The Ministry of the Spirit
INTRODUCTORY WORDS
Christ came to His own, and His own received Him not. The Holy Spirit came to His own, seeking to bring every possible spiritual gift and blessing, but His own have received Him not. Many believers are seeking to paddle their own canoe, and to work out their own will, wholly forgetting the Spirit and His ministry.
There is nothing that comes in the life of the believer, whether in the way of victory in his walk, power in his work, or guidance in his way, apart from the Spirit of God.
We made our beginning in the Spirit, for we were begotten of the Holy Ghost. We must continue to walk in the Spirit, if we would know spiritual success in our life. It is not in a man to order his own steps. The natural man cannot understand the things of the Spirit. A Christian, apart from the Holy Spirit, is just as helpless as is a branch apart from the vine.
When we consider the life of Christ, we observe that He was born of the Spirit; He was anointed of the Spirit; He was filled with the Spirit; He was led of the Spirit; He went about doing good in the Spirit; He was raised from the dead by the Spirit; and He gave His final command for the evangelization of the world in the Spirit.
When we consider how Christ commanded the disciples to tarry in Jerusalem until they were endued with power from on high, we begin to realize our utter dependency upon the Spirit of God. The Holy Spirit came to meet the need of the believer. God sent Him because He knew that we could not walk without Him. It is for this cause that we believe that, ever and anon, we should stop to ponder the work and ministry of the Holy Spirit.
We recognize that the Spirit of God came to take of the things of Christ, and show them unto us; however, unless we recognize the Spirit, and give ear to His voice, He can show us nothing by way of revelation.
We are sure that the Holy Spirit came to give us the enduement of power in service; and therefore, unless we have the anointing of the Spirit we cannot have the power which we so much need in order to serve.
We know that the Spirit of God came to renew our mind, and to teach us spiritual things, therefore, if we fail to listen to His voice we cannot understand the mystery of God.
The Holy Spirit is just as necessary to our spiritual life as the air which we breathe is to our physical life.
I. IT IS THE MINISTRY OF THE SPIRIT TO CONVICT (John 16:7-10)
1. The Holy Spirit came to convict the sinner of his sin. The minister of the Gospel is absolutely shut up to God the Spirit, when he desires to see the old time conviction of sin falling upon his audience. Every human argument, every tear-producing story, and every human manipulation must utterly fail to bring men to a sense of their sin, unless the Holy Ghost is present to empower our word and work with convincing, reproving, and convicting power.
(1) The Holy Ghost convicts men of sin, because they believe not in Christ. Conviction of sin is not merely a sinner's sense of self-corruption. It is, pre-eminently, his sense of separation from God by his rejection of Christ.
All mankind knows that, morally, they are corrupt. The Spirit comes to show a sinner, lost in iniquity, that his chief need is a Saviour; while his chief sin is his unbelief in the Lord Jesus Christ.
(2) The Holy Ghost will convict men of righteousness, because Christ has gone to the Father. The Spirit shows the guilty and sin-pressed soul that the way to righteousness is now open through the Lord Jesus: God's sinless sacrifice for sin has ascended, and has been proclaimed a Saviour.
The unsaved may know himself a sinner and feel his sin, without realizing that righteousness is possible in the ascended Lord. The Holy Spirit came to convince him that a new walk, and a new righteousness is possible in Christ Jesus.
(3) The Holy Ghost will convict men of judgment because the prince of this world is judged. The Spirit will convince the heart of the wicked, that he will see his own undoing and judgment, because Satan has been judged.
It was at the Cross that Christ met principalities and powers and triumphed over them openly. It was in the ascension that Christ Jesus passed up through these powers of darkness and sat down with them beneath His feet.
When the sinner sees that the good of this world has met his defeat, and awaits his casting down into the abyss, and his final casting down into the lake of fire; the Spirit will convince him that he needs to sever himself from obeisance and obedience to a defeated devil.
2. The sinner should not resist the Holy Spirit. When the Spirit convicts the sinner of his sin, until he sees the villainy of his heart; and, when his sin in the rejection of Christ lies heavily upon him; he must not resist the Spirit's call, lest he find himself cast off from God without hope in this age, or in the age to come.
II. IT IS THE MINISTRY OF THE SPIRIT TO WALK ALONG WITH THE CHILD OF GOD (John 14:26, f.c)
1. Christ said that the Comforter would come. The word "Comforter" comes from a Greek word " Paracletos," which anglocized, is "Paraclete." The word "Paraclete" means, "at your side."
It was the purpose of the Father, then, to send us One to walk with us in our journey through life. He was to walk at our side in order to be our Guide, our Comforter, our Teacher.
You remember as Rebecca journeyed across the desert sands, Eliezer of Damascus, Abraham's faithful servant, rode by her side. Rebecca would have been very loathe to take the journey through the desert alone. She was comforted, encouraged, and aided, however, in every possible way by the man who journeyed with her.
It is thus, also, that God has given us a Companion to journey with us through the wilderness of this world. He is with us as Heaven's official Guide in our Heavenly pilgrimage.
Can you imagine the message which Eliezer bore home to the heart of Rebecca as they journeyed along? He spoke of Isaac. He elaborated on the greatness of Abraham; and showed that Isaac was Abraham's son and heir. So, also, does the Holy Spirit elaborate on the glories of Christ. He tells us of the Father and of the Son.
2. What should be the believer's attitude to the Comforter? The believer should give ear to the Spirit. He should listen with all intentness, that he may catch every word which is freely given him from God.
The believer should do more than that. He should give audience to the Spirit, but he should also obey the voice of the Spirit.
You remember the Scripture which reads, "As the heart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after Thee, O God." The word "panteth" carries the thought of "following hard after." That is just what we should do we should follow hard after the Holy Ghost.
III. IT IS THE MINISTRY OF THE SPIRIT TO TEACH THE CHILD OF GOD (1 John 2:27)
1. It is impossible for the mind of man to comprehend the things of God. The Word of God is plain in this matter. "The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned."
We who are sent forth to preach Christ are to preach Him, not in the wisdom of words, lest the Cross of Christ should be made of none effect. We have received not "the Spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God."
The Apostle Paul said that he spoke " wisdom among them that [were] perfect"; however, he quickly added, "Yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world." Paul spoke the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the world unto our glory.
2. It is possible for the Spirit of God to teach us the deep things of God. It is true that the natural ear hath not heard, nor the eye seen, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him; "But God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit; for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God."
The words of our text do not mean that the one who is taught of the Spirit may not himself teach others. They do mean that man, in his own wisdom, cannot teach the child of God. They also mean that the child of God is not dependent upon men to teach him, but the anointing which he received of God will teach him.
We have known some dear old saints who were very ignorant in worldly lore, and yet, they knew more in the realm of spirituals than the wisest of men not taught of God.
IV. IT IS THE MINISTRY OF THE SPIRIT TO TRANSFORM THE BELIEVER (2 Corinthians 3:18)
1. The Holy Spirit came to fashion us into the glory of the Lord; He wants to make us like Christ. This is not the work of a moment. Paul spoke of dying daily. Our text says, "We * * are [transformed] * * from glory to glory."
The chief desire of every believer's heart should be to grow in grace, and in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. Our ambition should be to go on to perfection. We should never be satisfied until we have reached the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. This is a particular ministry of the Holy Ghost.
Jesus Christ was transfigured, until the fashion of His countenance was altered, and His raiment was white and glistening. This is exactly in line with what the Holy Spirit wants to do in us.
We are all familiar with Romans 12:1-2, where we are taught to present our bodies a living sacrifice unto God. It is there that we are admonished by the Spirit: "Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind." The word transformed is the same as the word transfigured.
God wants us to walk as children of the light. He wants us to put off the flesh, and to walk in the Spirit. He wants us, as a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and a peculiar people, to show forth the praises of Him who hath called us out of darkness into His marvelous light.
2. Since the Holy Ghost seeks to fashion us into the glory of the Lord, we must not grieve Him. What is it that grieves the Spirit? He came to form Christ in us, and when we permit anything to dominate our lives which is contrary to the life of Christ in the believer, we grieve the Spirit. It is for this cause that we read, "Wherefore putting away lying."
"Let not the sun go down upon your wrath."
"Let him that stole steal no more."
"Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth."
"Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice."
V. IT IS THE MINISTRY OF THE SPIRIT TO EMPOWER THE BELIEVER FOR SERVICE (Acts 1:8)
1. A great task is committed to saints. We are the salt of the earth. We are the witnesses of God. We are commissioned to go unto the ends of the earth making disciples. We are told to preach the Gospel to every creature.
This commanded service is a great undertaking, and there are many obstacles. The heart of man is set in him to do evil. Satan is seeking to catch away every seed of Gospel Truth which we attempt to sow.
As we face the command of God, we realize our utter inability. Of ourselves we can do nothing. We are dependent wholly upon God.
2. A great promise is given to saints. The Lord Jesus said, "All power is given unto Me in Heaven and in earth." He also said, "Go," and, "Lo, I am with you."
Not only this, but the Lord Jesus commanded His disciples to tarry in Jerusalem until they were endued with power from on high. He taught, "Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you."
God has not sent us forth on a mission for Him, and left us weaklings unable to accomplish His commanded work. He will back up, with all of the authority of Heaven, those who go forth obedient to His voice.
3. A great warning is given to saints. In Thessalonians we read, "Quench not the Spirit." The thought is of the Spirit as a great fire; and the warning is, do not quench the fire. In other words when the Holy Spirit calls us into fellowship with Him, in any ministry, we must stand ready to undertake for God. Even though we have but five loaves and a few fishes, we must bring them to the Lord, trusting in Him to multiply them.
If we are ignorant, we must look to His wisdom; if we are weak, we must trust His power; if the way seems dark, we must wait on Him for light.
AN ILLUSTRATION
The sad results of resisting the Spirit is set forth in the following story.
One day my telephone rang and a lady said, "Can you come down and visit my husband? He is very, very sick. The doctors say he will die, and he is not a Christian." I said, "All right, I will come down," I went and stood by the bed the man had double pneumonia and I said, "Old boy, I am sorry you are so sick." After a while, as the Lord helped me, I talked of the Lord Jesus, and he said, "Here and now I receive Him, and I will tell you what I will do, If the Lord will restore me, I will forsake my sin, and I will come down and join your church, and be baptized." Moreover he said, "I do receive Christ right now."
I went on to my prayer-meeting that night, and said, "Brethren, I had a wonderful revival in a sick-room today. Mr. B-------- told me he was saved, and he promised me that if the Lord would make him well, he would come down and join our church. Let us pray for him." In a few days I went again to see Mr. B. He was out of danger. On my third visit, I found him sitting out on the wood-pile, in the back yard. He loved good horses, and loved fine chickens, and he was out on the wood-pile, watching his chickens. I sat down beside him, and said, "Old boy, I am glad you are getting well. You will soon be ready to come to church." He said, "Brother Neighbour, I am going to keep my promise, and unite with your church, and be baptized, a week from this next Sunday." A couple of weeks went by, he did not come. One day I saw him on the street riding a beautiful, black steed. I hailed him and said to him, "Wait a minute, old boy." Then I said, "I thought you were coming on and live for Christ." He said, "Oh, Brother Neighbour, I will come." But he didn't come.
Week after week passed. Then, one day, as I was walking down the street, a groceryman, a member of our church, said to me, "We are going to have a sudden death in this city." I said, "Who do you think is going to die?" He said, "The man that promised you all sorts of things, when he thought he was dying. As sure as you live, he will die shortly. The Word of God says: 'He that being often reproved, and hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed and that without remedy.'" I do not believe a week had passed until I heard that man's wife, over the telephone. She said, "Oh, Brother Neighbour, come, come, B-------- is dead. He was at a banquet in the hotel and he fell over dead. Oh, Brother Neighbour, he is lost, he is lost, he is lost." I went up and tried to comfort her. I think that was the saddest funeral I ever attended. They had to take the body to another town for interment, and on the train his wife collapsed a number of times. At the grave she said, "Oh, I could stand it, but he is not saved; I know he is lost. Oh, Brother Neighbour, he is lost.