Importance of this Lesson THE LESSON

Transcription

1 Great Doctrines of the Bible Prepared by William S.H. Piper, D.D. For Rogma International, Inc. (All Scripture quotations from the KJV of the Bible) Copyright 1989 by Rogma International, Inc. All rights reserved. The Holy Spirit (Part Two) His Ministry in Relation to the Life of Christ, to Unbelievers, Believers, the Baptism of the Spirit, the Gifts and Fullness of the Spirit, and How to be Filled with the Spirit Introduction Due to the great emphasis being placed on the Holy Spirit and His ministry all over the world today, we feel it is vitally important to devote much attention to this subject for the purpose of instruction and clarification. In Lesson 7 we presented the Holy Spirit as a real and divine person, the third member of the Trinity. We reviewed His names and His symbols. We also discussed His ministry in relation to creation and the Old Testament Scriptures. In the second lesson of this series we want to acquaint you with the Spirit s ministry in relation to the life of Christ, unbelievers, the baptism of the Spirit, the gifts and fullness of the Spirit and how you can be filled with the Spirit. Importance of this Lesson q Only by a thorough view of the Holy Spirit s ministry in both the Old and the New Testaments can we develop a genuine understanding and appreciation of His position, personality, and power. q To see the scope of His work is to see Him, not as a power, feeling or experience, but as a blessed person we can know, love, trust, rely upon, and obey. q This lesson is being prayerfully prepared so that all who study it will have a richer, fuller, broader understanding of the Spirit and His special ministry. THE LESSON I. THE MINISTRY OF THE SPIRIT IN RELATION TO THE LIFE OF CHRIST A. His miraculous conception in Mary was by the power of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 1:20; Luke 1:35). B. The Spirit came UPON Him at His baptism (Luke 3:22; Matthew 3:16). C. This is when God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power (Acts 10:38). D. Christ was full of the Spirit and was led by the Spirit (Luke 4:1,14), and performed His miracles in the power of the Spirit (Luke 4:18; Matthew 12:28). E. The Holy Spirit was the source of Christ s wisdom in the days of His flesh (Matthew 12:17-21). F. Christ was raised from the dead by the Spirit s power (Romans 1:4; 8:11). G. Christ instructed His apostles through the Holy Ghost after His resurrection (Acts 1:2). H. As a man, Christ was completely dependent upon the Holy Spirit for wisdom, direction and power. And HE is our example (1 Peter 2:21). If Christ needed to depend upon the Holy Spirit to live and minister, how much more need we depend upon Him. Let s not fail to claim our blessings. All that the Spirit did for Christ, He can do for us. We, too, can be anointed, filled, led, and empowered by the Spirit. II. THE MINISTRY OF THE SPIRIT IN RELATION TO UNBELIEVERS A. It is a Christ-Revealing, Christ-Exalting Ministry. 1. John 15:26, But when the Comforter is come he shall TESTIFY OF ME. 2. John 16:13-14, when He the Sprit of Truth is come He shall not speak of Himself He shall glorify me: for He shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. 1

2 3. Acts 5:32, And we are His witnesses of these things (of Christ); AND SO IS ALSO THE HOLY GHOST, whom God hath given to them that obey Him. Any ministry or teaching regarding the Holy Spirit that fails to magnify Christ should be regarded with suspicion. B. John 14:17; 15:26 As THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH, He testifies of Him who is the TRUTH (John 14:6). While the Spirit may reveal Christ independently to the sinner, He normally works through believers to whom HE was sent and given (John 15:26; 16:7-8). What a privilege! What a responsibility that we as believers have to make Christ known in this world. Yet we must ever remember that it is not our witness or power that causes man to believe it is the power of the Spirit alone! Only by the Holy Spirit do men call Jesus, Lord (1 Corinthians 12:3). C. It is a Sin-Convincing, Sin-Convicting Ministry. 1. John 16:8-11, He convicts the world: a) OF SIN (relating to man) for failure to believe on Christ. b) Of RIGHTEOUSNESS (relating to Christ) that is, Christ s righteousness, proven by His return to the Father. c) OF JUDGMENT (relating to Satan); that is, of Satan who was judged at the cross (Colossians 2:15; Hebrews 2:14). 2. The convicting of the sinner is through the preaching of the Word in the power of the Spirit. a) cf. Acts 2:4 with 2:37. The disciples were filled with the Holy Ghost, and sinners were pricked in their heart. b) cf. Acts 4:8 with 4:13. Peter was filled with the Holy Ghost, and sinners marveled. 3. The convicting of the Spirit is such that leads to repentance and faith. a) cf. Acts 2:38-39, What shall we do? Repent, and be baptized every one of you. b) Romans 10:17, faith comes through the Word. But we must always remember that THE WORD is THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT, and only when it is wielded by His power does it convict men of sin and cause them to repent and turn to God. III. THE MINISTRY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT TO AND IN THE LIVES OF BELIEVERS A. He REGENERATES That is, He gives or imparts new life to those who were dead in trespasses and sins (Ephesians 2:1). The believer is born again and made alive through the Holy Spirit (John 3:5-8 and 6:63). When the Spirit exalts Christ (John 16:13), and convicts of sin (John 16:8), the believing sinner repents toward God and puts his faith in Christ (Acts 20:21; Acts 2:38-41). The Spirit then imparts to the believer a whole new life (2 Corinthians 5:17; 1 Peter 1:4). B. He BAPTIZES (1 Corinthians 12:13; Galatians 3:27; Romans 6:3). This is the baptism INTO CHRIST by which the believer becomes a member of the body of Christ of his flesh, and of his bones (Ephesians 5:30). C. He SEALS (Ephesians 1:13-14; 4:30; 2 Corinthians 1:22). The presence of the Spirit is the SEAL of God s ownership (2 Timothy 2:19). A seal also fastens securely. The Holy Spirit makes us God s children forever!!! D. He INDWELLS (John 14:17; 7:38-39; 1 Corinthians 6:19). To INDWELL means to inhabit or to abide within. The Holy Spirit takes up residence in us and abides in us (John 15:4-5; 14:16-17). E. He ASSURES (Romans 8:16; Galatians 4:6). He bears witness that we are children of God. He is the earnest, the down payment, the guarantee that we shall inherit glory (Ephesians 1:13-14; 2 Corinthians 5:5). F. He LEADS (Romans 8:14; Galatians 5:16, 25). We are to walk in the Spirit, living daily as He directs. 2

3 G. He SATISFIES (John 4:13-14). Shall NEVER THIRST. The Spirit is the living and satisfying water of which Christ spoke. H. He INSTRUCTS (John 14:26; 16:13; 1 Corinthians 2:9-14). He is the divine teacher and illuminator of the Truth. I. He INFILLS (Acts 2:4; 4:8,31; Ephesians 5:18). He fills us with love, joy, wisdom and peace. J. He EMPOWERS (Acts 1:8). Power to free us from the law of sin (Romans 8:2), power to enable us to witness (Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 2:4; 1 Thessalonians 1:5), power to pray as we ought (Romans 8:26-27) and power to bear fruit (Galatians 5:22). IV. THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT A. There is considerable confusion and disagreement in the use of this term. Some have identified it with entire sanctification or sinless perfection. Some have associated it with speaking in ecstatic or strange tongues. B. Much of this confusion results in the failure to understand the term baptism as it is used in Scripture. Sometimes it is used as a figure of speech that meant complete immersion or involvement in something. When Jesus said, Can you be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized? He was speaking of dying on the cross (Mark 10:38). At other times it is used of historic events. C. There are three that must be distinguished: 1. The baptism of John (Acts 1:22). The baptism related entirely to Israel (Matthew 3:1-2; Luke 7:29). It was a baptism of repentance (Luke 3:3; Acts 13:24). John called upon Israel to forsake their sin and turn to God. Baptism signified their genuine repentance. 2. Water baptism. Christ Himself was baptized in water (Mark 1:9). He commissioned His disciples to baptize in water (Matthew 28:19). This baptism symbolizes the believers identification with Christ in His death and resurrection (Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:12). Instances of water baptism can be viewed in Acts 8:12, 36-39; 16: Spirit baptism. This too is an historic event which happened at Pentecost when Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to fill, empower and to join His disciples together in mystical union as a part of His body, the Church (Acts 1:5,8; 2:1-4). Today it is experienced as an historical event in the life of every believer. When a believer repents and confesses faith in Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit baptizes or immerses him into Christ and he becomes a part of His body, the Church. D. Spirit baptism is a once and for all event. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism (Ephesians 4:5). Upon being born again, a believer experiences the Baptism of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:13). It need not be sought. It is not demonstrated by signs or by speaking in tongues and it never need be repeated. Men are born again and become a part of the body of Christ only once. The Holy Spirit is given only once and abides with the believer forever. It is the grand mark of being a Christian. Now if any man have not the Spirit, he is none of his (Romans 8:9). E. What about speaking in tongues as the evidence of the baptism of the Holy Spirit? Note: The sign that was promised in Luke 24:49 and Acts 1:8 was NOT tongues, but POWER Power to witness and proclaim the Gospel. This is still THE sign. Note: The great reformers of history, like Luther, Calvin, Zwingli and Knox and the greatest evangelists and soul-winners of history like David Brainard, John Wesley, Jonathan Edwards, Charles Finney, R.A. Torrey, D.L. Moody and Billy Sunday did not speak with tongues of other languages. Note: The plain and simple fact is that you can have all the power of God without any language but your own!! 3

4 F. Why does the Church of Jesus Christ lack power in winning souls? The secret lies in the lack of preparation, sense of need and attitude of expectancy that marks believers today. At Pentecost they had taken seriously the command of Jesus to evangelize the world. They were of one mind about their mission. They knew that it would take supernatural power to accomplish their task. They believed that God would provide it. And they waited for power from above. The key to their success and to our failure is found in the expression, And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost (Acts 2:4). G. Is that power available today? YES! While there is only one baptism of the Holy Spirit, there are many fillings. Individual leaders and Christians today need to earnestly seek to be filled with the Spirit and experience power for witnessing. V. THE GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT Read carefully 1 Corinthians 12:1-11; Romans 12:6-8 and Ephesians 4:8-11. There are 21 spiritual gifts mentioned in the New Testament. The following should be noted: A. These things are GIFTS, which means they are FREE. No one can buy them, beg for them, pray for them, or deserve them. God simply GIVES them (1 Corinthians 12:7). B. These gifts are given by the SOVEREIGN WILL AND GRACE OF GOD (Romans 12:6 and 1 Corinthians 12:11), severally AS HE WILL. YOU HAVE NO CHOICE IN THE MATTER! C. There are many diversities of gifts (1 Corinthians 12:4), and each has a practical purpose in the administration and operation of the church (1 Corinthians 12:5-6). D. All such gifts were to be employed under the Lordship of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:5), and no one was to use his gift as he pleased. E. Every Christian has some gift from the Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:7,11). F. No gift was less honorable than another, any more than a member of the human body is less honorable than another (1 Corinthians 12:18-25). G. No gift was considered more spiritual than another. No one was to lord it over others because of his gift. The gift of tongues, or foreign languages, never made anyone more spiritual than another. H. It is clear that not everyone was given the gift of tongues (1 Corinthians 12:30). I. The gift of tongues, or speaking in tongues, was clearly NOT a miracle or proof of having the Spirit or special power. It was simply one of many gifts. It was considered the last and the least of gifts (1 Corinthians 12:28). Prophesying or proclaiming the Gospel was considered far more important, (1 Corinthians 14:1). Note: So, don t be concerned with the gifts God has not given you. Just rejoice in the gifts you have for His glory. VI. THE FULLNESS OF THE SPIRIT A. The Bible speaks of THE FULLNESS OF GOD (Ephesians 3:19), THE FULLNESS OF CHRIST (Ephesians 4:13) and THE FULLNESS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT (Ephesians 5:18). Note: One thing is certain; the TRIUNE God wants us to be full of Him. B. The New Testament presents the Holy Spirit s ministry as being a WITH, IN, and an UPON ministry. (Read John 14:16-17 and Acts 1:8.) 1. The WITH ministry of the Spirit: a) He convicts of sin (John 16:8). b) He regenerates (John 3:5-8). c) He comforts (John 14:16). d) He teaches (John 14:26). e) He reveals Christ (John 16:13-15). f) He leads (Romans 8:14). g) He abides in us (John 14:16). 4

5 2. The IN ministry of the Spirit: a) He indwells and makes our bodies His temple (1 Corinthians 6:19). b) He bears fruit (Galatians 5:22). c) He helps our infirmities (Romans 8:26-27). d) He assures us of our salvation (Romans 8:16; Galatians 4:6-7). e) He gives victory over the flesh (Galatians 5:16). f) He sanctifies us (Romans 15:16). 3. The UPON ministry of the Holy Spirit: a) He came UPON Christ (Isaiah 61:1-2; Luke 4:18), anointing Him to preach. b) The promise is to believers (Isaiah 44:3). c) The fulfillment (Acts 1:8; 2:17; 2 Corinthians 12:9; 1 Peter 4:14). d) The Old Testament priests, prophets, and kings were anointed before they could serve. The UPON ministry of the Spirit is related to the anointing. In Acts 10:38 God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power. e) The UPON ministry of the Spirit in both the Old and New Testaments was always for POWER to preach (Acts 1:8), or to accomplish some great deed (Judges 14:6). C. In SUMMARY: When any man or woman is directed through the WITH ministry of the Spirit and is being comforted, taught, and led by the Spirit; when he or she is experiencing the IN ministry of the Spirit, bearing fruit, finding strength for his/her weaknesses, being assured of His salvation, and having victory over the flesh and when he knows the Spirit is UPON him to proclaim the riches of the Gospel, that man or woman is experiencing THE FULLNESS OF THE SPIRIT. VII. FINALLY, HOW CAN YOU BE FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT? (Learn these steps for your exam.) A. By RESTING Be assured of your salvation, and be at rest in Christ and in a finished redemption (Matthew 11:28-29). B. By THIRSTING We must thirst for God s power (Matthew 5:6; John 7:37-39). C. By CONFESSING Make a full confession of sin. Deal severely with that thing that comes up whenever you try to get close to God (1 John 1:8-9; Proverbs 28:13). D. By FORSAKING 1. Forsake all confidence in the flesh (Philippians 3:3). 2. Forsake all confidence in earthly gifts (Philippians 3:7-10). Lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily besets you (Hebrews 12:1). Put off the old man with his deeds (Ephesians 4:22). E. By YIELDING Make a full surrender of body and soul and spirit to the Lord. No strings attached! Be absolutely obedient to His will (Romans 12:1; 6:13; Acts 5:32). F. By PRAYING (Luke 11:13; Acts 4:31). When you are assured of your salvation; after thirsting, confessing, forsaking and yielding, then PRAY and ASK God to fill you, and He will. G. By BELIEVING (Mark 11:24). After praying, don t wait for a feeling. Just believe God has heard you, and go forth in the assurance that He has answered. 5