ministering effectively the teachings of the Word of God to others, do we understand fully the new Covenant ministry of the Holy Spirit.6

Endnotes:
1. Some groups have made this interpretation, unwittingly confusing the second and third persons of the Trinity.  When we confuse the persons of the God-head with one another, we have unwittingly wandered into the realm of unsound doctrine.  God's One nature or essence is equally shared by all Three Persons of the Trinity.  Titles or names of God never destroy the two most fundamental truths about God: He is One God, and second, He is One God perpetually relating within Himself as the Distinct Personages of The Father, Son and Holy Spirit. 

2. Subtle grammatical distinctions had also prompted the older translators to use the different words. Without going too technical, the modern move to render "Holy Ghost" into the phrase "Holy Spirit" does not destroy the meaning nor intent of the text.  The word in the Greek text rendered "Spirit" and "Ghost" is the same word, which is part of what prompted all English translations after the nineteenth century to render the phrase "Holy Spirit" across the board. 

3. The change does not affect the meaning of the text, since its mainly due to the way in which the word "ghost" has changed in its meaning from the seventeenth century KJV.  Even if we didn't have the two titles of "Holy Spirit" and "Holy Ghost", the words and progressive revelation of the Holy Spirit's person and work in scripture would still yield this distinction. 

4. When He inspired the words of scripture, we see the KJV rendering His activity, His "office", as acting forth as the "Holy Ghost" in 2 Peter 1:21.  When He overshadowed the virgin Mary's womb in the conception of the humanity of Jesus Christ, He is described function in the capacity of "Holy Ghost" in Matthew 1:18.

Whenever we see Jesus referring to how He is going to send the "Spirit of God" or "Spirit of Truth" (i.e the Holy Spirit), the emphasis is upon God's personal presence through the sent Holy Spirit.  Wherever we see the word "Spirit" in conjunction to the Spirit of God, we can conclude in most cases that the emphasis is upon His Personality.  Whenever we see the other 90 cases where the phrase "Holy Ghost" is being used, we can assume, in most cases, that His office, His power, His presence is being emphasized. 

5. Larry D. Pettegrew. The New Covenant Ministry of the Holy Spirit. Kregel. 2001. Page 189

6. Larry D. Pettegrew. The New Covenant Ministry of the Holy Spirit. Kregel. 2001. Page 210

The necessity of the Holy Spirit's power

Exodus 40:17-19 "Now in the first month of the second year, on the first day of the month, the tabernacle was erected. 18 Moses erected the tabernacle and laid its sockets, and set up its boards, and inserted its bars and erected its pillars. 19 He spread the tent over the tabernacle and put the covering of the tent on top of it, just as the Lord had commanded Moses."

God's people had journeyed for quite a distance, and yet one thing was needful

According to the sacred text, Moses and the people of God began putting the finishing touches on the tabernacle in what is termed "the second year, on the first day of the month".  That date reference places the completion of the tabernacle exactly one year from the first Passover commemorated by Yahweh on the night before their Exodus from Egypt in Exodus 12:1-2. 

Exodus 12-40 records the first year of time following the Jews deliverance by God out from under the tyranny of Pharoah.  God had in that time revealed to them their redemptive identity (Exodus 12-19); the Law (Exodus 19-24) and the Tabernacle or mobile worship center (Exodus 25-40). The people had went from the woes of Egypt to the worship of Yahweh in the freedom which He could only give.  God's grace chose them, called them and sustained them. God's pledge to His own character prevented Him from destroying them in the Golden Calf incident of Exodus 32. Through it all, God led them, fed them and revealed His grace through the giving of the plans of the Tabernacle to Moses and the leadership.   

After much journeying, much revelation from God, much instruction from Moses and much gifting by the Spirit Himself - the tabernacle stood finished. It's cost in today's currency would place it at over $50 million dollars to construct, even though it was "only" 7500 square feet in total area. Gold, silver, wood and precious stones made up this focal point of the camp of the Jews. The point of it all would be for Yahweh to dwell in the midst of His people. However one thing was needful.  If this one thing, or better yet, One Person did not show up, the stately structure and august assembly of priests would be for nothing.  What was the one thing necessary in order for the tabernacle to become a true worship center for the people of God? The Power of the Holy Spirit. 

Why we need the Holy Spirit's power

So why do we need the Holy Spirit's power? Note the following thoughts in Exodus 40:17-38:

1. The Spirit's power alone can guarantee the beginning God's work. Exodus 40:17-32

As you read all that Moses and the people of God did, Moses is putting in summary form the more than 11 months of time it took to prepare and construct the Tabernacle.  However think about it, lest the Holy Ghost had first spoke to Moses in revelation at the burning bush - there would had been no deliverance. Furthermore, lest Yahweh by the Holy Spirit's agency had chosen to meet the people at the Mountain in Exodus 19-20, no nation would had been formed.  Lest the Spirit had revealed the plans for the tabernacle in Exodus 25-40, as well as empowering and gifting the people to begin the work, no worship center would had occurred.  Man cannot begin the work of God without the power of the Holy Spirit.  But notice also...

2. The Holy Spirit's power alone can guarantee the finishing of God's work. Exodus 40:33-37

We read these words in Exodus 40:33 "He erected the court all around the tabernacle and the altar, and hung up the veil for the gateway of the court. Thus Moses finished the work." After all was said and done, the work had yet to be officially done.  From Exodus 40:34-37 we read of the Holy Spirit "covering" the tabernacle and then "filling" the tabernacle with the final idea of "leading" the people in their journeys with the tabernacle.  Notice those three main terms: "covering", "filling" and "leading".  We will focus primarily on the first two terms and leave the third term for the final point of this post.   

The Holy Spirit's "covering" or "hovering" is used elsewhere in scripture to describe how He infuses life into creation (Genesis 1:2) and bringing about the virgin birth conception of Christ's human nature in Mary. (Luke 1:35) For the Christian, life begins at conception not only in the physical realm but the spiritual. (Titus 3:5; James 1:18; 1 Peter 1:3, 23)  The New birth is when the Holy Spirit comes to the sinner and "hovers" so to speak in the preaching of the Gospel, simultaneously raising that dead sinner to spiritual life as they freely and truly believes on Jesus as Savior, Lord and Treasure. (John 5:24-25) 

Now that the Christian is regenerated and justified by faith, the process of sanctification begins with the Christian being made more like Jesus.  The Spirit and the Christian co-operate together in sanctification. (Philippians 3:12-13)  Chief among the commands for the Christian life is the command to be "filled" by the Holy Spirit. (Ephesians 5:18) Simply put, the Spirit-filled life is all about being "under the influence" of the Spirit leadership.  Obedience and fruit bearing characterizes the Spirit-filled Christian. The taking in of the scriptures through reading and meditation define the key.  Like wind filling a sail, the faith of the Christian requires daily submission to the Holy Spirit under Christ's Lordship in the scriptures in order for Christian effectiveness to result. (see Romans 8:1-5, 14-16; Galatians 5:16, 22) 

3. The Holy Spirit alone can guarantee the continuation of God's work.  Exodus 40:38

We see another idea in our text, namely the Spirit's leadership.  His power alone can guarantee the continuation of God's work that lies between the beginning and ending points described above. The walk of faith in the Lord following regeneration is a co-operative effort between God and the believer, with the Spirit taking the lead role.  

In an illustrative way, we can note the following about the Jewish nation at the end of Exodus. First, the Jewish nation did not move forward lest the "cloud" moved. (40:37-38)  Secondly, the nation only knew it was time to stop and rest when the cloud or pillar of fire came to rest.  Both theophanies are none other than the Holy Spirit acting as the go-between the Father (Yahweh) and the people. Without a doubt to we could ascribe the revelatory activity of the pillar of fire or the cloud to being a Pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus Christ. Paul in 1 Corinthians 10:1-6 alludes to the leadership of God's people to that of the Pre-incarnate Son. 

The Holy Spirit's job is to lead the Christian to follow Jesus Christ. (John 16:8-16; Galatians 5:16,25)  It is He who by His power enables the believer to persevere as he transmits the keeping power of the Father and the Son to the heart of the saint. (John 10:27-28; Jude 24-25) Whether in the realm of personal salvation and then sanctification, or the closely related area of calling and vocation, the Spirit's power alone guarantees the continuation of God's work.

Conclusion: Why we need the Holy Spirit's power

Why do we need the Holy Spirit's power? In mediating on Exodus 40:17-38 we discovered the following truths:

1. The Holy Spirit's power alone can guarantee the beginning God's work. Exodus 40:17-31

2. The Holy Spirit's power alone can guarantee the finishing of God's work. Exodus 40:32-37

3. The Holy Spirit's power alone can guarantee the continuation of God's work. Exodus 40:38

SBC position statement & resolution on the sanctity of human life

Jeremiah 1:5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, And before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.”

Introduction: The Sanctity of human life

As Jeremiah the prophet begins his book under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, he remarks about how God's elective purpose was at work in his life before He was born.  The elective purpose in this instance had to do with God choosing Jeremiah to be a prophet to the nations.  Often this passage is cited among many others to affirm the sanctity of human life and to remind us that from the moment of conception, a real human life is living, breathing and growing.  Imagine the catastrophic outcome if Jeremiah's life had been extinguished in the womb? In today's post I want the reader to see the official stance of the Southern Baptist Convention on the issue of sanctity of life, being that today is Sanctity of Human Life Sunday. The below documents are statements that this blogger whole heartily affirms. The two documents quoted below can be found at the following links:

1). http://www.sbc.net/aboutus/pssanctity.asp

2). http://www.sbc.net/resolutions/amResolution.asp?ID=619

May the Lord bless the reader this day and may we all do what is Biblically and reasonably right in affirming the sanctity of human life, not only today, but for every day of the year. 

SBC Position statement on the Sanctity of Life
"Procreation is a gift from God, a precious trust reserved for marriage. At the moment of conception, a new being enters the universe, a human being, a being created in God's image. This human being deserves our protection, whatever the circumstances of conception."

RESOLUTION ON SANCTITY OF HUMAN LIFE (passed in June 1991)

"WHEREAS, The Bible teaches that God holds human life to be sacred and created human beings in His own image; and

WHEREAS, Southern Baptists have historically affirmed biblical teaching regarding the sanctity of human life by adopting numerous pro-life resolutions at the national, state, and local levels; and

WHEREAS, Approximately 1.6 million unborn babies are killed each year in America as a result of the 1973 decision of the Supreme Court in Roe v. Wade; and

WHEREAS, In 1989 the Supreme Court began the dismantlement of the Roe decision by upholding a Missouri pro-life statute in Webster v. Reproductive Health Services; and

WHEREAS, As a result of the Webster decision, states now have more flexibility to regulate and restrict the practice of abortion; and

WHEREAS, The Supreme Court is likely to erode or overturn the Roe decision in the near future; and

WHEREAS, Legislation has been introduced in the United States Congress which would codify and expand the Roe abortion rights and thereby restrict the rights of states to regulate abortions within their borders; and

WHEREAS, Pro-abortion legislators in Congress are also attempting to repeal restrictions on federal abortion funding; and

WHEREAS, New drugs and technologies, including RU-486, which will make the practice of abortion easier, are being researched and used in other nations and abortion advocates are attempting to bring these technologies to America; and

WHEREAS, Some scientists in America are experimenting with the tissues of babies from induced abortions in order to find cures to certain diseases and are working to repeal the ban on federal government research on fetal tissue transplantation; Now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED, That we the messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention, meeting in Atlanta, Georgia, June 4-6, 1991, affirm the biblical prohibition against the taking of unborn human life except to save the life of the mother; and

BE IT FUTHER RESOLVED, That we call on all Southern Baptists to work for the adoption of pro-life legislation in their respective states which would expand protection for unborn babies; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That we call on all Southern Baptists to work with equal fervor to compassionately encourage and assist girls and women with unplanned or unwanted pregnancies to carry their children to term and to prepare for the best life possible for their children; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That we oppose all efforts by the United States Congress to limit the rights of states to restrict abortion-on-demand and call upon Congress to maintain current pro-life policies which prohibit the use of federal funds to encourage, promote, or perform abortions except to save the life of the mother; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That we oppose the testing, approval, distribution, and marketing in America of new drugs and technologies which will make the practice of abortion more convenient and more widespread; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That we support the current federal government ban on funding any transplantation of tissue from induced abortions for purposes of experimentation and research and call on the federal government to maintain the ban despite pressure from the scientific community and pro-abortion organizations."

God, the believer & temptation

2 Samuel 24:1-3 "Now again the anger of the Lord burned against Israel, and it incited David against them to say, “Go, number Israel and Judah.” 2 The king said to Joab the commander of the army who was with him, “Go about now through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, and register the people, that I may know the number of the people.”

1 Chronicles 21:1-2 "Then Satan stood up against Israel and moved David to number Israel.2 So David said to Joab and to the princes of the people, “Go, number Israel from Beersheba even to Dan, and bring me word that I may know their number.”

Introduction: Meet David, the believer who was tempted and tested

Most should be familiar with the account of King David, but in case the reader may not be acquainted with this remarkable man of God, here is what we learn from his life story as told in Samuel & Kings:

1. Private anointing of David - 1 Sam 16

2. Preparation of David - 1 Samuel 17-2 Samuel 1

3. Public anointing of David as King over Judah - 2 Samuel 2-4

4. Public anointing of David as King over Israel - 2 Samuel 5-6

5. Promise to David of an enduring throne and ultimate descendant - 2 Samuel 7

6. Public life of David - 2 Samuel 8-24

7. Proper end of David's reign and life - 1 Kings 1-2. 

The book of 1 Chronicles in chapters 11-29 records the life of David, focusing more on the events of his life that related specifically to God's covenant with him and the kingdom over which he reigned a total of 40 years. In 1 Chronicles we see the focus too on David's military victories, the growth and decline of his kingdom and details regarding his preparations for what would be the construction of the temple by his successor and son - Solomon. 

Truly David functions not only as a type or example of a believer living for God, at times failing and then ultimately repenting (see the Psalms), but it would be David's bloodline that God would use to bring about the humanity of Jesus Christ. (see Romans 1:3; 9:4-5)

David's fame lies not only in his significance in the realm of spiritual matters and Bible prophecy, but also in how he dealt with testing and temptation.  It is in this particular area that we will be exploring the theme in today's post: God, the believer and temptation. Our texts will be 2 Samuel 24:1-25 and 1 Chronicles 21:1-30.

God's will in the life of David the believer

In previous posts we have looked at God's ultimate will as having to do with what God purposes and/or desires to accomplish in the world and in the lives of people.  We have also noted that within God's Ultimate will we can discern three other "wills": Permissive will, unrevealed will and revealed will.  I will not repeat the detailed analysis of each of these areas, nor will I repeat the numerous scriptures associate with each, but rather just mention these main headings as a means of walking our way through these two chapters.1

God's Ultimate will - To prepare a place for the temple and the cross
Sometimes the best way to interpret a passage of scripture is by noting what is at the end. In 2 Samuel 24:18-25 & 1 Chronicles 21:18-30 we see David purchasing the site where Solomon's temple would be built (1 Chronicles 22:1), and where Jesus would be crucified 1,000 years later.  Interestingly enough, this same site is the famed Mount Moriah that Abraham was told by God to offer Isaac over 1,000 years prior to David in Genesis 22:2. God's ultimate will always has a purpose that we often may not fully understand or see.  So what all did God permit, reveal and in some case not reveal in bringing about this ultimate purpose?

God's permissive will - David was to be both tested and tempted. 2 Samuel 24:1; 1 Chronicles 21:1
In both 2 Samuel 24:1 and 1 Chronicles 21:1 we read what appears to be a seeming contradiction.  2 Samuel 24:1 records that "God incited David" to do a census of his armies, whereas 1 Chronicles 21:1 says it was Satan who urged David to do the numbering of his men.  Without going into the technicalities of grammar and language, the explanation for this difficulty of interpretation is explained by noting the area of God's permissive will.  The Bible Knowledge Commentary explains: "There is no contradiction for the Lord had simply allowed Satan to prompt David to an improper course of action in order that Israel might be punished and that David might be instructed. This is similar to the Lord's permitting Satan to trouble Job (1:12; 2:6) and His allowing an evil spirit to torment Saul (1 Samuel 16:14). In any case, the Lord Himself did not incite David to do evil for "God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone" (James 1:13).2

In surveying other scriptures, we can note that God "tests" his people in order to promote their spiritual growth (James 1:3-4; 1 Peter 1:6-7) and to get them to examine the condition of their hearts (2 Chronicles 32:31). Satan on the other hand will tempt people in order to try to destroy them. (Matthew 4:1-11; James 1:13-15). Thankfully God's permissive will has boundaries in which even Satan has to observe, being that in the events of testing and temptation, the believer is made more pure and strengthened in their resolve to follow God. (Romans 5:3-5)

God's unrevealed will
Clearly God's unrevealed will refers to those areas God has not divulged to His people.  For example, we are not told why God would choose to let Satan act, rather than choosing some other means to bring about His ultimate purposes of judgment and direction.  What we do know is that it was "in" David's heart to number his men.  Satan was the direct agent who urged and tempted David to act and God permitted it to be done so as to bring about His ultimate purposes.

God's revealed will - why He was judging Israel and testing David
God's revealed will, or what is also called sometimes His moral will, was clearly transgressed by David.  A King in Israel was not to trust in the number of horses or chariots that he possessed, but in God alone. (compare Deuteronomy 17:15-16; Psalm 20:7) Israel as a nation had grown quite powerful and with whatever events took place in her history, she had forgotten how to treat those who were living in her borders.  We won't spend a great deal of time on this point, only to comment that many connect the events of 2 Samuel 24:1 to 2 Samuel 21:1. God again tests to purify or grow his people.  Included in that testing might very well be permission granted to the enemy or some other means to further shape and mold His people and to accomplish His ultimate purposes.  

Applications and conclusions
We have looked today at David the believer and what he underwent in falling for Satan's temptation to number his armies.  We discovered that God permitted or willed to include Satan's act of tempting David so as to test David and ultimately lead him to purchase the future site of Solomon's temple and the much later crucifixion.  What applications can we draw from these texts regarding God, the believer and temptation?
1. God tests us to purify our motives and to advance us for His Good. (1 Peter 1:6-7)

2. Satan's temptations can be avoided and are only entered into when we have chosen to align our hearts according to our selfish desires, rather than God's. (James 1:13-15)

3. God permits what He hates in order to accomplish the good He intends in our lives and in His world. (Genesis 50:20; Romans 8:28)

4. God mercy and grace can turn back impending judgment for those who repent and humble themselves in his sight. (1 John 1:9)

5. Focus on God's faithfulness and Christ's accomplished work to exit your way out from under the enticements of temptation. (1 Corinthians 10:13)

Endnotes:

1. The reader is welcomed to read the post: http://pastormahlon.blogspot.com/2014/01/p2-gods-will-believer-and-suffering.html, where I spell out in detail the distinctions within God's ultimate will, as well as corresponding scriptures.

2. Bible Knowledge Commentary. Zondervan. Page 481.

Thoughts on the power of the Holy Spirit

Genesis 1:1-2 "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters."

Introduction

In centering itself on the Sovereignty of God, Genesis 1:2 also introduces the reader to the Spirit of God. The Holy Spirit is the very First Person of the Trinity that is explicitly mentioned in the Bible. All three Persons share the same infinite glory and life, thus meaning there is only One infinite God who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  

As Genesis 1:2 briefly introduces the Person of the Holy Spirit, we see His power being briefly mentioned.  What is the power of the Holy Spirit and what exactly does He do when He exercises His power either in scripture or in today's world? Below are some main thoughts and key verses that refer to the Holy Spirit's power:

1. The Holy Spirit's power to bring forth physical life.  Genesis 1:2; 2 Corinthians 3:16-17

Author Andrew M. Davis of the Gospel coalition writes regarding Genesis 1:2 "This needy universe required the ongoing work of God to bring it to full order and beauty. The fact that "the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters" gives a first insight into the life-giving role of the Spirit, a role progressively unpacked throughout the rest of the Bible."

2. The Holy Spirit's power to create spiritual life. Genesis 12:1-7; 2 Corinthians 4:1-6; 1 Peter 1:23
God the Holy Spirit called forth an otherwise spiritually dead idolater by the name of Abram. Acts 7:2 specifically states that "the God of glory" appeared to Abram and called Him forth. We know from reading other passages such as 1 Samuel 4:3 and 15:29 that the Holy Spirit is given this title of "The glory" or "The God of glory". The Spirit is the One who creates spiritual life where there was formerly no life.

3. The Holy Spirit's power to author scripture. Exodus 24:4; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21

The Holy Spirit is the Primary author, with the 40 human authors being under His superintendence in the writing of scripture without error. 

4. The Holy Spirit's power to begin ministry. Exodus 40:34-38; Acts 2:1-4

It was the Spirit who enables the priests and the tabernacle's ministry to begin and proceed in power and effective service.  Exodus 35 speaks of the Spirit gifting certain people to work with metals and fabrics in the construction of the tabernacle. In Acts, the Spirit's role in empowering His church birthed forth the church age and makes possible the ministry of the local body of Christ. Jesus told His disciples in Acts 1:8 to wait and tarry before going forth in doing the great commission. 

5. The Holy Spirit's power to lead God's people. Exodus 40:34-38; Acts 16:7 & 18:18-28
The Spirit's empowerment includes leading His people. At times the Holy Spirit will open doors, and at other times He will keep doors of access shut.  By His word the Spirit leads the people of God, has them wait and tells them when it is time to go forth once again.

6. The Holy Spirit's power to form identity. Deuteronomy 32:11; Romans 8:14-16
The Holy Spirit is the One who tells the believer "who they are and Whose they are."

7. The Holy Spirit's power to change people's hearts. Jeremiah 31:31-34; Acts 16:14
The Holy Spirit is all about changing people from the inside/out. 

8. The Holy Spirit's power to overcome death. Ezekiel 37:1-14; John 5:24-25; 1 Corinthians 15:51-58; 1 Peter 1:3
The Holy Spirit is the One who will raise up Israel in the day of Christ's appearing.  He is the One who also raised up Christ from the dead and His same resurrection power raises up our spiritually dead hearts to respond in faith believing.  This same Spirit will quicken our mortal bodies unto resurrection glory at Christ's appearing. 

9. The Holy Spirit's power points to Jesus Christ. Isaiah 9:6-7; John 16:13-15
The Holy Spirit is equal in glory and power to the Son and the Father as all three share in the same Divine essence and life as One God. God, in His dealings with the creation, has in the Person of The Holy Spirit chosen to point to the Son, Who in turn points to the Father in Divine dealings with men and the creation.  

10. The Holy Spirit's power to make all things new. John 3:3; 2 Corinthians 5:17
Whatever the Holy Spirit chooses to touch, whether it be the human heart or creation itself, becomes renewed and revived.