The Chateau Marmont Hotel in Hollywood has been the home address of choice for a number of celebrities since 1927. Actors like Robert De Niro, Keanu Reeves, and others have made the Marmont their home for extended periods. New York City’s Chelsea Hotel has also been a permanent residence for many celebrities. Singer-songwriter Bob Dylan, beat poet Allen Ginsberg, and playwright Eugene O’Neill have all called the Chelsea home.
The Most Unique Dwelling Place
To each his own, I guess. Some people create a home in a hotel. Others live in houseboats, log cabins, campers, or on the road with no permanent address. What’s strange to one person seems totally natural to another. And though I’ve always lived in traditional houses or apartments, I recognize it’s not for everybody.
But there is one dwelling arrangement I find surprising: the dwelling in which God has chosen to live in our current age. In the Old Testament, God dwelt in the holy of holies, first in the temporary tabernacle and then in the permanent temple in Jerusalem. But after Israel’s exile (Ezekiel 10), God had no dwelling place on earth—until Pentecost, A.D. 33.
Acts 2 describes the coming of the Holy Spirit. From that time until the Spirit leaves the earth and the Tribulation begins (2 Thessalonians 2:7), God the Holy Spirit dwells in the hearts of individual Christians.
Isn’t that the most unconventional living arrangement imaginable—the holy God of the universe residing in the life of sin-stained humans? Yes, our scarlet sins have been made white as snow (Isaiah 1:18). But still—for the eternal God to choose the body, soul, and spirit of man to dwell in on earth is unique.
The Benefits of Being God’s Dwelling Place
When someone moves into a hotel, the person, not the hotel, gets the benefit. In this case, however, we’re the “hotel” and the Holy Spirit the “guest.” We benefit from the Holy Spirit taking up residence in us in at least seven different ways:
1. Born of the Spirit. When Jesus explained to Nicodemus the meaning of “born again” (John 3:3), He referred to the new birth as being “born of the Spirit” (verse 6). Before believing in Christ, we’re “dead in [our] trespasses” (Colossians 2:13); but we’re given new life by the Holy Spirit residing in us.
2. Indwelt by the Spirit. Six times in five different verses the New Testament says the Spirit of God “dwells in you” (Romans 8:9, 11; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 2 Timothy 1:14; James 4:5). The Holy Spirit dwells in every Christian, a permanent, live-in Helper (John 14:16, 26; 15:26).
3. Baptized by the Spirit. Every Christian has “by one Spirit” been baptized into the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13). You are part of Christ’s Body (1 Corinthians 12:14-27). Everything you do affects every member of the Body.
4. Filled by the Spirit. There are eleven references in the New Testament to people being “filled with the Holy Spirit”—John the Baptist (Luke 1:15), Jesus (Luke 4:1), the Church (Acts 4:31), and others. We are filled permanently so our lives may be continually characterized by the power of Christ and are to remain filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18) by not grieving (Ephesians 4:30) or quenching (1 Thessalonians 5:19) the Spirit.
5. Illumination of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit makes God’s truth clear to speakers (1 Corinthians 2:13) and hearers (1 Corinthians 2:14). If you have Christ, you have the Spirit—and ability to discern spiritual truth.
6. Walk in the Spirit. Paul said: “If we live in the Spirit, [then] let us also walk in the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25), which is an ongoing life of obedience to Jesus after trusting Him as Savior and receiving His Spirit.
7. Fruit of the Spirit. Evidence that we belong to Christ is the transformation wrought by the Spirit in the form of love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). We are “ambassadors for Christ” on earth (2 Corinthians 5:20), revealing His character through the fruit of the Spirit.
The Holy Spirit wants to be the sole resident in the dwelling of your life—leaving no room for competing interests from the world, the flesh, and the devil (Ephesians 4:27). Have you given Him access? Why not confess anything in your life that is occupying the rooms of your heart, inviting the Spirit to fill you completely. Begin living the Spirit-powered life God saved you to enjoy.
David Jeremiah is the senior pastor of Shadow Mountain Community Church and the founder and host of Turning Point for God. For more information about Dr. Jeremiah or Turning Point, visit www.DavidJeremiah.org.
