The Ministry of the Holy Spirit

Transcript

GR 1579
10/17/10
The Ministry of the Holy Spirit
Selected Verses
Gil Rugh

We've been studying the book of Acts together and we're in chapter 2 on the coming of the Holy Spirit. And I want to just take a little break in the flow of our study of Acts and just overview a little bit of the ministry of the Holy Spirit. He comes in a special and unique way in Acts 2 but the Holy Spirit has been present in the world and active from the creation. In fact the Holy Spirit Himself was active in bringing creation into existence. So just want to look at some of His work in the Old Testament and then review some of His actions in our conversion before in our next study we proceed on with our study of the book of Acts and Peter's sermon there.

Come back to Genesis 1, and we can't do a study of the doctrine of the Holy Spirit but we can just overview a couple of items. But at the very beginning, Genesis 1:1, in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and void and darkness was over the surface of the deep. And note and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters. So you have the presence of the Holy Spirit and I take it His presence in moving over the waters there indicates His involvement in the creation.

Jump over to Isaiah 40:12. Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand and marked off the heavens by the span and calculated the dust of the earth by measure and weighed the mountains in a balance and the hills in a pair of scales. Who has directed the Spirit of the Lord or as His counselor has informed Him? You see it's the Spirit of God who is directly active in these matters. As you talk about measuring the waters, marking off the heavens, being able to measure the dust and weigh the mountains and the hills, it's followed up with who has directed the Spirit of the Lord. Well the Father directs His Spirit, the Spirit being Himself a person, being Himself divine but distinct from the Father, yet God also. And in this context that includes His work in the creation and sovereignty in that way. And He goes on to His present work in the world. The Holy Spirit has always been the direct agent in the world of God's work, from the beginning of the creation. We know from the New Testament God the Father created the worlds through God the Son, but we also know from the scriptures that the Holy Spirit was the immediate agent there in bringing about the intention of God the Father through God the Son. Here we're told who has directed the Spirit of the Lord or as His counselor has informed Him. No one. This is a matter that takes place within the counsels of the triune God and God the Spirit is perfectly carrying out the intentions of God the Father, God the Son. And so back at the very beginning of creation.

So we come to a passage like Acts 2 we talk about the Holy Spirit coming and Christ will send the Holy Spirit. He promises that again in Acts 1. Understand that is for a unique and special ministry but not the fact that He has been absent in the world and not actively involved. He has been from the very first verses of Genesis in bringing the creation into existence.
There are a number of areas in the Old Testament where you see the Holy Spirit working with and through individuals. Let's look at some of these examples. In Exodus 31 He enabled men in the Old Testament to do special skilled tasks for His purposes. In the building of the temple, Exodus 31:1, a simple verse. Now the Lord spoke to Moses saying, see I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri the son of Hur of the tribe of Judah. I have filled him with the Spirit of God. This is a craftsman to be enabled to do a skilled trade. I have filled him with the Spirit of God in wisdom, in understanding and in knowledge and in all kinds of craftsmanship to make artistic designs for work in gold, in silver, in bronze and in the cutting of stones for settings and in the carving of wood that he may work in all kinds of craftsmanship. And I have appointed with him, then the different individuals who will assist him. And then in the middle of that, in the hearts of all who are skillful I have put skill. So this one man specially enabled by the Spirit of God to do the work of craftsmanship for the temple. It's not just a natural skill; it is a supernaturally inspired skill. And we can be sure that the craftsmanship in those articles designed for the tabernacle was of exquisite craftsmanship. Because here the Holy Spirit came to enable him. Verse 3, I have filled him with the Spirit of God in wisdom, in understanding, knowledge for all kinds of craftsmanship. So that wisdom, understanding and knowledge would be specifically in how you do this. And then the men who would work with him.

That's repeated over in Exodus 35 as a reminder. Verse 30, Moses said to the sons of Israel; see the Lord has called by name Bezalel the son of Uri and so on. Why? Verse 31, he has filled him with the Spirit of God. And he repeats what was said earlier. A reminder, this is a man who has a special responsibility in the construction of the tabernacle and the making of articles for the tabernacle. And he is filled with the Spirit of God to do it. And so the Spirit of God actively involved in this aspect of making the temple.

The Holy Spirit was at work in those who were set apart by God to judge Israel during the days of the judges. Come over to Judges 3:9, when the sons of Israel cried to the Lord, the Lord raised up a deliverer for the sons of Israel to deliver them. We call them judges. This was before the days of the kings, obviously. This one is Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother. Now note verse 10, the Spirit of the Lord came upon him and he judged Israel. So he is enabled and empowered for his role as a judge and leader in Israel by the Spirit of God.

Look over in Judges 6:34, the account of Gideon, another judge in Israel. So the Spirit of the Lord came upon Gideon. Interesting in this chapter earlier Gideon has a confrontation with the angel of the Lord which is the pre-incarnate Christ. And we see in this chapter two persons of the Godhead specifically confronting Gideon. But we are particularly interested in verse 34; the Spirit of the Lord came upon Gideon. So that supernatural empowerment by the Spirit of God.

Judges 13 we come to another judge, Samson. Verse 24, the woman gave birth to a son and named him Samson, the child grew up, the Lord blessed him and the Spirit of the Lord began to stir him. So you see directly, actively involved in God's work in the world is the Spirit of God. And as we move through the Old Testament we see this and we come to the New Testament to see His role and we see that is consistently Old and New Testament the Spirit of God who is the person of the Godhead actively involved in implementing, if you will, the intention and purposes of the Godhead. So here the Spirit of God began to stir Samson. Judges 14:6, still dealing with Samson. The Spirit of the Lord came upon him mightily; down in verse 19, the Spirit of the Lord came upon him mightily; down in chapter 15 verse 14, the Spirit of the Lord came upon him mightily. We are told on these repeated occasions that the Spirit of the Lord came upon this judge of Israel in a special way, in a powerful way to enable him for certain tasks.

In the Old Testament it was the Spirit of the Lord who enabled the prophets to prophesy. 2 Chronicles 15, here you see a prophetic ministry, not as well known as some of the major writing prophets, we'll see them in a moment. Verse 1, now the Spirit of God came upon Azariah, the son of Oded. And he went out to meet Asa and said to him, listen to me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin. The Lord is with you when you are with Him. And he goes on to give a message from God down through verse 7. So you'll note, the Spirit of God came upon this prophet and enabled him to speak the word of God to the king.

In 2 Chronicles 20, then in the midst of the assembly the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah. And he said, verse 15, listen all Judea, all the inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat, thus says the Lord to you. So you see the Spirit of the Lord came upon him so he could prophesy, give forth the word of God that he had received from the Lord to the king and the people of Israel.

Different political leaders in Israel at different times have the Spirit of God come upon them. Come back to Numbers 11. Moses has been leading Israel; Moses has been enabled and empowered by the Spirit of God for his ministry. Look in Numbers 11:16, the Lord said to Moses, gather for me seventy men from the elders of Israel, bring them to the tent of meeting, and let them take their stand there with you. Verse 17, then I will come down and speak with you there. I will take of the Spirit who is upon you and put Him on them and they shall bear the burden of the people with you so that you won't bear it all alone. Moses didn't need the help because he had the Spirit of God, but in the plan of God he will have other men join with him who will also have the ministry of the Spirit of God in their lives to enable them. So you see this supernatural enabling power going on in repeated occasions, in different settings.

Over in Numbers 27:18, so the Lord said to Moses, take Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit and lays your hands on him. Verse 20, you shall put some of your authority on him. So you see transfer of power going on here and going from Moses to Joshua we saw Moses was a man who had the Spirit of God and the Holy Spirit would be given to the seventy elders who were going to join with Moses. Now the Spirit would be passed in a special way as Joshua picked up the ministry. And he's a man in who is the Spirit. He is qualified and prepared by God for the role that he will have.

You come over to I Samuel 11. We're dealing with Saul the first king of Israel. And look at verse 6, then the Spirit of God came upon Saul mightily when he heard these words and became very angry. The Spirit of God is moving him for the role God has for him as the new king of Israel in dealing with the enemies of Israel and so on. The point here is the Spirit of God came mightily upon him. The sad case as you come over to chapter 16 verse 14, now the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, an evil spirit from the Lord terrorized him. The Spirit departed from Saul, he no longer has the blessing of God or the enabling power of God to carry out his role because he has been replaced for his disobedience. And if you read the previous verse, I Samuel 16:13, then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him, David, in the midst of his brothers and the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that time forward. You see there is a change. David is going to replace Saul and the blessing of God and the enabling power of the Spirit of God is now upon David.

One more verse on this line, come over to Psalm 51. This is the prayer of David as the introduction and title to the psalm there, introductory note—a psalm of David when Nathan the prophet came to him after he had gone in to Bathsheba. David prays, be gracious to me, oh God, according to your loving kindness, according to the greatness of your compassion. Blot out my transgression. He acknowledges his sin, verse 4. Verse 5, you come down to verse 11, do not cast me away from your presence and do not take your Holy Spirit from me. I don't want to happen to me what happened to Saul. And your blessing and empowerment with the presence of your Spirit. So you see David recognized it was the Holy Spirit of God that empowered and enabled him to be king of Israel.

And while the doctrine of the Holy Spirit is not unfolded with the clarity we have in the New Testament, the ministry of the Holy Spirit is very much present throughout the Old Testament. In the Old Testament personages the people recognized that. David recognized it here; the writers of the Old Testament recognized the work of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit and His ministry pervade the Old Testament scriptures.

Let's talk about the work of the Holy Spirit in conversion and particularly we focus on how the Holy Spirit works in specifics and details, and we have to come to the New Testament. Because the New Testament speaks of what He is doing and we can build some kind of at least understanding with Him being part and involved in the creation and His empowering and enabling men for service of a variety of kinds, from the particular skills needed to be master craftsmen for the tabernacle to ruling in Israel, the Holy Spirit is active. We come down and look at the work of the Holy Spirit in conversion and we have to come to the New Testament for any details on that.

We'll just look at the things we usually cover when we look at the acronym RIBS—regeneration, indwelling, baptism, sealing, that are all involved in our work of conversion, salvation, the work of regeneration. You come to John 3:3 with Jesus' conversation with Nicodemus. Remember Nicodemus came to Him at nighttime and said we know you are from God and no one could do the miracles and signs you are doing if you weren't from God. But Jesus answered Him and gets directly to the point. The point is truly, truly I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus said, how can a man be born again when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born? He can't, can he? Jesus answered, truly; truly I say to you that unless one is born of water and the Spirit, or perhaps water, even the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I said to you, you must be born again. Regeneration, rebirth, a second birth. You have to be born again. Nicodemus is a Jew; he is addressing the One who is the Messiah of Israel. The background of this discussion is we know you are a teacher from God, you're doing great signs. The real issue is: are you the Messiah? Jesus responded to him, Nicodemus, the bottom line is you are going to have to be born again or you will never be part of the kingdom I am going to establish. The necessity of the rebirth and it is of the Spirit. I think an easy way to take verse 5; baptism is not in view at all because that wouldn't be an issue here. Being born of water and the Spirit, the Greek conjunction translated and is the same one translated even. It can be translated either way, a little three-letter word like our English conjunction and, kai, but it also can mean even. So you can translate this unless one is born of water, even the Spirit. The water being a symbol of the Spirit.

Why would we say that? Well you turn over to John 7:38, Jesus speaking, he who believes in Me as the scripture says, from his innermost being will flow rivers of living water. But this He spoke of the Spirit. So the water here is used as a representation of the Spirit within the context of John's writing. Out of his innermost being will flow rivers of living water. This He spoke of the Spirit. I take it that would be good reason to take you have to be born of water, even the Spirit. You must be born of water by which I mean the Spirit because He is going to use that as the analogy of the Spirit. This He spoke of the Spirit to whom those who believed in Him were to receive. For the Spirit was not yet given for Christ was not yet glorified. So you have to be born again and that new birth is by an action of the Spirit of God.

Come over to Titus 3:5, He saved us, not on the basis of deed which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit. Regeneration connected to the work of the Holy Spirit. We've been washed clean from the defilement of sin, we have been made new. Regeneration, it's a work of the Spirit of God, the Spirit which He poured out on us richly through Christ our Savior.

1 Peter 1:23 says that we are born again by the living and abiding word of God. Little different word than John 3 but the same idea. John 3 talks about being born from above, 1 Peter 1:23 talks about being born again but in John 3 the context is a second birth as Nicodemus understands it.

It's by the word of God in 1 Peter 1:23, we are born again by the living and abiding word of God. Why? Because faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of Christ as Romans 10 says. So as the word of God is given, the message of Christ, the Spirit of God carries that to a heart and opens the eyes of the blinded sinner so that he might see and believe the gospel, born again by the living and abiding word of God because the Spirit of God takes the word of God to perform the work of God in the life of the one who believes. James 1:18 also refers to that new birth. So regeneration is a work of the Spirit of God. You have to be born again and we are born again through that work of the Spirit using the word of God to transform us into new creatures in Christ.

The second work of the Spirit of God in our conversion is He indwells us. These aren't necessarily in logical sequence, they all take place but we've put it together in the order of the acronym—regeneration, indwelling, baptism, sealing. Indwelling, He dwells within us. John 7 picks up a little different point from chapter 7 here. Jesus said there is coming a time when the one who believes in Him will have the Spirit of God flow from his innermost being. Verse 39, this He spoke of the Spirit whom those who believed in Him were to receive. That's what is happening in Acts 2. For the Spirit was not yet given, we have there, because Jesus was not yet glorified. So you see there is something unique about the role the Holy Spirit is going to have. He's been present from day one in the creation, actively involved. He has had a ministry throughout the Old Testament, but the Holy Spirit was not yet flowing out of the innermost being. He is going to come in a unique and special way. Part of our difficulty in sorting out what happened to Old Testament saints and what happened to New Testament saints is clearly something new and special is taking place in the ministry of the Holy Spirit. But just what was taking place in the lives of believers in the Old Testament and how was it......... And it becomes we have to try to read back logically what we are finding in the New Testament. We have to be careful of that. We saw that indeed the Holy Spirit was referred to as being in certain individuals in the Old Testament but He didn't permanently indwell Old Testament believers, didn't reside there with the fullness and the permanence that He will after Jesus' resurrection, His glorification. That won't happen until Acts 2.

So you see the uniqueness of what is going to take place. There were people saved in the Old Testament, Abraham is the example of Old Testament salvation by faith as we noted in Romans 4. But something unique is happening as the result of the death of Christ in the ministry of the Spirit, more intensely personal, more powerful, if you will. Like living water flowing from the innermost being. Something that had not happened before because the Spirit had not been yet given in that way. So that's why when we come to Acts 2, something unique and special in that indwelling ministry.

In John 14:16, Jesus speaking, I will ask the Father and He will give you another Helper. There you see the three persons of the triune God—I, Jesus Christ, will ask the Father, God the Father, and He will give you another Helper. Verse 17 that is the Spirit of truth. You have God the Son, God the Father and God the Spirit here joined. I am going to ask the Father and He will give you another Helper. That means another of the same kind, another helper like Me, a Paraclete, the one who comes alongside and enables you. The Spirit of truth whom the world cannot receive because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you.

So they were well familiar with the ministry of the Holy Spirit. They had been doing miracles through the power of the Holy Spirit during their three years' ministry with Christ. Christ was anointed into His messianic office with the Spirit of God descending on Him like a dove. He carried out His earthly ministry through the power of the Spirit as He had voluntarily set aside the independent use of His divine attributes. But the Spirit of God was with them so you know Him, but He will be in you. Now there is going to be an intimacy, an involvement with the Spirit of God that is of a depth and uniqueness that has not been true before. It required the actual death, resurrection, glorification of Jesus Christ. His death, resurrection, and His ascension to the Father. This Spirit will be with you forever. That unique role He will have. In another sense God the Father, God the Son are with us forever but the Holy Spirit will be with you forever in that special unique role that He has in the salvation work.

Over in 1 Corinthians 6:19, do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you. Writing this to the Corinthians. The Holy Spirit is in you, your body as individual believers in the church at Corinth, the Spirit of God is in you. This is why you have to flee immorality, the instruction given in verse 18. Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, that's true for everyone who is a child of God. So you must glorify God in your body. This is where He resides. How serious is this. We think we run off and sin in the dark and in secret places. You understand this is the temple of God, my body, the place where He resides. He dwells within you, He is in you. We have read Romans 8:9, if any man does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.

Come over to 1 John 3. Look at the end of verse 24, we know by this that He abides in us by the Spirit whom He has given us. So the personal manifestation of the presence of God in the life of the believer is the Spirit of God. He abides in us, we know that by the fact that His Spirit is within us. Chapter 4 verse 13, we know that we abide in Him and He is us because He has given us of His Spirit. So we've been regenerated by the work of the Spirit of God, we are indwelt by the Spirit of God.

The third aspect of the work of the Spirit in our conversion is baptism, the baptism of the Spirit. We won't take time with this since we've talked about it in Acts. Acts 1:5, Jesus had told the disciples they would be baptized with the Holy Spirit. That's what is taking place in chapter 2. We'll talk more about that as we move through the book of Acts as well.

1 Corinthians 12:13, for by one Spirit we have all been baptized into one body, the body of Christ. It is that action of the Spirit that identifies us with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection. That's why it is the Spirit who brings about the new birth. For us that occurs with the baptism of the Holy Spirit. So He baptizes us.

And then He seals us. Back to 2 Corinthians. He is the seal of God on the believer. A seal manifested ownership, was security. 2 Corinthians 1:21, now He who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us is God, who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge, a down payment, a guarantee.

Over in Ephesians 1:13, in Him you also after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation, having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise. You see that all takes place in our conversion. After hearing, listening to the message of truth the gospel of your salvation, having also believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise. The Holy Spirit who had been promised to those who believe in Him. That's the seal, His presence is the guarantee. Marks me off as being owned by God and secured by God. That's why I will arrive at my appointed destiny as we have seen in Romans 8. He says nothing can separate me from the love of Christ. How do you know? I have been sealed by God with His indwelling Holy Spirit.

Over in Ephesians 4. Again these things govern our conduct. So he has been instructing on living godly lives. Why? Because verse 30, do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. By whom, in whom you were sealed. The Holy Spirit Himself is the seal. Now when He came to take up residence within us He becomes the seal of God upon us.

So you have regeneration, indwelling, baptism, sealing. That all takes place at conversion and that is all part of our salvation, the work of our salvation. It all takes place simultaneously, if you will. When we are regenerated we are indwelt, we are baptized, and we are sealed. All takes place in that action of God when we pass from death to life and are born again.

There is an ongoing ministry of the Holy Spirit and that is called filling. And you see that in Ephesians 5:18 do not get drunk with wine for that is dissipation. But be filled with the Spirit. The filling of the Spirit, and that's why it is compared with being drunk with wine. When you are drunk with wine you are under the control and influence of the alcohol. People try to use that as an excuse, I was drunk, I didn't know what I was doing. Picture of being controlled by that. That's the analogy here. Don't get drunk with wine, that's dissipation. Be filled with the Spirit. The Spirit is the One to be controlling your life and that control of the Spirit manifests itself by our living in obedience. So he goes on and this all flows out of the command, be being filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord. Always giving thanks for all things. These participles flow out......... We usually put “ing” on a word, identifying our participles. These words speaking, singing, giving thanks and being subject, verse 21, to one another in the fear of Christ. Going on to show the subjection. These are manifestations that a person is living under the control of the Spirit of God. We are to be a people who now live under the control, domination of the Spirit of God who dwells within us, who are the One who has caused us to be born again, who identified us with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection so we could have new life. Who has sealed us, who indwells us to control us.

Come over to Colossians; just see the comparison in a parallel passage, Colossians 3:16, where it says let the word of Christ richly dwell within you. And what is the manifestation of the word of Christ richly dwelling within you? It's the same thing as being filled and controlled by the Spirit. With all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. That's the same thing as Ephesians 5:19. The word of Christ richly dwelling within us. We are taking it in, we are submitting ourselves to it, we are obeying it, we are allowing the Spirit of God to use the word of God in our lives to direct us and control us. This control of the Spirit is not something that happens out here in a vacuum. That's why we take in the word of God with submissive hearts and minds so that the Spirit of God can exercise His control in our lives and produce the character of God or what would be called the fruit of the Spirit as it is laid out in Ephesians 5.

One more thing, 1 Corinthians 2, one more work of the Spirit and His ongoing ministry in our lives as believers. Verse 9, just as it is written, things which eye has not seen, ear has not heard, things which have not entered the heart of man, all that God has prepared for those who love Him. And as we've noted when we've looked at this passage before, this is not a passage for a funeral necessarily, that we don't know these things but we'll know them when we get to glory. You'll note the next verse. To us God revealed them through the Spirit. Through the Spirit we know these things, the things you don't know by what you see with your eyes, your ears hear, what normally enters into the heart of man by natural processes. But the Spirit reveals them, and it's the Spirit who knows the heart and mind of God because He is God. Who among men knows the thought of a man except the spirit of a man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. He has to be God to know the mind of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God so that we might know the things freely given to us by God. Contrast verse 14, the natural man, a “soulish” man, a man who doesn't have the Spirit of God does not accept the things of the Spirit of God. They are foolishness to him. He cannot understand them because they are spiritually discerned or appraised. But we understand all the things about God that He has revealed to us.

For who has known the mind of the Lord that He will instruct Him? We read that verse a little bit earlier in Isaiah 40. But we have the mind of Christ. Ties to what we talked about in Romans in our overview survey. The natural man lives in the futility of his mind, empty speculations because he cannot know the things of God. That's why you cannot reason with him, prove that he is blind, that he is deaf, that he is speechless. But we have the Spirit of God so that we can know and understand the mind of God that is revealed to us in the word of God. So an unbeliever reads the scripture, can analyze it, take it apart, but not know the beauty of its truth.

We watch an unbeliever talking about the Bible and giving his explanation. I was watching a program the other day explaining the Exodus. The man didn't have a clue. What was missing? More intelligent than I, a lot of facts and referred to scripture. What was missing was the Spirit of God to give understanding of the God who is being revealed there and made known. How blessed we are to have the Spirit of God who has been at work in the world from the day of creation but now He indwells us and is present in us in all we do and every place we go. Now that must shape all of our behavior.

Let's pray together. Thank You, Lord, for the revelation You have given of Your Spirit. Lord, how can we with these finite minds grasp such awesome truth that the Spirit of the living God who knows fully the mind of God, who is Himself God dwells within us, in these physical and earthly bodies. He is present all the time to enable, to empower and to produce the beauty of Your character in our lives. Thank You for the greatness of our salvation. Lord, may all we do in the days of the week before us be shaped by these great truths. We pray in Christ's name, amen.