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THE HOLY SPIRIT

 

The Work of the Holy Spirit

Lesson #3

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.   As we continue our study of the Holy Spirit, we need to understand that the Holy Spirit is God.

 

B.    Proofs of His deity.

1.     He is called God in the Bible.

a.     In Acts 5:3, Peter tells Ananias that he has lied to the Holy Spirit.

b.    In the very next verse (Acts 5:4), he says:  Thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.

2.     The Holy Spirit is likened unto Jesus Christ (John 14:16).

 

And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever.

 

a.     They already had a Comforter with them, Jesus Christ.

b.    He said they would be given “another” Comforter.

1)     The word “another” means “another of the same kind.”

2)     If they had a Comforter in Jesus who was deity, they were going to be given another of the same kind, one who would also deity.

3.     The attributes of the Holy Spirit also prove that He is deity.

a.     He is eternal (Heb. 9:14).

b.    He is omnipotent (Luke 1:35).

c.    He is omniscient (I Cor. 2:10-11).

d.    He is omnipresent (Ps. 139:7-16).

 

C.   The works of the Holy Spirit also prove that He is divine.  This will be the subject of the remainder of this lesson.  (NOTE:  Some of these topics will be addressed in more detail in later lessons).

 

I.           THE WORK OF CREATION

 

A.   Three verses show us the Spirit’s role in Creation.

1.     Genesis 1:2

 

And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep.  And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

 

2.     Job 26:13

 

By his spirit he hath garnished the heavens; his hand hath formed the crooked serpent.

 

3.     Psalm 104:30

 

Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created:  and thou renewest the face of the earth.

 

B.    “Jehovah was the Divine Architect; the Word was the Divine Agent…the Holy Spirit was the Divine Organizer, Arranger, and Beautifier” (The Bible Doctrine of the Holy Spirit, Robert R. Taylor, Jr., p. 31).

 

II.         THE WORK OF REVELAION

 

A.   When the Word of God was spoken by inspired men in the Old or New Testament times, they received that word from the Holy Spirit.

 

B.    Three passages:

1.     II Samuel 23:2

 

The Spirit of the Lord spake by me, and his word was in my tongue.

 

2.     Matthew 10:20; Mark 13:11

 

For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.

 

3.     I Peter 1:21

 

For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man:  but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

 

III.       THE WORK OF CONFIRMATION

 

A.   Anyone could claim to have received a message from God.  Some form of proof, or confirmation, was needed to establish that the message was authentic.

 

B.    An Old Testament example (Moses, Exo. 4:1-9)

 

1.     Moses had been commissioned by God to lead the children of Israel out of Egyptian bondage (Exo. 3:10).

2.     Moses doubted that the people (Israel) would believe him (Exo. 4:1).

 

And Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe, nor hearken unto my voice:  for they will say, The Lord hath not appeared unto thee.

 

3.     To confirm his message, Moses was given three signs.

a.     Rod to a snake and back to a rod (Exo. 4:2-4)

b.    Leprous hand (Exo. 4:6-7)

c.    Water to blood (Exo. 4:8)

4.     The purpose of the signs (Exo. 4:5)

 

That they may believe that the Lord of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob hath appeared unto thee.

 

C.   The New Testament

1.     When the apostles were commissioned to go into all the world to preach the gospel, the word was confirmed with signs following (Mark 16:20).

 

And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, confirming the word with signs following.

 

2.     That the Holy Spirit was involved in this process is clear from Hebrews 2:3-4.

 

How shall they escape, if they neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?

 

IV.        THE WORK OF DIRECTION

 

A.   Twelve men were commission to take the gospel to the world.  The Holy Spirit was directly involved in the navigation of these men.

 

B.    Examples:

1.     The Holy Spirit chose Barnabas and Saul (Acts 13:2).

 

As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.

 

2.     The Holy Spirit would not allow Paul to go into certain places (Acts 16:6-7).

 

Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia, after they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia:  but the Holy Ghost suffered them not.

 

3.     He would tell of impending events (Acts 20:22-23).

 

And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there:  save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.

 

V.          THE WORK OF CONVICTION

 

A.   It was the responsibility of the Holy Spirit to convict alien sinners of sin (John 16:7-8).

 

Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away:  for if I go not away the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.  And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.

 

B.    Did the Holy Spirit literally and personally do the convicting?  No!  He used a medium.  He used the Word of God as spoken by inspired men.

1.     On the day of Pentecost, the apostles were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance (Acts 2:1-4).

2.     Their preaching convicted those sinners through the proclamation of the gospel (Acts 2:22-23, 36).

 

Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

 

3.     NOTE:  In every conversion account, the heart of any sinner that was prick-ed was pricked by the preaching of God’s Word.  Remember, it was the Holy Ghost who revealed the message (Matt. 10:20).

 

VI.        THE WORK OF SANCTIFICATION

 

A.   Conversion brings one into the body of Christ wherein he is separated from the world.  The Christian must continue to live his life set apart for God’s holy ser-vice.  This is what is called sanctification.

B.    The Holy Spirit is the one who is involved in sanctifying the believer.

1.     II Thessalonians 2:13

 

But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth.

 

2.     I Peter 1:2

 

Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ.  Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

 

C.   NOTE:  There are some who do not believe that the Holy Spirit works only through the Word of God in this process (John 17:17).  They believe that He also works in a direct, personal way within the body of the Christian.

 

VII.      THE WORK OF ADMINISTRATION

 

A.   The first century church did not have the Word of God in written form to inform them as to how the church was to function.

 

B.    The Holy Spirit carried out the work of administration.

1.     Elders were ordained in every church (Acts 20:28).

2.     Spiritual gifts were given to assist the local congregations in their proper functioning.

a.     I Corinthians 12:7-12

b.    Ephesians 4:7-16

 

VIII.    THE WORK OF INTERCESSION (Rom. 8:26) ?

 

Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities:  for we know not what we should pray for as we ought:  but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

 

IX.        THE WORK OF INVITATION (Rev. 22:17)

 

And the Spirit and the bride say, Come.  And let him that heareth say, Come.  And let him that is athirst come.  And whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely.

 

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.   The Holy Spirit’s work points to the fact that He is deity.  No one other than deity could do such things.

 

B.    The Holy Spirit has been at work in the past and continues to work today, both within the world and in the church.

 

C.   We could do an entire lesson on things which some claim the Holy Spirit does today, but, in reality, He does not.

1.     Illuminating the Biblical text so we can understand it

2.     Supernaturally opening one’s heart so he/she can receive the gospel of Christ

3.     Performing miracles

4.     Inspiring men today

5.     Bringing things to man’s remembrance

6.     Nudging men to do things and giving him “hunches” to go on