#127 – The Role of the Holy Spirit in the Christian Life

THE ROLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

Matthew 10:20 "For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you."

The Holy Spirit identifies with the believer and becomes his source of information which he preaches. Jesus said it is “the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.” Let's notice some of the roles He plays in the life of the believer.

THE HOLY SPIRIT IS THE SPIRIT OF LIFE TO OVERCOME THE SELF LIFE

Paul's struggle with the conflict in the two natures in the Child of God in Romans 7. There are no less than 30 “I's” in this chapter. What is the answer to the self life as taught by Paul? Romans 8:2, "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death." We are emancipated by the Law of the Spirit of Life from the law of sin and death. The law of sin and death cannot reach us. We are in Christ which is off limits to the law of sin and death.

The Holy Spirit is actively engaged according to our faith in neutralizing the effects of the flesh. Galatians 5:16 17, "This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would." It does not say that the flesh will not attempt to over throw the faith of the believer. It does say, “Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh.

Romans 8:13, "For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live."

THE HOLY SPIRIT IS THE “SPIRIT OF GOD?” IN CONTRAST TO THE IMPOTENCE AND INCOMPETENCE OF MAN

The epistles to the Corinthians deal with a body of believers who were man-centered; hence, they were “carnal.”

This is brought out in 1 Corinthians 3:3, "For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?" The secret to what Paul is saying is found in the words, “and walk as men?” Unsaved men is what Paul is comparing them to. Every Christian needs to realize that while they have power to walk in holiness before the Lord and man, it is also possible to draw back and succumb to the peer pressure and walk after the flesh. When this happens, no one will suspect them of being Christians. This is what Paul calls carnal. They are self centered. One who is Christ centered is not hard to find. He will stick out in a crowd and make people feel uneasy around him.

The apostle reminds them that they cannot of themselves understand the Word of God, nor fathom the deep things of God, nor apply the truths of God; for the Spirit is the Unfolder of the Word, the Enlightener of the mind, and the Communicator of the gospel. This is all brought out in 1 Corinthians 2:14 15, "But 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. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man."

God has given the Holy Spirit an indispensable role to play and he is limited only by the unbelief of the believer. The Holy Spirit can exert great power through the believer who is committed without reserve to God.

THE HOLY SPIRIT IS THE SPHERE IN WHICH THE BELIEVER IS TO LIVE

The Holy Spirit is the Cleanser to remove every defiling thing from the life, and the Irradiator to cause the sun of the holiness of God to shine into and out of our lives. There are seven which we are told not to do in Ephesians 4:25-31:

1. We are told not to lie.

2. We are told to be angry and sin not.

3. We are told not to give place to the devil.

4. We are told not to steal.

5. We are told not to let our tongue to be a medium of “corrupt communications.”

6. We are told not grieve the Holy Spirit.