Sealed By the Spirit

Introduction:

This is a continuation of the previous lesson when we looked at the Possession's that we "have" in Christ. All of these wonderful truths are capped off by the fact that we are "sealed" by the holy Spirit of God.

Illustration: How in days past they use to seal letters with hot wax and then pressed their seal into the hot wax. In a similar sense we are sealed, but not with wax. We are sealed by the Spirit of God.

Romans 8:9 KJV 1900

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.

Galatians 4:6 KJV 1900

And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

Who is the Holy Spirit? - A distinct person of the Godhead

1 John 5:7 KJV 1900

For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

1. Knowledge is Ascribed to Him

1 Corinthians 2:10–11 KJV 1900

But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.

2. He has a will

1 Corinthians 2:11 KJV 1900

For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.

3. He has feelings

Ephesians 4:30 KJV 1900

And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

4. He Prays

Romans 8:26 KJV 1900

Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

R.A. Torrey - “…what a holy joy must come into our hearts when we grasp the thought that there is a divine person, one who never errs, who is willing to take possession of us and impart to us such gifts as He sees best and to use us according to His wise and loving will.

So many times we have the idea that we need to get a grasp of the Power of the Holy Spirit when the reality is we need to surrender our will and allow the Holy Spirit to get a grasp on us!

How do I know that I have the Holy Spirit?

Feelings? Tongues? Miracles? -

What is the Charismatic movement and When did it get started?

Started in the early 1900’s and was originally rejected by a majority of Evangelicals

R.A. Torrey said Pentecostalism is “emphatically not of God, and founded by a sodomite.”

G. Campbell Morgan called Azusa Street Pentecostalism “the last vomit of Satan.”

Merrill Unger represented the predominant view in the 1960’s when he called the Charismatic Movement “widespread confusion.” He said: “When the Word of God is given preeminence and when sound Bible doctrine, especially in the sphere of the theology of the Holy Spirit is stressed and made the test of experience, the claims of charismatic Christianity will be rejected.”

Many of the evangelicals that have adopted a positive view of the Charismatic movement do not call themselves Charismatic. The term “third wave” was coined in the 1980s by Fuller Seminary professor Peter Wagner. The Third Wave is characterized by the following:

* An acceptance of “tongues speaking” as legitimate even though it is mere gibberish * An openness to divine healing as something promised by God * A yearning for experiential worship that involves yielding to sensual contemporary music * A focus on charismatic style spiritual warfare, including the concept of territorial spirits that must be identified and bound by prayer before evangelism can be successful * An openness to the continued gift of prophecy * An ecumenical mindset

How is it different from the true Bible doctrine of the Spirit of God?

1. The Sign Gifts were real languages (not some Heavenly Prayer language)

Acts 2:6–10 KJV 1900

Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,

2. They were for the Jew to authenticate the church

1 Corinthians 14:20–22 KJV 1900

Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men. In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord. Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.

3. They were bound by Apostolic Direction

No Women Speaking, By Course, Interpretation, No Confusion, etc…)

I. There is the Promise of the Holy Spirit

“that holy Spirit of Promise”

The Holy Spirit ministered differently in previous dispensations but Jesus promised that in the Church (after the transition period of the Apostles and Miracles of the early church) the Holy Spirit would literally indwell the believer.

Old Testament Example:

Joseph was filled and used

Genesis 41:38 KJV 1900

And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is?

Saul was filled and the Spirit departed from him

1 Samuel 16:14 KJV 1900

But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him.

David prayed something similar - possibly in relation to what he had witnessed in Saul’s life

Psalm 51:11 KJV 1900

Cast me not away from thy presence; And take not thy holy spirit from me.

New Testament Promise (Baptism of the Holy Spirit):

Matthew 3:11 KJV 1900

I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:

Acts 1:5 KJV 1900

For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

One for the Jew - Pentecost

Acts 2:1–3 KJV 1900

And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

One for the Gentile - Cornelius’ house

Acts 10:44–47 KJV 1900

While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?

There are thousands of promises in the Word of God, but one of the most amazing is that during the Church age (right now), God promised to send his Holy Spirit to live inside the believer - to literally indwell!

1 Corinthians 6:19 KJV 1900

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?

II. There is the Possession of the Holy Spirit

“after that ye believed”

There is a sequence here that tells us how we recieved the Holy Spirit.

1 Corinthians 12:13 KJV 1900

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.

Contrast this with being “filled with the Spirit”

2 Timothy 2:19–21 KJV 1900

Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.

The Holy Spirit dwells in our vessel!

III. There is a Payment of the Holy Spirit

“the earnest of our inheritance”

The down payment on what we will eventually inherit was and is the Holy Spirit of God. The Bible promised that the Holy Spirit would come and dwell in the believer. The Bible promised that we would be partakers of the benefits of such a possession and we know since we have what has already been promised we will posses what has been promised for us in the future!

“until the redemption of the purchased possession”

This is not referring to a future “Salvation” it is referring to a future reality and full experience of the Redemption that we already possess!

1 Corinthians 13:12 KJV 1900

For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

Illustration: Putting an Earnest deposit down on a home when you get ready to buy one.

Conclusion:

Thank God we are sealed with the Holy Spirit! Thank God we do not have to hope we are saved! Thank God we can know we are saved!

Illustration: SOMEONE ASKED AN ASTRONAUT, “How does it feel inside the space capsule?” The Astronaut replied, “it really makes you think, when everything is done according to the lowest bidder. It really makes you think!”

Thankfully our security is not left to the “lowest bidder” it is resting on the Holy Spirit of God!