Sunday, March 30, 2014 am
BACK TO BASICS – 12
The Godhead – 5
What is the Work of the Holy Spirit? Today
We have been
discussing the Godhead this month.
The past 2 weeks we have been studying the Holy Spirit.
We have noted that learning of Him is a challenge.
He is different than God the Father and God the Son, yet He is
God and a distinct being in the Godhead.
On author noted that Jesus left “footprints in the sand” becoming
a man, but the Holy Spirit did not.
Even Jesus said of Him, “The wind blows where it wishes, and
you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where
it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” (John 3:8)
To us He is like the wind, but
very much He has made His presence known.
AND while there may be some mystery in understanding Him, there
are things we are taught about Him in the Bible.
Last week we
examined His work in times past. We noted His work in the life of Jesus,
and discussed in detail His work of miracles. We also noted His part in
inspiration – both the Old Testament prophets and New Testament apostles
and writers (who were inspired – not all were) had the Holy Spirit
guiding them as they taught and wrote the message of God’s word.
But that still leads
to the question – what about today?
As with His person, there is much debate over how He dwells
within us and how He guides us.
I will admit that I do not have a full understanding of His work,
but there are certain elements that we should eliminate as we seek to
understand how He works AND there are thing we are told that He does for
us. With that in mind,
let us discuss His work today.
a.
When we
obey the gospel we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38).
While there is debate as to exactly what that involves (is He the
gift or is it salvation - the gift He provides?) we know that it is not
a miraculous indwelling. We
also know that the Holy Spirit is instrumental in our salvation AND in
some way He dwells within us (i.e. He influences us).
b.
His
work in our salvation – 1 Cor.
6:11 – when we obey the gospel we are both sanctified and justified “in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.”
Holy Spirit has a part in our salvation!
Jesus specifically instructed His apostles to baptize “in the name of
the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit” (Matt. 28:19).
He purifies our souls – 1 Pet. 1:22, “Since you have purified
your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of
the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart,” This
purification is associated with God’s grace in our salvation – it is His
part in making us clean.
Titus 3:4-5 says “But when the kindness and the love of God our
Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have
done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of
regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,” (Titus 3:4–5,
NKJV)
John 3:5, “Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one
is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.”
NOTE: IT is possible that being born of the Spirit is receiving
the gift from the Spirit (salvation)
c.
He
intercedes for us
- Romans 8:26, “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our
weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but
the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot
be uttered.”
This verse is of great comfort as it describes His part as we pray to
God. NOTE: Jesus also intercedes
for us – Heb. 2:17-18, Heb. 7:25 – “He always lives to make intercession
for them” (those who come to God through Him).
d.
He
convicts the world of sin, righteousness and judgment – John 16:7-11. Jesus was
explaining that He would do this when He came.
e.
He
bears witness – 1 John 5:6
says, “This is He who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not only
by water, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who bears
witness, because the Spirit is truth.”
f.
He
leads us – Rom. 8:14, “For
as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.”
The idea of leading us is that He
goes before us and gives us direction.
g.
He
strengthens us – Eph. 3:16, “that
He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be
strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man,”
h.
He
sanctifies us – “And such
were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you
were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our
God.” (1 Corinthians 6:11).
The spirit sanctifying and justifying us means that He is
instrumental in setting us apart to God.
I am convinced this is a part of His cleansing and purifying us
(hence our salvation).
i.
He
dwells in us – Romans 8:9-11,
1 Cor. 6:19-20, Ac. 5:32 – that He dwells within us is clearly taught.
The question is HOW? While we may not fully understand it, there are
some conclusions we can reach.
For example we need to understand that the way He dwells within
us is NOT:
i.
Though
feelings or enlightenment.
We hear many today say “God led me” in a particular decision.
Feelings are a dangerous source of authority.
ii.
Through
visions or dreams.
iii.
Through
giving us special “enlightenment.”
Such as the teachings of Calvinism.
Some teach that you cannot understand the word of God unless the
Holy Spirit enlightens you.
This presents problems on many fronts.
i.
While
there are things the Holy Spirit does for us which are not directly
related to how He influences us (i.e. He intercedes for us, He purifies
our souls, etc. – NOTE: These are things He does OUTSIDE of us ), in
those ways that He DOES influence us – it is related to His word.
ii.
We need to
understand that the Holy Spirit is NOT the word and the word is NOT the
Holy Spirit. BUT, the word
of God IS the instrument through which He influences us today.
As I understand scripture, you cannot separate His influence from
His word.
iii.
Consider
the following things the word does that we have already discussed
concerning the Holy Spirit.
a.
The
word saves us -
Romans 1:16 describes the gospel as “the power of God unto salvation.” I
contend that the way the Holy Spirit influences us today is THROUGH the
word.
James 1:21, “Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and
receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your
souls “
The word purifies our souls
– notice again and continue reading 1 Pet. 1:22-23, “Since you have
purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere
love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart,
having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible,
through the word of God which lives and abides forever,”
Notice how we are purified through the Spirit by obeying the TRUTH!
Furthermore, it is emphasized that we are born again of
incorruptible seed THROUGH the word of God.
1 Cor. 4:15 says the Corinthians were begotten through the gospel.
b.
It
convicts the world of sin, righteousness and judgment by revealing these subjects.
On Pentecost, Peter preached to them and they were “cut to the heart”
(Ac. 2:37). What pricked
their hearts? It was the
message they had just HEARD.
c.
The
word testifies or bears witness
– Note that 1 John 5:6 says that “the Spirit is truth.”
John 5:39, Jesus taught that the scriptures bore witness of Him.
The word of God is the starting point of where we learn about Him.
d.
The
word leads us – Psalm 119:105,
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”
e.
The
word strengthens us - Col.
2:6-7 – “As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so
walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as
you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.”
f.
The
word sanctifies us – John
17:17 – “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.”
g.
The
word of Christ is to dwell in us
– Col. 3:16, “Let the word of
Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one
another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in
your hearts to the Lord.”
NOTE: In scripture we are told that
God the Father dwells in us – John 14:23 says that if we love Jesus,
both He and the Father will “make
our home with him.”
Jesus dwells in us – Gal. 2:20, Eph. 3:17 which says that Christ dwells
in our hearts.
And we have just noted that the word of God dwells in us.
JUST as God the Father, the Son and the Word dwell in us, I am convinced
it is in this same way the Spirit dwells in us.
He influences us and that is related to His word.
He doesn’t take over our lives.
We need to let Him lead us – Rom. 8:12-14,
“Therefore,
brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the
flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by
the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as
many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.”
I repeat that this is not some miraculous indwelling – rather it
is His influence.
We need to determine to walk as He instructs!
Romans 8:1 says, “There is therefore now no condemnation to
those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh,
but according to the Spirit.”
We need to dwell on the things of the Spirit.
Romans 8:5–6 “For those who live according to the flesh set
their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to
the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is
death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.”
But HOW do we do this? We
appeal to the word of God.
Ephesians 6:17 says, “And take the helmet of salvation, and the
sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;”
Consider Galatians 5:16-25.
IT begins, “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not
fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit,
and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another,
so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by
the Spirit, you are not under the law.” (16-18)
After this Paul discusses what it
is to walk in the flesh – it is to be carried away by the works of the
flesh. Then in vs. 22-25 we
find the fruit of the Spirit that we are to live within.
NOW how do we learn about the qualities of the flesh and godliness?
It is THROUGH the word He has revealed to us.
We learn the qualities we are to strive to develop and the
qualities we are to strive to avoid. That is how the Spirit will
influence us today.
And there we have a
brief examination of the work of the Holy Spirit today.
Like God the Father and Jesus the Son He ought to dwell in our
lives. For that to
happen, we must strive to obey the Gospel – both in becoming children of
God and remaining faithful as such.
What influence does He have in your life?