What Does the Holy Spirit Do Anyway?
Notes
Transcript
Outline
Outline
Personality of the Holy Spirit
Attributes of Personality
Activities of Personality
Ascriptions of Personality
Pronouns of Personality
Deity of the Holy Spirit
He is called God
He has divine attributes.
He performs divine works
The Work of the Holy Spirit
Work Related to the Trinity
Work Related to Creation
Work Related to Revelation
Work Related to Old Testament
Work Related to the Gospels
Work Related to Acts
Work Related to the Church
The Filling Ministry
Regeneration
Indwelling
Baptism
Sealing
Spiritual Gifts
Work Related to the Future
Introduction
Introduction
Body
Body
The Work of the Holy Spirit
The Work of the Holy Spirit
Work Related to the Trinity
Work Related to the Trinity
Inter-Trinitarian relationships
Father and Son send the Spirit - John 15:26.
“But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me.
God the Father and Jesus are both involved in His sending the Spirit to us.
The Spirit will bear witness about the Son
One thing you will note about the relationships of the Trinity….THEY NEVER seek their own glory…they glorify one another.
Father gives or sends the Spirit and the Son - 1 John 4:13-14.
13 By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.
Here, both Son and Spirit are responsive to the Father’s will and direction.
Spirit leads the Son - Luke 4:1.
And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness
The Spirit directed Jesus in His earthly ministry.
Jesus performed his earthly ministry BY THE POWER of the Spirit who indwelt Him. He did not perform a single miracle until AFTER his baptism, when the Spirit descended and rested upon Him.
Point is, the persons of the Trinity are seen interacting, submitting, and moving amongst one another with a humility and grace that exemplify the very nature of their relationship.
These inter-Trinitarian relationships can be viewed as positions of voluntary subordination, which does not deny the essential equality of the three persons of the Trinity.
Work Related to Creation
Work Related to Creation
The Spirit was involved in the creation of the world - Gen 1:2; Ps 33:6.
The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.
By the word of the Lord the heavens were made,
and by the breath of his mouth all their host.
Like Greek (NT), the word for spirit is the same as the word for breath. “the breath” of Psalm 33:6 is the same Hebrew word we translate for breath and spirit. It can be understood as the spirit of God.
This breath here in Psalm 33:6 could be a reference to the Spirit and his involvement in creation. It is not as definitive to me as Gen 1:2, but when you combine it with Gen 1:2, it certainly has merit.
Either way, Genesis 1:2 shows the Spirit present and involved to some degree in creation.
He is active in the process of nature - Is 40:7-14; Job 33:4.
7 The grass withers, the flower fades
when the breath of the Lord blows on it;
surely the people are grass.
8 The grass withers, the flower fades,
but the word of our God will stand forever.
9 Go on up to a high mountain,
O Zion, herald of good news;
lift up your voice with strength,
O Jerusalem, herald of good news;
lift it up, fear not;
say to the cities of Judah,
“Behold your God!”
10 Behold, the Lord God comes with might,
and his arm rules for him;
behold, his reward is with him,
and his recompense before him.
11 He will tend his flock like a shepherd;
he will gather the lambs in his arms;
he will carry them in his bosom,
and gently lead those that are with young.
12 Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand
and marked off the heavens with a span,
enclosed the dust of the earth in a measure
and weighed the mountains in scales
and the hills in a balance?
13 Who has measured the Spirit of the Lord,
or what man shows him his counsel?
14 Whom did he consult,
and who made him understand?
Who taught him the path of justice,
and taught him knowledge,
and showed him the way of understanding?
Also in Job 33:4.
The Spirit of God has made me,
and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
Again, texts are limited, but there are these glimpses that show us the Spirit is in fact involved in creation and nature, that his presence and work is upon it, at least to a degree. We are not extensive detail, but we do see his involvement and presence.
Work Related to Revelation
Work Related to Revelation
The word “revelation” is a Latin derivation, and means an unveiling or uncovering. It is the translation of the Greek word “apocalypsis.”
Revelation may be defined as the act of God by which He has made known truth to man.
Revelation may involve the divine act of communicating to man what otherwise man would not know.
Revelation originates with God, and without it, man could never understand or comprehend what God is like, or what is involved in His program.
It involves knowledge that comes from outside ourselves and beyond our own ability to discover it.
God had taken the initiative in disclosing Himself to man. It is not the product of human wisdom.
Distinctions
Revelation is NOT to be confused with inspiration.
Revelation refers to what is made known while inspiration refers to the method used by God in recording scripture.
All scripture is given by inspiration (will see below), and may be called revelation from God. However, all scripture may not have been supernaturally revealed.
Moses recorded Israel’s crossing of the red sea. He was an eye witness (Thus not supernaturally given).
The apostles recorded events in the life of the Lord, to which they were eye witnesses.
Revelation may include accurate statements that are not true.
Revelation is not the product of human reason.
Methods of Revelation
Revelation came directly from God. Ex 3:1-5; 19; Gen 18:19; Acts 9; 1 Sam 3:1-14; Acts 8:29; 13:2.
Ex 3:1-5.
1 Now Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, and he led his flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2 And the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed. 3 And Moses said, “I will turn aside to see this great sight, why the bush is not burned.” 4 When the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” 5 Then he said, “Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.”
Acts 9:1-9.
1 But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. 4 And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” 5 And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6 But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” 7 The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. 8 Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
These are two examples of DIRECT revelation in which God Himself made Himself known in spectacular ways.
Revelation came through dreams (recipients asleep). Gen 20:3; 31:10-11.
But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night and said to him, “Behold, you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is a man’s wife.”
10 In the breeding season of the flock I lifted up my eyes and saw in a dream that the goats that mated with the flock were striped, spotted, and mottled. 11 Then the angel of God said to me in the dream, ‘Jacob,’ and I said, ‘Here I am!’
God HAS come to man in their sleep before to communicate truth, to reveal things that otherwise would be unknown.
Revelation came through visions (recipients awake). Gen 15:1; 46:2.
After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.”
And God spoke to Israel in visions of the night and said, “Jacob, Jacob.” And he said, “Here I am.”
There is a difference between dreams and visions, though subtle and small perhaps. Dreams are while asleep. Visions are while awake. Perhaps a small distinction, but one that is worthy of being noted.
Revelation came through the ministry of the Holy Spirit to the NT writers. John 14:26; 16:30.
But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.
Now we know that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why we believe that you came from God.”
Again, I do not necessarily think that the Spirit teaches us in the same way that he did the disciples/apostles back then BECAUSE we have the written and preserved word of God.
But for them, he did instruct and teach them in a more direct way than he does us now. AND THAT TEACHING was a direct, supernatural means of revelation to us.
THROUGH that teaching, we would ultimately come to get the entirety of the Word of God.
Revelation came through the person of Christ. John 1:18; 5:36-39.
No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.
36 But the testimony that I have is greater than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to accomplish, the very works that I am doing, bear witness about me that the Father has sent me. 37 And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me. His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen, 38 and you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one whom he has sent. 39 You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me,
By the very fact of Jesus’ physical presence, we received divine revelation from God. His being here, in flesh and blood, IN A SUPERNATURAL WAY (virgin birth) was a means of revelation.
We know God the Father BECAUSE of Jesus physical presence.
The author of some revelation is the Holy Spirit. 2 Sam 23:2; Ezek 2:2; Micah 3:8.
“The Spirit of the Lord speaks by me;
his word is on my tongue.
And as he spoke to me, the Spirit entered into me and set me on my feet, and I heard him speaking to me.
But as for me, I am filled with power,
with the Spirit of the Lord,
and with justice and might,
to declare to Jacob his transgression
and to Israel his sin.
God chose various means to REVEAL truth, to give revelation.
Some of this is THROUGH the working of the Holy Spirit.
Inspiration
Biblical inspiration can be defined as God’s superintending human authors, utilizing their individual personalities, so that they recorded, without error, God’s revelation to man, in the original autographs.
Bible is, therefore, infallible and authoritative. Matthew 5:17; Gal 3:16.
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.
Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one, “And to your offspring,” who is Christ.
The Holy Spirit is the author of inspiration. 2 Tim 3:16-17; 2 Pt 1:21; Acts 1:16; Acts 4:25.
16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
“Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus.
who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit,
“ ‘Why did the Gentiles rage,
and the peoples plot in vain?
Man wrote, as they were so moved by God.
God used their distinctive personalities and styles (thus giving us the variety we see in scripture) to do so.
He did NOT dictate to them “word for word” but every word IS inspired by God.
The authors wrote as they would, as the Spirit impressed upon them to do, resulting in a word that was authored by GOD not truly by men.
Work Related to Old Testament
Work Related to Old Testament
Old Testament Saints empowered by the Holy Spirit
Leon Wood records:
When the Spirit's work in the Old Testament is discussed at all, it is done usually in terms of His coming on people and leaving them. This is often taken to mean, among other things, that the Spirit, therefore, did not permanently indwell believes, as in the New Testament time. Lewis Chafer, for instance, states, "The Spirit is not said to indwell all Old Testament saints who were counted as the covenant people of God," and he cites as evidence the fact that Nicodemus seemed to be at a loss to understand Christ's meaning in respect to regeneration (John 8:8-12).
J. Oswald Sanders states in similar vein, "On the day of Pentecost. the Holy Spirit came to earth to achieve man's regeneration and to fit him for life as a child of God." But if the Old Testament saint was not permanently indwelt by the Spirit, how was he able to remain a child of God? The New Testament is clear that believers now are preserved by the Holy Spirit (2 Tim. 1:12; 4:18; 1 Peter 1:5). Were Old Testament saints able to keep themselves? It is not easy to believe so. Closely related to the nature of the Spirit's work in the Old Testament is the question of the change that came at Pentecost. The Scriptures teach that the day of Pentecost, following Christ's resurrection, did mark the beginning of the church, and the Holy Spirit is definitely said to have come on its first members that day (Acts 2). Also, Christ Himself stated that when the Spirit would come these people would be empowered in a way not known before (Acts 1:8). The question rises, therefore, what kind of power did believers then receive? What did the Spirit then begin to do in and through them that He had not done before? Such terms as the following are commonly used of the Spirit's work after Pentecost: regeneration, indwelling, sealing, indwelling, empowering, and baptism. The question more specifically, then, is: Which, if any, of these functions were already carried on in Old Testament time by the Holy Spirit and which began only at Pentecost? An answer to these questions can only be determined after all Old Testament passages that involve the Spirit's work have been studied. Passages mainly concerned are those which speak of one or more persons having the Spirit either come on or leave them. It will be necessary to note these passages and then make a judgment regarding the meaning in each case. In other words, the interest will be in asking in what sense the Spirit came on or left the persons concerned.
The Holy Spirit in the Old Testament pp. 39-40
The works of the Holy Spirit in Israel’s Leadership
Patriarchs
Abraham
Isaac - Gen 26.
Jacob - Gen 28:13-15.
Civil Administrators Under Mosaic Covenant
Moses - Ex 3:12; Num 11:17, 25.
Joshua - Num 27:15-18.
Judges - Judges 2:10-20.
Othniel - Judges 3:9-10.
Gideon - Judges 6:7, 34.
Jepthah - Judg 11:29.
Samson - Judges 13:25.
Craftsman
Bezalel - working on tabernacle - Ex 31:1-3.
Prophets
Azariah - 2 Ch 15:1-7.
Jahaziel - 2 Ch 20:14-17.
Zechariah - 2 Ch 24:20.
Balaam - Num 24:2.
Elijah and Elisha
14 miracles for Elisha
7 miracles for Elijah
2 Kings 2:7-14.
Elijah was the 2nd to perform miracles
Moses was the first.
Kings
Saul - 1 Sam 10:1, 6-7; 11:6; 15:24.
David - Ps 51; 1 Sam 16:13.
Solomon - 1 Ch 28:5, 20-21.
Summary
Came upon; filled - interchangeable terms.
When they were come upon, it was on leaders for different lengths of time.
Filling of, being with, coming upon - Abraham - NT is meant for leaders only. NOT FOR US NOW.
The Holy Spirit’s role in our life now is different.
There are two different kinds of filling
2 Tim - Paul did not heal friends because he no longer could. Miracles were over.
Work Related to the Gospels
Work Related to the Gospels
The work of the Spirit in relation to Christ
The agent of the virgin conception - Luke 1:35; Mt 1:20.
And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.
The result was the incarnation of the God-Man
Sinless humanity with deity
Is 9:1-7.
But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.
2 The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,
on them has light shone.
3 You have multiplied the nation;
you have increased its joy;
they rejoice before you
as with joy at the harvest,
as they are glad when they divide the spoil.
4 For the yoke of his burden,
and the staff for his shoulder,
the rod of his oppressor,
you have broken as on the day of Midian.
5 For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult
and every garment rolled in blood
will be burned as fuel for the fire.
6 For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and of peace
there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
to establish it and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
The Spirit gave Him wisdom
Is 11.
There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse,
and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.
2 And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him,
the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and might,
the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.
3 And his delight shall be in the fear of the Lord.
He shall not judge by what his eyes see,
or decide disputes by what his ears hear,
4 but with righteousness he shall judge the poor,
and decide with equity for the meek of the earth;
and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth,
and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.
5 Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist,
and faithfulness the belt of his loins.
6 The wolf shall dwell with the lamb,
and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat,
and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together;
and a little child shall lead them.
7 The cow and the bear shall graze;
their young shall lie down together;
and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
8 The nursing child shall play over the hole of the cobra,
and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder’s den.
9 They shall not hurt or destroy
in all my holy mountain;
for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord
as the waters cover the sea.
10 In that day the root of Jesse, who shall stand as a signal for the peoples—of him shall the nations inquire, and his resting place shall be glorious.
11 In that day the Lord will extend his hand yet a second time to recover the remnant that remains of his people, from Assyria, from Egypt, from Pathros, from Cush, from Elam, from Shinar, from Hamath, and from the coastlands of the sea.
12 He will raise a signal for the nations
and will assemble the banished of Israel,
and gather the dispersed of Judah
from the four corners of the earth.
13 The jealousy of Ephraim shall depart,
and those who harass Judah shall be cut off;
Ephraim shall not be jealous of Judah,
and Judah shall not harass Ephraim.
14 But they shall swoop down on the shoulder of the Philistines in the west,
and together they shall plunder the people of the east.
They shall put out their hand against Edom and Moab,
and the Ammonites shall obey them.
15 And the Lord will utterly destroy
the tongue of the Sea of Egypt,
and will wave his hand over the River
with his scorching breath,
and strike it into seven channels,
and he will lead people across in sandals.
16 And there will be a highway from Assyria
for the remnant that remains of his people,
as there was for Israel
when they came up from the land of Egypt.
He was full of the Spirit
Luke 3:21 - Beginning of ministry - miracles were done in the Spirit.
Luke 4:1.
Tongues was a gift used only for specific purposes of revealing to others that people are not dirty now, but clean.
The tongues of 1 Cor 15 is different. He condemns this gibberish.
The Spirit anointed Him
Luke 4:16 - Announcement of His ministry
The Spirit empowered Him
Luke 5:17.
Acts 1:16-18; 2:1.
The Work of the Spirit in Others
John the Baptist - Luke 1:11-16.
Elizabeth - Luke 1:41-43.
Zecharias - Luke 1:67.
John 7:37-39.
John 20:19-20; Luke 24:49 (Acts 1:8)
Work Related to Acts
Work Related to Acts
Introductory Material
Luke used two distinct phrases to describe the Spirit’s activity in Acts (and Gospel of Luke)
The two phrases describe the activities of the Spirit
The phrases are:
Pimplemi Pneumatos agiou - Filled with the Holy Spirit
Pleres pneumatos agiou - Full of the Holy Spirit
Full of the Holy Spirit
Acts 6:3-8; 7:55.
3 Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. 4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” 5 And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. 6 These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them.
7 And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.
8 And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people.
But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.
Seven Hellenistic Jews were selected to assist the Apostles
One requirement was that they were to be “full of the Holy Spirit.”
In the book of Acts, this expression of BEING FULL of the Spirit is connected to one’s character rather than a momentary empowerment that results in some specific task of ministry.
Being FULL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT is an expression of one’s character.
However, both Stephen and Philip performed miracles (also used of Christ)
Summary of Dr. Arp’s view
The phrase “full of the Spirit” describes a permanent condition.
It appears to refer to a characteristic of a person’s life.
The use of “full of” with other nouns in Acts supports this. Stephen was full of grace and power in 6:8. In Acts 13:10, Elymas was full of deceit and villany. In Acts 19:28, the silversmiths were full of rage.
In each case, Luke is describing a characteristic, and not a temporary condition.
Filled with the Holy Spirit
Acts 2:4.1
On the Day of Pentecost, the disciples were suddenly filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues.
The verb “filled” in verse four is used in the NT of believers who are enabled to speak in tongues.
The speaking in tongues was the direct result of being filled with the Spirit.
Acts 4:31.
Peter and John were told by the Sanhedrin not to speak or teach in the name of Jesus
While praying with other believers, the believers were filled with the Holy Spirit.
This filling gave them the boldness to continue to preach in the face of persecution.
Acts 9:17.
Paul was filled with the Holy Spirit in the house of Judas
This filling enabled Paul to speak in the Synagogues (Vs. 20).
This filling was necessary for the prophetic service that Paul would have as indicated in verse 15.
Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, was endowed to speak or preach as well as having miracles.
Acts 13:9.
Elymas the sorcerer was attempting to turn Sergius Paulus from listening to the Word of God.
Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, judged Him.
He discerned the intent and nature of his heart and rebuked him for his attempt to turn the proconsul away from the Lord.
Some argue this ministry of judgment came from a temporary filling with the Holy Spirit.
Acts 11:15 (10:44) fell upon and filling
The Holy Spirit fell upon Cornelius and friends
The ministry of the Holy Spirit is related to what happened to the disciples at Pentecost
Luke uses fell upon and filled interchangeably in this context.
Both phrases refer to supernatural activity resulting from the work of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 19:1-7.
Saved disciples of John the Baptist are preaching the gospel of the kingdom at Ephesus.
After learning about the Holy Spirit and Christ (vs 2) they were baptized in water.
Paul laid hands upon them and the Holy Spirit came upon them.
This ministry of the Holy Spirit resulted in tongues and prophecying.
C/B like filling at Pentecost
C/B like fell upon in Acts 11:15.
Summary
The phrase “filled with the Spirit” in Acts apparently described a ministry of the Spirit which conveys the power of the preaching.
It has also been defined as an instantaneous filing of the Spirit resulting in inspired utterances.
It appears that this experience in Acts is limited to the apostolic community.
Filled with the Spirit refers to a momentary experience of the Spirit coming upon someone for a specific period of time and a specific ministry.
Conclusion
Conclusion
The Phrase “Filled with the Spirit’ appears to describe a sudden filling of the Holy Spirit which results in miraculous activity.
This describes the activity of the Holy Spirit empowering men
It involves enablement for a task.
The apostles were equipped for the purpose of communicating the Word of God.
The phrase “Full of the Spirit” can also pictures miraculous activity.
Application
Application
