The Holy Spirit's Indwelling Of Born-Again Believers In The Old Testament
How can Old Testament believers have an intimate relationship with the Spirit of God?
Genesis 1:26 "Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness, to rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, and over all the earth itself and every creature that crawls UPON it.” God made physical bodies to house the spirit and soul of man. But as Christ abandoned His body at His death on the Cross He said, "Father receive My spirit." A spirit does not have physical attributes, as God, the Father's Spirit is bigger than the entire universe (2Chronicles 2:6). However the new body, as Jesus now has, and Adam's earthly body was created with physical attributes to achieve the purposes of God our Father. Consider the theophany of the human body created when God visited Abraham.
"God is Spirit." God had an intimate spiritual relationship with O.T. believers through His Son and His foreknowledge of what His Son would accomplish in His life and on the Cross.
Isaiah 63:11 NKJV "Then He remembered the days of old, Moses and His people, saying: 'Where is He who brought them up out of the sea with the shepherd of His flock? Where is He who put His Holy Spirit WITHIN them?'"
Galatians 3:16 "The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. Scripture does not say, “and to seeds,” meaning many people, but “and to your seed,” meaning one person, who is Christ." The Greek words for Seed are spermati, or sperma, in English sperm or seed as written in some scriptures infers an intimate relationship of God inserting His Word, into each believer. The Parable of the Sower of the seeds shows Jesus the Word of God intimately implanted in the "dirt" of the heart of believers to take root and grow, so He can have that intimate relationship He wants in the O.T., and long before prior to the improved relationship possible in the N.T. as Jesus announced at the Last Supper.
Deuteronomy 10:20 "You shall fear the Lord your God; you shall serve Him and CLING, [CLEAVE] to Him, and you shall swear by His Name." Spiritually cleaves as a husband cleaves and joins with his wife to make babies. There are no sexual innuendos as Jesus said we would be like the angels who do not have sexual activity.
Deuteronomy 13:4 "You shall follow the Lord your God and fear Him; and you shall keep His commandments, listen to His voice, serve Him, and CLING [CLEAVE intimately] to Him."
Joshua 23:8 "But you are to CLING [CLEAVE intimately] to the Lord your God, as you have done to this day."
Deuteronomy 11:22 "For if you are careful to keep all this Commandment which I am commanding you to do, to love the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and hold-fast [CLEAVE intimately] to Him."
2Kings 18:6 "For he clung [CLEAVED] to the Lord; he did not depart from following Him, but kept His Commandments, which the Lord had commanded Moses."
Psalm 63:8 "My soul CLINGS [CLEAVES] to You; Your Right Hand upholds me."
Jeremiah 13:11 "For as the waistband CLINGS to the waist of a man, so I made the whole household of Israel and the whole household of Judah CLING [CLEAVE] to Me,’ declares the Lord, ‘that they might be for Me a people, for renown, for praise, and for glory; but they did not listen.’"
Having a circumcised heart/spirit is analogous to the intimacy of the sexual conception of a husband cleaving to his wife. However, as Jesus said, there is no physical sex in heaven, men and women who inherit eternal life will be like the angels who do not have sex. God would have to have a very intimate relationship with believers for them to "CLEAVE" to God spiritually. God was a great comfort, being the "God of All Comfort" to Old Testament "Born-Again" believers.
Exodus 33:21 "The LORD continued, “There is a place "near" Me where you are to stand upon a rock, 22 and when My glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by. 23 Then I will take My hand away, and you will see My Back; but My FACE must not be seen.”
Seeking the Face of God is required for all believers in the Old Testament in 2Chronicles 7:14, being too close without the protection of being in Jesus Christ will result in death, as "God dwells in unapproachable light" 1Timothy 6:16. As a result of the protection of Jesus Christ, there have been magnitudes better relationship available for all Christians who see the Face of Jesus daily in their lives. 2Chronicles 7:14 commands people called by the Name of God to seek and see His Face daily and have a more life-giving relationship with God through Christ Jesus His Son.
Psalm 139:7 "Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence?" O.T. Believers felt the Holy Spirit's presence everywhere because the Father's Holy Spirit has an intimate relationship with their human spirit.
Psalm 51:11 "Do not cast me away from Your presence. And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me." Clearly, the Holy Spirit was intimate in His relationship with David and with other believers in the O.T. as they must be "Born From Above" by the Holy Spirit of the Father. Old Testament believers, because they were "Born From Above" were "sons of God." The Holy Spirit conceived "sons of God" making them "Born From Above" in the Old Testament. There was a continual intimacy of the Holy Spirit of believers in the Old Testament.
"All have sinned." As Mary was "overshadowed by the Holy Spirit" to conceive her physical Son Jesus, so every Old Testament believer was also "overshadowed by the Holy Spirit" to make each one "Born from Above" or "Born Again." Every believer in the Old Testament was a "son of God" conceived spiritually by the Holy Spirit. Believers cannot be sons of God without actually being conceived by our Heavenly Father.
Psalm 143:10 "Teach me to do Your will, For You are my God; Let Your good Spirit lead me on level ground." As Christians are "Led by the Spirit" in the New Testament, Believers in the Old Testament were also "Led by the Holy Spirit." Being "Led by the Spirit is required to be a "son of God" in both in the O.T. and in the N.T.
Psalm 43:3 "O send out Thy Light and Thy Truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto Thy Holy Hill, and to Thy Tabernacles."
Romans 8:14 "For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God."
In the O.T. believers that were led by the Holy Spirit had an intimate relationship with God their Father, they were "sons of God."
In Matthew 22:36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And Jesus said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and First Commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall Love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two Commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”
How could anyone live a holy life without the Holy Spirit indwelling them? The answer is: people are overwhelmed with their sinful nature when they do not have access to the Holy Spirit and some daily indwelling contact with God their Father.
King David had an intimate indwelling relationship with God.
For renewing his heart with a steadfast righteous Spirit David writes, "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right and steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me." Psalm 51:10-11 AMP "David asked that God renew a steadfast [right-thinking] spirit within him. God intimately affected the hearts of believers helping them to renew or "Born From Above" or "Born Again" their spirits becoming their Father. God offered a miraculous relationship to O.T. believers that supernaturally changed their hearts and helped steer their hearts and lives into having abundant life and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Believers knew whether they were obeying or not obeying the Great Commandment of Loving God, with their mind, soul, strength, and body because they had an intimate relationship as they were lovingly FILLED with the Holy Spirit of their Father. In the O.T. believers could see the Kingdom of God. In the N.T. the Kingdom of God indwells believers in a more complete Way.
John 3:3 "Jesus answered and said to him, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is Born Again [lit. Born From Above] he cannot see the kingdom of God.'” All O.T. believers were Born Again by their Heavenly Father making them "sons of God."
Joseph was FILLED with the Spirit of God. All O.T. believers were Filled with the Spirit of God. N.T. believers are also filled with the "Gift of the Holy Spirit"(Acts 2:38), "The Advocate" (1John 2:1), "The Promise of the Father" (1Timothy 2:5).
Acts 2:38 "Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the Gift of the Holy Spirit."
1Timothy 2:5 "For there is One God, and One Mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus."
1John 2:1 "My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous." Jesus is the Mediator between God and man.
Hebrews 12:24 "And to Jesus, the mediator of a New Covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks better than the blood of Abel."
Genesis 41:38 "And Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find a man like this, in whom is the Spirit of God?” Pharaoh witnessed the fact that the Spirit of God indwells Joseph.
The craftsmen who built the tabernacle were FILLED with the Spirit of God.
Exodus 31:3 "and I have FILLED him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills." Wisdom, some knowledge, and understanding with all kinds of skills come from the Holy Spirit of God our Heavenly Father to ALL believers (Exodus 35:35).
Exodus 35:25 "He has filled THEM (many believers) with skill to do all the work of a gem cutter; a designer; an embroiderer in blue, purple, and scarlet yarn and fine linen; and a weaver. They can do every kind of craft and design artistic designs."
In Daniel 1:17 God gave Daniel and his friends Wisdom, Knowledge, and Skill in all literature. And Daniel was given the gift of interpreting visions and dreams.
Daniel 2:20 "and declared: “Blessed be the Name of God forever and ever, for WISDOM and POWER belong to Him. 21 He changes the times and seasons; He removes kings and establishes them. He gives WISDOM to the wise and KNOWLEDGE to the DISCERNING. 22 He reveals the deep and hidden things; He KNOWS what lies in darkness, and Light dwells with Him."
Proverbs 2:6 "For the LORD Jehovah gives WISDOM; from His mouth come Knowledge and Understanding."
Joshua was FILLED with the Spirit of God.
Numbers 27:18 "So the LORD said to Moses, “Take Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him." Notice, the Holy Spirit was ALREADY in Joshua BEFORE Moses laid his hands UPON him so Joshua would receive the needed gifts from the Holy Spirit.
The Prophet judge Othniel was FILLED with the Spirit of God.
Judges 3:10 "The Spirit of the LORD came "UPON" him so that he became Israel's judge and went to war."
2Samuel 22:34 "He makes my feet like those of a deer and stations me UPON the heights.
35 He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
36 You have given me Your shield of salvation, and Your gentleness exalts me." ... God in the O.T. gave skills such as training hands and for war battles. God had an intimate relationship with His people teaching them skills and giving them WISDOM.
Ecclesiastes 2:26a "To the man who is pleasing in His sight, He gives WISDOM and KNOWLEDGE and JOY..." God gave WISDOM, KNOWLEDGE, and THE JOY of an intimate relationship with Him in the O.T.
The Prophet judge Gideon was FILLED with the Spirit of God. Judges 6:34 "Then the Spirit of the LORD clothed [on] Gideon with power. He blew a ram’s horn as a call to arms, and the men of the clan of Abiezer came to him." In the N.T. Christians are "clothed with Christ" as He is our "armor of God" (Ephesians 6:10-18) Jesus "baptizes" N.T. believers with fire and the gift of the Holy Spirit which brings spiritual power.
The judge Jephthah was FILLED with the Spirit of God (Jephthah was already filled with the Holy Spirit to some degree by virtue of being "Born From Above").
Judges 11:29 "Then the Spirit of the LORD came UPON Jephthah." The Holy Spirit was in Jephthah as a believer he was "Born-Again" but when the Spirit comes UPON believers, God brings more power and Holy Fire UPON their lives.
Judge Samson was FILLED with the Spirit of God besides having the superpower strength of the Holy Spirit UPON him (Judges 13:5, 14:6, 14:19, 15:14).
Judges 14:6 "The Spirit of the LORD came powerfully UPON him so that he tore the lion apart with his bare hands as he might have torn a young goat. But he told neither his father nor his mother what he had done."
Saul was FILLED with the Spirit of God and the Holy Spirit came UPON him (1Samuel 10:9-10).
1Samuel 10:9 "As Saul turned to leave Samuel, God changed Saul’s heart, and all the signs came to pass that day. 10 When Saul and his servant arrived at Gibeah, a group of prophets met him. Then the Spirit of God rushed UPON him, and he prophesied along with them."
David was FILLED with the Spirit of God.
1Samuel 16:13 "So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the LORD came powerfully UPON David. Samuel then went to Ramah."
God is NO respecter of persons. There are special gifts and anointing in both the New Testament and Old Testament. As Jesus said, "It comes from Him who sent Me. 17 If anyone desires to do His will, he will know whether My teaching is from God or whether I speak on My own. 18 He who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory, but He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is a man of truth; in Him, there is no falsehood" John 7:16b-18. God knows the mind of believers in the O.T. and whether they were willing to do His Will. Holy Spirit intimate indwelling knowledge is required both in the O.T. and in the N.T.
God and Jesus did ALL the work of the Creation of Heaven and Earth. Whether it happened in six days or a billion years of logarithmically curved time and space. Jesus wanted an intimate relationship with Old Testament, O.T., believers as He does in the New Testament, N.T.
Christian believers in the N.T. mostly live in the O.T. relationship of being "Born Again" instead of "seeking the Greater Gifts" of speaking in tongues and singing in the Spirit. This asking for greater Holy Spirit Gifts is commanded in 1Cor 12:31.
In the O.T. believers had to remain in Abraham's bosom or "Paradise" as Jesus said on the Cross. Then after preaching for three days to them how to enjoy the Love of God their Father through their Messiah Jesus Christ, He then took them captive as Jesus ascended to His Father. In the New Testament believers do not have to wait in "Paradise" but once absent from the Body are present with the Lord immediately (2Cor 5:8).
Jesus is ALWAYS the SAME. "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever" Hebrews 13:8. Jesus is the same in the O.T. as He is in the N.T. however there are quantum improvements in the relationship N.T. believers may potentially have because of the work of Jesus Christ on the cross and earthly ministry. Just as the Holy Spirit came UPON believers in the N.T. in Acts 2 so the Holy Spirit came UPON believers in the O.T. Similarly as believers were "born again" in the Old Testament, so believers in the N.T. believers are "born again."
Although Jesus is the same forever, He had a work to complete, as the ministry of the Lamb of God to fulfill the Law of God so His Heavenly Father could improve His relationship with N.T. believers with Him through Jesus. Jesus calls N.T. believers to be perfect as their Heavenly Father is perfect. In the O.T. believers were to be holy, but God's demands are much greater in the N.T.
Given, God and Jesus created man for His fellowship in the O.T., His Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the LORD came powerfully upon David. Samuel then went to Ramah. The disciples' relationship greatly grew when the disciples prayed in Jerusalem for ten days until the "Promise of the Father" the gift of the Holy Spirit was given to ALL of them.
Christians do NOT understand the Holy Spirit of God the Father who overshadowed Mary is NOT the same as the "gift of the Holy Spirit," "The Promise of the Father," "The Advocate," who was sent to the Church in Acts 2.
In John 14 Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit…14:16 "And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of Truth. The world cannot receive Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you do know Him, for He abides with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you." In the New Covenant, the Spirit of Truth will dwell in willing Christians. In the Old Covenant, the Spirit of Truth dwelt, to some degree, with all willing believers.
However know most Christians don't know enough that they are commanded to seek the same promise, seek the same gift of the Holy Spirit as the early church disciples did in "one accord" for ten days until Pentecost.
Todays' Christians are usually greatly mistaken in thinking that they have all the Holy Spirit gifts they need, when Jesus wants to give them more gifts, so to help each other and help prepare them for greater rewards and joy in eternity. But Christians must make the effort to pray and fast so to have the full New Testament relationship the additional gift of the Holy Spirit brings into their lives.
1Cor 12:27 "Now you are Christ’s body, and individually parts of it. 28 And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, and various kinds of tongues. 29 All are not apostles, are they? All are not prophets, are they? All are not teachers, are they? All are not workers of miracles, are they? 30 All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not interpret, do they? 31 But earnestly desire the greater gifts. And yet, I am going to show you a far better way."
Apostle Paul thanked God that he spoke in unknown tongues, unknown language, in prayer more than the Corinthian church because of its "greater" importance. Paul desired all Christians spoke in tongues because the "greater gift" of tongues has great value in edifying and building up the saints spiritually and helping the saints have a more intimate relationship with the Father of Jesus (1Cor 14:5).
1Corinthians 14:1 "Earnestly pursue love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy. 2 For he who speaks in a [unknown] tongue does not speak to men, but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries in the Spirit. 3 But he who prophesies speaks to men for their edification, encouragement, and comfort. 4 The one who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but the one who prophesies edifies the church."
Most New Testament Christians remain in the same relationship as Old Testament Believers had by merely being "Born From Above," or "Born Again" and refuse or are ignorant that they are Commanded to "seek the greater gifts." Yes, they have an intimate relationship with their Father and Jesus, but God the Father wants much much more of all Christians today to increase the quality and magnitude of the intimate relationship of all Christians to fulfill their destiny as the Bride of Christ!
As a result of "always resisting the Spirit of God" Disciples essentially remain in the O.T. spiritual relationship of being "Born From Above." Born-Again with the Holy Spirit, but failing to "SEEK THE GREATER GIFTS." In 1Cor 12:31 Christians are commanded to work to seek the "Greater Gifts" which include "unknown languages" or "tongues." This gift if utilized effectively is necessary to enhance one's relationship with God the Father through Jesus Christ His Son.
Acts 7:50 Has not My hand made all these things?’ 51 You stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit, just as your fathers did." This Scripture shows the general body of believers resisted the Holy Spirit which offered to have a personal loving relationship with those that believed.
Many Christians do NOT want to see the Face of Jesus, just as Israel under Moses wanted the Face of Moses covered over and they closed their ears so they would NOT hear the Voice of God. Most refused the life-giving relationship that God through Jesus offered to them so they would eventually inherit eternal life.
Acts 7:51 NLT “You stubborn people! You are heathen at heart and deaf to the truth. Must you forever resist the Holy Spirit? That’s what your ancestors did, and so do you!" Different translations, but the same evidence written the Holy Spirit offered to be with the general population of tribal Israel in the Old Testament. In conclusion, the Holy Spirit was generally available to all of ancient Israel in order to make believers "Born From Above", and NOT for just a few believers with special ministries.
The problems described in the N.T. The church was also the result of turning away from and resisting the Holy Spirit.
"He is born"
γεννηθῇ (gennēthē)
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1080: From a variation of genos; to procreate; figuratively, to regenerate. CONTINUOUS ACTION for a relationship with the Holy Spirit, both in the O.T. and in the N.T.
again.”
ἄνωθεν (anōthen)
Adverb
Strong's 509: From ano; FROM ABOVE; by analogy, from the first; by implication, anew. CONTINUOUS ACTION for a relationship with the Holy Spirit, both in the O.T. and in the N.T.
Abraham was "Born from Above" by God His Father and His Holy Spirit because He saw, He was looking for the Kingdom of God and the New City Jerusalem.
The role of our Father the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament is much like His role in the New Testament. When we speak of the role of the Holy Spirit, we can discern four general areas in which the Holy Spirit works:
1) regeneration,
2) indwelling (or filling),
3) restraint, and
4) empowerment for service.
5) The Holy Spirit help develop an intimate relationship with God and His Son Jesus.
Evidence of these areas of the Holy Spirit’s work is just as present in the Old Testament as it is in the New Testament.
The first area of the Spirit’s work is in the process of regeneration. Another word for regeneration is “rebirth,” from which we get the concept of being “born-again.” The classic proof text for this can be found in John’s gospel: “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again” (John 3:3). This begs the question: what does this have to do with the Holy Spirit’s work in the Old Testament? (Jesus does not beg the question, Jesus answers the question, clearly, He said In ORDER for O.T. believers TO "see the Kingdom of God" they must be "Born-Again") Later on in His dialogue with Nicodemus, Jesus has this to say to him: “You are Israel’s teacher…and do you not understand these things?” (John 3:10). (Jesus clearly expected Nicodemus to see the Kingdom of God in the Old Covenant.) The point Jesus was making is that Nicodemus should have known the truth that the Holy Spirit is the source of new life because it is revealed in the Old Testament.
The New Testament begins at the "Last Supper" where Jesus gave the New Covenant, the New Testament, which was later ratified by His death and resurrection.
Moses told the Israelites prior to entering the Promised Land: “The LORD your God will circumcise your hearts (God states His Intimate relationship with men's hearts with His Holy Spirit.) and the hearts of your descendants if they are willing, so that you may love Him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live” (Deuteronomy 30:6). This circumcision of the heart is the work of God’s Spirit and can be accomplished only by His intimate relationship with the human spirit. We also see the theme of regeneration in Ezekiel 11:19-20 and Ezekiel 36:26-29.
Ezekiel 36:25 "I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put My Spirit in you and move you to follow My decrees and be careful to keep My laws." Jesus requires God's Laws to be kept in the N.T. also.
The fruit of the Spirit’s regenerating work is by faith with the "fruits of the Spirit."
Ephesians 2:7 in order that in the coming ages He might display the surpassing riches of His grace, demonstrated by His kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. In order that in the coming ages He might display the surpassing riches of His grace, demonstrated by His kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. In order that in the coming ages He might display the surpassing riches of His grace, demonstrated by His kindness to us in Christ Jesus."
Now we know that there were men of faith in the Old Testament because Hebrews 11 names many of them. If faith is produced by the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit, then this must be the case for Old Testament saints who looked ahead to the cross, believing that what God had promised in regard to their redemption would come to pass. They saw the promises and “welcomed them from a distance” (Hebrews 11:13), accepting by faith that what God had promised, He would also bring to pass.
The second aspect of the Spirit’s work in the Old Testament is indwelling, or infilling.
The New Testament teaches the permanent indwelling of the Holy Spirit in believers (1 Corinthians 3:16-17; 6:19-20). When we place our faith in Christ for salvation, the Holy Spirit comes to live within us. The apostle Paul calls this permanent indwelling the “guarantee of our inheritance” (Ephesians 1:13-14).
The Holy Spirit both indwelt and “came UPON” such Old Testament people as Joshua (Numbers 27:18), David (1 Samuel 16:12-13), and even Saul (1 Samuel 10:10). In the book of Judges, we see the Spirit “coming UPON” the various judges whom God raised up to deliver Israel from their oppressors. The Holy Spirit came UPON these individuals for specific tasks, however, they all were "Born Again" having the intimacy with the Holy Spirit within them. The indwelling was a sign of God’s favor UPON that individual (in the case of David), and if God’s favor left an individual, the Spirit would depart (e.g., in Saul’s case in 1 Samuel 16:14). Finally, the Spirit “coming UPON” an individual doesn’t always indicate that person’s spiritual condition (e.g., Saul, Samson, and other judges of Israel). So, while in the New Testament the Spirit only indwells believers and that indwelling is permanent, the Spirit came UPON certain Old Testament individuals for a specific task, irrespective of their spiritual condition. Once the task was completed, the Spirit supposedly departed from that person. Biblically and in reality, the "gifts and calling of God are irrevocable!" The Holy Spirit NEVER departs from the believer as long as they continue to repent of their sin, seek His Face, and put their faith in their Creator.
King Saul and the Prophet Judge Samson had the Holy Spirit leave them because they were sinning. They had lost their salvation and relationship with God, but as the Parable of the Prodigal Son has written, God allows people who have turned away from Him to sin, to repent of sinning and come back home to Him and inherit eternal life.
The third aspect of the Spirit’s work in the Old Testament is His restraint of sin. Genesis 6:3 would seem to indicate that the Holy Spirit restrains man’s sinfulness, and that restraint can be removed when God’s patience regarding sin reaches a "boiling point."
The fourth and final aspect of the Spirit’s work in the Old Testament is the granting of ability for service. Much like the way the spiritual gifts operate in the New Testament, the Spirit would gift certain individuals for service. Consider the example of Bezalel in Exodus 31:2-5 who was gifted to do much of the artwork relating to the Tabernacle. Furthermore, recalling the selective and temporary indwelling of the Holy Spirit discussed above, we see that these individuals were gifted to perform certain tasks, such as ruling over the people of Israel (e.g., Saul and David). The Holy Spirit left Saul who then lost his salvation.
1Samuel 16:14 "Now the Spirit of the LORD had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD tormented him."
We could also mention the Spirit’s role in creation. Genesis 1:2 speaks of the Spirit “hovering over the waters” and superintending the work of creation. In a similar fashion, the Spirit is responsible for the work of the new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17) as He is bringing people into the kingdom of God through regeneration.
All in all, the Spirit performs much of the same functions in Old Testament times as He does in this current age. The major difference is the permanent indwelling of the "Gift of the Holy Spirit" in believers now. As Jesus said regarding this change in the Spirit’s ministry, “But you know Him, for He lives with you and will be in you” (John 14:17).
God walked among His people since Adam, in the camp of Israel, with Adam, Enoch, and with all those who were willing to fellowship with Him and His Holy Spirit.
Although Christians invite Jesus and His Father to come into their lives as their Lord and Master, they usually are slack or negligent in seeking the Promise of the Father, the Gift of the Holy Spirit that was first given at Pentecost in Acts 2.
Because of this negligence, or ignorance most New Testament Christians are essentially Old Testament Believers, having an intimate relationship with God their Father, but failing to make it an even more powerful, more intimate relationship receiving the Gift of the HolySpirit and failing to seek the "Greater Gifts" including unknown tongues which enhances their prayer lives as Apostle Paul said he prayed in tongues more than all of the Corinthian Church.
Exhort all pastors and Christians everywhere to seek the New Testament enhancements and no personal relationship that God offers through His Son Jesus Christ. Amen