THE MINISTRY OF THE SPIRIT #1

Because we have been drawn to Jesus by His Holy Spirit, our lives have been changed forever because we were Born Again. 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 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 hands off.
  A Seal denotes:
  1. 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. 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. 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.

• HE ENDUES US WITH POWER.
  • Acts 1:8: "Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you... "
  • Matthew 28:18, 19: "All power is given unto me... go ye therefore …"
  • Luke 10:19: "Behold, I give you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and... ."
  • Acts 4:33: "And with great power gave the apostles witnesses of the resurrection... ."
  Why is it so important that we acknowledge the working of the Holy Spirit?
  Power Comes By Being Filled By the Holy Spirit
  • Jesus Filled (Luke 4:1)
  • Peter Filled (Acts 4:8)
  • Stephen Filled (Acts 7:55
  • The Assembled People Were Filled (Acts 4:31)

• HE TEACHES.
  • John 14:26: "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things... "
  • 1 Corinthians 2:13: "Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual."

Different translation (Moffatt): "using language taught by no human wisdom, but by the Spirit."

• HE GUIDES.
  • John 16:13: "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth... and he will show you things to come."
  • Mountain guides are necessary, lest climbers fall and be killed. Men who travel through jungles are in danger of being killed by wild beasts. They must have guides.

• HE COMFORTS.
  • John 15:26: 14:16. In these scriptures he is called "the Comforter." Greek: "one called alongside to help."
  • Jesus had been their comforter. But He said, "I will send you another Comforter."
  • Acts 9:31: "... In the comfort of the Holy Ghost... "
  There are some dark days of trials and tribulations, but He is always near to comfort God's children.

• HE SEARCHES.
  • 1 Corinthians 2:9-12: "... .for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God."
    He searches out the deep things of God and reveals them to us.
  • David said, "Search me, O God, and know my heart... " Psalm 139:23
              He searches out impurities.
              If we have secret sins in our lives He searches them out.
              Some things may get by us, but if we ask Him, He will search
              and find them so that we may get rid of them.

• HE INTERCEDES.
  • Romans 8:26: "Likewise the Spirit also helps our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered."
              Moffatt: "Spirit assists us in our weakness."
  • Divinity intercedes with Divinity for humanity. It is beyond all finite comprehension.

• HE GIVES GIFTS.
  • 1 Corinthians 12:4-11: "But all these worketh that one and the self same Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will."
  • His ministry is to seek out those who have fully surrendered and dedicated their lives and use them to edify the church and glorify God.