The Church of Divine Guidance (CDG) Sunday morning adult bible study group is doing a study of The Holy Spirit. The study will look at who the Holy Spirit is, His role in the Trinity, His interaction with man, His role in and after man's salvation. This is an intense study of the Holy Spirit in scripture. We are using the bible as our primary reference resource. These posts are my notes for each session. Please study with us. You can participate by asking your questions or making comments below. We welcome your thoughts, questions, comments, and prayers.
This week we are going to start with a quick review of our discussion from last week about the work of the Holy Spirit in man’s salvation.
There is pre conversion work, conversion work, and post conversion work.
Pre conversion - Prior to anyone placing his or her faith in Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit is involved in setting the conditions that allow for someone’s faith response to the gospel. The Holy Spirit convicts man of sin.
John 16:8-10 (NLT)8 And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment.9 The world’s sin is that it refuses to believe in me.10 Righteousness is available because I go to the Father, and you will see me no more.
The Holy Spirit speaks to individuals through the preaching of the gospel.
2 Corinthians 3:7-8 (NKJV)7 But if the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance, which glory was passing away,8 how will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious?
1 Thessalonians 1:5 (NLT)5 For when we brought you the Good News, it was not only with words but also with power, for the Holy Spirit gave you full assurance that what we said was true. And you know of our concern for you from the way we lived when we were with you.
Romans 10:17(NKJV) So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Conversion - On conversion the believer in Jesus Christ is said to be baptized into the body of Christ by the Holy Spirit. The baptism of the Holy Spirit and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit are related and happen at the same time.
Romans 10:9-10 (NKJV)9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
The baptism of the Holy Spirit is the event where Jesus becomes our Lord and we are joined with other believers in the body of Christ.
1 Corinthians 12:13 (NKJV) For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free--and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.
Galatians 3:27 (NKJV)27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
When you received the baptism of the Holy Spirit at salvation you were indwelt at the same time.
1 Corinthians 3:16 (NLT) Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you?
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NLT)19 Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself,20 for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.
2 Timothy 1:14 (NLT) Through the power of the Holy Spirit who lives within us, carefully guard the precious truth that has been entrusted to you.
When you are indwelt you are also sealed.
Ephesians 1:13-14 (NKJV)13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.
Post conversion - The post conversion work of the Holy Spirit is what enables the believer to live as God directs them. We don’t always live that way but we can because the Holy Spirit gives us the ability to do it.
There is pre conversion work, conversion work, and post conversion work.
Pre conversion - Prior to anyone placing his or her faith in Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit is involved in setting the conditions that allow for someone’s faith response to the gospel. The Holy Spirit convicts man of sin.
John 16:8-10 (NLT)8 And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment.9 The world’s sin is that it refuses to believe in me.10 Righteousness is available because I go to the Father, and you will see me no more.
The Holy Spirit speaks to individuals through the preaching of the gospel.
2 Corinthians 3:7-8 (NKJV)7 But if the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance, which glory was passing away,8 how will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious?
1 Thessalonians 1:5 (NLT)5 For when we brought you the Good News, it was not only with words but also with power, for the Holy Spirit gave you full assurance that what we said was true. And you know of our concern for you from the way we lived when we were with you.
Romans 10:17(NKJV) So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Conversion - On conversion the believer in Jesus Christ is said to be baptized into the body of Christ by the Holy Spirit. The baptism of the Holy Spirit and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit are related and happen at the same time.
Romans 10:9-10 (NKJV)9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
The baptism of the Holy Spirit is the event where Jesus becomes our Lord and we are joined with other believers in the body of Christ.
1 Corinthians 12:13 (NKJV) For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free--and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.
Galatians 3:27 (NKJV)27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
When you received the baptism of the Holy Spirit at salvation you were indwelt at the same time.
1 Corinthians 3:16 (NLT) Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you?
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NLT)19 Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself,20 for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.
2 Timothy 1:14 (NLT) Through the power of the Holy Spirit who lives within us, carefully guard the precious truth that has been entrusted to you.
When you are indwelt you are also sealed.
Ephesians 1:13-14 (NKJV)13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.
Post conversion - The post conversion work of the Holy Spirit is what enables the believer to live as God directs them. We don’t always live that way but we can because the Holy Spirit gives us the ability to do it.
The exact timing of the giving of spiritual gifts is not specifically mentioned. Most assume that spiritual gifts are given at the time of spiritual birth (the moment of salvation). However, there are some verses that may indicate God gives spiritual gifts later as well.
2 Timothy 1:6 (NKJV) Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you
through the laying on of my hands.
A post-conversion work of the Holy Spirit is that He enables the operation of spiritual gifts in believers. Each Christian has a spiritual gift, or "manifestation of the Spirit." The gifts differ, but have these common elements. (1) Each is a manifestation of the Holy Spirit's presence. (2) Each is "for the common good," that is, each is intended to build up the body of Christ. (3) Each is given "as He [the Spirit] determines." There is no true Christian in whom the Holy Spirit has not worked, providing a divine capacity enabling him or her to make a significant contribution to other believers. If those gifts operate in love and in proper order the church will accomplish what God intends for it and that is to show the world he plan of salvation for all people regardless of race, position, status, poverty, or wealth.
We did an extensive study on the Holy Spirit a couple of years ago so we aren't going to talk about them in great detail during this study. We'll will address them though in another session.
Today we are going to continue the discussion that we started last week about the believer being filled by the Holy Spirit.
Being filled by the Holy Spirit is also a post-conversion action. While the baptism and indwelling of the Holy Spirit occurs once at conversion, the filling of the Spirit can happen multiple times after conversion. The idea of being filled by the Spirit is more about an ongoing sense of God's Spirit working in a person's life, not a one-time experience.
The first thing that we said, last week, was that the believer is commanded to be filled.
Ephesians 5:15-20 (NLT)15 So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise.16 Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.17 Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.18 Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit,19 singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts.20 And give thanks for everything to God
To be filled is to be controlled completely by the Holy Spirit.
Some Christians describe this distinction by saying believers have all of the Holy Spirit but the Holy Spirit may not have all of them. We are indwelt by the Holy Spirit at the time of our salvation but we are filled by Him when we submit to Him.
There is never any commandment in the Bible for one to be baptized by the Spirit, or to be sealed by the Spirit, or to be indwelt by the Spirit, or to be anointed by the Spirit, but there is a command that we be filled by the Spirit
A command is something that we can choose to obey or not obey. You can choose to be not completely controlled and when you choose not to be controlled it grieves the Holy Spirit.
1 Thessalonians 5:19 (NKJV) Do not quench the Spirit.
Ephesians 4:30 (NKJV) And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
We grieve or quench the Spirit by the way we live.
Ephesians 4:17-19, 25-31 (NLT)17 With the Lord’s authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused.18 Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him.19 They have no sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity. 25 So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body.26 And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry,27 for anger gives a foothold to the devil.28 If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need.29 Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.30 And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior.
Sin is what hinders the filling of the Holy Spirit. Obedience to God is how the filling of the Spirit is maintained.
The Greek term that Paul used for “be filled” is plerousthe. A literal translation of the verb would read something like "be being kept filled." The idea is to keep yourself constantly filled, being led by the Spirit.
Galatians 5:16 (NLT) So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.
"Be filled" is actually in the passive voice and indicates that you receive the action--the Holy Spirit is continuously filling you. It is simply another facet of the Spirit's indwelling ministry, which allows you to have daily, moment-by-moment effectiveness and fulfillment in your Christian life.
The best description that I've seen to describe what it means to be filled by the Spirit is something that was written by John MacArthur in an article written on the Grace to You Website. The article is titled, “What Does It Mean to be Filled with the Spirit”
Facets of Spiritual Filling
When we use the word fill in English we normally think of something being placed into a container such as milk being poured to the brim of a glass, water being run into a bath tub, or gasoline being pumped into a gas tank. But none of those examples conveys precisely the meaning of to fill or be filled as does the Greek pleroo, a form of which is used in Ephesians 5:18 .
Pleroo (play-ro'-o) has three shades of meaning that are helpful in illustrating the scriptural meaning of Spirit-filled. The first carries the idea of pressure. It is used to describe wind billowing the sails on a ship, providing the impetus to move the vessel across the water. In the spiritual realm, this concept depicts the Holy Spirit providing the thrust to move the believer down the pathway of obedience. A Spirit-filled Christian isn't motivated by his own desires or will to progress. Instead, he allows the Holy Spirit to carry him in the proper directions. Another helpful example of this first meaning is a small stick floating in a stream. Most of us have tossed a stick into a creek and then run downstream to see the twig come floating by, propelled only by the force of the water. To be filled with the Spirit means to be carried along by the gracious pressure of the Holy Spirit.
Pleroo can also convey the idea of permeation. The well-known pain reliever Alka Seltzer illustrates this principle quite effectively. When you drop one or two tablets into a glass of water, they instantly begin to fizzle and dissolve. Soon the tablets are transformed into clear bubbles throughout the glass, and the water is permeated with the distinct flavor of the Alka Seltzer. In a similar sense, God wants the Holy Spirit to permeate and flavor our lives so when we're around others they will know for certain we possess the pervasive savor of the Spirit.
There is a third meaning of pleroo, actually the primary one in the New Testament, which conveys the sense of domination or total control. It is used by the Gospel writers to indicate that people were dominated by a certain emotion. In Luke 5:26, after Jesus rebuked the Pharisees and healed the paralytic, the people were astonished and "filled with fear."
Luke 5:25-26 (NLT)25 And immediately, as everyone watched, the man jumped up, picked up his mat, and went home praising God.26 Everyone was gripped with great wonder and awe, and they praised God, exclaiming, “We have seen amazing things today!”
In Luke 6:11, when Jesus restored a man's hand on the Sabbath, the scribes and Pharisees "were filled with rage."
Luke 6:10-11 (NLT)10 He looked around at them one by one and then said to the man, “Hold out your hand.” So the man held out his hand, and it was restored!11 At this, the enemies of Jesus were wild with rage and began to discuss what to do with him.
When our Lord told the disciples that He would soon be leaving them, He told of their reaction: "sorrow has filled your heart" (John 16:6).
John 16:5-6 (NLT)5 “But now I am going away to the One who sent me, and not one of you is asking where I am going.6 Instead, you grieve because of what I’ve told you.
Each of those uses reveals an emotion so overwhelming within the people that it dominated their thoughts and excluded every other emotion.
In our spiritual lives we are commanded to yield to the total control of the Holy Spirit, so every emotion, thought, and act of the will is under His direction. That kind of complete spiritual control is for our benefit and totally in line with God's will.
In the New Testament it is clear that the entire work of God on behalf of the believer is related to the question of whether he is filled with the Spirit.
Luke 4:1 (NLT) Then Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan River. He was led by the Spirit in the wilderness,
Acts 2:4 (NLT) And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.
Acts 4:31 (NKJV) And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.
This was after Peter and John had been released after they had been arrested for talking about the resurrection of Jesus in the temple and the believers were praying for courage.
Acts 11:22-24 (NLT)22 When the church at Jerusalem heard what had happened, they sent Barnabas to Antioch.23 When he arrived and saw this evidence of God’s blessing, he was filled with joy, and he encouraged the believers to stay true to the Lord.24 Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and strong in faith. And many people were brought to the Lord.
Acts 6:3,5 (NLT)3 And so, brothers, select seven men who are well respected and are full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will give them this responsibility. 5 Everyone liked this idea, and they chose the following: Stephen (a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit), Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas of Antioch (an earlier convert to the Jewish faith).
So apparently being filled is something that others can see.
So being filled by the Holy Spirit is something that He does but we must be receptive vessels and not grieving Him because of our lifestyle and actions. When we become aware of sin we have to immediately confess. Then we will be open to complete control by the Holy Spirit and filled.
1 John 1:9 (NLT) But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.
Results of Being Filled With the Spirit
Now that know what it means to be filled with the Spirit how do we know if we are or not?
After Paul said that the believer is to to be filled he then gave us a clue as to how we know if we are or not.
Ephesians 5:19 (NKJV) speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,
Singing to the Lord
The first thing is that you will have a song in your heart. What does it mean to have a song in your heart? It means you’ve got joy!
Romans 14:17 (NKJV) for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
When Paul says psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. He is describing something that the Holy Spirit gives you.
Pastor Clayton is always singing songs that are not in any songbook or something that you’ve heard before. I don’t know if you’ve noticed but quite often Cookie is humming something often when somebody is talking or praying or reading scripture. I don’t even know if she realizes it sometimes. Sometimes psalms pop into your head, at least they do mine. When I start on Sunday morning when I don’t read a psalm sometimes the ones that I say just come to me.
Have you ever been doing something and just all of a sudden say bless the Lord Oh my soul or something like that, just out of the blue? I do it a lot.
In the King James Version the Ephesians 5:19 is translated;
Ephesians 5:19 (KJV) Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
That would mean something you do in your own private time but we can speak in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs at all times. We can do it when we’re alone, we can speak these songs to another believer. Notice I said believer. You can’t just do it with anybody or you could have problems. Take a look at
Colossians 3:16 (NKJV) Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
Giving Thanks to the Lord Always
Ephesians 5:20 (NKJV) giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
When a believer is truly filled with the Spirit: he will be thankful toward God. Here is a quote from a Commentary on Ephesians "The expression of gratitude is therefore a most blessed response to favors undeserved. While it lasts, worries tend to disappear, complaints vanish, courage to face the future is increased, virtuous resolutions are formed, peace is experienced, and God is glorified".
Genuine thankfulness also sees beyond the tough circumstances to God's plan and purpose for us, which is what?
Romans 8:28-29 (NKJV)28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might
The Spirit-filled person will be thankful always and at all times because it’s God’s will.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-22 (NKJV)16 Rejoice always,17 pray without ceasing,18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.19 Do not quench the Spirit.20 Do not despise prophecies.21 Test all things; hold fast what is good.22 Abstain from every form of evil.
This means even in times that are not so pleasant, the Holy Spirit will enable you to respond with thanksgiving no matter what.
Sometimes He blesses you unexpectedly, which makes it easy to give thanks.
At other times the Holy Spirit gives you the opportunity to be thankful in anticipation of something pleasant like a vacation or reunion with a loved one. It’s easy to be thankful then.
But what about when the anticipation is for something that is not pleasant going to court with a child, or a meeting at work when there’s a downsizing, or a church meeting when the church is having financial difficulties, or a doctor’s appointment after a series of tests. Then it’s a test of your faith and the Holy Spirit will enable you, if you are Spirit filled to give thanks. There is an example of Jehoshaphat king of Israel being encouraged in the face of anticipated trouble in 2 Chronicles chapter 20.
When it was reported to him that a large army was coming against Judah , Jehoshaphat immediately asked the Lord for help.
2 Chronicles 20:1-4 (NKJV)1 It happened after this that the people of Moab with the people of Ammon, and others with them besides the Ammonites, came to battle against Jehoshaphat.2 Then some came and told Jehoshaphat, saying, "A great multitude is coming against you from beyond the sea, from Syria; and they are in Hazazon Tamar" (which is En Gedi).3 And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.4 So Judah gathered together to ask help from the LORD; and from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD.
The Spirit of the Lord then revealed His encouragement through the prophet Jahaziel.
2 Chronicles 20:14-15 (NKJV)14 Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, in the midst of the assembly.15 And he said, "Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat! Thus says the LORD to you: 'Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God's.
They worshiped and thanked God prior to their success against the enemy.
2 Chronicles 20:18-22 (NKJV)18 And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem bowed before the LORD, worshiping the LORD.19 Then the Levites of the children of the Kohathites and of the children of the Korahites stood up to praise the LORD God of Israel with voices loud and high.20 So they rose early in the morning and went out into the Wilderness of Tekoa; and as they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, "Hear me, O Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem: Believe in the LORD your God, and you shall be established; believe His prophets, and you shall prosper."21 And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who should sing to the LORD, and who should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army and were saying: "Praise the LORD, For His mercy endures forever."22 Now when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated.
God may choose to bring a trial or test into your life unexpectedly. Then you'll be challenged to give thanks.Jonah, in spite of all his sinful shortcomings, is an excellent example of how to have the right response.
After he was swallowed by the giant fish, Jonah prayed this to the Lord:
Jonah 2:7-9 (NKJV)7 "When my soul fainted within me, I remembered the LORD; And my prayer went up to You, Into Your holy temple.8 "Those who regard worthless idols Forsake their own Mercy.9 But I will sacrifice to You With the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay what I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD."
God honored Jonah's prayer and delivered him from the fish, right to the location he was supposed to be. You may never be as severely tried as Jonah was, but God in His providence may allow unexpected hardships.
If you respond with true thanks in the midst of such times, that will prove you are a mature Christian filled with the Spirit.
For or in All Things
If the Spirit-filled believer is thankful at all times, it reasonably follows that he will also be thankful for or in all things. We just looked at thanksgiving in difficult times.
The bible tells us we must give thanks at those difficult times.
James 1:2-5 (NKJV)2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
1 Peter 2:20-21 (NKJV)20 For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God.21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:
We'll talk more about the results of being filled by the Holy Spirit next week and we may get an opportunity to review spiritual gifts.
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