Understanding the Holy Spirit

UNDERSTANDING THE SPIRIT

Reading: 1 Corinthians 12: 1-11

But the Counsellor, 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 have said to you. (John 14:26)

Of all aspects of the Trinity I think that the Holy Spirit is the most misunderstood by people. Many people doubt that the Spirit is real, perhaps even going so far as to suggest that it’s nothing more than emotionalism, and there are probably many more plagued by uncertainty, and all because of a lack of understanding of the Spirit. It’s easier to grasp the concept of God because we can see the evidence of His hands all around us. We look at the wonder of Creation and it’s quite simple to understand that it has been designed purposefully by something or someone. We’re raised from childhood to come to terms with God in some way or other. When something good happens, such as a life being saved, especially if the worst had been feared, then we hear people say “Thank God!” Whenever there’s some sort of natural disaster such as an earthquake or tornado then the insurance companies will claim that it’s an act of God. People are taught from an early age to pray to God and expect answer to their prayers. In times of direst trouble people naturally and instinctively cry out to God in prayer. Many people experience that overwhelming sense of peace on occasions that fills their minds with the thought of the peace of God.

The evangelist David Watson has said, ‘If God were to take the Holy Spirit out of our midst today, about 95% of Churches would go on, and we would not know the difference.’

Some people feel that the Holy Spirit only exists in the charismatic Pentecostal churches. Even worse, there are some people within the Charismatic churches that feel that they are the only ones who experience the blessings of the Holy Spirit! This is completely un-scriptural for Jesus, talking to the disciples, said that God would send the Spirit to those who confessed and accepted Him in order that the Spirit might remind them of all that they’d been taught, referring to the Spirit as the Counsellor. Elsewhere in Scripture the Spirit is referred to the as our Guide, our Comforter and our Helper.

R.A.Torrey writes, ‘To the extent that we understand and claim for ourselves the Holy Spirit's work, to that extent do we obtain for ourselves the fullness of power in Christian life and service that God has provided for us in Christ. A very large proportion of the Church know and claim for themselves a very small part of what God has made possible for them in Christ, because they know so little of what the Holy Spirit can do for us, and longs to do for us.’

The Spirit shows us our need, convicting us of sin, righteousness and judgement. In John 16:8 Jesus said, . . . of sin, because they do not believe in Me; of righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see Me no more; of judgement, because the ruler of this world is judged.

The Holy Spirit brings us new life, (John 3:6,7) ... That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, You must be born anew. Once we accept Jesus Christ into our lives, firstly by repenting of sin and secondly by accepting that He died in order that our sins may be forgiven through Him, then we are given the gift of the Spirit immediately so that we’ll never be left without a guide to help us maintain our walk with Christ.

The Holy Spirit assures us of our salvation, (Romans 8:16) . . . it is the Spirit himself bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs. The indwelling Spirit will increasingly give us the security of the knowledge of our salvation as we turn our lives more and more over to God.

The Spirit helps us to become Holy. Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 3:18, And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being changed into His likeness from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. Throughout our Christian lives, as we grow in Christian maturity, we change to become more like Christ in our attitudes and behaviour, and the more that we follow His teachings so the more Holy we become.

As Christians we are given the gifts of the Spirit to play our part in the growth of the Church. 1 Corinthians 12:4 refers to the varieties of gifts that God bestows upon us, but all are bestowed through the same Spirit. And 12:7 says, To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good, and again in 12:13, For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body - Jews or Greeks, slaves or free - and all were made to drink of one Spirit. God reveals Himself through the gifts. When we see the results of a praying church in the blessings that they receive then we’re all uplifted. When we know of God's healing power being revealed then we’re refreshed in our attitude and worship of Him. When we see the faith that is demonstrated so forcibly by some Christians then we’re inspired by what we see.

The Holy Spirit gives us power as witnesses for God through Christ. Acts 1:8 says.... But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses in Jerusalem and in a11 Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth. We’re not left alone to share the Message of the Gospel in our own strength, for God gives us His power through the Spirit. This way, by presenting our bodies to Him as living sacrifices, He supports us constantly in the ministry that He sends us out on.

The work of the Holy Spirit gives glory to Jesus, for we read in the Scriptures that Jesus spoke of the Spirit, He will glorify Me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that He will take what is mine and declare it to you (John 16:14,15). As we grow in Christ, we’ll see the manifestation of that growth in the measure that Jesus is glorified. And, because God, Jesus and the Spirit are One in the Trinity, when either the Spirit or Jesus are glorified then God is glorified also. Surely the purpose for which we have been created in the beginning is to glorify God. In ourselves, and for ourselves, we have no real purpose. It’s like being an electric toy without batteries! It’s in Christ and through Christ, through the power of the Spirit, that we are best able to serve and glorify God the Father.

Billy Graham said, ‘The world today is again in desperate need of a spiritual awakening. It is only the hope for the survival of the human race . . .’ If the greatest need of our world is to feel the effects of a spiritual awakening, then surely the greatest need within the Christian Church throughout the world today is to experience the touch of the Holy Spirit, bringing true revival and renewal to the lives of countless Christians.

We recognise the need for renewal and revival in our churches today, and yet without a true sense of Mission within the church there is unlikely to be true revival, for revival starts within the individual being revived and renewed. It’s that renewing that’s so important, for in renewal we see also the renewal of commitment to our mission. Our Mission is quite clear. The direct command from Jesus is that we should go out into all the world and take the Good News with us. If we’re to be successful then we need to use all that our Lord equips us with. The gifts of the Spirit are the tools that we have. Wisdom, Knowledge, Healing and so on. - Some folk argue regarding the purpose of the gifts, saying that they were given in the times of the apostles, as signs to authenticate the apostles during the early preaching of the Gospel. Let us consider why some Bible believing Christians do not believe in the gifts today:

· They’ve not seen them demonstrated for themselves.

· When they study the history of the Church they are unable to find evidence of New Testament miracles after the times of the New Testament itself.

· They find the misuse of gifts in some contemporary churches and healing movements offensive.

· They are concerned by the confusion and disorder brought about by the supernatural manifestation of God's Spirit.

· They quote 1 Corinthians 13:10, . . . but when the perfect comes, the imperfect will pass away.

(This is despite the fact that 1 Corinthians 14:1 teaches us that we should ... earnestly desire the spiritual gifts.)

In order that we may be filled with the Holy Spirit today we need to turn to Scripture. Ephesians 5:17-18 teaches Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit ... Even more sure is the advice given in Luke 11:9,10 which says, And I tell you, Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. For every one who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Again in John 7: 37-39 we read, Jesus . . . proclaimed, If any one thirst, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the scripture has said, Out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water. Now this He said about the Spirit, which those who believed in Him were to receive.

In order to diligently fulfil the Mission which we are tasked with, we need to believe both upon Jesus as Saviour and in the promises that He made. We must consider the gifts of the Spirit carefully, asking that we might be blessed in accordance with God's Divine plan for our lives, and then to seek the gifts that we have been given in order that we might use them to serve and glorify God through our witness and the building up of His Church.

Amen