What Else Does the Holy Spirit Do?

Moody was to have a campaign in England. An elderly pastor protested, "Why do we need this 'Mr. Moody'? He's uneducated, inexperienced, etc. Who does he think he is anyway? Does he think he has a monopoly on the Holy Spirit?" A younger, wiser pastor rose and responded, "No, but the Holy Spirit has a monopoly on Mr. Moody."

Source Unknown.

The Holy Spirit is a living and active being who is involved in our lives on a day to day, moment by moment basis.

We now know, having studied, that the Holy Spirit IS A PERSON, a being.

The Spirit is also God.

The Spirit lives in PERFECT community within the Trinity, within the Godhead. He submits, willingly to the Father’s authority. He glorifies the Son.

We know he was involved in the creation of the world.

We know he is involved in revealing truth to man.

We have seen and considered his role and working in the OT, one that was NOT a permanent indwelling, but one that he would COME UPON specific people, for specific tasks, for a specific amount of time. Usually upon the leaders that God would call.

We have seen The Spirit’s work in gospels, His role with Christ, and throughout Christ’s ministry and life time.

NOW, we turn to the time period AFTER Christ.

We going to skip (for now) his work throughout the time of Acts and His role with the church in filling. We will return to that next week as it will be the springboard for our discussion in how to walk in the Spirit.

For this week, we are going to consider some other ministries of the Spirit as it relates to the Church, to us.

Body

Regeneration

Definition: Regeneration is a supernatural instantaneous act of God, which imparts new life to the believer. (Also - Eternal Life)

Usage

The word regeneration, paliggenesia is found twice in the NT.

Titus 3:4-7.

Titus 3:4–7 ESV

4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Matthew 19:27-28.

Matthew 19:27–28 ESV

Then Peter said in reply, “See, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?” Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

New world - Regeneration. Same Greek word.

The term means, to be born again.

Means NEW.

New man; new world.

Amplification

It is the work of the Holy Spirit

This work of making things new, whether it is man or the world, creation… is a work of the Holy Spirit.

Titus 3:5 - Stresses impartation of new life.

We saw in this verse that this new life, this regeneration is an act of who? THE HOLY SPIRIT.

Titus 3:5 ESV

5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,

It is the work of the HOLY Spirit that enables this.

What is so incredible is what is involved in this….

2 Peter 1:4.

2 Peter 1:1–4 ESV

1 Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ: 2 May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. 3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.

This regeneration, which imparts new life, makes us partakers of the divine nature.

We share in the divine nature of God because we have been made new, cleansed, and indwelt with His Spirit (which we will get to in a moment).

Eph 4:24 - we have put on the new self, created in the likeness of God in true holiness and righteousness. While we not yet delivered from the presence of sin (we still live in corrupt flesh), we HAVE been given a new nature that allows us to draw near to God and desire God, to grow in His likeness and become like Him.

We share in HIS DIVINE NATURE even while we still wrestle with the flesh.

It has provided an escape from the corruption that is in the world because of sin.

We are not longer bound by sin, by the passions of the world. We are no longer enslaved to it, to obey it, but we are able to walk in holiness and righteousness and in seeking Christ.

Eph 2:1-10.

Ephesians 2:1–10 ESV

1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

We are not longer DEAD in our sins…as we once were.

We have been regenerated, made new, given new life

And God is continuing his work in us to shape us and make us into His image.

BUT, it is by the WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT that this regeneration, this new life happens.

It happens instantaneously, but has abiding results.

Propitiation - 1 John 2:1-6; 3:4-6; 4:7-5:13.

1 John 2:1–6 ESV

1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. 3 And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, 5 but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: 6 whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.

Propitiation

Essentially this word means appeasement.

God’s anger against our sin is appeased, is satisfied based upon what Jesus on the cross.

This new life, this regeneration that is given to us by the work of the Holy Spirit when we repent and believe, comes with ONGOING appeasement of God’s wrath against our sin because our sin has ONCE AND FOR ALL been dealt with. God’s wrath against it is PERMANENTLY SATISFIED IN JESUS.

The Spirit is the agent by which this new life, this regeneration happens to those who repent and believe.

Indwelling

The Spirit permanently takes up residence within every believer in Christ

1 Cor 6:19-20.

1 Corinthians 6:19–20 ESV

19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

The thing that OUGHT to captivate and stun us is that our bodies ARE A LIVING TEMPLE…that we ARE the HOLY of HOLIES….we ARE THE Ark of the Covenant….We ARE the very dwelling place of the infinite and almighty God.

Romans 8:9.

Romans 8:9 ESV

9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.

As children of God, as believers, as Christians WE HAVE the Spirit’s PERMENANT indwelling within us.

Gal 4:5.

This holds true for sinning believers in Christ

1 Cor 6:19-20.

Absence of the Spirit indicates an unsaved condition.

Rom 8:9.

Jude 19.

Jude 19 ESV

19 It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit.

Obviously, because this is unseen, none of us can confirm the indwelling of the Spirit in another…

And yet…

Have you not had those moments when you met a stranger, a fellow believer, who you need almost immediately that they were a fellow Spirit indwelt follower?

There is fellowship with the Spirit, within the body and the Spirit unites us.

When did indwelling begin?

At Pentecost - John 14:17; Acts 11:14-17.

John 14:17 ESV

17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.

And WILL BE in you…

Happens at Pentecost

And as the apostles establish the church, if often waited and happened at their coming and request to validate the authenticity of the church that God was starting.

Acts 11:14–17 ESV

14 he will declare to you a message by which you will be saved, you and all your household.’ 15 As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as on us at the beginning. 16 And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ 17 If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?”

The permanent indwelling DID NOT BEGIN until after Jesus’ ascension….which is why he kept saying he had to go in order to send the helper.

What is the difference between indwelling and omnipresence?

Indwelling is that the Spirit lives within THOSE WHO ARE HIS. He does not indwell unbelievers.

His indwelling does not change or limit, or alter his omnipresence, that he is STILL everywhere present at all times.

For unbelievers, though, his presence is external…not internal. For us…it is both.

Baptism

Definition - Every believer is baptized with the Holy Spirit, which places the believer into the body of Christ

The baptism of the Spirit is a singular event that upon our faith, upon our repentance, upon His generation and indwelling, He also places up within the body of Christ.

Scripture

1 Cor 12:13.

1 Corinthians 12:13 ESV

13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.

Gal 3:27.

Galatians 3:27 ESV

27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

Eph 4:5.

Ephesians 4:5 ESV

5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism,

The baptism of the Holy Spirit began at Pentecost - John 14:17; Acts 11:14-17.

As we saw with indwelling, this baptism of the Spirit began at Pentecost.

The Spirit places us in the the Body of Christ, the church

Gal 3:27.

1 Cor 12:13.

This doctrine is only found in the NT and is unique to the church age.

This is a unique attribute to this dispensation and time. We are united AS ONE BODY in Christ through this baptism which comes as part of the salvation process.

Sealing

The believer is sealed with, or in the Spirit at the moment of regeneration.

The Holy Spirit is the seal.

Sealing is not commanded of us, nor something to be sought after, it occurs automatically when the individual is regenerated.

Sealing conveys the idea of ownership, but is also guarantees the believer’s security.

Summary

The work of the Holy Spirit in regeneration, indwelling, baptizing, and sealing relates to the believer’s standing.

These doctrinal truths are not abolished by any failures in our daily walk

Spirit is involved in everyday walk.

Eph 4:30 - Eternal security

Ephesians 4:30 ESV

30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

Eph 1:13 - Future inheritance

Ephesians 1:13 ESV

13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,

Again, this sealing speaks to the concept and reality of eternal security. Those who are God’s, are God’s forever. Nothing can take it away.

The Spirit, His indwelling IS THE ASSURANCE that God will not forsake us.

2 Tim 2:13 - He cannot deny Himself. His Spirit lives within.

We may make some horrendous decisions and mistakes, we may fail miserable while still living in the flesh, but the work regeneration, the reality of the baptism, the assurance of the sealing CANNOT BE UNDONE.

Spiritual Gifts

Definition - Spiritual gifts are God-given abilities for service

What are some of the spiritual gifts mentioned in scripture?

Teaching

Serving

Hospitality

Evangelism

Mercy

Compassion

Administration

Healing

Tongues

Prophecy

Charismata

Means gift of grace

Spiritual gifts =

Charisma

Mata

Charismata

Grace gift

Used in salvation

Rom 5:15.

Romans 5:15 ESV

15 But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many.

Rom 6:23.

Romans 6:23 ESV

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The same word we see here being used in reference to salvation IS ALSO used in reference to special gifts given to each member of the body.

Scripture

Rom 12:6-8.

Romans 12:6–8 ESV

6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.

Prophecy

Service

Teaching

Exhortation

Giving

Leading

Mercy

1 Cor 12:8-10, 28-30.

1 Corinthians 12:8–10 ESV

8 For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.

1 Corinthians 12:28–30 ESV

28 And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?

Wisdom

Knowledge

Healing

Miracles

Prophecy

Tongues

Interpretation of Tongues

Apostle

Prophets

Teachers

Eph 4:11-12.

Ephesians 4:11–12 ESV

11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,

Apostles

Prophets

Evangelists

Shepherds

Teachers

Three Main Views

All gifts are in operation today

Some gifts are in operation today

No gifts are in operation today

My view - NOT a hard secessionist anymore…though IF sign gifts are still in use, I believe it to be minimal, selective, circumstantial. BUT I am not dogmatic that all sign gifts are ended or cannot be used today.

Distribution: The Holy Spirit sovereignly distributes spiritual gifts

Development

The primary responsibility of every believer is not to try to discover his gift, but to seek to grow in grace.

2 Peter 3:18 - As each believer grows in grace, his abilities for service will become evidence to everyone.

2 Peter 3:18 ESV

18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

The belief that one possesses a spiritual gift does not relieve one of the responsibility to develop this ability for service.

Single state (singleness) was considered a gift of grace - 1 Cor 7:7.

Other passages

1 Peter 4:10.

Rom 11:29.

Rom 12:6.

1 Cor 1:7.

1 Cor 12:4.

1 Cor 12:9.

1 Cor 12:28.

1 Cor 12:30-31.

2 Tim 1:16.

Work Related to the Future

His restraint will be removed at the rapture - 2 Thessalonians 2:6-7.

2 Thessalonians 2:1–12 ESV

1 Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers, 2 not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. 3 Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, 4 who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. 5 Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? 6 And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, 10 and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, 12 in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

This also explains why the time of tribulation will be so bad.

The Spirit will cease his restraining work. Because of his omnipresence and his presence with the witnesses and those who will be saved during that time, he is still somewhat present, but even now the Spirit works to restrain evil. During these days, he will cease that. Evil will have a free ticket to do as it will.

He will be involved in the salvation of many during the tribulation - Zech 12:10; Is 44:3; Eze 36:25-27.

Zechariah 12:10 ESV

10 “And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn.

Isaiah 44:3 ESV

3 For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour my Spirit upon your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants.

Ezekiel 36:25–27 ESV

25 I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. 26 And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.

During this tribulation time, God returns His primary focus to His people, Israel, and he will redeem them for Himself.

These scriptures will be fulfilled.

The Spirit WILL have a hand in that convicting and redeeming work with His people.

He will be at work during the millennium

Upon the King - Is 11:1-3.

Isaiah 11:1–3 ESV

1 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,

The Father, Son, and Spirit are eternally one.

Even as Christ reigns in the future, the Spirit has a hand and role in that.

Upon the subjects - Is 32:15.

Isaiah 32:15 ESV

15 until the Spirit is poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness becomes a fruitful field, and the fruitful field is deemed a forest.

For all eternity, the Spirit’s hand is upon us; the Spirit is present with us; the Spirit as at work with us. His presence never diminishes.

Conclusion

Big Idea: This ministry of the Holy Spirit is unique in the dispensation of the Church Age.

The Spirit always has been and always will be active in creation. He is not a passive member of the Trinity. He is not a mere force. He has had, has now, and forever will have a role that is central in all of creation.

In this truth, may we worship and submit ourselves to Him who is actively at work in us helping us grow together to become more like Jesus for the glory of God!

Application

What stands out to you most from the study of the Spirit today and why?

Why is regeneration so necessary for the Christian life?

Without it, we would have no power, desire, or ability to walk in righteousness and truth. Without new life, we are still dead, incapable and unwilling.

Why is it so significant that we “partakers of the divine nature?” What implications does this have for our day to day lives?

To share in the divine nature of God is such a profound mystery

It is such a profound PRIVILEGE and blessing.

We ought never to feel like we lack for anything when this is true.

It has implications for where we spend our time and energy and resources.

It has implications for that which we value and hold dear.

It has implications for when we face temptation

It has implications for when we deal with loss and grief, sorrow and struggle.

It has implications for how we view our future

It has implications for how we view our purpose now

It has implications for how we view our identity.

In what way(s) have we escaped the corruption of this world? How do you reconcile that truth with the fact that we still sin every day?

Romans 6 - We are dead to sin. We are freed from it’s power. We do NOT have to yield to its enticements and desires.

1 Peter 1 - We have an eternal inheritance reserved for us. What we have waiting cannot be corrupted, cannot decay, will not fade.

Eph 1 - We have every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. We have far more than this world can offer or deliver.

We have everything we need to live free of sin and it’s corrupting influence. We have a present and future secured from corruption because of the work of the cross.

How do we practically live out the reality of our divine nature and escape from corruption?

Fight the daily battle of minimizing distraction

Kill our idols daily

Repent and live humbly daily

Reflect and mediate daily on the cross

Obey

Serve

Love others

Spend quality and quantity time with God, with the body.

Fight complacency and apathy.

How should the reality of the Spirit’s indwelling affect our day to day living? What practical steps can we take to live out this reality?

Same as above really. Changes our priorities, our values, what we invest our time and resources in.

We have to choose to live with a different set of priorities than the rest of the world and sometimes than the rest of “Christians.”

We have to choose to value that which God values and live for it despite what the rest of the world does.

Why is the baptism of the Holy Spirit so significant?

It give us community, belonging. It places in a home, a family. It connects us to one another. It forever links with us with God and with all those who are His.

How does the truth of the Holy Spirit’s sealing enable and empower us for daily ministry?

We serve and minister, not in our own might and wisdom, but in His. If we are but quiet enough and in tune enough with the Spirit, He will lead, guide, and empower us to do the very tasks that God commands.

How do spiritual gifts differ from natural talents?

Even unbelievers have natural talents, or talents that they have trained themselves in.

Spiritual gifts are given ONLY to the children of God and are distinct. While natural or trained talents can be a tool for ministry, spiritual gifts are designed and intended SPECIFICALLY for believers to serve the Lord and others with.

What comfort do you get for today from the fact that the Spirit still has a hand in future events?

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