“Tracking the Wind in the New Testament” Pt 2
When we look at the work of the Holy Spirit both in the New Testament and the Old Testament it is like that of a shepherd or pastor; a perfect pastor. Jesus promised one who would come along side and carry out an identical role as He played with His disciples while on earth. He would be their perpetual encourager and guide.
We learned that the Holy Spirit is a person not a force or power or an “it”. He is invisible but yet personal bearing all the elements of personhood. He has been active along with the Father and the Son from eternity not only in initial creation but the lives of those He created. A common theme throughout the Old Testament described the Holy Spirit “coming upon” people to motivate and enable them to carry out God’s specific purposes. Such activity observed in the Old Testament continued on into the New Testament age along with come expanded and more permanent activity and ministries.
Last week we reviewed His involvement in the lives of those before the Day of Pentecost and His shift in ministry AT Pentecost. Today we will review His ministry related to conversion and growth.
I. Names and Titles of the Holy Spirit
II. Origin of the Holy Spirit
III. Nature and Character of the Holy Spirit
IV. References to the Holy Spirit
V. The Holy Spirit’s Ministry in the Old Testament
VI. The Holy Spirit’s Ministry in the New Testament
A. The Holy Spirit’s Ministry with Jesus
B. The Holy Spirit’s ministry in people before Pentecost
C. The Holy Spirit’s Ministry AT Pentecost
Pentecost was a onetime event promised not only by Jesus but in several Old Testament prophecies. It had to do with a new aspect of the Holy Spirit in the lives of followers of Jesus.
Pentecost was the birth of God’s newly created community of believers; the bride of Christ.
It marked the birth of a community no longer identified by ethnic distinctions like Jew or Gentile but a new group connected to Jesus by the indwelling Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is responsible for blessings related to our initial conversion (salvation) and continues ministries associated with our growth and perfection (sanctification).
Since we live by the Spirit (salvation), let us also walk by the Spirit (sanctification). Galatians 5:25
D. The Holy Spirit’s Ministry related to Conversion
There are some blessings initiated by the Holy Spirit at the moment of genuine faith in Christ.
1. Regeneration (Inner Core Change)
John 3 is the definitive passage on the new birth.
He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, 6whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7that being justified by His grace we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Titus 3:5-7
Definition
Ministry of the Holy Spirit whereby He imparts life to the human spirit which was dead in sin.
Conversion does not just describe a change in core belief but a complete change of our core.
What was dysfunctional became functional. What was dead became alive.
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, he has become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17
You may not always sense it or feel it but the Bible declares a fundamental change.
Without this change, without regeneration you are not a Christian. It is the Holy Spirit’s work that makes you a Christian not yours. It is not some activity you perform; it is on the basis of the new birth that He performs.
2. Baptism
The first converts were connected to this new community of Christ followers Pentecost.
See notes from June 12th for a fuller description of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. All subsequent believers are connected to the body of Christ at the moment of and on the basis of regeneration.
3. Indwelling
We become the dwelling place or place of operation for the Holy Spirit. He permanently indwells every regenerated, baptized, individual. Indwelling bring Him in close proximity to His work.
Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? 1 Corinthians 6:19
4. Sealing
The Holy Spirit is the one who puts His seal on every believer.
Sealing in the New Testament indicated:
Authentication (good housekeeping seal of approval)
Ownership (mark our stuff or territory, boundary markers)
Protection/Preservation/Security
who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge. 2 Cor. 1:22
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, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God's own possession, to the praise of His glory. Ephes. 1:13
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Ephes. 4:30
The Holy Spirit, by reason of His indwelling presence assures us God’s continual work in our life. He comes to give just a taste of what is yet to come. He represents a pledge of our eventual inheritance.
Do you have the Holy Spirit?
If not, Paul assures us that you don’t have Christ either. (Rom 5) Your spiritual life comes from the Holy Spirit’s ministry in you; regeneration.
Are you a member of the body of Christ? Your connection to Christ comes by the baptizing ministry of the Holy Spirit.
Are you a temple of the Holy Spirit? He comes to live in us at the moment of regeneration.
Are you secure in your relationship to Christ? The Holy Spirit is God’s special seal. The Holy Spirit is God’s promise of more to come.
E. Work related to Sanctification
1. He directs and enables for life and service (filling)
The Holy Spirit carries on a continual ministry in and through us to transform our soul, our thinking, our feeling, our choosing to operate like Christ. He comes to bring our daily practice in harmony with our legal standing with God. When we respond with full faith to the truth communicated by the Spirit, the Holy Spirit directs and energizes our spirit and our soul to continually manifest behavior in harmony with the character of our Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus. The phrase “Filled by the Spirit” describes on whose life is continually influenced by the Holy Spirit. We are either influenced by Satan and the unharnessed flesh or the Holy Spirit. When we submit to the direction and demands of the flesh and demonic suggestion, negative energy energizes the soul resulting in fleshly behavior. We are influenced by the flesh. As we continually submit to the direction and desires of the regenerated core and the Holy Spirit, spiritual energy floods the soul which energizes our soul to produce spiritual, Christ-like behavior. It is all based on a choice that we make as to who we are going to believe. It is a matter of faith. Faith brings maturity. That is why God allows our faith to be tested. We must be continually made aware of what we really trust. We are perfected by believing in the truth communicated by God and borne witness to by the Holy Spirit.
Definition.
Spirit filling describes the state or condition of the soul completely surrendered to the direction and energy of the Holy Spirit resulting in supernatural power for life and service.
We covered this in greater detail earlier when we looked at our current location in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians.
Do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is unfruitful living, but continually be filled or influenced by the Spirit, Ephesians 5:17-18
Let’s touch on some of the things we can expect the Holy Spirit to do when we are submitted to His work and operating by His energy on a consistent basis.
2. He Teaches truth
John 14:25-27 "These things I have spoken to you, while abiding with you. 26"But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.
John 16:13-15 "But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. 14"He shall glorify Me; for He shall take of Mine, and shall disclose it to you. 15"All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said, that He takes of Mine, and will disclose it to you.
For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. 11For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man, which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. 12Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things freely given to us by God, 13which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words. 14But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. 15But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no man. 16For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, THAT HE SHOULD INSTRUCT HIM? But we have the mind of Christ. 1 Cor. 2:10-16
But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all know. And as for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him. 1 John 2:20.27
3. He Bears Witness to Truth
And the one who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And we know by this that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us. 1 John 3:24
And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is the truth. John 15:26
When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, He will bear witness of Me (Jesus), 1 John 5:7
The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, Romans 8:16
I am telling the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, Romans 9:1
For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified. And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying, "THIS IS THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE WITH THEM AFTER THOSE DAYS, SAYS THE LORD:
I WILL PUT MY LAWS UPON THEIR HEART, AND UPON THEIR MIND I WILL WRITE THEM,"
He then says, "AND THEIR SINS AND THEIR LAWLESS DEEDS I WILL REMEMBER NO MORE." Hebrews 10:14-17
Don’t shut out the internal witness of the Spirit. He confirms the God’s truth to the human spirit.
4. He anoints with Power to Proclaim the Truth
• Speaking Gifts
• Peters Sermons
• Early Church Example
And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak the word of God with boldness. Acts 4:31
• Stephen
Acts 6:10 And yet they were unable to cope with the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking.
• Paul
“Paul was filled with the Holy Spirit ... and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the Synagogues, saying, ‘He is the Son of God’” Acts 9
for our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. 6You also became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much tribulation with the joy of the Holy Spirit, 7so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. 1 Thes. 1:5-7
And my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5that your faith should not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God. 1 Cor. 2:4-5
• Apostles
It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven-- things into which angels long to look. 1 Peter 1:12
5. He enables Prayer
for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. Eph 2:18
And in the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. Romans 8:26
With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, Ephes. 6:18
For I know that this shall turn out for my deliverance through your prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, Philip. 1:19
But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith; praying in the Holy Spirit; Jude 1:20
6. He provides Specific Direction
Acts 13:2-4 And while they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." 3Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. 4So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia and from there they sailed to Cyprus.
Acts 16:6-7 And they passed through the Phrygian and Galatian region, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia; 7and when they had come to Mysia, they were trying to go into Bithynia, and the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them;
Acts 21:4 And after looking up the disciples, we stayed there seven days; and they kept telling Paul through the Spirit not to set foot in Jerusalem.
Acts 21:11 And coming to us, he took Paul's belt and bound his own feet and hands, and said, "This is what the Holy Spirit says: 'In this way the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.' "
7. He Continually Transforms the soul
But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth. 2 Thes. 2:13
He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that being justified by His grace we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Titus 3:5-7
Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit. 2 Cor. 3:17-18
New Life
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. Romans 8:2
For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, Romans 8:6
But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who indwells you. Romans 8:11
If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Galatians 5:25
For the one who sows to his own flesh shall from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit shall from the Spirit reap eternal life. Galatians 6:8
Fruit of the Spirit
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Gal 5:22-23
Love
and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. Romans 5:5
and he also informed us of your love in the Spirit. Col. 1:8
Joy and Peace
for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Romans 14:17
8. He inspires Hope
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Rom 15:13
9. He enables genuine Fellowship
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. 2 Cor. 13:14
being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Ephes. 4:3
If therefore there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, Philip. 2:1
10. He furnishes Inner Strength & Power
that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man; so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fulness of God. Ephes. 3:16-19
For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. Col. 1:9-12
11. He supplies Power over the flesh
So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh-- for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. Romans 8:12-14
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you just as I have forewarned you that those who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Galatians 5:16-25
12. He stimulates genuine Worship
But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. "God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth. John 4:23-24
for we are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh Philip. 3:3
13. He encourages Perseverance in tribulation
For we through the Spirit, by faith, are waiting for the hope of righteousness. Galatians 5:5
If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. 1 Peter 4:14
14. He Transports people
Philip in Acts 8:38-40
15. He communicates truth and direction through Prophetic Visions
Peter Act 10:19 John Rev
What great potential there is when we surrender to the direction and work of the Holy Spirit rather than depend on our own strength and wisdom.
Determine to pursue His direction in more and more areas of your life.
