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Author Topic: Ministries Of The Spirit
Caretaker
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Good stuff and great potential.

God bless.

--------------------
A Servant of Christ,
Drew

1 Tim. 3:
16: And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh..

Posts: 3978 | From: Council Grove, KS USA | Registered: Jun 2002  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
noble
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Let me look at this. I just finished an 8 week study of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit and the Building of the Church using God's Principles. There were 19 listed Gifts. [and I preached on it last Sunday at my old Church]
But as it is now 11:30+ I need to get to bed, busy day tomorrow.
God Bless Carol .

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Carol Swenson
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noble, this is broken down. The original study is much longer. If you want to start a discussion, let's start with Part I.

The Holy Spirit glorifies Christ, and illuminates the Holy Scriptures.

Posts: 6787 | From: Colorado | Registered: Dec 2007  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
noble
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Carol, you have a pretty comprehensive study here with no opening to discuss. Why don't you break these down into the I] II] III] sections and open each to get response. Breaking it down helpe the reader better understand what you are trying to get across.
I like your platform, and the subject matter, now what would you like to start the discussion with?

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Carol Swenson
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Ministries of the Spirit

I. TEACHING

The teaching ministry of the Spirit was one of Christ’s last promises before His crucifixion. He said,

I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 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. He shall glorify Me; for He shall take of Mine, and shall disclose it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said, that He takes of Mine, and will disclose it to you. (John 16:12-15)

A. Time

This particular ministry of the Spirit was yet future when our Lord spoke these words. It began on the Day of Pentecost and continues throughout this age. Peter’s clear comprehension as revealed in his Pentecostal sermon is evidence of the beginning of this ministry.

B. Content

In general the content of the Spirit’s ministry encompasses “all the truth” (the definite article appears in the text). This, of course, means revelation concerning Christ Himself, but on the basis of the written Word (for we have no other information about Him except through the Bible). Therefore, He teaches the believer the content of the Scripture, which leads him to an understanding of prophecy (“things to come”). This particularizing of the general promise concerning teaching ought to encourage every believer to study prophecy. Notice too that the Spirit does not originate His message—it comes from the Lord.

C. Result

The result of the teaching ministry of the Spirit is that Christ is glorified. If He is not glorified, then the Spirit has not been ministering. Note also that it is not the Spirit who is glorified or who is supposed to be glorified in a religious service, but Christ. Further, if Christ is known only through the written Word, then He will be glorified when the Word of God is expounded in the power of the Spirit.

D. Procedure

How does the Spirit teach the believer? John declares: “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 2:27). This could not mean that human teachers are unnecessary in explaining the Word of God. If it could, then what would be the use of the gift of teaching? (Rom. 12:7). John wrote concerning the presence of antichrists in the group. Having stated his own conviction concerning their heresies, he simply declared that no man really had to tell them the truth, for the Holy Spirit would confirm it to them. Human teachers are a necessary link in the procedure of instructing believers, though the ultimate authentication of the teaching comes from the Spirit.

II. GUIDING

“For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God” (Rom. 8:14). Leading is a confirmation of sonship, for sons are led. This work of guidance is particularly the work of the Spirit. Romans 8:14 states it and the book of Acts amply illustrates it (8:29; 10:19-20; 13:2, 4; 16:6-7; 20:22-23). This ministry of the Spirit is one of the most assuring ones for the Christian. The child of God never needs to walk in the dark; he is always free to ask and receive directions from the Spirit Himself.

III. ASSURING

The Spirit is also the One who assures the Christian that he is a child of God. “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God” (Rom. 8:16). The word for children here is tekna (in contrast to huioi, sons) and emphasizes the fact that the believer shares in the life of the Father. Because of this, he also shares as an heir in the possessions of the Father. Assurance of all this is the work of the Spirit to the heart of each Christian.

Undoubtedly assurance is also brought to the heart of the believer by an increased understanding of some of the things that the Spirit has done for him. For instance, assurance will deepen when one understands what it means to be sealed with the Spirit and to have been given the earnest of the Spirit as a guarantee of the completion of redemption (Eph. 1:13-14). The comprehension of what is involved in the Spirit’s joining the believer to the risen, undying body of Christ will also nurture assurance. Of course, the comprehension of these great accomplishments is part of the teaching ministry of the Spirit, so in many ways the Holy Spirit is connected with and concerned about the assurance of the child of God.

IV. PRAYING

A. The Statement

Though we may not fully understand the ramifications of the Spirit’s praying in the believer, the fact that He does is perfectly clear: “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” (Rom. 8:26).

B. The Need

The stated reason that we need help is because of our infirmity (the word is singular). He helps our entire weakness, but especially as it manifests itself in relation to our prayer life, and particularly in relation to knowing what to pray for at the present moment. While we wait for our full redemption, we need guidance in the particulars of prayer.

C. The Method

The way the Spirit helps meet our needs is described in general by the word “helps,” which literally means “puts His hand to the work in cooperation with us.” Specifically this help is given in the form of “groanings too deep for words.” These groanings, the meaning of which cannot be grasped, find no adequate or formulated expression. One thing we do know—they are according to the will of God.

In another passage we are told that the Spirit guides and directs our prayers (Eph. 6:18). This is more the guidance of the believer’s heart and mind as he prays than the unutterable groanings of the Spirit Himself.

D. The Result

The result of such a prayer life is assurance to the believer of the certainty of his future and full redemption (Rom. 8:23). This ministry of the Spirit is a kind of earnestlike guarantee of that redemption. Such a satisfying prayer life will help keep us content in this present world as we wait for the consummation. The ministry of the Spirit, then, is not only connected with answered prayer, but it cultivates our assurance and contentment in this life.

V. SANCTIFYING

A. The Concept of Sanctification

The word sanctify basically means to set apart. It has the same root as the words saint and holy. For the Christian, sanctification includes three aspects. The first is called positional or definitive sanctification, which relates to the position every believer enjoys by virtue of being set apart as a member of God’s family through faith in Christ. This is true for all believers regardless of different degrees of spiritual growth. Paul addressed the carnal Christians with all of their sinful practices as sanctified (and thus as saints, 1 Cor. 1:2; see also 6:11 where the verbs indicate accomplished facts, not something to be attained).

The second aspect of sanctification concerns the present experiential or progressive work of continuing to be set apart during the whole of our Christian lives. Every command and exhortation to holy living concerns progressive sanctification (1 Pet. 1:16).

The third aspect is usually called ultimate sanctification, which we will attain in heaven when we shall be completely and eternally set apart to our God (Eph. 5:26-27; Jude 24-25).

B. The Agents in Sanctification

All persons of the Trinity are involved in sanctification, and believers are too. In positional sanctification, which comes when we are saved, the Holy Spirit sanctifies us, our responsibility being to believe the truth (2 Thess. 2:13). Christ’s death is the basis for our position in sanctification (Heb. 10:10). In ultimate sanctification God is the one who will present us blameless.

In the process of progressive sanctification several agents are involved. It was to the Father that our Lord prayed that He would sanctify us through the truth (John 17:17 and 1 Thess. 5:23). Thus the Bible becomes an indispensable foundation for our sanctification. How else could we know for sure what pleases a holy God except through His Word? Christ’s death (to which He sanctified or set Himself apart) serves as the basis for our being able to progress in sanctification (John 17:19; Rom. 6:1-13). However, the Holy Spirit is the prominent agent in the outworking of our progressive sanctification. It is by the Spirit that we put to death the deeds of the body (Rom. 8:13). The Spirit ignites love in our hearts (Rom. 5:5). By the Spirit we are changed from glory to glory to become more and more like Christ (2 Cor. 3:18). And it is the fruit of the Spirit that produces in us Christlikeness, which is the goal of sanctification (Gal. 5:22-23).

Yet the believer must faithfully discharge his or her responsibilities in sanctification. When we present ourselves as slaves to righteousness, sanctification results (Rom. 6:19; see also Rom. 6:13; 2 Cor. 7:1; 1 Pet. 2:11). We must obey the commands and exhortations of the Christian life in order to progress in holiness.

To withhold or withdraw areas of our lives from God’s desired sanctification for us will result in our being controlled by the flesh rather than by the Spirit. This will result in the believer’s being carnal in those unyielded or rebellious areas (1 Cor. 3:1-5). Carnality exhibits the characteristics of the unsaved life because of being controlled by the flesh (Gal. 5:16-21). Thus yieldedness, Spirit filling, and the sanctifying process are involved in setting us apart more and more to the image of Christ.


Basic Theology: A Popular Systematic Guide to Understanding Biblical Truth.

Posts: 6787 | From: Colorado | Registered: Dec 2007  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator


 
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