The Holy Spirit: Where Does He Dwell?

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, 

We all have a place where we dwell or live.  Most of us dwell in a house, a town or city, and a nation.  We connect with a specific location or address.  But have you ever asked, “Where does God dwell?”  As you study the Word to answer this question, you discover several places where God dwells.  He dwelt in the tabernacle when Israel left Egypt (Ex. 25:8; 29:44-45).  He dwelt between the cherubim in the tabernacle (I Sam. 4:4; II Sam. 6:2; II Kings 19:15; I Chron. 13:6; Psa. 80:1; 99:1; Isa. 37:16).  He dwelt in the temple which Solomon built (I Kings 8:12-13; II Chron.6:1-2; 29:5-6; 36:15; Psa. 26:8).  He dwelt in Jerusalem (Ezra 7:15; Neh. 1:9; Psa. 135:21; Zech. 2:11; 8:3) or Zion (Psa. 9:11; 76:2; 132:13-14; Joel 3:17).   Beyond these places on earth, heaven is declared to be God’s dwelling place (I Kings 8:30, 39, 43, 49; II Chron. 6:21, 30, 33, 39; Psa. 113:4-6; 123:1; Isa. 8:18; 33:5; 57:15).  But how can the omnipresent (all-present) God be confined to one place, whether in heaven or on earth?  He can’t!  Solomon made this clear in his dedicatory prayer for the temple:  “But will God indeed dwell on the earth?  Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain You.  How much less this temple which I have built!” (I Kings 8:27).  Paul declared the same when He announced on Mars’ Hill in Athens, “God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands” (Acts 17:24).  Though He dwelt among His people, He can never be confined to one place. 

But the amazing truth, especially as we move into the New Testament, is that God dwells in a special sense in His people.  The emphasis on God’s dwelling in the New Testament is that He dwells in the lives of believers.  This is especially true of the third Person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit (John 14:17; Rom. 8:9; I Cor. 3:16; 6:19; II Cor. 6:16; Eph. 2:22; II Tim. 1:14; Jas.4:5).  In the past seven articles, we have been studying the Holy Spirit, our Divine Comforter.  We have observed His work in the Old Testament, the Gospels, and the Book of Acts.  In our past two studies we have been examining the work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of unbelievers.  We have focused on His convicting and regenerating ministries.   In this study, we will address His work of indwelling.  We will answer the question:  “The Holy Spirit:  Where Does He Dwell?”    

How do we define the Spirit’s work of indwelling?  

This ministry of the Holy Spirit is foundational to the other works of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer.  His indwelling is essential if He is going to fill us, teach us, guide us, assure us, pray for us, and empower us.  His indwelling is that ministry of the Holy Spirit by which He comes into the heart and life of the believing sinner at the point of salvation and resides permanently.  .

How do we describe His indwelling work?  

• How His indwelling differs
  This work of the Holy Spirit has taken on a distinctive feature in the Church age (since the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2) in contrast to His indwelling in Old Testament times (before the Church began).

  • His indwelling was selective and temporary in the Old Testament (Judg. 3:10; 6:34; 11:29; 13:25; 16:20; I Sam. 6:13; Psa.  51:11).

    • He dwelt in certain people (Gen. 41:38; Dan. 4:8; 5:11-14; 6:3).

    • He came upon certain people (Judg. 3:10; 6:34; 11:29; 13:25; I Sam. 10:10; 16:13; II Chron. 15:1).

    • He filled certain people (Ex. 31:3; 35:31).

    • He left certain people (Judg. 13:25; 16:20; I Sam. 10:10; 16:14; Psa. 51:11; John 14:16). 

  • His universal and permanent indwelling for believers was promised by Christ (John 7:38-39; 14:16-17).

  • His universal and permanent indwelling is a present reality for believers in this age (Rom. 5:5; 8:9; I Cor. 6:19).  

• Who His indwelling involves

  • He indwells His Church as a whole (I Cor. 3:16-17; II Cor. 6:16).

  • He indwells individual believers (I Cor. 6:19-20).

    • No unbelievers are indwelt by the Spirit (Rom. 8:9; Jude 19; cp. I Cor. 2:14).

    • All believers are indwelt by the Spirit (Rom. 8:9; I Cor. 6:19).

  • Even carnal believers are indwelt by the Spirit (I Cor. 6:19; cp. I Cor. 3:1-4).  

• When His indwelling occurs

  • His indwelling begins at the point of salvation—when we trust in Christ as our Savior (John 7:37-39; Acts 5:32; Gal. 3:2-3; cp. Acts 6:7; Rom. 1:5; Heb. 5:9).

  • His indwelling never ends (John 14:16-17).  

• What His indwelling proves

  • His indwelling gives evidence of God’s ownership of us (I Cor. 6:19-20).

  • It confirms the Father’s indwelling in our lives (I John 3:24; 4:13).

  • It proves our sonship (Gal. 4:6; Rom. 8:9, 16, 17).

  • It assures us of our eternal security (II Cor. 1:22; 5:5; Rom. 8:23; Eph. 1:13-14; 4:30)—the Spirit is the “earnest” of our inheritance (II Cor. 1:22; 5:5; Eph. 1:14), the “first-fruits” (Rom. 8:23), and the “seal” (Eph. 4:30).  

  • It guarantees our future resurrection (Rom. 8:11).

  • It makes available the power and holiness for the believer (Rom. 5:5; Gal. 5:22-23).   

(Sources to Consult:  Class notes—Soteriology, Professor Otis Stone, Calvary Bible College, 1978; The Holy Spirit, Charles C. Ryrie, pp. 67-73; Major Bible Themes, Lewis Sperry Chafer and John F. Walvoord, pp. 102-107)

What a blessing to be indwelt by the Holy Spirit!  He is a precious Gift to every believer.  Don’t ever take Him for granted.  As I heard many years ago: it is not enough that He be resident in your life. . . He must also be “president”!  Since He lives in you, yield daily to His control.  

Because of His Grace—Pastor Charlie