The Godhead Pt.

4
The Holy Spirit Pt. 3
March 26, 2014 Well continue our break from Genesis and look again at the Godhead. Weve already shown that the Holy Spirit is a distinct Witness and that He has specific operations. This week were going to see that: III. The Holy Spirit EVIDENCES His presence in His people This is one of the touchier subjects and it can be somewhat confusing. It s not really that its so hard to understand but theres so much misinformation thats just taken for granted. For instance if I mention speaking in tongues most people automatically picture someone speaking gibberish only God can understand. Its not a very Biblical perception, but its the one most people have because the term has been defined that way as long as weve been alive. Another thing is if someone says something about being full of the Holy Spirit. You can go onto Youtube and find videos of church services where the people are laughing hysterically, crawling on the floor, flopping, dancing, and jumping and whatever else. I even saw one video of a man crawling with a leash around his neck; another man held the other end, and when they passed by the camera a woman said, The Lord just reminded me of an old hymn: Where He leads me I will follow. Obviously being slain in the Spirit this way is either fake or its demonic possession, but it can confuse us about what it really means to be filled. Less extreme, and something we see more often in Baptistic groups is the search for some kind of emotional experience. They might call it a passion for Christ or an outpouring of the Sprit or an extra blessing or something along those lines. This is why they have big bands at churches and youll hear them say something about worship being really powerful this morning or how the Holy Spirit really showed up today. What they mean is that they were moved emotionally by the music and they felt something they dont usually feel. But its really just something that can be felt listening to music in general and it really doesnt have anything to do with the Holy Spirit. The same principle applies when praying or preaching; theres nothing wrong with being fervent but we have to remember that being loud and talking quickly dont equate being led or filled with the Spirit. And so tonight I want to look a little at some of these terms and try to figure out how the Holy Spirit provides evidence of His presence in the lives of His people.

Its not a conclusive study but well must talk about a few of the bigger terms. How does the Holy Spirit show that Hes present in His people? We are filled with the Spirit And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit (Eph. 5:18). It sounds a little mystical but just read the rest to see what it looks like: Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; 20Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; 21Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God (Eph. 5:19-21). Youve got the speaking of psalms and hymns, making melody in your heart, giving thanks, and mutual submission to each other. Theres nothing here about more passion or revival or excitement. We are baptized by the Spirit: Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. 2Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led. 3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. 4Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. 6And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. 7But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. 8For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 9To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 10To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: 11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. 12For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. 13For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. 14For the body is not one member, but many (I Cor. 12:1-14). The context here is spiritual gifts, but the meaning of baptism is clear: we have been brought into the body by the Spirit. Whereas we were once dead and alienated we are now brought into this body and were alive.

Compare several Scriptures from Acts. First Jesus told His disciples to wait on the Spirit at Pentecost: And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. 5For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence (Acts 1:4-5). And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance (Acts 2:1-4). And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning. 16 Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost. 17Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God? 18When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life (Acts 11:15-18). Baptism here is clearly different than salvation. Here its in reference to the extraordinary gifts of speaking in tongues and prophesying. We receive the Spirit: First of all, lets be clear that all believers receive the Holy Spirit at salvation: He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. 39(But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) (Jn. 7:38-39). But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his (Rom. 8:9). Ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory (Eph. 1:13-14).

But it has other meanings too: And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: 23Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained (Jn. 20:22-23). Note that they didnt show supernatural signs. The next verses are about Doubting Thomas! Instead, these verses show that the receiving of the Holy Spirit was for their ministry; the breath was a symbol or a pledge of what will come at Pentecost. And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, 2He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. 3And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto Johns baptism. 4Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. 5When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied (Acts 19:1-6). Again, note that the Holy Spirit enabled new believers for ministry. When it says tongues think of Acts 2. They werent dancing around speaking gibberish; they had gifts from the Holy Spirit to speak in other languages as a testimony of their conversion to men from every place around the world. We walk in the Spirit: This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. 18But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. 19Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. 22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24And they that are Christs have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 25If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another. 6:1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an

one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. 2Bear ye one anothers burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. 3For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. 4But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. 5For every man shall bear his own burden. 6Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things. 7Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. 9And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. 10As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith (Gal. 5:16-6:10). A man reaps what he sows (6:7-8). Does this mean that you've got to work hard at spiritual life? Keep in mind that the context is Law vs. Grace. If ye be led by the Spirit ye are not under law (v. 18). And though the flesh be at war with the Spirit, we bear His fruit; against which there is no law! They that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts and Paul even says, Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me (Rom. 7:17). Now I want you to notice the marks of the Spirit here again. He doesnt make us do strange things: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance. This is what you see in a Spirit-filled man! It isnt something that we will ourselves into doing. It is rather, the result of His presence and the proof of His work! CONCLUSION The Holy Spirit reveals His presence when believers receive spiritual life at salvation, when we exercise our gifts for the good of the body, and when we are filled with Him and walk in Him bearing spiritual fruit. newgracebaptistchurch.wordpress.com