THE MINISTRY OF THE SPIRIT #2

The ministry of the Spirit is a most important ministry. The ministry of the Spirit is a most important ministry.
All services, all sermons and all songs are valueless unless He (the Spirit of God) is in them.
He (the Holy Spirit) has a ministry in the Church.
He has a place in an individual's life from conversion unto death.
          "...Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts." Zechariah 4:6

God's Spirit...is the Holy Spirit.

Who is the Holy Spirit?

We know that He has personality...He is not an abstract force or power.
The Holy Spirit:
Exercises the Attributes of Personality:

• He has a MIND (Romans 8:27), "And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is in the mind of the Spirit..."
• He has a WILL (1 Corinthians 12:11), "But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as He will."
• He has FEELING (Ephesians 4:30), "And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God..."

Personal Activities are Ascribed to Him:

• HE REPROVES OF SIN (convinces and convicts)
John 16:8: "And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin..."
John 6:4: "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him."
          Man cannot be saved at any time. The Spirit's work is to make him aware of
          his sins and his need of a Savior.
• HE SEALS US.
  Ephesians 4:30... "And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby you are sealed unto the day of redemption."
  Ephesians 1:13 and 2 Timothy 2:19, "In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; In whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise. Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, the Lord knoweth them that are His. And, let every one that names the name of Christ depart from iniquity."
  He puts God's brand on us....like western cattlemen (except it is invisible to the human eye)...
  But, God can see it:
  • To identify us
  • To establish ownership to protect us as his children
  • To serve notice on the devil to keep his filthy hands off.

A Seal denotes:

1. Ownership...The impress of a seal implies a relationship to the owner of the seal. It is a sure token of something belonging to him.
             Believers are God's property...known to be so by the seal of the Spirit.
2. Genuineness and Authority...Official documents are validated by the seal of the United States, by state seals, by notary seals, etc. To tamper with that seal is an implied attack on the government which applied it.
             So he who attacks the sealed child of God, attacks the authority of
             the heavenly government which endorses us as genuine.
3. Security of Preservation...A housewife seals her canned fruits and vegetables so that outside air may not reach them. They then remain preserved as long as the seal is not broken. Our lives are sealed by the Spirit to help keep the evil influences of this contaminated world out.

Questions:

1. How do you know that you have been sealed by the Holy Spirit?
             Read the Word and get the assurance you need.
   
   
2. Do you know why the Holy Spirit came to live within you?
             To preserve you until the day of redemption.

3. Why does it look like Satan and his demons are winning the battle for our minds?

   The world makes all things holy look and sound like a "white wash" of what is enjoyable and exciting. Actually, they have misinterpreted the idea of "white washing"...because that is what the blood of Jesus does. He washes the sinner clean when the sinner repents and turns his/her life over to Jesus.

Read the Book of Books---"WE WIN IN THE END."