The Ministries of the Holy Spirit
Notes
Transcript
Handout
John 14:15-18
We have begun a new series in which I have entitled “The Great Life.”
The Great Life is the life that is yielded to the Holy Spirit.
We studied last week the three types of Men: The Natural Man, the Carnal Man and the Spiritual Man.
The Spiritual Man is the one who will be able to experience the Great Life.
A man is a Christian because he is in right relation to Christ.
He has accepted His offer of salvation, therefore He is the Child of God, joint-heir with the Son, He is forgiven.
The Spiritual man is spiritual because he is in right relationship with the Spirit, in addition to his right relationship with Christ.
Because of this, I think it would be wise to know more about the Holy Spirit.
There has been a lot of confusion regarding the Holy Spirit in Christian circles today.
Confusion is and always has been a tool of Satan.
God wants us to have The Great Life.
But Satan does not want us to even have a good one.
He wants every Christian to miss the blessings that come with knowing and yielding to the Holy Spirit.
In the Old Testament time, the Holy Spirit would come upon a person for a particular task, and a finite period of time.
God would give His Spirit to someone, and at other times He would remove His Spirit from them.
Jephthah
29 Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jephthah, and he passed over Gilead, and Manasseh, and passed over Mizpeh of Gilead, and from Mizpeh of Gilead he passed over unto the children of Ammon.
Samson at various times
25 And the Spirit of the Lord began to move him at times in the camp of Dan between Zorah and Eshtaol.
6 And the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him, and he rent him as he would have rent a kid, and he had nothing in his hand: but he told not his father or his mother what he had done.
Saul
9 And it was so, that when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave him another heart: and all those signs came to pass that day.
10 And when they came thither to the hill, behold, a company of prophets met him; and the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them.
At times the Lord removed His Holy Spirit from individuals who had experienced His help and power.
Samson
20 And she said, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself. And he wist not that the Lord was departed from him.
Saul
14 But the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord troubled him.
David saw these examples and prayed for it not to happen to him, in his psalm of repentance
11 Cast me not away from thy presence; And take not thy holy spirit from me.
In the New Testament time before the Day of Pentecost, again there were some who were filled with the Holy Spirit for a time and purpose:
Elisabeth
41 And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:
John the Baptist
15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb.
The Apostles
22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:
Earlier in Jesus ministry he commanded the disciples to go and do miracles…this was empowered by the Holy Spirit
7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.
And yet, Jesus promises the indwelling of the Holy Spirit at a later time.
16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
When the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost the Church was empowered.
It was at this time that The Holy Spirit came and will stay until we are taken to Heaven.
So what does the Holy Spirit do in regard to the Christian?
What are the Ministries of the Holy Spirit?
The relationship of the Holy Spirit with men in this age are revealed in seven ministries.
Two of these ministries are to the unsaved world, and four are to all believers, and one is to the believer who comes into the right relationship with the Spirit.
First let’s Look at the Two ministries to the Unsaved World:
I. To The Unsaved
I. To The Unsaved
The Holy Spirit does not indwell an unsaved person, but that does not mean he does not minister to them.
The first ministry of the Holy Spirit to the Unsaved Man is:
A. Restraining
A. Restraining
The Bible tells us that the Holy Spirit is restraining the Wicked
6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
Paul has just talked about the fact that the “man of sin” will be revealed just before Christ’s Second Coming.
This “man of sin” will oppose and exalt himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, the Bible says.
he then says that the man of sin is being restrained until his time.
“But He who is now restraining him will do so until He is taken out of the way.”
The man of sin will appear only at God’s appointed time.
When the One who is restraining him is taken out of the way, then the man of sin will come.
The restrainer’s name isn’t revealed here.
However looking at Scripture, there the Holy Spirit is the only one that is said to be on earth at this time.
He is present and active working in the world.
It must be the Holy Spirit that is restraining Satan’s man and Satan’s plans until the appointed time.
You think things are bad right now?
Just wait until all of the Christians are gone and the Holy Spirit is taken away.
That presence that began with the empowerment of the church will remain as our seal until the day of redemption.
This is another point toward pre-tribulational, pre-millennial rapture.
The Antichrist is being held back until the Holy Spirit is taken from the world.
When would the Holy Spirit be taken from the world, only at the rapture - the day of our redemption.
So the Holy Spirit has the work of Restraining - the Man of Sin and the plans of Satan.
B. Reproving
B. Reproving
The Holy Spirit Reproves the World, John 16 tells us...
8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
9 Of sin, because they believe not on me;
10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;
11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
Through this ministry we see three active works that he does...
1. Enlightens Regarding Unbelief
1. Enlightens Regarding Unbelief
The Bible says in verse 9
9 Of sin, because they believe not on me;
The Holy Spirit enlightens the unbelievers in this world, individually of their need of a Savior as he shows them their sin.
2. Illuminates Regarding Righteousness
2. Illuminates Regarding Righteousness
So not only does he reprove in regard to unbelief, but also righteousness…verse 10...
10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;
Jesus is no longer on the earth to show forth the example of righteousness, but the Holy Spirit reproves them of righteousness.
He shows them the example of Christ, and the opportunity they have to receive the righteousness from God, which is available to all who believe.
This is a concept that is foreign to the Natural Man, and can only be revealed by the Holy Spirit through his reproof and conviction.
3. Illuminates Regarding Judgment
3. Illuminates Regarding Judgment
He reproves for unbelief, righteousness, and now verse 11 tells us he reproves for judgment...
11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
The judgement is so sure that it is spoken of as in the past.
They do not need to be shown that judgment will come, rather that judgment is already on them.
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
The Holy Spirit is sent to reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness and of judgment.
It is up to the people of this world to listen.
The two ministries to the unsaved are Restraining evil and Reproving sin.
Now let’s see the Holy Spirit’s Ministries ...
II. To the Saved
II. To the Saved
The following four ministries are ones that the Spirit begins at the moment of belief unto salvation.
He is born of the Spirit
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
and has become a Child of God.
The first ministry to the Saved is
A. Regeneration
A. Regeneration
The New Christian has partaken of the divine nature
4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
He is now regenerated
Regeneration is the imparting of life, spiritual life, to those who are dead, spiritually dead through their trespasses and sins.
1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
The Word quickened there means to make alive again.
This transformation happens when the sinner believes, it never needs to be repeated, because once we are given eternal life, it can never be taken again.
The Bible never says anything about a second regeneration by the Spirit.
B. Indwelling
B. Indwelling
The Bible tells us that the Holy Spirit dwells inside us.
9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
Our bodies then are the Temple of God.
There is much talk in Israel of building the third temple so they may experience the Shekinah Glory, the presence of God...but the Christian is that temple,
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?
This indwelling is the very characteristic of the Church Age.
The only time in human history where the Holy Spirit has indwelled the believers.
From the day of Pentecost until the day we are taken in the air, the Holy Spirit will indwell every believer.
If a person is saved, the moment they accept Christ the Holy Spirit indwells the believer.
This indwelling is taught and seen by:
1. Revelation
1. Revelation
The Bible teaches that every believer is indwelled by the Holy Spirit.
37 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.
38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
If any man thirst - Come and drink - He that believeth - Spirit will flow from within him.
5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
The Holy Spirit has been given to us in our hearts.
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.
There is not in reference to a special or holy class of Christians.
The context reveals them to be guilty of some of the most serious sins, these verses are made as an appeal for them to live right.
They have the spirit in them, so they ought to live pure because of that.
They had already received the indwelling Spirit, it is not a separate event after salvation as some teach.
The Holy Spirit has been given to the Christian because of their faith in Christ.
2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
It wasn’t a matter of works that brought the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, it was faith!
His Spirit testifies that we are saved.
13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.
We are given that anointing, or unction of the Holy Spirit
20 But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.
27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.
But it is not only by Revelation we know this, but also by:
2. Reason
2. Reason
A holy life and walk must depend on the empowering of hte Holy Spirit that lives in us.
We cannot live the life that God expects us to live in our own power.
God addresses us as though we all have the Holy Spirit living in us, and therefore he can make a demand to be holy, as He is holy.
The believer has the Holy Spirit, but it does not mean they are living the life of a Spiritual man, we talked about this last week.
We must be yielded to the Holy Spirit.
C. Baptism
C. Baptism
This happens at the moment of salvation, which is made obvious by passages like 1 Corinthians 12:13
13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
We can also see it in ...
3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
No where in scripture is this ministry of the Holy Spirit spoken of to empower for service.
It has to do with placing you into the family of God, into the body of Christ.
Being a part of the body of Christ expects service.
It is expected that once you are a part of the family you are to serve Him.
We are in Christ because of this ministry of the Holy Spirit.
Those who have not been baptized of the Spirit are in a Natural Man state.
But because we are baptized into one body, we serve and function to do our part which our body part (member) requires.
This placing into the body of Christ happens at the moment that saving faith is exercised.
There is no indication in Scripture that there is a second time of baptism of the Holy Spirit.
The only time this happened was when the Holy Spirit first came at Pentecost.
Or when the disciples of John had not been taught the full gospel, therefore they did not have saving faith in Christ.
Once they were saved, the Holy Spirit came to them.
This word is misused often to describe something that the Bible does not discuss.
D. Sealing
D. Sealing
The sixth ministry of the Holy Spirit and the fourth ministry to the Saved is Sealing.
30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
Not only are we regenerated, Indwelt, baptized into the body, but we are then at that moment sealed unto the day of redemption.
This happens at the moment of salvation:
13 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,
And it does not stop until the day of Redemption.
The Holy Spirit has been given to us and he seals us as a down payment, the earnest of our inheritance.
22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
Conclusion
Conclusion
These four ministries happen at the moment of salvation, and are never accomplished a second time.
He is born, indwelt, baptized and sealed by the Holy Spirit.
These events are not related to an experience, however you may see the fruit of these things in your life after you are saved.
The Spirit does after all testify to our spirit that we are the child of God.
The Seventh ministry of the Holy Spirit we will discuss in depth next week.
That of the Filling of the Holy Spirit.
The scope and conditions of this ministry are the very basis of what we are talking about in this series, The Great Life.
We are going to discuss this separately so that we will not confuse this very important ministry with any of the others.
What a wonderful gift we have been given!
The unsaved world as a whole is not aware of the work that the Holy Spirit is doing to restrain the Devil and his plans, but one day they will see in those terrible days of the Tribulation.
Before we came to saving faith in Christ we were Reproved of our sin, shown righteousness, and shown judgment that was to come.
The moment we accepted Christ by faith,
we were regenerated (born again),
the Holy Spirit of God Indwelled us,
we were baptized into the family and the body of Christ,
and we have been sealed by Him.
Do you know that if you died today that Heaven would be your home?
Can you remember a day that you bowed to the conviction of the Holy Spirit about your sin, and you accepted Christ as your Savior by faith?
If you do not remember a day or a time like this, settle it today!
Today is the day of Salvation
If you do know that heaven is your home, Are you yielding to the Holy Spirit in your life?
Although we will talk more about this next week, we hear the still small voice in our hearts that we need to obey.
Commit to the Lord that you will obey Him today.
This gift of the Holy Spirit, and the ministries that He has in our lives is only possible because of the work that Christ did for us on the cross.
In a moment we will take communion together, and remember what Christ has done for us.
This time is ordained by Jesus for those who are Christians to partake together to remember him.
If you do not know Christ as your Savior, please pass the plate by.
If you have sin in your heart today that you have not confessed, please pass the plate by.
But before we take communion lets take a moment and sing this verse of invitation and while we sing, if you find yourself in either of these cases do business with the Lord right now so that you may join us in celebrating what Christ has done.
Let’s pray and we will sing a verse of invitation before we share in this remembrance.