1 Alderwood Community Church October 25, 2009 The Holy Spirit In The Life Of The Believer Part Two Last Sunday, we affirmed that fact that the Holy Spirit is both a person, not simply a force or higher power and that he is fully God, equal in essence to both God the Father and God the Son. 1. The Ministry of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament. A. Creation (Gen. 1:2; Job 26:13; Isaiah 32:15, Isaiah 40:12-13; Psalm 104:29-30) Because the Holy Spirit is fully God, and since God is both eternal and immanent (present) in the world, we can conclude that the Holy Spirit was involved in the work of Creation. Genesis 1:2 reminds us, Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. The Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the Almighty gives me life. Job 33:4 B. Revelation of the Scriptures (1 Sam. 10:6,10, Eph. 3:5) The chief human instrument that God used in the Old Testament to give His message to man was the prophet, but behind him was the Holy Spirit moving and guiding so that whether the prophet was speaking or writing he communicated exactly what God wanted man to know. He said to me, Son of man, stand up on your feet and I will speak to you. As he spoke, the Spirit came into me and raised me to my feet, and I hear him speaking to me. He said: Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites Say to them, This is what the Sovereign Lord says Ezekiel 2:1-4 Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet s own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. 2 Peter 1:20-21 Peter stood up among the believers and said, Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through the mouth of David Acts 1:15-16 Concerning the New Testament, the Lord promised that the Spirit would recall to the apostles minds the things which he had taught them (John 14:26). Thus the Holy Spirit was the single Author guiding and guarding the revelation; the instruments or agents were men, but the ultimate source was God.
2 C. Power and skills for various tasks. (Gen.41:38; Judges 6:34; Neh. 9:20; Ez. 36:26-28) Then the Lord said to Moses, See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts - to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of craftsmanship. Exodus 31:1-5 But when they [Israelites] called out to the Lord, he raised up for them a deliverer, Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb s younger brother, who saved them. The Spirit of the Lord came upon him, so that he became Israel s judge and went to war. The Lord gave Cushan Rishathaim king of Aram into the hands of Othniel, whom overpowered him. Judges 3:9-10 Implications of the Spirits ministry in the Old Testament: Examples for our faith, to know that this same Holy Spirit resides in us and wants to use us for the Glory of Jesus Christ. 2. The Ministry of the Holy Spirit in the Life of Christ. When we examine Jesus life, we find a pervasive and powerful presence and activity of the Holy Spirit throughout. Even the very beginning of his incarnate existence was the work of the Holy Spirit. A. In the Virgin Birth (Conception) (Luke 1:35) But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins. Matthew 1:20-21 B. At his baptism At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. As Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: You are my Son, whom I love, with you I am well pleased. Mark 1:9-11 C. At his temptation At once the Spirit sent him out into the desert, and he was in the desert forty days, being tempted by Satan. Mark 1:12-13 D. In his teaching (Luke 4:14-21; Isaiah 61:1-2) The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. Luke 4:18a
3 Notice the interesting interdependence within the Godhead: In Jesus earthly life he was dependent upon the Father and was seemingly dependent upon and energized by the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Yet, once Jesus ascended into heaven and was seated at the right hand of God the Father, the Holy Spirit takes on a much more visible role, but is now subordinate to the Son and now his primary ministry is to bring glory to Jesus Christ. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. John 16:14 3. The Personal Ministry of the Holy Spirit in the Life of the Believer. A. At the Beginning of the Christian life. (1) Convicting (John 16:8) (Next week) (2) Regenerating (John 3:3-8; 2 Cor. 5:17) But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. Titus 3:4-7 (3) Baptizing (1 Corinthians 12:13) (Next week) (4) Sealing (Eph. 1:13, 4:30; 2 Corinthians 1:21-22) (Next week) B. For the Continuation of the Christian life. (1) Indwelling (Rom. 8:9; 1 Cor. 6:19) And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. John 14:16-17 The name Counselor (paraklaton) comes from the verb (parakaleo). Para means along side of, and Kaleo- means to call. So the paraclaton is one who is called along side of, or one who comes along side of another, a helper. It is also used as a legal assistant who pleads or presents the case of another person. Jesus had been a teacher and leader, but his influence was that of external word and example. The Spirit, however, is able to effect one more intensely because, dwelling within, he can get to the very center of one s thinking and emotions. By indwelling believers, the Spirit can lead them into all truth, as Jesus promised.
4 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are bought at a price. Therefore honor [glorify] God with your body. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (2) Empowering (John 14:12; Acts 1:8a) (Next week) (3) Teaching (John 14:26, 15:26, 16:12-15) (Next week) (4) Interceding (Romans 8:26) (Next week) (5) Sanctifying (Rom. 8:1-17; Gal. 5:16-26) Sanctification: The initial work of bringing us to Christ. (Setting us apart for Christ) But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. 2 Thessalonians 2:13 (See also: 1 Peter 1:2) And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. 1 Corinthians 6:11 Sanctification: The continual work of conforming us into Christ-likeness Sanctification is a process of continual transformation (spiritual growth) where the Holy Spirit makes the believer holy or good. Negative: Overcoming sin You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through the Spirit who lives in you. Romans 8:9-11 Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. Romans 8:12-14 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. 1 Corinthians 10:13
5 Positive: Conforming into Christ-likeness Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. Philippians 2:12-13 I pray out of his glorious riches, he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. Ephesians 3:16 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to the his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. Galatians 5:22 (6) Gifting (Rom. 12:6-8; 1 Cor. 12:4-11; Eph. 4:11; 1 Peter 4:11) (Next week) C. Our Response to the Holy Spirit. (Eph. 5:18; Gal. 5:16) (1) Thank God and take comfort in knowing that God s Spirit lives within you. (2) Depend on the power of the Holy Spirit to overcome sin. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Ephesians 5:18 So I say, live [walk] by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Galatians 5:16, 25 The verb here for live literally means to walk. It is in the present tense which tells us this is to be a continuous, regular action. Literally it means, keep on walking by the Spirit. Walking implies progress. The believer who walks by the Spirit will be willing to go where the Spirit leads and do what the Spirit wants. (3) Cooperate with the Holy Spirit in order to become more like Christ. The Fruit of the Spirit, in many ways, is of more importance than any particular spiritual gift. These virtues are, in Paul s estimation, the real evidence of the Spirit at work in Christians. Love, joy and peace in an individuals life are the surest signs of a vital experience with the Spirit. In particular, Paul stresses love as more desirable than any gifts, no matter how spectacular (1 Cor. 13:1-3).