"THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD" The Promise Of The Holy Spirit by Mark Copeland

 

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"THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD"

The Promise Of The Holy Spirit

INTRODUCTION

1. In our previous lesson we surveyed the work of the Holy Spirit in regards to...
1. Creation
2. Revelation
3. Confirmation
4. Regeneration
5. Sanctification
2. It is evident that the Holy Spirit has been at work throughout...
1. The history of mankind
2. The redemption of mankind
3. Of special interest is the working of the Holy Spirit in the life of a Christian...
1. An area of study in which many have questions
2. An area in which there is great diversity of views

[A good place to begin might be the promise of the Holy Spirit. Long before Jesus came, God began making promises about the Spirit ...]

1. THE PROMISE OF THE SPIRIT IN THE OLD TESTAMENT
1. THE PROPHECY OF JOEL...
1. Recorded in Joel 2:28-32 (ca. 800 B.C.)
2. The elements of this prophecy included:
1. The Spirit being poured out on all flesh - Joel 2:28
2. Sons and daughters of Israel prophesying , and Israel's young and old men seeing visions and dreaming dreams (note "your") - Joel 2:28
3. God's Spirit being poured out upon His menservants and maidservants (including Gentiles?) and their prophesying - Joel 2:29
3. This prophecy began to be fulfilled on the Day of Pentecost after the Ascension of Christ
1. When the Holy Spirit came upon the apostles in Jerusalem - Ac 2:1-4
2. Who enabled them to speak in foreign languages - Ac 2:4-13
3. Note that Peter ties the events of that day with Joel's prophecy - Ac 2:15-21
-- It will be necessary to consider other passages to determine the full extent of the nature of this outpouring of the Spirit and its ramifications for today
2. THE PROPHECIES OF ISAIAH...
1. One recorded in Isa 44:3-5 (ca. 750 B.C.)
2. Elements of this prophecy include:
1. God pouring His Spirit upon Israel's descendants - Isa 44:3
2. Connecting the promise of the Spirit with the figure of water given to him who is thirsty - cf. Jn 7:37-39
3. Another prophecy that might relate to the promise of the Spirit - Isa 32:15-17
1. Found in a section that appears to have Messianic implications - cf. Isa 32:1
2. The result of this pouring of the Spirit: justice, righteousness, and peace - cf. Ro 14:17
3. THE PROPHECIES OF EZEKIEL...
1. One recorded in Ezek 36:26-27 (ca. 592 B.C.)
2. Elements of this prophecy:
1. God promises to put His Spirit "within you" (an indwelling)
2. It will cause (enable) one to walk in His statutes and keep His judgments - cf. Ro 8:11-13; Ep 3:16
3. Another prophecy that might relate to the promise of the Spirit - Ezek 39:29
1. A prophecy that looks beyond the captivity and restoration of Israel
2. One that might not have been fulfilled until the coming of the Messiah
4. THE PROPHECY OF ZECHARIAH...
1. Recorded in Zech 12:10 (ca. 520 B.C.)
2. Elements of this prophecy:
1. The Spirit of grace and supplication to be poured out on the inhabitants of Jerusalem
2. Prompting people to look upon Jesus whom they have pierced, and mourn because of Him - cf. Ac 2:32-37

[Whether the prophecies of Ezekiel and Zechariah have reference to a promise that would be fulfilled in the age of the Messiah may be questionable, but certainly the prophecy of Joel and Isaiah demonstrate that God promised an "outpouring" of the Spirit in a special way. We now consider...]

2. THE PROMISE OF THE SPIRIT IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
1. THE PREACHING OF JOHN THE BAPTIST...
1. He spoke of One coming who would "baptize you with the Holy Spirit" - Mt 3:11; Mk 1:7-8; Lk 3:16; Jn 1:33
2. While he himself administered a baptism in water, there was One coming who would be the administrator of a baptism with the Holy Spirit
3. The promise was made to large crowds; only in its fulfillment can we determine its full extent
1. We know that it is somehow tied to the events of Pentecost in Ac 2:1-4
2. Because of Jesus' comments in Ac 1:4-5
2. THE TEACHING OF JESUS CHRIST...
1. The Spirit would be given to those who ask the Heavenly Father - Lk 11:13
2. The Spirit would be given as "living water" to all those who thirst and come to Him in faith, and drink - Jn 7:37-39
1. Might this "living water" be "the gift of God" Jesus alluded to earlier? - cf. Jn 4:10-14
2. Note again the comparison of the Spirit to water in Isaiah's prophecy - Isa 44:3
3. To His apostles, Jesus promised the "Spirit of truth" who would...
1. Be a Helper, and abide with them - Jn 14:16-17
2. Bring to their remembrance all things Jesus taught them - Jn 14:26
3. Bear witness of Christ, together with the apostles - Jn 15:26-27
4. Convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment - Jn 16:7-11
5. Guide the apostles unto all the truth, including things to come - Jn 16:12-13
6. Glorify Jesus, by taking of what is His and declaring it to them - Jn 16:14
4. Jesus told His apostles to wait in Jerusalem until they received the "Promise of the Father" - Lk 24:49; Ac 1:4-5
1. Which He clearly connects to the baptism of the Spirit spoken of by John
2. In which they (the apostles) would receive power, and be eyewitnesses - Ac 1:8
3. THE PREACHING OF PETER...
1. On Pentecost, Peter ties the outpouring of the Spirit to the prophecy of Joel - Ac 2:14-16
2. Then, in the course of his sermon, Peter...
1. Speaks of the outpouring of the Spirit as a promise Jesus received from the Father - Ac 2:33; cf. Ac 1:4-5
2. Offers the gift of the Spirit to all who repent and are baptized - Ac 2:38
3. Says the promise is to them and others - Ac 2:39
1. What promise does Peter have in mind?
2. What promise would have immediately come to mind to his hearers?
3. Would it not have been the promise he just alluded to?
1. The promise received by Christ, and now poured out by Christ - Ac 2:33
2. I.e., the Spirit which Jesus Himself promised to believers - cf. Jn 7:37-39
3. "That we are right in referring the word promise, in this sentence, to the promise of the Holy Spirit just made by Peter, is evident from the fact that this is the only promise made in the immediate context." - J. W. McGarvey
4. "For the promise... - Of pardon, and the gift of the Spirit." - B. W. Johnson
5. "Acts 2:39 shows that the gift of the Holy Spirit is to all, Jews and Gentiles, who accept that call of God." - David Lipscomb

CONCLUSION

1. In this study we have seen the following...
1. Old Testament prophets promised a special dispensation of the Spirit to come
1. One that would include the manifestation of special gifts
2. One that would enable the people of God to keep His will
2. John and Jesus promised a baptism of the Spirit, administered by Jesus
3. Peter in his first gospel sermon...
1. Proclaims this promise to be fulfilled with the outpouring of the Spirit - Ac 2:16,33
2. Appears to offer the Spirit as a gift to all who obey the gospel - Ac 2:38-39
2. This naturally raises several questions...
1. Does this mean the baptism of the Holy Spirit is for us today?
2. What exactly is the baptism of the Holy Spirit?
-- Questions I shall attempt to address in our next study

In view of the promises made concerning the Spirit, we should not be surprised to read of the work of the Spirit in the life of the Christian. Of course, the challenge will be to discern exactly what the Bible reveals, and not read into the Scriptures any preconceived ideas regarding His work...

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