THE AMAZING HOLY SPIRIT

Many years ago I was scheduled to speak at a small church that had recently merged with another church in the city. One of the churches was a traditional denominational church, and the church it merged with was a Pentecostal denominational church. The traditional church was unaccustomed to the practices of the Pentecostal doctrines and their more free flowing church service structure, and consequently, at the same time, cautiously reluctant to accept the Pentecostal ways of doing things.  So the pastor, a good-hearted man, and my friend, asked me to teach for a week about the Holy Spirit. This was not necessarily what I could consider a peaceful environment, yet it was a tremendous opportunity, if I would be sensitive to the needs of the congregation and the request of the prayerful pastor. Therefore, when I prayed about accepting the invitation, I had the inward witness that God wanted me to go. While there, after 2 days of teaching, one of the elders, a kindly, God-loving gentleman, remarked he never knew that Bible had so much to say about the Holy Spirit. It was totally new territory for him as it was for the majority of the listeners. I had to smile. Regrettably, this is a common reaction concerning the subject of the Spirit of God. That week went very well, and there was a tremendous breakthrough for the church, as well as significant miracles in the services. Thank God, the tangible presence of the Spirit attended us as confirmation of His word! Nonetheless, this is a common dilemma and matter of spiritual ignorance that should concern us.

Jesus expressly stated that upon His departure to be with the Father, the Holy Spirit would be sent for a variety of purposes, one of the most significant being, the communication of truth to those who believed on Christ. Much could be written about the person of the Holy Spirit, and I would love to do so. However, the subject of this series requires that I remain true to the topic of Kingdom Truth. Nonetheless, in this posting, I beg you give me a brief interlude to expound about the general functions of the Spirit of God, bearing in mind that each of these points could be greatly enlarged upon and radically affect how the Spirit communicates the truths of the Kingdom.

We learned in the last regular posting that the first purpose for the Spirit, as revealed in Scripture, is fundamental to all eventual expressions of the Holy Spirit: The Spirit brings transformation, taking those things which appear lifeless and unproductive and opening the way for life and fruitfulness to come forth. It cannot be ignored, however, that there are a variety of actions and manifestations the Holy Spirit employs in the canon of the Word. In most instances, that change was rendered through spiritual words or God inspired vocabulary.  Moreover, the Bible generally reveals 9 more distinct categories that demonstrate the operations, purpose and functions of the Holy Spirit.

9 MORE CATEGORIES OF HOW THE HOLY SPIRIT OPERATES!

#1. Holy Spirit activity and movement!  The Spirit of God normally doesn’t function where there is stagnation and paralysis. The Spirit is a MOVER!

A. CAME UPON-Num 24:2 Judg 3:10 6:34 11:29 14:19; 1 Sam 10:10; 11:6; 16:13 ; 1 Chr 12:18 ; 2 Chr 15:1 2 Chr 24:20; II Ki 3:15 2 Chr 20:14-15

     Throughout the Bible the Holy Spirit would come upon, or by definition, clothe the individuals God wanted to use for various service.

B. FELL UPON-

                     On unusual occasions the Spirit would fall upon various individuals, usually prophets, as in when the Hand of the Lord fell upon Ezekiel in Ezekiel 8:1-3. He expressed a variety of feelings and reactions as a result of this event. My favorite usage of this concept of the Spirit falling on human beings is in reference to the events of the Spirit falling on the Gentile believers and the 120 souls who waited in the Upper Room at Pentecost. The Greek word, epipito, translated as fall in many translations, is much better described as falling upon someone in the sense of seizing them as if in an affectionate embrace. Wow! God wants to hug you! He did this in His spirit in Acts repeatedly!

                      Acts 10:44-46; 11:15-18; 8:14-17

        C. THE SPIRIT DESCENDS! You should take note that the Spirit doesn't ascend from the earth upon human beings. Furthermore, the Spirit is compared to a dove descending, such as when John the Baptised Jesus!- Luke 3:22; Matt 3:16; Mark 1:10; John 1:32-33

        D. RESTED-Num 11:23-29; 1 Pet 4:14
                 Moses, as leader of the wandering masses, was overwhelmed and needed help. God instructed him to gather the leading elders together and once that happened the Spirit would come upon them. It is described as the Spirit resting on them. This is extremely important. God's Spirit is active and yet peaceful, although intent. The newly empowered elders began to prophesy out of this encounter not from a place of frenzy, but an atmosphere of spiritual rest.

        E.THE SPIRIT WAS ALSO DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR A MEANS OF DIVINE TRANSPORTATION. This could be said to be a form of unusual heavenly transport. I have listened to numerous accounts from missionaries endangered, or individuals hindered by time constraints and their stories of supernatural transportation to take them suddenly to the locations they needed to be. There are numerous records of this happening in the Bible. I seriously wonder that if times get difficult and transportation becomes a problem, if we will not see this type of thing increase. It sure would be lest costly and without jet lag. Ha!

             1. CARRIED- Ezek 37:1-2; I King 18:11-15; Rev 17:1-3; 21:9-13          

            2. Lifted-Matt 3:16; Mark 1:10; John 1:32-3

           3.  Took- Taken Him up- Gen 5:24; II Ki 2:15-16;  Ezek 11:24-25; Ezek 3:10-14

            4. Caught away- Acts 8:39-4

     F. REMAINETH- Hag 2:4-7

     G. WAS UPON- 1 Sam 19:20-24

     H. MOVED UPON HOLY MEN OF GOD-2 Pet 1:21

                       

#2. LIFE GIVING AND REVIVAL!-
             There is an aspect of revival and the igniting of life in how the Spirit works. In nearly all the references I have sited below, the function of the Spirit to regenerate, quicken, strengthen and renew occur because of the marvelous indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. Don't undervalue the reality of this daily occurance.

            A. THE SPIRIT REGENERATES Titus 3:4-6

            B. THE SPIRIT QUICKENS US- 1 Pet 3:17-18; Rom 8:10-12; John 6:61-63; Rom 4:16-21; 8:11

            C. THE SPIRIT RENEWS US-Titus 3:4-6

            D. THE SPIRIT WILL STRENGTHEN US WITH MIGHT IN OUR INNER BEING- Eph 3:14-19; Ps 28:7-9;138:3; Isa 40:29-31

#3. INTERACTS WITH AND POINTS THE INDIVIDUAL TO JESUS- THE HOLY SPIRIT IS NOT SELF-FOCUSED OR EMPHASIZING!

A. THE SPIRIT INTERACTS WITH AND POINTS THE INDIVIDUAL TO JESUS-

1. The Spirit doesn’t speak of himself!  The Spirit speaks what has been spoken by the Father and the Son. People who over emphasize the Spirit ignore the Divine interaction.  John 16:7-14                       

2. The Spirit doesn't glorify himself. The Spirit glorifies Jesus- Same as above

               3. Testifies of Jesus- John 15:26-27

4. Receives of Jesus and shows those things unto the saint

#4. ENABLES AND SENDS THE SAINT INTO SERVICE

         A. HOW DOES THE SPIRIT ENABLE THE BELIEVER TO BE AND DO AS MINISTERS OF GOD?

               1 The believer to approve him or her self as a minister to God- 2 Cor 6:4-6                                       

               2. The believer to please God-Rom 8:8-9

               3 To speak with tongues and prophesy- Acts 19:5-6; 2:1-4, 14-21

               4. To speak with boldness, frankness, bluntness, confidence, when the occasion requires it.-Acts 4:31

              5. To cast out devils-Matt 12:25-29

              6. The believer to wait for the hope of righteousness by faith- Gal 5:4-5

       B. THIS ENABLING AND EQUIPPING IS FULFILLED AS THE SPIRIT SENDS THE BELIEVER OUT FOR THE PURPOSES OF-

              1. Healing the broken hearted- Luke 4:18-19

            2. Preaching deliverance to the captives. Same as above

           3. Recovers sight to the blind! Same as above-

          4. Sets at liberty those who have been bruised emotionally, physically, relationally, and more.  Same as above-

            5.Sending those anointed to preach the acceptable year of the Lord! Same as above

#5. EQUIPS FOR SERVICE- THE SPIRIT EQUIPS THE SAINT FOR SERVICE

      A. EQUIPS THE PRIESTS OR LEADERS FOR OFFICES OF SERVICE-

            1. The priests or leaders for office- Exo 28:1-3

                  This is accomplished as they’re given the Spirit of wisdom- Deut 34:9; Isa 11:1-2

            2. The Spirit gives leaders the divinely inspired patterns for arts, architecture, technical skills and workmanship- Exo 31:1-8; 35:21-36:1; 1 Chron 28:11-12

                Spirit-led living has the potential to develop heavenly inspired patterns and models for the works and vision of God. People who look to the models of human inspiration and past almost always fall short of the higher things God wants to accomplish through them. Our model and template needs to be heavenly inspired.

          3. The Holy Spirit gives gifts originating from impartial grace- 1 Cor 12:31; 1 Cor 12:4-13; Luke 11:10-13; Heb 2:4

    B. THE SPIRIT DOES THESE THINGS THROUGH WHAT IS CALLED “THE ANOINTING”, A TERM USED TO DESCRIBE THE SYMBOL OF OLIVE OIL IN CONNECTION WITH THE WORKING OF THE SPIRIT FOR SOME OF THE FOLLOWING PURPOSES

Anoints to preach gospel to the poor Luke 4:18-19

#6. THE HOLY SPIRIT ENABLES BELIEVERS TO RELATE TO GOD AND ONE ANOTHER THROUGH-

            A. Fellowship

            B. Has communion

            C. Believers are to walk in

            D. Man prays in

#7. AFFECTS THE HUMAN SPIRIT IN VARIETY OF WAYS

            A. LOVE IS GRANTED BY HOLY SPIRIT INTO THE HUMAN SPIRIT -  Rom 5:5; Gal 5:22-24; 4:6; 2 Cor 3:18; 1 Cor 8:3; Rom 8:14-17

            B. Sanctifies- II Th 2:13; 1 Pet 1:2; Heb 9:13-14; Rom 15:15-16                     

            C. Justifies-1 Cor 6:11; 1 Tim 3:16

            D. Signifies- Heb 9:8

            E. Supplies- Phil 1:18-20

            F. Seals- Eph 4:30; 1:13-14

           G. Helps us pray through our infirmities or weaknesses- Rom 8:26-27  

            H.  Makes intercession with groaning- Rom 8:26-27  

            I. The Spirit emphasizes our relationship to the Father, so that there should not be a feeling of abandonment or father-lessness. The Spirit enables us to Cry Abba Father in our hearts- Gal 4:5

            J.  Opens the eyes of the people to recognize the Messiah- Zech 12:10

            K. Brings liberty with responsibility- 2 Cor 3:17- 18

            L. Brings to birth- John 3:6-8

            M. Writes the epistle of Christ in our hearts-2 Cor 3:1-3

            N.  Grants manifestations so believer can profit-1 Cor 12:4-7

            O. Imparts so stability can occur- Rom. 1:11-12

#8. THE SPIRIT DEMONSTRATES DEEP FEELINGS AND MUST BE INTERACTED WITH ACCORDING TO A SPIRITUAL ETIQUETTE-

            A. Those emotions include not wanting to continually strive with man. Gen 6:3

            B. Grief- Eph 4:29-32; Gen 6:5-7

Obviously the feelings of the Spirit are many, and include far more than what I have listed here, some of which would be joy, delight, pleasure and love.

           

#9. THE SPIRIT COMMUNICATES AND GIVES GUIDANCE.

As you can see, the function and operation of the Spirit is vast, and I have only outlined these briefly, as each category deserves extensive detailed treatment. Nonetheless, if you are to grow in Kingdom Truth, you need to face the fact that God’s Spirit is active and anticipating your attention. In the next post I will begin to describe the ways that the Holy Spirit is described in Scripture to communicate and give guidance. I hope you take these things to heart and allow God, by His Spirit to work in your life in a broader manner than you have previously expected before. In conclusion, remember this. God’s Spirit will never contradict the accurately interpreted Word.