Ministry of the Holy Spirit - III

KEY VERSE:
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in
my name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your
remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. (John 14:26)
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this chapter is to describe the ministries of the Holy Spirit from creation
of the world through His present ministry to believers.
CREATION
The Holy Spirit was active in creation of the earth:
And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face
of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
(Genesis 1:2)
Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of
the earth. (Psalms 104:30)
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SCRIPTURES
The Holy Spirit's ministry involves the written Word of God which is called the Holy
Scriptures or the Holy Bible. The Holy Spirit ministered by:
REVELATION:
He spoke to human writers the message of God:
For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man but holy men of
God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. (II Peter 1:21)
INSPIRATION:
He guided these writers so the message would be accurate:
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for
reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness;
That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good
works. (II Timothy 3:16-17)
ILLUMINATION:
He enlightens human hearts to understand the message of the Gospel:
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in
my name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your
remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. (John 14:26)
ISRAEL
The nation of Israel was chosen by God as a people through which He could reveal
Himself and fulfill His master plan in the world. was through Israel that the Messiah
came to save men from sin. The experiences of Israel provided an example both of
success and failure for believers. From Jerusalem, the capitol of Israel, the Gospel
message spread throughout the world.
The ministry of the Holy Spirit to Israel is evident from the very beginning of the nation.
The Holy Spirit:
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CAME UPON THE LEADERS OF ISRAEL:
There are too many examples of this to reproduce all the verses as part of this manual.
The references are listed in the "For Further Study" section of this chapter. Study of this
subject will provide understanding of how the Holy Spirit moved in the lives of people
during Old Testament times.
CAME UPON ISRAEL'S PLACES OF WORSHIP:
Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the Lord
filled the tabernacle. (Exodus 40:34)
And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place, that
the cloud filled the house of the Lord. (I Kings 8:10)
GUIDED THEM TO THE PROMISED LAND:
Thou gavest also thy good spirit to instruct them, and withheldest not thy
manna from their mouth, and gavest them water for their thirst.
Yea, forty years didst thou sustain them in the wilderness so that they lacked
nothing... (Nehemiah 9:20)
WILL COME UPON ISRAEL DURING THE TRIBULATION:
The tribulation is a future time of great trouble on the earth. God will place a special
mark of protection on Israel.
And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the
living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was
given to hurt the earth and the sea,
Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed
the servants of our God in their foreheads.
And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed
an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of
Israel. (Revelation 7:2-4)
WILL COME UPON ISRAEL DURING THE MILLENNIUM:
The Millennium is a thousand years of peace during which Jesus will reign on the earth:
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And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of
Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and supplications: and they shall look upon me
whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for Him, as one mourneth for
his only son, and shall be in bitterness for Him, as one that is in bitterness for
his firstborn. (Zechariah 12:10)
SATAN
The Holy Spirit even has a ministry concerning Satan. The Holy Spirit is the restraining
spiritual force that limits the power of Satan:
...When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift
up a standard against him. (Isaiah 59:19)
When the Holy Spirit is removed from the world, then the spirit of the antichrist will have
control for a period of time. The antichrist will be an evil world leader:
For the mystery of iniquity doeth already work: only he who now letteth will
let, until he be taken out of the way.
And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume, with
the spirit of His mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming;
Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and
signs and lying wonders.
And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because
they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved,
And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion that they should
believe a lie;
That they all might be damned who believed not the truth but had
pleasure in unrighteousness. (II Thessalonians 2:7-12)
JESUS
The ministry of the Holy Spirit was evident in the life of Jesus. Jesus was:
CONCEIVED BY THE SPIRIT:
And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon
thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee; therefore also that
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holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
(Luke 1:35)
Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise, when as his mother Mary was
espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of
the Holy Ghost...
Behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph,
thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is
conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. (Matthew 1:18,20)
ANOINTED BY THE SPIRIT:
And Jesus, when He was baptized, went up straightway out of the water:
and, lo, the heavens were opened unto Him, and He saw the Spirit of God
descending like a dove, and lighting upon Him... (Matthew 3:16)
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He hath anointed me to preach
the gospel to the poor, He hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach
deliverance to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at
liberty them that are bruised... (Luke 4:18)
How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power:
who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil;
for God was with Him. (Acts 10:38)
Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy
God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
(Hebrews 1:9)
SEALED BY THE SPIRIT:
Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth
unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for Him hath
God the Father sealed. (John 6:27)
LED BY THE SPIRIT:
Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the
devil. (Matthew 4:1)
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EMPOWERED BY THE SPIRIT:
But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come
unto you. (Matthew 12:28)
FILLED BY THE SPIRIT:
And Jesus, being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led
by the Spirit into the wilderness. (Luke 4:1)
For He whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God; for God giveth not
the Spirit by measure unto Him. (John 3:34)
TROUBLED IN THE SPIRIT:
When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which
came with her, He groaned in the spirit and was troubled. (John 11:33)
REJOICED IN THE SPIRIT:
In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of
heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent,
and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in
thy sight. (Luke 10:21)
OFFERED THROUGH THE SPIRIT:
How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit
offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works
to serve the living God? (Hebrews 9:14)
RAISED BY THE SPIRIT:
For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He
might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the
Spirit. (I Peter 3:18)
And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of
holiness, by the resurrection from the dead. (Romans 1:4)
COMMANDED HIS DISCIPLES THROUGH THE SPIRIT:
Until the day in which He was taken up, after that He through the Holy
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Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen.
(Acts 1:2)
SINNERS
The Holy Spirit's ministry concerning the sinner was described by Jesus:
Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away; for if
I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will
send Him unto you.
And when He is come, He will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness,
and of judgment:
Of sin, because they believe not on me;
Of righteousness because I go to my Father and ye see me no more;
Of judgment because the prince of this world is judged. (John 16:7-11)
THE CHURCH
The Holy Spirit serves several purposes in the Church. He...
FORMED IT:
Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens
with the saints, and of the household of God;
And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ
Himself being the chief corner stone;
In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto a holy temple
in the Lord;
In whom ye also are builded together for a habitation of God through the
Spirit. (Ephesians 2:19-22)
INSPIRES ITS WORSHIP:
For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the Spirit, and rejoice in Christ
Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. (Philippians 3:3)
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DIRECTS ITS MISSIONARY ACTIVITIES:
Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.
(Acts 8:29)
Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and
were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia,
After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia; but the
Spirit suffered them not.
And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavored to go into
Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the
gospel unto them. (Acts 16:6,7,10)
As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me
Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.
So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and
from thence they sailed to Cyprus. (Acts 13:2,4)
SELECTS ITS MINISTERS:
Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the
Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which He
hath purchased with His own blood. (Acts 20:28)
ANOINTS ITS PREACHERS:
And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's
wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.
(I Corinthians 2:4)
GUIDES ITS DECISIONS:
For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost and to us, to lay upon you no greater
burden than these necessary things. (Acts 15:28)
BAPTIZES IT WITH POWER:
And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord
in one place.
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And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind,
and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as a fire, and it sat upon
each of them.
And 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)
BELIEVERS
The Holy Spirit serves an important purpose in the lives of believers. He...
CONVICTS:
It is the Holy Spirit that convicts of sin to draw men and women to Jesus. You could not
become a believer without this ministry of the Spirit:
And when He is come, He will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness,
and of judgment:
Of sin, because they believe not on me;
Of righteousness, because I go to My Father and ye see me no more;
Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. (John 16:8-11)
REGENERATES:
The Holy Spirit changes your life when you become a believer:
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His
mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the
Holy Ghost. (Titus 3:5)
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a
man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Nicodemus saith unto Him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he
enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of
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water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is
spirit.
Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. (John 3:3-7)
SANCTIFIES:
The Holy Spirit takes this life which has been changed by salvation and enables righteous
living:
But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren, beloved of
the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation
through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth...
(II Thessalonians 2:13)
BAPTIZES:
Chapter Four of this manual deals with this experience of baptism in the Holy Spirit:
And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak in other
tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. (Acts 2:4)
DWELLS WITHIN:
The purpose of this indwelling is to strengthen the new nature received through salvation:
What! Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is
in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
(I Corinthians 6:19)
Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God
dwelleth in you? (I Corinthians 3:16)
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed
away; behold all things are become new. (II Corinthians 5:17)
This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
For 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.
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But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. (Galatians 5:16-18)
In the natural world, after a house has been lived in by a person for a period of time it
reflects the character of that person. Likewise, our spiritual houses should reflect the
character of the Holy Spirit who dwells within.
STRENGTHENS:
That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be
strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man. (Ephesians 3:16)
UNITES:
The Holy Spirit makes a believer one in spirit with God and other believers. This is
called the "unity of the Spirit":
But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. (I Corinthians 6:17)
For 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.
For 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. (I Corinthians 12:12-13)
INTERCEDES:
Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we
should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us
with groanings which cannot be uttered. (Romans 8:26)
But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in
the Holy Ghost. (Jude 20)
Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching
thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.
(Ephesians 6:18)
GUIDES:
Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all
truth; for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that
shall He speak; and He will show you things to come. (John 16:13)
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For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
(Romans 8:14)
DEMONSTRATES LOVE:
The Holy Spirit shows the love of Christ to and through the believer:
And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in
our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. (Romans 5:5)
CONFORMS TO THE IMAGE OF CHRIST:
The Holy Spirit conforms the believer to the image of Christ:
But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are
changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of
the Lord. (II Corinthians 3:18)
REVEALS TRUTH:
But God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth
all things, yea, the deep things of God. (I Corinthians 2:10)
TEACHES:
But the anointing which ye have received of Him abideth in you, and ye need
not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all
things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall
abide in Him. (I John 2:27)
ASSURES OF SALVATION:
The Spirit itself beareth witness, with our spirit, that we are the children of
God. (Romans 8:16)
And he that keepeth His commandments dwelleth in Him, and He in him.
And hereby we know that He abideth in us, by the Spirit which He hath
given us. (I John 3:24)
GIVES LIBERTY:
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the
law of sin and death. (Romans 8:2)
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Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is
liberty. (II Corinthians 3:17)
COMFORTS:
...and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost...
(Acts 9:31)
Even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth
Him not, neither knoweth Him; but ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you,
and shall be in you...
But the Comforter , which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in
my name, He shall teach you all things and bring all things to your
remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. (John 14:17,26)
QUICKENS:
But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He
that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken [empower, give new
life, resurrect] your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you.
(Romans 8:11)
SPEAKS:
But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought
beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate; but whatsoever
shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but
the Holy Ghost. (Mark 13:11)
DEMONSTRATES GOD'S POWER:
And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's
wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power;
That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men but in the power of
God. (I Corinthians 2:4-5)
INSPIRES WORSHIP:
God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and
in truth. (John 4:24)
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EMPOWERS FOR WITNESSING:
The power to witness is the true evidence that one has been baptized in the Holy Spirit.
But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you; and
ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in
Samaria, and unto the uttermost parts of the earth. (Acts 1:8)
GIVES GIFTS AND DEVELOPS FRUIT:
The Holy Spirit gives spiritual gifts to believers. These are specific abilities to enable
him to function effectively as part of the Church. The Holy Spirit also develops spiritual
fruit in a believer's life. Spiritual fruit refers to the nature of the Holy Spirit in the life of
a believer. Because of their importance, the fruit and gifts of the Holy Spirit are discussed
in separate chapters.