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

 

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"THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD"

The Work Of The Holy Spirit

INTRODUCTION

1. Thus far we have examined what the Bible reveals about the nature of the Holy Spirit...
1. The Holy Spirit is a personal being
2. The Holy Spirit is a divine being
-- I.e., He is the third Person in the Godhead
2. At this point, it may be beneficial to review the work of the Holy Spirit...
1. As manifested throughout the history of mankind
2. As demonstrated throughout the revelation of God's redemption of man
-- That we might increase our appreciation for the Holy Spirit

[We begin by noting...]

1. THE SPIRIT'S WORK IN CREATION
1. INVOLVED IN THE CREATION OF THE UNIVERSE...
1. God used the Spirit in the creation of the world - Gen 1:2; Psa 104:30
2. God used the Spirit in the creation of the heavens - Job 26:13; Ps 33:6
-- Clearly in conjunction with the work of the Son - cf. Jn 1:1-3; Col 1:16
2. INVOLVED IN THE CREATION OF MAN...
1. In the creation of the first man - Gen 1:26-27
2. In the creation of every man (as in the case of Elihu) - Job 33:4

[From the very beginning, the Spirit was at work. His work continued, especially as God began to slowly reveal His plan of redemption for mankind...]

2. THE SPIRIT'S WORK IN REVELATION
1. IN OLD TESTAMENT TIMES...
1. The prophets of old spoke as they were moved by the Spirit - 2Pe 1:20-21; e.g., 2Sa 23:2
2. The Spirit was in them, testifying of things to come - 1 Pe 1:10-11; e.g., Isa 53:4-6
2. IN THE NEW TESTAMENT TIMES...
1. The Spirit was to guide the apostles into all the truth - Jn 16:12-13; cf. Jn 14:26
2. This the Spirit did - 1Co 2:10-13; e.g., 1Ti 4:1-3

[Thus the Spirit's role in the redemption of man included His work of revealing the will of God. In conjunction with the Spirit's work of revelation, we also read of...]

3. THE SPIRIT'S WORK IN CONFIRMATION
1. CONFIRMING JESUS AS THE CHRIST...
1. Jesus was attested by God through the miracles He performed - Ac 2:22
2. The Spirit worked with Christ to confirm His work - Ac 10:38; cf. Mt 12:28; Lk 4:18-21
2. CONFIRMING THE APOSTLES OF CHRIST...
1. Confirming their message, through gifts given by the Spirit - He 2:3-4
2. As they traveled about proclaiming the gospel of God - e.g., Ro 15:19

[As the Word of God was being revealed and confirmed, it was the Spirit of God at work! But as the Word was being preached, the Spirit was also at work on those who listened with good and honest hearts...]

4. THE SPIRIT'S WORK IN REGENERATION
1. AS THE WORD WAS PREACHED...
1. The Spirit was doing His work of convicting the world - cf. Jn 16:8
2. For example, consider the events on the day of Pentecost
1. The Spirit gave the apostles utterance - Ac 2:4
2. Peter preached Christ to them - Ac 2:22-24,36
3. People in the audience were convicted of their sins - Ac 2:37
4. They were encouraged to repent and be baptized - Ac 2:38-39
5. Those willing to do so, did so gladly - Ac 2:40-41
-- Thus the Spirit convicts the world through His revealed and confirmed Word whenever it is preached; those with good and honest hearts will bear the proper fruit - cf. Lk 8:15
2. AS THE WORD WAS OBEYED...
1. Those who obeyed the Spirit's Word were baptized - cf. Ac 2:38-41
2. In their baptism, they experienced a "washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit' - cf. Tit 3:5-7; 1Co 6:11
-- Thus they were being born again (regenerated) not of water only, but of water and the Spirit - cf. Jn 3:5

[This work of regeneration by the Spirit in response to the preaching of the Word does not end the work of the Spirit in the life of the Christian. For we also read in the Bible of...]

5. THE SPIRIT'S WORK IN SANCTIFICATION
1. IN OUR INITIAL SANCTIFICATION...
1. Sanctification involves the idea of being "set apart", "consecrated"
2. Sanctification began in conjunction with our washing and justification - 1Co 6:11
3. This washing, sanctification, and justification occurred "by the Spirit of our God"
-- In obedience to the Word of God, we are "sanctified" by the Spirit - cf. 2Th 2:13
2. IN OUR ONGOING SANCTIFICATION...
1. Sanctification is an ongoing work - cf. He 2:11; 10:14
1. Not in the sense of needing redemption - cf. He 10:10
2. But in the sense of living holy lives - cf. 1Th 4:3-4; 5:23
2. The Spirit plays an important role in living holy lives
1. God strengthens us by His Spirit in our inner man - Ep 3:16; cf. Ep 3:20
2. It is with aid of the Spirit that we put to death the deeds of the body - Ro 8:11-13; cf. Col 3:5-9
-- Thus the need to "walk in the Spirit" and be "led by the Spirit" - cf. Ga 5:16-18

CONCLUSION

1. In this brief survey we have seen the work of the Holy Spirit in regards to...
1. Creation
2. Revelation
3. Confirmation
4. Regeneration
5. Sanctification
2. My purpose has not been to provide an exhaustive survey...
1. The Lord willing, future lessons will expand on some of the themes mentioned in this study
2. My goal is to remind ourselves how blessed we are through the Spirit's work in our lives
3. How important is the work of the Spirit...?
1. Our very being (physical creation) is the result of the Spirit's work
2. Our eternal destiny (spiritual regeneration) is dependent upon the Spirit's work

Sadly, many people resist the work of the Spirit in their lives. This occurs whenever one refuses to obey the Word of God revealed and confirmed by the Spirit (cf. Ac 7:51-53).

How much better to obey the truth, and be born again by the Spirit working through that "incorruptible seed", the Word of God! - cf. 1 Pe 1:22-23

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