Holy
Spirit Ever Dwelling
Music by William Moore, words by
Timothy Rees
© 2002 Rocks Cry
Out
This is a new setting of an old hymn song. The melody was written by William Moore and was associated with different words in a hymn called Holy Manna, also known as Brethren We Have Met to Worship. For this hymn, as was often the case in church music of the past, different words were put with an existing melody to create a new hymn.
A dictionary may be needed to understand the full meaning of some of the old English language, but the song outlines the work and character of the third of the three personal distinctions within God. Followers of Christ refer to the One Almighty God as a Trinity - three personal aspects in one God Being: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit (2 Cor. 13:14; Matt. 28:19, Gal. 4:6, 1 Peter 1:1-2).
The Holy Spirit is here with us, as opposed to "up in heaven." (John 14:16, 14:26; 15:26; 16:7)
The Holy Spirit is working in and through us to strengthen and comfort us (Ex. 31:2-6; Judg. 15:14, Is. 11:2), to renew and revive us (Ps. 51:10-12; Ezek. 36:25-27, John 3:5-8), to bind us together (1 Cor. 12:11-21), to guide us, and to teach us (John 14:26).
As the third Person of the Trinity, equal in glory to the Father and the Son, the Holy Spirit is worthy with them of worship, love, and obedience (Acts 5:3, 4, 9, Matt. 3:16, Eph 3:14-19).
It is through the internal spiritual guidance (or "testimony") of the Holy Spirit that the truth and meaning of God's word is revealed and illuminated (1 Cor. 12:3-7), and that we are "remade" in the image of Christ (Eph 4:4-16).
Holy Spirit, ever
dwelling in the holiest realms of light;
Holy Spirit, ever brooding o'er a world of gloom and night;
Holy Spirit, ever raising earth-bound souls to thrones on high;
Living, life imparting Spirit; thee we praise and magnify!
Holy Spirit, ever
breathing on the church the breath of life;
Holy Spirit, ever striving through her in a ceaseless strife;
Holy Spirit, ever forming in the Church the mind of Christ:
You we praise with endless worship, For Your fruit and gifts unpriced.
Holy
Spirit, ever working through the Church's ministry
Quick'ning, strength'ning, and absolving, setting captive sinners free;
Holy Spirit, ever binding age to age and soul to soul
In a fellowship unending, Thee we worship and extol.