The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is not about a physical presence or a third person in a supposed trinity dividing itself among many. Instead, it is the essence of God's mind taking up residence in us through a relationship with Him. This Spirit, being holy because it comes from God, represents His mind, character, attitudes, perspectives, morals, love, faithfulness, and submission to the Father. It is through this Spirit that we are converted, as God's characteristics are transferred to us when we yield to Him. This process mirrors how characteristics pass from parent to child, not by physical inhabitation, but by the absorption of essence and influence. The Spirit of the Lord plays a major role in changing us from glory to glory, as it imparts the mind of God and Christ into us. God actively puts His laws into our hearts and writes them in our minds, a supernatural act of creation that shapes us into His image. Through His Spirit, God sends forth His thoughts and words, which are spirit and life, to gain our cooperation and make us aware of our responsibilities to Him. He enables us to believe and carry out His will, preparing our minds to receive His Spirit and empowering us to keep His law in the spirit, not just the letter. This Spirit resides in us, not as a physical entity, but as the essence of God's mind, guiding and purifying our thinking with divine attributes like love, joy, and peace, so we may conduct life as He would and glorify Him.

The indwelling of the Holy Spirit, as revealed through Scripture, is a powerful and transformative presence in the lives of believers, working to fulfill God's will and to shape individuals for His purpose. The Holy Spirit is constantly active, poised to act under God's command, ready to move and work as He directs. It is a possession of God, used by Him to accomplish His desires, and does not act independently but only at His spoken will. The Holy Spirit sets a person apart from others, marking them as distinct through the wisdom and discernment it imparts. It endows individuals with deep understanding, sound judgment, and the ability to make godly decisions, as seen in the lives of Joseph and Jesus Christ, promoting qualities such as counsel, might, knowledge, and the fear of the Lord. Additionally, it equips believers with the necessary strengths, skills, and abilities to perform God's work, whatever that may be, whether physical tasks or spiritual endeavors, as exemplified by Bezalel in constructing the Tabernacle. Through the Holy Spirit, eyes and ears are opened to truth and reality as God sees it, removing the blinders of deception and allowing individuals to perceive things beyond their natural understanding, as demonstrated in the stories of Balaam and Elisha's servant. It also sets believers apart as holy to God, sanctifying and justifying them as His children through ordination at baptism and other settings apart for special use, as seen with Joshua and in the early church. The Holy Spirit provides inner strength and power to overcome enemies, including personal struggles and external attacks from satan, energizing believers to endure sudden trials and resist evil, as illustrated in Samson's encounter with the lion. It inspires fitting words of encouragement, hope, and truth, enabling individuals to speak appropriately in times of need, as Jahaziel did for Judah, and as promised by Jesus Christ for times of persecution. Moreover, the Holy Spirit fosters fellowship with God, with Jesus Christ, and among believers, creating a bond that unites them in a shared relationship and commonality, facilitating a connection that allows for mutual support and understanding. Finally, it pours out God's love into the hearts of believers, ensuring that its inspirations are always acts of love, power, and sound mind, never leading to fear, foolishness, or harm, but instead to courage, strength, and helpful actions.

As the church awaits complete fulfillment in the Millennium, we are called to live by the Spirit now faithfully, humbly, and actively. In the Old Testament period, the Holy Spirit was not the common gift of God to all His people, but was poured out on selected servants with specific commissions to lead and warn God's people. Moses expressed a yearning that all the Lord's people were prophets and that the Lord would put His Spirit on them, highlighting a deep need and longing of that time. On Pentecost 31 AD, God began fulfilling Joel's prophecy of His Spirit being poured out on all flesh, marking a turning point where the Spirit was no longer reserved for a few but offered to all believers. Peter's sermon on that day connected this prophecy to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon a people that God calls and who answer that call. He quoted Joel 2:28-32, emphasizing that this was the same Holy Spirit Joel wrote about, now present and active, which was incredible to the Jews who thought God's Spirit was given only to a select group. The initial outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the church on the Day of Pentecost foreshadows a greater global outpouring yet to come. Joel's prophecy, while partially fulfilled at Pentecost as a type of what would continue in the church through history, will not be comprehensively realized until the Millennium. During this future time, the Holy Spirit will be poured out on many people, with no barriers of age, sex, or position hindering this gift. Actual evidence of God's Spirit is seen in a life of repentance, humility, and Christ-like service. When the Holy Spirit dwells in us, the most convincing manifestation is our repentance and yielding to God's direction. As part of God's royal priesthood, we are called to proclaim the truth, build up the church, and live Spirit-led lives in preparation for Christ's return.

The indwelling of the Holy Spirit transforms the life of a Christian, freeing us from the spirit of bondage and fear that once enslaved us. We have not received a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but the Spirit of adoption, by which we cry out, "Abba, Father!" This Spirit reminds us of our relationship with God as His children, granting us the confidence and affection of sons rather than the trembling fear of slaves. The presence of the Holy Spirit within us empowers us with boldness, love, and a sound mind, enabling us to overcome timidity, to sacrifice for others, and to maintain a balanced perspective in living God's way of life. Through the Holy Spirit, we receive power to encounter enemies and dangers, to bear up under trials, and to triumph in persecutions. This Spirit provides the love necessary for true sacrifice and casts out fear, making us bold and steady in our faith. It also imparts a sound mind, characterized by sobriety, discretion, and self-discipline, ensuring that we prioritize spiritual matters over physical ones. The Holy Spirit dwelling in us signifies our status as heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, preparing us for our eternal destiny in God's Kingdom. As the Spirit of God works within us, it strengthens our faith, helping us to conquer spiritual obstacles and temptations. It is through this indwelling Spirit that we are led day by day, willingly yielding to its guidance by God's Word. Our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, and realizing this truth helps us overcome the sins of the flesh and the fears that accompany them. The Holy Spirit is the impregnation of God-life, making us His children now, imparting spiritual understanding, divine love, the faith of Christ, and the power to develop holy, righteous character in alignment with God's purpose.