The Aaron Papers  www.the-aaron-papers.net 

 -THE CHRISTIAN’S GUIDE-      

CHAPTER VII

-THE HOLY SPIRIT REVIEW-

THE Holy Spirit is absolutely necessary in the development and progress of every Christian’s life experience.  We read in Jn.3:5 : "You must be born of the Spirit to enter the Kingdom of God."   And in Jn.3:3-"You must be born again (anew; form above)".  Again, we are reminded in Jn.4:24-"God is Spirit, and they who worship God must worship Him in Spirit and in truth."   We also see the fulfillment of Joel.2 described in Acts.2: The promise of the Holy Spirit.  This same thing is confirmed within the Church in Eph.5:18.  We see in Acts.5:32 that the Holy Spirit is given to those who obey God.  Acts.8:21 informs us: A persons heart must be right before God to receive the Holy Spirit.  And Acts.6:5-7 tells us: Deacons are to be filled with the Holy Spirit. We see another condition outlined in Acts.8:14-17 and 19:1-6 that is a bit distressing: Brethren who received the Word of God and baptism: Acts.8, in the name of the Lord Jesus; and Acts.19, with John's baptism, who had not received the Holy Spirit.  Could some in the Church today have the Word of God and not the infilling of the Holy Spirit?  Are there Christians today who are walking in John's baptism?

-SPIRITUAL GIFTS-

The manifestations of Spiritual gifts are accounted in Scripture again and again, yet we in today’s Church seem to shrink back from them.  Even Jesus was hindered at certain times:

"And He could do no mighty works there, except that He laid His hands upon a few sick folk and healed them.  And He marveled because of their unbelief." (Mk.6:5-6a)

Many of today’s Churches are filled with much skepticism: No wonder the manifestations of the Holy Spirit are not fully present within their congregations. Are we not also guilty of much doubt and unbelief?  And are we not also guilty of quenching the Holy Spirit of God?

The mission of the Church is clearly defined by our Lord:

"(Jesus said to the disciples), Go you into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation.  He that believes and is baptized will be saved; but he that disbelieves will be condemned.  And these signs will follow them that believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover." (Mk.16:15-18)

The apostle Paul has also outlined Spiritual gifts for us in 1Cor.12:.

Starting in v.1: Paul, through the direction of the Holy Spirit, writes: "Now concerning Spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant:"

Then in v.3 we are given the first manifestation of the Spirit: "Therefore I make known unto you that no man speaking in the Spirit of God can say (that) Jesus is accursed, and no man can say Jesus is Lord but by the Holy Spirit."

***Only by the revelation of the Spirit of God, can we know Jesus as Lord!

vv.4-11: "Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are diversities of ministration, but the same Lord.  And there are diversities of workings, but the same God who works all things in all.

But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit to profit withal: for to one is given through the Spirit the word of wisdom, to another the word of knowledge, according to the same Spirit, to another faith, to another the gift of healing, to another the working of miracles, another prophecy, to another discernings of spirits, to another tongues; and another interpretation of tongues.  But all these works the one and the same Spirit, dividing to each one severally even as He will."              

vv.27-31: "Now you are the body of Christ, and severally members thereof.  And God has set some in the Church: first apostles, secondly prophets, thirdly teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, wise counsels, kinds of tongues.  Are all apostles?  Are all prophets?  Are all teachers?  Are all workers of miracles?  Have all gifts of healing?  Do all speak with tongues?  Do all interpret?  But desire earnestly the greater gifts.  And moreover a most excellent way I show unto you" (love).

"So we, who are many, are one in the body of Christ, and severally members one of another.  And having gifts differing according to the grace that was given unto us: whether prophecy, let prophesy according to the proportion of our faith; or ministry, let us give ourselves to our ministry; or he that teaches, to his teaching; or he that exhorts, to his exhorting; he that gives, let him do it with liberality; he that rules, with diligence; (or) he that shows mercy, with cheerfulness." (Rom.12:5-8)

"And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers." (Eph.4:11)

-REVIEW-

1Cor.12:         -GIFT-         -REFERENCE-

v.8a            Wisdom         (1Cor.2:6,7; 2Cor.1:12)

v.8b            Knowledge     (Rom.15:14; 1Cor.2:11,16,  

                                        2Cor.2:14; 4:6; 8:7; 11:6)

v.9a            Faith              (1Cor.13:2 ; 2Cor.4:13)

v.9b            Healing          (Jas.5:14,15; Mk.16:18)

v.10a           Miracles         (Gal.3:5)

v.10b           Prophecy       (Acts.13:1; Rom.12:6; 

                                        1Cor.11:14; 13:2,8)

v.10c           Discern spirits(1Cor.14:29; 1Jn.4:1)

v.10d           Tongues        (Mk.16:17; 1Cor.13:1; 14:2)

v.10e           The interpretation of tongues (1Cor.14:26)

v.28            Governings

Rom.12:

v.6             Prophecy       (1Cor.12:10)

v.7a            Ministry       (Acts.6:1; 1Cor.12:28)

v.7b            Teaching       (Acts.13:1;1Cor.12:28; 14:26)

v.8a            Exhorting      (Acts.4:36; 11:23; 13:15)

v.8b            Giving         (2Cor.8:2; 9:11,13)

v.8c            Rulers         (1Cor.12:28; 1Tim.5:17)

v.8d            Mercy          (2Cor.9:7)

Eph.4:

v.11            Apostles       (1Cor.12:28)

 "              Prophets       (1Cor.12:28)

 "              Evangelist     (Acts.21:8)

 "              Pastors        (1Pe.5:2; Jude.12)

 "              Teachers       (1Cor.12:28)

-SPIRITUAL FRUIT-

Gal.5:22,23

 "              Love           (Mat.7:16)

 "              Joy            (Rom.6:21)

 "              Peace          (Rom.5:1-5)

 "              Longsuffering  (1Cor.13:all)

 "              Kindness       (Eph.5:9)

 "              Goodness       (Col.3:12-15)

 "              Faith          (2Pe.1:3-11; Rom.1:17)

 "              Meekness       (1Tim.6:11; Tit.3:2)

 "              Self-control   (Tit.1:8; 2Pe.1:6)

(Reflections in the life of the believer; Reflections of Jesus.)

-ATTRIBUTES OF THE HOLY SPIRIT-

The Spirit will guide you. (Jn.16:13)

The Spirit of God leads us. (Rom.8:14; Gal.5:16-18)

The Spirit is the witness of Jesus. (Jn.15:26)

The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are God's children. (Rom.8:16)

God bears witness by the giving of the Holy Spirit. (Heb.2:4)

It is the Spirit that bears witness, because the Spirit is truth. (1Jn.5:6)

We know that He abides in us, by the Spirit that He has given us. (1Jn.3:24, 4:13)

The Spirit is given by promise. (Gal.3:14)

          God sealed us and gave us the earnest of the Spirit. (2Cor.1:22, 5:5)

You, having heard the Word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, were sealed with the Holy Spirit. (Eph.1:13)

God, who gave unto us the earnest of the Holy Spirit. (Rom.5:5)

God sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts to confirm we are His adopted sons. (Gal.4:4-6)

We received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. (Rom.8:15)

          The Spirit is our helper. (Rom.8:26)

The Spirit is our intercessor. (Rom.8:27, Jude.20) The Spirit reveals God's truths. (1Cor.2:10)

The Spirit searches all things. (1Cor.2:10)

The Spirit teaches. (1Cor.2:13, Jn.14:26)

The Spirit extends God's gifts. (1Cor.12:4-11)

The Spirit writes in our hearts. (2Cor.3:3)                                 

The Lord is Spirit, and the Spirit is liberty. (2Cor.3:17,18)

We have communion with the Holy Spirit. (2Cor.13:14)

The Spirit is revealed by the Word of truth. (Gal.3:2)

The Spirit helps us in our waiting. (Gal.5:5)

The Spirit is manifested through us by the fruit of the Spirit. (Gal.5:22,23)

The Spirit of Christ is our access to God. (Eph.2:18)

In the Spirit we are built (into) a habitation of God. (Eph.2:22)

In the Spirit, the mystery of Christ is revealed. (Eph.3:2-5)

Through the Spirit, we receive strength and power in the inward man. (Eph.3:16)

We are sanctified by the Spirit. (2Thes.2:13)

The Holy Spirit speaks to us. (Heb.3:7; Acts.8:29; 10:19; 13:2)

-ATTRIBUTES OF MAN-

The Holy Spirit of God can be grieved (made sorry). (Eph.4:30)

The Spirit can be quenched. (1Thes.5:19)

The natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God. (1Cor.2:14)

The Church, throughout the many generations since its origin, has always been infiltrated by the world.  Consequently, many Churches have established, through their preaching, a social gospel: Where the Word of God has been undermined to satisfy our natural desires.  The apostle Paul writes in 2Tim.4:3 and 4: "For the time will come when they will not endure the sound doctrine, but having itching ears, will heap to themselves teachers after their own lusts; and will turn away their ears from the truth, and turn aside unto fables."

Sin is also tolerated within the Churches, as there are many times that we refuse to apply biblical disciplines. "Them that sin reprove in the sight of all, that the rest also may be in fear." (1Tim.5:20; Ref. 1Cor.5:9-11; and Eph.5:11)

So as we look at today’s Church in general, we frequently see a lack of the necessary dedication and commitment on the part of many individual Christians.  This condition is the result of the worldly deceptions around and within us. 

We must understand that our nature is against the truth of God: It is allied with the world and with the prince of this world: And its purpose is to destroy the work of God.  It is also most difficult for us to understand completely, the extent to which we can partake of the things of the world without becoming entangled in the sins of the world.

But God has graciously given us His Word to protect and preserve us. All we need do, no matter what our condition, is to be honest with God and with ourselves. If we are living our lives contrary to the Word of God, we are living in deception:

Isa.59:1,2 : "Behold, Jehovah's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither His ear heavy, that it cannot hear.  But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid His face from you, so that He will not hear."  

We cannot live in unrepentant sin and have a healthy relationship with God at the same time.  The Scriptures tell us: "By their fruit you will know them."  An honest check of our fruit will tell us where we stand, and an honest check of our hearts will confirm it.

"Be subject therefore unto God.  Resist the devil and he will flee from you.  Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double minded.  Be afflicted and mourn and weep!  Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to heaviness.  Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, and He will exalt you." (Jas.4:7-10)

The Holy Spirit is the conduit through which God communicates with us.  From salvation through sanctification, it is the complete work of the Holy Spirit of God and of Christ.  Like a still small voice within us, God speaks to us.  So once again, we must be very careful not to grieve the Holy Spirit, nor are we to quench the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit is grieved whenever we fall into unrepentant sin and remain therein, and the Holy Spirit is quenched whenever we refuse to respond to His prompting: Whenever we ignore the guilt feelings associated with sin and continue therein, we grieve and quench the Holy Spirit of God.  We have an obligation to serve God with everything we possess and be obedient to His commandments.

GRACE-defined from the believer’s perspective:

The divine influence upon the heart, and its "REFLECTION" in the life of the believer; including gratitude. (Strong's)

ZEAL-defined:

God expects the Christian to return His love.  Love, however, is not simply an emotion, it is a structured relationship.  To love God, is to obey Him.  So the word "zeal" is used to denote a passionate, consuming "zeal" focused on God, that results in the doing of His will and the maintaining of His honor in the face of the ungodly acts of men and nations. (TWB) -AMEN-