The Holy Spirit Series II
Our Divine Security Deposit
By Terry S. Parks copyright 2000

If you are like most people, at some point in your life you have had to rent an apartment, or buy a house. Based upon your family size, taste, and financial ability, you determine what type of residence will meet your needs, and then begin looking through the necessary publications until you find the home that meets your criteria. Once you find the house or apartment that satisfies your needs and tastes, you then must do something to secure the property. In other words, the party that is trying to acquire the residence must do something that guarantees their intentions to the owner. They must give the owner a security deposit, or earnest money. Likewise, once earnest money is put down, this guarantees the house will be held for the new occupants for a set period of time until the remainder of the balance is paid, thereby completing the transaction.
Did you know there is a divine security deposit available to you?
Ephesians 1:13-- In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.
In the above passage, the Greek word for "guarantee" is arrhabon {ar-hrab-ohn'}. It is of Hebrew origin, meaning "money which in purchases is given as a pledge or down payment that the full amount will subsequently be paid". It is "earnest money, or a security deposit". That’s right! We have a "divine down payment" from the Lord that lets us know there is substance to all His promises, and they will surely come to pass!
Over the many years I have walked with the Lord, I have witnessed hundreds of people who are unsure of their salvation. Week after week they respond to altar calls, or ask others to pray for them because they want to make sure they are saved. Why are so many people insecure in their walk with the Lord? In nearly every case, these were people who were not yet filled with the Holy Spirit with the accompanying sign of speaking in other (unknown) tongues. They had not yet received their "guarantee".
The Baptism of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in other tongues gives a confidence which most do not possess apart from this supernatural "evidence". I call it "The Evidence That Brings Confidence". The bible refers to it as being "sealed" (stamped, marked, or authenticated) with the Holy Spirit. This supernatural evidence solidifies what, up unto that point, we only believe. It takes us from believing to knowing. This was definitely the case in my own experience. I was filled with the Holy Spirit a few weeks after I had accepted Christ as my Savior. The night I received the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues for the first time, I remember telling my lovely wife Lonnie, "Wow, when I spoke in tongues it was like a guarantee that this is real". I did not know the bible at all at that point, so I could not have known the bible actually said this. As a matter of fact, I had great difficulty reading the bible, let alone making any sense out of it! I actually was unable to understand the scriptures until after I was filled with Holy Spirit. I only knew what I sensed in my inner-most being, and that was "security and confidence". The night I repented of my sins, and asked Christ into my life, I sensed a great feeling of relief, as if a weight was lifted off me, but within a few days I was questioning myself as to whether anything had truly transpired, or not. Once I was filled with the Holy Spirit, I never questioned my salvation again. Every time I would pray in tongues I was building myself up in the Spirit (Jude 1:20), becoming more and more confident and secure. There is something better than belief, and that is knowing!
2 Cor. 1:20-- For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.21 Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, 22 who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.
In the above passage of scripture, we again see the apostle Paul use similar terms to describe one of the many functions of the Holy Spirit. Being sealed with the Holy Spirit "establishes us in Christ", and acts as a guarantee that the promises of God in Him are "Yes, and Amen".
1 Corinthians 6:19-- What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
1 Corinthians 7:23-- Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men. 24 Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.
When someone buys something of great value they will give a down payment or security deposit. Without a security deposit, the seller is not sure of the intent of the buyer. The seller believes the buyer will come with the rest of the money, and hopes his intentions are right and good. When he comes up with a substantial security deposit, his intentions are then known to be genuine. Well, we are bought with the blood of Christ, and He has left us the Holy Spirit as a security deposit to let us know He will complete the transaction He has begun in us, and speaking in other tongues is evidence of that deposit. He does not want His people to live with insecurity and fear, wondering if He will follow through on His word. It is not a question of whether His word is good, but a question of our ability to faithfully wait upon the consummation of His word without a guarantee. The guarantee is for our benefit, not His. It lets us know He values us so highly, that He will put down "spiritual earnest money" so we walk in confidence and security.
2 Corinthians 5:4, 5-- For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.

Terry S. Parks, Pastor
The Rock of Roanoke