Introduction
One of the primary ministrations of the Spirit of God is the seal of the Holy Spirit. But what does it mean to receive and be sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise? Understanding the seal of the Holy Spirit is essential in the life of New Testament believers, as it sets the foundation for our walk with the person of the Holy Spirit. Scripture says;
- “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise” (Ephesians 1:13, KJV).
To be sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise means to awaken your conscience to the person of the Holy Spirit. When an individual receives Jesus Christ after hearing the gospel and believing, they are given new life through the Spirit of God.
The challenge many believers face is understanding what this new life truly means. Remember, the new birth after salvation is a birth of the Spirit and not the flesh (John 3:6). Such knowledge of the new birth can only be imparted by the Holy Spirit. It is spiritual knowledge (epignosis) about Jesus Christ, revealed exclusively by the Holy Spirit.
The conscience of a New Testament believer must be awakened or instructed by the person of the Holy Spirit, who teaches and directs our daily lives. Accordingly, He gives us a consciousness of God that is rooted in spiritual realities. This understanding enables us to walk in God’s calling and partake of His glorious inheritance, as all things begin to work for our good.
The Seal of the Holy Spirit
To know the mind of God, you must be sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise. Jesus Christ assured us that He would ask the Father to send us an Advocate to help us and be with us forever. He further promised that this Advocate would dwell within us.
- “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you” (John 14:16-17, KJV).
When we receive Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, the person of the Holy Spirit comes to live within us.
To be sealed with the Holy Spirit, a person must first have faith in Jesus Christ and believe in the finished work of the cross. The promise of the Holy Spirit can only be received through faith:
- “That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith” (Galatians 3:14, KJV).
This scripture emphasizes that faith is a precondition for receiving the seal of the Holy Spirit.
Paul also explains in Ephesians that a person must first receive the word of truth, which is the gospel of our salvation, and then believe it to be sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise:
- “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise” (Ephesians 1:13, KJV).
Reflect on the day you first heard the gospel and believed. When you made the decision to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior—believing in your heart and confessing with your mouth—you were saved and sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.
The Amplified Bible elaborates on this truth, saying you:
“were stamped with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit, the one promised by Jesus Christ, as owned and protected by God.”
A Mark of Ownership and Citizenship
The seal of the Holy Spirit signifies that we are owned and protected by God. It is the official confirmation of our citizenship in heaven and grants us access to the kingdom of God.
This seal enables us to enjoy the benefits of all spiritual blessings in heavenly places and confirms our inheritance in Christ Jesus:
- “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3, KJV).
However, this inheritance is contingent upon our submission to the authority of the Holy Spirit. The authority of the Holy Spirit is demonstrated through His teachings, leadings, and guidance. Heaven recognizes us as its citizens, and as such, we must live by the ordinances that govern heaven. Remember that before salvation, you were alienated from God and, as such, ignorant to the ways of God.
The ways or the ordinances of God are revealed and taught by the Spirit of God. He opens our spiritual eyes to see life from a heavenly perspective. This heavenly perception is only accessible through the mind of God:
- “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God” (1 Corinthians 2:9-10, KJV).
By walking in alignment with the Holy Spirit, we gain insight into God’s eternal purpose and live a life reflective of our heavenly citizenship.
Opening the Eyes of Your Understanding
After salvation in Christ Jesus and being sealed with the Holy Spirit, it is crucial to ensure that your spiritual eyes are opened. Opening the spiritual eyes or the eyes of your understanding simply means “enlightenment” (Greek = photizo). As Paul prays:
- “The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints” (Ephesians 1:18, KJV).
Opening your spiritual eyes involves moving away from a carnal mind and embracing a spiritually-minded perspective. It implies that as a born again individual, you become enlightened in the things and the ways of God. A carnal mind is one that thinks or reasons according to the patterns and wisdom of this world. A carnal mind cannot discern the things of the Spirit because it views spiritual realities as foolishness:
- “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Corinthians 2:14, KJV).
Spiritual things are discerned only through the help of the Holy Spirit. It all comes down to the consciousness of a believer. The seal of the Holy Spirit ignites a hunger and longing for spiritual knowledge. This knowledge (Greek = epignosis) is what opens your spiritual eyes to see and understand the realities of God’s kingdom.
The Role of Spiritual Sight in Knowing Your Calling
The opening of your spiritual eyes is the key to unlocking your divine calling. Without being enlightened, you cannot truly discern where God has called you—whether in ministry, the marketplace, or another area of purpose. Spiritual blindness keeps you from recognizing God’s good plans for your life.
For example, without enlightenment, you may struggle to make critical life decisions, such as:
- Choosing the right career path,
- Making wise business investments,
- Selecting the right person to marry,
- Identifying the ministry to align with, or
- Determining your area of expertise.
It is only through the person of the Holy Spirit that your spiritual eyes can be opened. He provides the guiding light in the spiritual realm to direct your path.
To ensure your spiritual eyes are opened, or rather, to become enlightened – your mind must be filled with the teachings of the Holy Spirit. He reveals the truths of the spiritual realm and ensures your conscience is filled with spiritual realities.
The teachings of the Holy Spirit saturate your mind with the will of God, as the Spirit intercedes on your behalf:
- “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered” (Romans 8:26, KJV).
By immersing yourself in the Spirit’s guidance, you align your conscience with God’s will and position yourself to walk in the fullness of your calling.
The Teaching Ministry of the Holy Spirit
The primary ministry of the Holy Spirit is to teach believers about Jesus Christ. Recall that when Jesus promised the Comforter, He declared that the Holy Ghost would teach you all things and bring His teachings to your remembrance:
- “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you” (John 14:26, KJV).
To truly know God and Jesus Christ, we must depend on the teaching and guidance of the Holy Spirit. He is the one who teaches us all things pertaining to our lives and reveals the mind of God in your career, ministry, education, or business.
- “But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God” (1 Corinthians 2:10, KJV).
The Holy Spirit searches the deep things of God and reveals His will for us in specific areas of life. For instance, He provides guidance on critical decisions, such as:
- Whether to accept a job promotion,
- Whether to invest in a particular business, or
- Whether to proceed with an engagement or marriage.
The Holy Spirit teaches us and directs us on the path we should take, always in alignment with the will of God. By following His teaching, we are equipped to walk in obedience and purpose, trusting that His guidance is perfect for every aspect of our lives. He leads us in the journey of salvation as scripture says;
- “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God” (Romans 8:14, KJV).
The leading and teaching of the Holy Spirit ensures that we do not make decisions or take actions outside the will of God. Being sealed with the Spirit of God also means that we are marked with His identity in everything we do. For example: Your professional life and business dealings must exemplify the righteousness of God and uphold His holiness in all circumstances – true judgment bars Christians from engaging in unethical business practices or bribery. Similarly, your marriage and children should bear that mark of the biblical principles concerning marriage and family, including husbands loving their wives – wives submitting to their husbands – and children honoring their parents.
Walking in the Spirit: Living a Life Guided by God
As believers, we are not called to live a life of our own, making plans without the promptings and guidance of the Holy Spirit. Instead, the Spirit begins by revealing God’s will concerning the very plans we intend to make. The seal of the Spirit serves as an authentication of these plans, ensuring that they align with the will of God.
Like the notifications or reminders in our phones, the seal of the Holy Spirit is the constant notification in our minds that we are living to carry out the agenda of God in our churches, organizations and institutions. As a new covenant believer, you need to understand that you are a written epistle known and read by all men.
- “Ye are our epistle written in our hearts. Known and read of all men” (2 Corinthians 3:2, KJV)
You, therefore, need to be mindful of what you need to do and how you need to act because you bear this mark. On your own, you will struggle. But with the help of the Holy Spirit, it is possible to reflect the righteousness and holiness of God in all that you do.
As the Holy Ghost intercedes for us in prayer, revelations of God’s plan for us are unfolded showing us what we need to do at specific places, seasons and times. It is only then that things will begin to work for our good according to His good purpose.
- “And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:27-28, KJV).
In all things, the Holy Spirit teaches, works, and leads us according to God’s perfect will. This is how we live a Spirit-led life, fulfilling God’s purpose and experiencing His goodness in every area of our lives.
Conclusion
Awakening your conscience to the person of the Holy Spirit begins with accepting Jesus Christ and exercising faith in Him. Upon doing so, you are sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise. This seal signifies that you are now guided by the Holy Spirit in all aspects of life.
The Holy Spirit teaches you through prayer, intercession, and the Word of God, helping you understand God’s will for your life. He awakens your consciousness to spiritual knowledge, creating a deep hunger to know God more intimately. This enlightenment is the essence of having your spiritual eyes opened.
Moreover, the Holy Spirit consistently reminds us of God’s will and purpose in every stage of life. Through His guidance, we come to understand that everything we do and the life we live is ultimately for God’s glory:
- “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men” (Colossians 3:23, KJV).
- “But in that he liveth, he liveth unto God” (Romans 6:10, KJV)
By walking in step with the Holy Spirit, we fulfill God’s purpose for our lives and experience the fullness of His grace and blessings.
Beautiful 😍
Great piece bro