THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE LIFE OF A CHRISTIAN
Someone has said, “You will never truly know the power of God until you need the power of God.” I think that statement equally applies to God’s Holy Spirit. As we mentioned earlier in this series, too often Christians and churches do not seek nor even rely on God’s Spirit in daily living.
American independence has taught us to “do it yourself” and then if you encounter problems ask for help. But, that is not God’s plan nor preference.
Also, our restoration heritage, with men like Alexander Campbell and his Baconian rationalism has steeped us in mentally formulating our rules of thinking. Since Campbell’s death, our fellowship has largely followed tradition at the expense of seeking the heart of Christ in our thinking and actions.
Barton W. Stone, a pioneer in the American Restoration Movement, believed in and was led more by the Holy Spirit than any other person, I suppose. The Cane Ridge meeting was a Communion like no other. On Friday, August 6, 1801 an estimated 20,000 people rode or walked into the remote outpost of Cane Ridge, KY. Men, women and children moved from one preaching venue to another, watching, praying, preaching, weeping, groaning, and falling. Though some stood at the edges and mocked, most left marveling at the wondrous hand of God.
The Cane Ridge Communion quickly became one of the best-reported events in American history, and according to Vanderbilt historian Paul Conkin, “arguably … the most important religious gathering in all of American history.” It ignited the explosion of evangelical religion, which soon reached into nearly every corner of American life. For decades the prayer of camp meetings and revivals across the land was “Lord, make it like Cane Ridge .”
The unusual events of Cane Ridge fanned the flames of what was known in America as the Great Awakening. What was it about Cane Ridge that gripped the imagination? Exactly what happened? . . . Europeans visiting the American wilderness and encountering a revival firsthand were convinced that Americans had gone mad. But the excitement was evident far beyond the emotional fervor of the camp meetings.
For a brief period from 1832-1849 there was both an appeal for unity and an effort to have unity between all religious beliefs. There was an increased interest in the Bible, evangelism and conversion. However, the appeal for unity led to heated debates and schisms. Disagreements become so sharp that divisions occurred down party lines and creeds became more important that the appeal to God’s Word.
In recent days, water-boarding is back in the news. I find it interesting that a form of this was used in the early days of religion in this country. Here is a picture of what happened to those who disagreed with another parties views.
In the very appeal for and attempt at unity, religious denomination flourished and unity and the Holy Spirit got pushed to the outer margins of religious thought and practice.
So, today, on one extreme you have those who fervently practice what we call Pentecostalism and on the opposite extreme those who embrace only God’s Word as their model for thought and practice.
The Bible does teach us that the Holy Spirit is active in a believer’s life. Most agree that we are given the Holy Spirit at baptism, however there are various thoughts on even that topic. The works of the Holy Spirit in relation to a Christian are many .
The conversion of a person from a life of self-centered sin to a life-giving daily walk with Jesus is the pivot point. In Romans 8:5-10 NCV we read, “Those who live following their sinful selves think only about things that their sinful selves want. But those who live following the Spirit are thinking about the things the Spirit wants them to do. If people’s thinking is controlled by the sinful self, there is death. But if their thinking is controlled by the Spirit, there is life and peace. When people’s thinking is controlled by the sinful self, they are against God, because they refuse to obey God’s law and really are not even able to obey God’s law. Those people who are ruled by their sinful selves cannot please God. But you are not ruled by your sinful selves. You are ruled by the Spirit, if that Spirit of God really lives in you. But the person who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to Christ. Your body will always be dead because of sin. But if Christ is in you, then the Spirit gives you life, because Christ made you right with God.”
And in John 6:63 NLT we read, “It is the Spirit who gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life.” So, a key question for us today is, Are we leading our lives – or – are we being led by God’s Spirit?
Fighting against sin is an intense struggle, but Jesus has provided us with the means for victory through his gift of the indwelling Spirit. Our deliverance comes through Jesus Christ, because through his redeeming work the energizing power of the Spirit of life enables us to overcome the insidious power of sin and death that remains in our bodies .
Warren Wiersbe expands this thought in vv. 12-17 by saying, “It is not enough for us to have the Spirit; the Spirit must have us! Only then can He share with us the abundant, victorious life that can be ours in Christ. We have no obligation to the flesh, because the flesh has only brought trouble into our lives. We do have an obligation to the Holy Spirit, for it is the Spirit who convicted us, revealed Christ to us, and imparted eternal life to us when we trusted Christ. Because He is "the Spirit of Life," He can empower us to obey Christ, and He can enable us to be more like Christ. ”
We are sanctified by the Holy Spirit … that is we are set apart from our old life of sin to serve God and live a life of holiness as God’s Spirit instructs, guides, comforts and consoles us as a Christian. We read about the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23 but it is the Spirit that enables us to bear that fruit.
The contrast between works and fruit is important. Our factories work to make a lot of things but they can never produce fruit. When you think of "works" you think of effort, labor, and strain. But when you think of fruit you think of nature, beauty, creativity and the unfolding of life.
God has blessed the Christian with His Word and the gift of His Holy Spirit for a specific purpose. God’s Spirit instructs and guides us in living a life of devotion and service to God that leads us ultimately to a home with him in heaven. It is the work of the Holy Spirit to carry forward progressively the work of God in the human soul, until it is transformed by the likeness of Christ.
So, a simple but yet profound question for each of us is, “How much do we look like Christ in our thoughts, beliefs, and actions?” When we are convicted by the Holy Spirit to move from a life of sin to a life of holiness we become a new person.
Ephesians 4:21-24 NLT reminds us, “Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.” In Christ, there is a new beginning – and that new beginning is aided by the power and presence of God’s Holy Spirit.
Just as an infant is born physically into this world and moves along a maturity continuum – a babe in Christ must move from infancy to maturity. The goal of every Christian is to die more each day to sin and become more like Christ.
Ephesians 1:5 NLT tells us that “His [God’s] unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. And this gave him great pleasure.” Having been adopted into the family of God, Christian men and women are led by the Spirit of God in growth and development in the Christian life.
The characteristic name for the Spirit in the NT is “holy” meaning separate or apart. The primary work of the Spirit in the life of a Christian is to make him or her ‘holy’ or set apart or sanctify.
2 Thessalonians 2:13 NASB, says, “But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.” Paul says that we received our salvation because God loved us, chose us, set us apart and called us to be in fellowship with His Son and the church.
1 Corinthians 6:11 NASB reads, “Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.” The context of this passage is sexual excess and misuse in Corinth. Paul pointed out that God created sex when He made the first man and woman, and therefore He has the right to tell us how to use it. The Bible is the "owner's manual" and it must be followed as our ultimate guide for living.
After listing the sexual sins, Paul says that God can cleanse sexual sin and make sinners into new creatures in Christ .
Paul said in Romans 15:15-16 NIV, “I have written you quite boldly on some points, as if to remind you of them again, because of the grace of God gave me to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles with the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.”
The goal of the Spirit’s work is to develop a movement toward perfection in the likeness of Christ. In a sense, all of the Spirit’s work is included in the process of sanctification. God’s Word and God’s Spirit work in tandem guide us toward sanctification to move us to holiness of character that readies us for life to come.
This requires our willingness to allow God, through the Holy Spirit to sanctify us as we yield our lives to him. God fills as much of the human heart as we open to him. The more we open our hearts and minds to God, the more we are sanctified. Sanctification cannot be forced upon a Christian who is unwilling to yield completely to God. Perhaps that is why we do not see the Spirit working as powerfully today.
And while our goal is to perfect holiness in our lives we recognize that is absolutely necessary to have the Holy Spirit present and continually active in our lives. We must petition God to allow the Holy Spirit to actually and powerfully assist our daily efforts in serving him. Our holiness begins with God’s Holy Spirit. He aids us in the struggle to live victoriously over sin and temptation. He works in and through us to bring about sanctification.
One of the hallmarks of Christianity is growth. The NT is replete with examples of moving from infancy to maturity – the continual challenge is growth. 2 Peter 3:17-18 NCV instructs us, “Dear friends, since you already know about this, be careful. Do not let those evil people lead you away by the wrong they do. Be careful so you will not fall from your strong faith. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Glory be to him now and forever! Amen.” So, we must ask ourselves, am I growing in Christ and what are the indicators of my growth?
The fruits of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5:22 are good indicators. Sanctification is growth and a life of holiness is the fruit. When we yield our lives to Christ and are growing – it is evidence that God’s Spirit is leading us.
When we are led by the Spirit – movement and progress are evident. Our lives, filled with joy, peace and love … surrounded by an atmosphere of patience, kindness, goodness, honesty of purpose, ability to endure affront, and self-control are evidence of the power of God’s Holy Spirit in us.
The chief work of the Holy Spirit is the development in the likeness of Christ. But one cannot develop into the likeness of Christ without bearing the fruit of the Holy Spirit.
Galatians 5:22-23 NASB reads, “But the Spirit produces the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. There is no law that says these things are wrong.” In this chapter, the fruit of the Spirit in the lives of faithful Christians is contrasted against the works of the flesh.
Jesus’ words in Matthew 7:16-20 NASB are very clear, “So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So then, you will know them by their fruits.”
The goal is growth in holiness but unfortunately there are some who quench or grieve the Holy Spirit. The Bible says that we are to worship in Spirit and truth. Worship that ignores the Bible is not spiritual. Warren Wiersbe says, “There may be emotion—and even commotion—but unless there is spiritual truth, the Holy Spirit is not at work. ” 1 Thessalonians 5:19 warns, “Do not quench the Spirit.” Remember, the early church did not have the written Bible as we do today, so it was necessary that the Holy Spirit speak through God’s chosen men to teach and admonish as God desired.
Again in Ephesians 4:30 we read, “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” The Holy Spirit who speaks , teaches , and intercedes has feelings and can be grieved when He is used inappropriately .
In John 4:23, 24, Jesus tells the Samaritan woman at the well that we must worship God “in spirit and in truth”. Remember, Jesus and this woman were at a well – not a building – worship is what we do both inside and outside of a church building. There is stark difference between ‘emotionalism’ and emotions that stem from a true heart of worship.
We began today looking at the different personalities of Alexander Campbell and Barton W. Stone. I’ve often wondered what our fellowship would look like today if Stone’s personality and his penchant for emotion had been more pervasive.
And I would point out that I think emotion in worship is good. During formal worship we should experience many different feelings: awe, contriteness, conviction, gratefulness, joy, love, peace, etc. But the stark difference from emotionalism is that these feelings should come from true worship to God and not just a warm, fuzzy feeling to a stimulus other than God.
In true worship our emotion is a direct response to our cognitive acknowledgment of God and gratefulness for His works in us and in all the earth. When we are at the place of true worship we are not reacting to the music and melody of the songs… but rather we are reacting to the rhythm of God’s very heart.
When I think of true worship I think of David, perhaps the greatest worshipper of God in the Bible. As I read through the Psalms, David’s desire and passion for God pours out of the pages. As true worshippers we are to have that same zeal and desire for God. We must be “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God” - Psalm 42:1…longing for God…to please, glorify, and serve Him!
Robin Parry has written, “Spirit-led worship is not just the reserve of Pentecostals and charismatics, rather, it is the heritage of all genuine Christian worshippers. ”
Today, how are we following God’s Holy Spirit? Do we seek and listen to the Spirit and then act? How is God’s Spirit moving in your life today? If you need to respond to the Spirit’s leading and the invitation of Christ today, please come now as we stand and sing a song of encouragement.
Resources for this sermon:
1 http://www.christianitytoday.com/history/issues/issue-45/revival-at-cane-ridge.html
2 Black, Garth W., Empowered by the Grace of God, Mustang, OK, Tate Publishing Company, 2014, pages 65-71
3 The College Press NIV Commentary – Romans Volume 1
4 The Bible Exposition Commentary – New Testament, Volume 1
5 Wiersbe, Warren, The Bible Exposition Commentary – New Testament, Volume 2
6 1 Timothy 4:1
7 John 14:26
8 Romans 8:27
9 The NIV Commentary, College Press – Galatians and Ephesians
10 Parry, Robin, Worshipping Trinity, Cascade Books, Eugene, OR, 2013
