The Work of the Holy Spirit - Part 4
Notes
Transcript
*Listening Guides
Prayer
Intro & Summary
For several weeks now, we’ve taken a broad look at the Person and the Work of the Holy Spirit.
We started with the Person of the Holy Spirit and His relationship to the Father and the Son, and his attributes and personal activities.
Then we moved on to the Work of the Holy Spirit, including his work throughout the OT, and his work in the Person of Christ, his conception, baptism, ministry, resurrection, and ascension.
The past two Sundays, we looked at the Holy Spirit at work in individuals, specifically the topics of regeneration, conviction, conversion, union with Christ, sanctification, intercession, and assurance.
We ended last week by talking about how the Holy Spirit currently at work in the life of the church, illuminating Scripture, raising up leaders to teach, and producing both diversity and unity within the church.
Today I want us to discuss some specific phrases in the NT that deal with the Holy Spirit that have raised many questions and caused great debate through the years.
The first one is…
1. “What is the Baptism of the Holy Spirit?”
1. “What is the Baptism of the Holy Spirit?”
The baptism of the Holy Spirit can be easily and simply defined by Scripture as the work of the Spirit of God whereby he places new believers, at the moment of salvation, into union with Christ and with other believers known as the body of Christ (the family of God).
The “baptism of the Holy Spirit” was predicted by John the Baptist.
I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
Jesus, before He ascended back to heaven, said…
for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
This promise was fulfilled on the Day of Pentecost.
When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place.
And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.
And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them.
And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.
It’s here that believers were baptized and indwelt by the Holy Spirit, resulting in the NT church being born and firmly established as foretold in many OT prophecies.
In 1 Corinthians 12, we find the central passage of the NT regarding “the baptism of the Holy Spirit.”
For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.
For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.
Notice that ALL believers have been baptized by the Spirit. This baptism is synonymous with salvation, not a unique experience for an elite few.
While Romans 6 doesn’t specifically mention the Holy Spirit, it does describe the believer’s position before God in language much like the 1 Corinthians passage.
What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound?
By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?
Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?
We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
I’m convinced the following facts are essential to solidify our understanding of “the baptism of the Holy Spirit.”
1. 1 Corinthians 12:13 clearly states that the Spirit has baptized ALL BELIEVERS, just as ALL have been given the Spirit to drink (the indwelling of the Spirit).
2. Nowhere in Scripture are believers told to “be baptized” with, in, or by the Spirit, or in any sense to seek the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Why? Because all believers experience “the baptism of the Holy Spirit” automatically and immediately upon being born-again by the Spirit of God.
There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—
one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
3. Ephesians 4:5 refers to Spirit baptism. Therefore, Spirit baptism is a reality for every believer, just as “one Lord,” “one hope,” “one faith,” and “one Father” are.
“The baptism of the Holy Spirit” does two things.
It joins us to the body of Christ.
It actualizes our co-crucifixion and resurrection with Christ.
Being in His body, being in Christ, means we are risen with Him to a whole new way of life, the Spirit-filled, Spirit-led life.
We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
Our union with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection through Spirit baptism establishes the basis for our separation from the power of indwelling sin and our walking in newness of the Spirit-filled, Spirit-led life.
What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound?
By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?
Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?
We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.
We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.
For one who has died has been set free from sin.
Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.
We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him.
For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God.
having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.
So, we see that the baptism of the Holy Spirit, as defined by Scripture, is the work of the Spirit of God whereby he places new believers, at the moment of salvation, into union with Christ and with other believers known as the body of Christ (the family of God).
So…
2. What is “Being Filled with The Holy Spirit?”
2. What is “Being Filled with The Holy Spirit?”
An important verse in understanding what “being filled with the Holy Spirit” is John 14:16, where Jesus promised the Spirit would indwell believers and that the indwelling would be permanent.
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever,
When digging into what it means to “be filled with the Spirit,” it’s important to distinguish between the indwelling by the Holy Spirit from the filling of the Holy Spirit.
As we’ve seen in Scripture, the permanent indwelling of the Spirit is not for a select few believers but all believers.
Again, we saw several references in Scripture that support this conclusion.
First, the Holy Spirit is a gift given to all believers in Jesus without exception.
The only condition placed upon the gift of the Holy Spirit is believing, saving faith in Christ.
On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.
Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ ”
Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
Second, the Holy Spirit is given, in his fullness, at the moment of salvation.
In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,
Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith?
Here we see the same truth: the sealing and indwelling of the Spirit takes place at the moment of believing and trusting in Christ for salvation.
Third, the Holy Spirit indwells all believers permanently.
The Holy Spirit is given to all believers as a down payment or a verification of their future glorification in Christ.
At the moment we’re saved and born-again, we’re justified, then progressively sanctified, and ultimately glorified through work of the Holy Spirit and the power of Almighty God.
and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
This contrasts with “the filling of the Spirit” referred to in…
And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,
To “be filled with the Holy Spirit,” we must be so completely yielded to him that he possess us fully and, in that sense, fill us to overflowing.
You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.
In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,
who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
These verses state that the Spirit dwells within every believer, but He can be grieved…
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
And His activity within us can be quenched…
Do not quench the Spirit.
When we allow this to happen, the results are – we don’t “experience” or “feel” the fullness of the Spirit’s power working in and through us.
So, to be “filled with the Spirit” implies Him having the freedom to fully occupy, guide, and control every part of our lives.
It’s only as we surrender to this “filling” that His power can be experienced and exerted through us so that our actions edify others and, most importantly, glorify God.
The “filling of the Spirit” doesn’t apply only to outward acts alone; it also applies to our actions’ innermost thoughts and motives.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
Sin is the number one enemy which hinders our being “filled with the Holy Spirit.”
In contrast, confession of sin and obedience to God is how the “filling of the Spirit” is experienced to its fullest and maintained.
As we saw in Ephesians 5:18, we’re commanded to be filled with the Spirit; however, listen… we cannot pray this filling of the Holy Spirit into existence… it’s only through our obedience to God’s commands that allow the Spirit freedom to work within us fully.
Keep in mind that because we remain infected with sin, it’s impossible to be “filled with the Spirit” 24/7.
What’s the Difference Between the Filling and Feeling the Holy Spirit?
What’s the Difference Between the Filling and Feeling the Holy Spirit?
This, I believe, is one of the biggest sources of confusion regarding being baptized and being filled with the Holy Spirit.
While certain ministries of the Holy Spirit involve a feeling, such as conviction of sin, comfort, and empowerment, nowhere in Scripture are we instructed or see an example to base our relationship with the Holy Spirit on how or what we feel. (repeat)
As we’ve established by Scripture, every born-again believer is permanently indwelt by Holy Spirit.
We know the Holy Spirit is with us because God’s Word tells us that he is.
Therefore, every born-again believer is indwelt by the Holy Spirit, but not every believer is controlled by the Holy Spirit, and there’s a big, big difference.
When we step out in our flesh, we’re not under the control of the Holy Spirit even though he indwells us.
This is what the apostle Paul was addressing in his comments and illustration in Ephesians 5:18.
And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,
Many people, too many people, read this verse and interpret it to mean that the apostle Paul is only speaking against drinking wine and fully miss the context in which it’s written.
The context of this passage is the walk and the warfare of the Spirit-filled believer, therefore, there is so much more here than a warning about being filled with too much wine.
When people are drunk or filled with too much wine, they exhibit specific characteristics: they become clumsy, their speech is slurred, and their judgment is impaired so, Paul sets up a comparison here.
Just as certain characteristics identify someone controlled by too much wine, there should also be certain characteristics that identify someone controlled by the Holy Spirit.
We read in Galatians 5:22-24 about the “fruit” of the Spirit. This fruit is the Holy Spirit’s fruit, and it’s exhibited by born-again believers who are under His control.
The verb tense in Ephesians 5:18 indicates a continual process of “being filled” by the Holy Spirit.
Since it’s an appeal, it follows that it’s also possible not to be filled or controlled by the Spirit.
The rest of Ephesians 5 gives us the characteristics of a Spirit-filled believer.
addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart,
giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
We’re not filled with the Spirit because we feel that we are, but because this is the Christian’s privilege and possession.
Being filled or controlled by the Spirit is the result of walking in obedience to the Lord.
This is a gift of grace and not an emotional feeling.
Emotions can and will deceive us. We can work ourselves up into an emotional frenzy that is purely from the flesh and not of the Holy Spirit.
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.
We can’t deny that there are times when we are overwhelmed by the presence and the power of the Spirit, which often results in an emotional experience.
When that happens, it’s a joy like no other.
For example, King David “danced with all his might.”
And David danced before the Lord with all his might. And David was wearing a linen ephod.
Experiencing joy by the Spirit is the understanding that His grace is blessing us as children of God.
So, yes, the ministries of the Holy Spirit involves our feelings and emotions. Still, at the same time, we’re not to base our assurance of our possession of the Holy Spirit on how we feel.
So, the “baptism of the Holy Spirit” is the work of the Spirit of God whereby he forever places believers, at the moment of salvation, into union with Christ and with other believers known as the body of Christ (the family of God).
Being “filled with the Holy Spirit” results from our total surrender to and reliance upon the Holy Spirit in our day-to-day lives. We achieve the experience of “being filled with the Holy Spirit” as we walk in full obedience to the commandments of God.
Next week we’ll pick up from here and look at “the gifts of the Holy Spirit.”
Let’s pray…