To the best of my knowledge, the first mention of spiritual gifts occurs with the gifting of men to construct the items of the Tabernacle in the wilderness.
Now the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,
“See, I have called by name Bezalel, the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah.
“And I have filled him with the Spirit of God in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all kinds of craftsmanship,
“To create artistic designs for [all the work of the Tabernacle]” (Exodus 31.1-5).
God endowed another helper, Oholiab, and these two men worked together to instruct workers in the construction of all that goes into the Tabernacle.
Bezalel means “In the Shadow of God’s Protection.” He was a descendant of Caleb and his ability to work in the arts and skills was a gift of the Holy Spirit.
Oholiab, his helper, refers to the “Tent of the Father,” or “Divine Father is my Tent.”
Their names present a beautiful depiction of the Holy Spirit overshadowing our work.
The way the Holy Spirit overshadows us reminds us of God’s encounter with Mary and the birth of His Son, Jesus.
The angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; for that reason also the holy Child will be called the Son of God” (Luke 1.35).
Whether it is the construction of an earthly tabernacle for God to dwell in, or a human tabernacle to be embodied by the Son of God, the Holy Spirit is involved in all creative work.
There are some creative acts that only the Holy Spirit can produce. New birth, when you think about it, only happens through the work of the Holy Spirit.
This is what Jesus told Nicodemus: “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God” (John 3.5).
The Holy Spirit is available to guide and lead us into truth and spiritual understanding. Without the Spirit’s illumination, the depths of God’s wisdom and mysteries remain hidden.
For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God (1 Corinthians 2:10).
One of the great joys I have experienced at Maywood Baptist Church is seeing lives changed by the power of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit does in us what we cannot do for ourselves, giving us the life we had always hoped for.
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh (Galatians 5:16).
A final thought about the Holy Spirit in our lives takes us back to the giving of the Spirit to these two craftsmen. God has given all believers gifts of the Spirit.
Each one will differ, but they are all given to us to build up the body of Christ and to show God’s love to others.
But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good (1 Corinthians 12:7).
How to Cooperate with the Holy Spirit
If you want to cooperate with the Holy Spirit and be used in God’s creative work in the world, what are some things you can do to create an atmosphere where the Holy Spirit can work through you?
(1) Humbly Receive:
Humility is a key to many aspects of being used by God. If we have everything figured out and are full of self-dependence, we don’t need God’s help.
On the other hand, if we’re open and humble before God, He can work with us in anyway He desires. It’s worth noting that Moses was called the most humble man in the world.
Now the man Moses was very humble, more than any person who was on the face of the earth (Numbers 12:3).
(2) Provide Space for the Spirit:
Jake Taylor, the pastor of Maywood Baptist Church, often talks about opening our hands to God. He asks us to turn our hands palm up to receive from the Lord. Then, he instructs us to turn our palms down, signifying that we are getting rid of the burdens in our lives.
Regardless of how we approach God, the Spirit can work in those who are open to this work. However, this is only possible if we are not full of our ideas.
(3) Be Holy – Like the Holy Spirit
I appreciate Henry Blackaby’s words, where he says, “You can’t go where God is and stay where you are.”
We can’t remain in our sin and be available to the Holy Spirit’s work at the same time. The Spirit of God will help us get rid of sin, but we can’t have it both ways, living in sin and living in the power of the Spirit.
(4) The Power of Surrender
Jesus’s prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26.29) is a great example of surrender.
When He said, “Not in my will, but yours be done,” He gave us a model for trusting ourselves to the power and direction of the Holy Spirit.
Conclusion
I have listed only a few of the ways we can cooperate with the Holy Spirit. The main idea is that we offer our hearts to Him. As we relate with Him, He will show us how we can cooperate more in His work.
This will be good for us. It will also be good for God’s kingdom and the people around us.
YouTube Video
Rudy Ross, Whispering Danny, and I discuss this passage on YouTube today. It is on the Bob Spradling channel.
Real Voices 