Romans 8:9-13 – So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
This is the last of three reflections on the design-build-occupy process which leads to us being “in-dwelt” by the Holy Spirit. After that nod to the old language, let’s simplify and say that today it’s all about the Holy Spirit living in us. God planned for us to be homes for His Holy Spirit and then builds us up so we can be fit for purpose — then the Spirit lives in us. Actually, that’s not quite right. Ephesians 1:13 tells us that the Spirit moves in before the building work is complete — “in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise” (Ephesians 1:13). The Holy Spirit occupies us as though we were old ramshackle buildings, and then gets to work on the renovation!
Once He moves in, the Holy Spirit is not a “pushy” resident. Indeed, He is sensitive, and will only have His full effect if we cooperate. Paul writes “Quench not the Spirit.” (1 Thessalonians 5:19). The idea is that the Holy Spirit is like a fire. The old Puritan Matthew Poole wrote “Fire will go out either by neglecting it, or casting water upon it. By not exercising grace in the duties of religion, or by allowing sin in ourselves, we may quench the Spirit”. We are encouraged and exhorted to be continually “filled with the Spirit” – that is, continually controlled by the Holy Spirit, but He won’t force it!
When the Spirit lives in us, making us Holy, and we cooperate — allowing Him His full effect, the results are marvelous. “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23).
So here we are — planned by God, built by God, being loved in by God. Isn’t the three step “design-build-occupy process” wonderful!