#231 – The Work of the Holy Spirit in the Saints

THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE SAINTS

Romans 8:9 "But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his."

Man by his human nature was so damaged by the fall that it is impossible for him to please God by what he does. This leaves him helplessly lost and without the slightest chance of being saved by what he does. Hebrews 9:14 says, "How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?"

God has made a marvelous attempt to save mankind, by the gift of His Son both by living the life we couldn't, and suffering vicariously on the Cross for our sins. Man could never survive the payment for his sins. Only Christ could do that and He is willing to save all that come to God by Him. Let's notice first,

THE INTERPENETRATION OF THE SPIRIT

The Lord wants the Holy Spirit to penetrate every part of our nature. John suggest this in John 7:37 39, "In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified)"

The saved partake of the divine nature. 2 Peter 1:3 4, "According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust."

THE INSTRUMENT OF THE SPIRIT

The believer in Christ is the instrument which the Spirit of God uses in His service. All God's servants are sons, and as such, the Lord says to each, “Son, go to work today in my vineyard.” But as sons they are not to act apart from the Lord, not even as agents, for the true position of every child is that of an instrument to be used by the Lord.

On the day of Pentecost the disciples spoke as the Spirit gave them utterance. Acts 2:4, "And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." When the people who were present, when this happened, began to question what was happening, Peter stood up and denied any personal power, and referred them to the prophecy of Joel (Acts 2:16-17).

THE INTERCESSION OF THE SPIRIT

Romans 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."

Nothing could possibly encourage the saint of God more than to know that the Holy Spirit is his constant companion supplying his needs as he fulfill the task the Lord had given him to do.

THE ILLUMINATION OF THE SPIRIT

1 Corinthians 2:13, "Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual."

How many times have I had trouble understanding a verse of Scripture and I would drop to my knees and as I meditated in prayer the verse became clear. This is the illumination. The illumination of the Spirit gives insights into the word that we do not have when we are not filled with the Spirit. The written Word of God was given by the Holy Spirit and it is completely logical that when He is sought for help He will give it to our complete satisfaction.

Someone has said, the eyes of the heart must be opened by the Holy Spirit before the things of God can be seen.

THE INSPIRATION OF THE SPIRIT