Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Ps; 51.10. As I was reading Psalm 51, the Holy Spirit drew my attention to verses 10-11. I have read it many times, but the Holy Spirit inspired me to study this passage one more time.

“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me off from your presence. Do not take your Holy Spirit away from me.“

It was then that the bible revealed some of the most important interventions of the Holy Spirit. These words of prayer that David uttered, were to God, in repentance, when he fell into a sin. However, this passage has a prophetic significance. In the Holy Bible we can see the manner in which the Holy Spirit interacts with men, and its manifestations. Also, we understand how the Spirit of God interacts with human hearts and transforms them.

Human minds are often vulnerable, sinning against God, under the influence, and encouragements of Satan. As a result, they are removed from God’s presence or punished. Those who obey, and repent, shall receive justification, with the punishment of a child (chastisement), along with the opportunity for restoration.  {Hebrew: 12: 1-11 ‘Child punishment’ Chastisement}

David is an example of that. This system of God still exists even today. However, God does not accept, if you continue to sin, and then repent, and thereafter go on to sin again. Therefore, in the book of Hebrews 10:26-27, it is said that after knowing the truth, if you sin again intentionally, you will not be forgiven. It is clear that he will be punished.  God, who knows the nature of sinful man, can understand that the Holy Spirit is intervening in such matters.

The intervention of the Holy Spirit into the human heart (intellect) is one of the seven major interventions recorded in the Bible. Further details are given below.

Five representations of the Holy Spirit in the Bible(facts) 

1: Dove:   Matthew 3:16: As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water, and saw heaven opened, and he saw the Spirit of God coming upon him like a dove; (Mark 1:10; Luke 3:22; John 1:32)

2: Fire: {Agni}: Acts 2: 3 And there appeared unto them tongues, as it were, as if it were a flame of fire. Leviticus 3: 1-5 The Lord appeared to Moses in the flame of the bush. In addition, many such incidents are recorded in the Bible (Matthew 3:11)

3: Oil: Ointment: Exo: 30.20-25: 25 And thou shalt make it a holy anointing oil, after the manner of the anointing oil; It is to be a holy anointing oil.

It is the law that God gave to Israel as a sign of the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Following this, we read in the Bible that priests, kings, and prophets were anointed with this oil.

4: Wind:   Acts 2.2: And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. (Ezekiel 37: 9-14, John 3: 8, John 20:22)

5: Water:  John 4.14 He who drinks the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; The water that I will give him will become in him a fountain of everlasting life. ” (John 7: 37-39; Rev: 22.1; Gen: 10-14) We can see that the presence of these five things represents the Holy Spirit.

With these five things in mind, let us consider one of the seven major interventions of the

Holy Spirit with man:

1: The Holy Spirit intervenes in creation

The restoration of the primitive earth and the work of the Holy Spirit in relation to human creation are seen. Genesis 1: 1-2 reads that the early earth was covered with water and that the Holy Spirit was on the water.

And man received life by the breath of God’s breath.  Gen 2: 7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils, the breath of life; and man became a living soul. Water and wind are evident here.

The living breath (breath = a small scale of wind) enters the human being. He becomes a living soul. He also created the water that is necessary for the survival of that life. (Breath of life and water of life) These are both signs of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, every human being, whether on earth, or inhabited, is indebted to the Holy Spirit. That is why Jesus Christ said. Mark 3: 28, 29 For all sins and blasphemies can be forgiven to men; Verily I say unto you, whosoever shall speak evil of the Holy Ghost, he shall not be forgiven; This is a very thoughtful and meaningful statement.

Psalm 33 .6 By the word of the LORD came the heavens, and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth; That is to say, all creation was created by the word of God. But all hosts in the passage above means man. This means that man was made by the breath of God. (Breath – spirit) Job 33: 4 The Spirit of God created me; The breath of the Almighty gives me life. In short, it shows the first intervention of the Holy Spirit in creation

2: God appearing to Moses in a fiery bush. 

Exo: 3.2-6: “There the angel of the Lord appeared to him out of the midst of a bush, into a flame of fire. When he looked, he saw that the bush was on fire, and that the bush was not burning”. Here it is clear from the following verses that God appeared to him in the flame of fire. It is very important that Moses calls and commissions the people of Israel, the promised descendants of Abraham, to be freed from 430 years of slavery and to be formed into a separate community (nation). Because Israel is a community where God is revealed to the world. It is through Israel that mankind has received divine revelation on various levels, including Jesus Christ and the Law. It is clear that God and the Holy Spirit are united in this important work.

3. The fire and smoke coming down to Mount Sinai when the Law was given to Moses.

Exo: 19.18 -20: Now Mount Sinai was completely in smoke because the LORD descended upon it in fire. Its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly.

The law given to the people of Israel is very important. These are the words of God established forever in heaven. It also means that it never changes when it is written in stone. Here we see fire and smoke as God descends on the mountain, so it means that the Holy Spirit is involved in it.

4. The Holy Spirit intervening in the birth of Jesus Christ:

Luke 1:35: The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So, the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. This incident highlights the importance of the intervention of the Holy Spirit in the birth of Jesus Christ, the incarnation of God, in the last days, as a fulfillment of the many prophecies that begin with Genesis 3:15 that the seed of the woman will break the serpent’s head. The intervention of the Holy Spirit is evident in a number of important areas, including the redemption of mankind, the atonement for sin, justification, and the defeat of Satan. The cause of all this is the presence of the Holy Spirit with Christ from his birth to his resurrection. This is evident in all his actions, including baptism and fasting. Example: Jesus says in Matthew 12:28 “If I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, it is evident that the kingdom of God is come unto you.” 

For thirty-three and half years Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit were together on earth in the New Testament, just as the Father and the Holy Spirit were together in the Old Testament (Heaven). The more we study this subject, the clearer the divinity of Jesus Christ will be. 

5. The Holy Spirit descending on the church in the upper room of a home, on Mount Zion (the anointing of the church).

Not to mention the importance of the church of God in the Bible.  Jesus said, John 16:7 “But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate

{Holy Spirit} will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. “After Jesus’ ascension to heaven, the Holy Spirit descended in the upper room and anointed the first congregation there.  Act: 2, 3; “And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. Tongues of fire split open and rested on each of them.”

The Church of God is one, a congregation of the redeemed, the redeeming, and who will be redeemed in Jesus Christ; The church is figuratively called the Body of Christ, the Bridegroom, the Garden, the Vine, and the building. It shows the inseparable relation between Christ and the Church. That church is anointed by God with the Holy Spirit. In it everyone is the same. The gifts are given by the Holy Spirit to the anointed church. Gifts are not anointing. This is a subject that has been misunderstood and misrepresented. The terms anointed one and to get anointed are common among Pentecostals. It is true that the Holy Spirit has set some apart, from the church, for the ministry of the church of God. (Eph 4:11). These people are set apart for the service of the church, and for the extension of evangelism. These people are not any more important than the church itself. The church is important to God. God has sealed this precious church by the Holy Spirit:

 Eph: 1 .13-14 When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.  

6: The Holy Spirit intervening in the Resurrection (Rapture) of the saints:

The next two topics are prophecy. One of them is the resurrection of the dead saints. The Bible makes clear the involvement of the Holy Spirit in this matter.

Ro; 8.11: I Thessalonians: 4: 16,17: “If the spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised up Jesus from the dead will also raise your mortal bodies to life by his Spirit who dwells in you.”

The Bible records the resurrection and transfiguration of the saints as an important subject in the genesis of the Church of God. (Ro; 8.11: I Thessalonians: 4: 16,17) The Holy Spirit directly intervenes, leaving no room for the devil in the ascension of God’s people redeemed with Christ Jesus. Satan created obstacles while raising Moses’ body (when angels were sent for the task), such an obstacle will not be allowed when God’s people are raised. (Jude:9).

7: The Holy Spirit who changes.  (Transformation) hearts:

Seventh, the transformation of hearts is a prophecy concerning Israel. But the Holy Spirit is now dealing with the living. The involvement of the Holy Spirit in repentance is obvious.1 Corinthians 12: 3 The apostle Paul says, “Therefore I say unto you, that whosoever shall speak in the Spirit of God, he shall not say, Jesus is accursed; but by the Holy Ghost shall no man say that Jesus is Lord. The intervention of the Holy Spirit is essential if one is to be able to know and comprehend the truth.

That is why David was changed, praying for a pure heart and a steadfast soul. Jesus Christ says in John 16.8. “He (the Holy Spirit) will come and make the world aware of sin and of righteousness and of judgment.” The intervention of the Holy Spirit is vital in the formation of the church of God in the age of grace.  

But in Psalm 51 we can examine the prophetic nature of David’s prayer. Although the people of Israel were chosen by God, they never stood firm before God. They often angered God by sin and idolatry. Israel’s hardhearted and unrepentant nature was the reason why God punished them. Still there has been no change to that situation. Prophets have foretold these things. These prophets foretold that in the future, during the Millennial Reign, and eternity, their hearts would be transformed.  

Ezekiel: 11.19: 36.26; Heb: 10.16. Ezekiel: 11: 19 And I will give them another heart, and I will put a new spirit within them, that they may walk in my statutes, and keep my judgments. I will take away the stony heart, out of their bodies, and will give them a heart of flesh. These verses make it clear that Israel will replace the existing hardened heart with a new one.  

In Psalm 51, David’s prayer is a personal matter.

Ps: 51.10.  “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”

Yet this can be seen to be true in relation to the whole of Israel. So there is a prophetic aspect to this prayer. The coming transfiguration in Israel and the work that God is doing through the gospel, in this world for the church now, is remarkable. The vital intervention of the Holy Spirit is seen in both cases. I sincerely pray that the intervention of the Holy Spirit, who can transform the heart of any human being, may be in all.

Everyone who reads this article can pray to God for a pure heart, and a steadfast soul like David.

God bless you all.

By Pastor M G Abraham