THE HOLY SPIRIT
This nine-part series was originally developed for a class environment, and later adapted for use in a prison ministry conducted via correspondence. Because of that background, questions were developed for each lesson for participants to use in a setting conducive to discussion, or as handouts for private use if the lessons are presented as sermons. At the beginning of each part of the series, I will include the outline of the series.
OUTLINE OF THIS SERIES OF STUDIES
Part 1
Introduction, Holy Spirit as deity
Names of the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit in the Old Testament
Part 2
Holy Spirit in the NT (apostles to receive power)
Gabriel’s message to Mary
Foreseen by NT characters—Jesus, John
What we learn from Jesus in John 14,16
The coming of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost
Baptism in, or by, the Holy Spirit
Baptism of believers
Part 3
If I do not go away the Holy Spirit will not come
Men received and were dependent on the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is a Guarantee
Grieving the Holy Spirit
The Indwelling of the Holy Spirit
Being Filled With the Spirit
Part 4
The Holy Spirit in the Functioning of the church (first installment)
(1 Cor 12; Rom 12; Eph 4)
Gifts of the Spirit
The Head
Grace as Gifts (did not delve into each of the gifts, or special aptitudes, given by the Holy Spirit)
Functions “God Has Appointed”
Tongues/prophesying
Part 5
The empowering gifts of the Holy Spirit
Bestowing honor upon less “presentable” members
Order of functions (First apostles, second prophets, third teachers) Teachers discussed in Part 6
Part 6
Teachers
First apostles, second prophets, third teachers.
Part 7
Ministries of the Holy Spirit
Are the Bible and the Holy Spirit the same?
Blasphemy Against the Holy Spirit
Part 8
Fruit of the Spirit
The Spirit vs the Flesh
Attributes of the Holy Spirit
Part 9
Acting in opposition to the Holy Spirit
• Lying to the Holy Spirit
• Resisting the Holy Spirit
• Quenching the Holy Spirit
• Grieving the Holy Spirit
• Defiling the Temple of the Holy Spirit
• Insulting the Spirit of Grace (doing despite)
Intercessor (though mentioned previously)
How Can I Know if I Have the Holy Spirit?
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THE HOLY SPIRIT
Part 7
In this lesson we will examine three separate, but loosely connected aspects of the Holy Spirit: his ministries, the question of whether his work in modern times is performed completely through the written word, and blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.
Ministries of the Holy Spirit
The word “ministries” refers to the various ways the Holy Spirit works. The Holy Spirit works in many capacities, all of which are in harmony with each other and with the eternal purposes of the godhead. We will not study all of these ministries in detail; however, it seems useful to cite a number of them here, to demonstrate that the Holy Spirit’s work is large and diverse. Some of the Holy Spirit’s works are more well-known than others, such as the comforter, indwelling spirit, and the guide into all truth, as stated by Jesus when he was gathered with his disciples for the last time before his death (John 14:16-17, 26; 15:26; 16:13-14). But other aspects of the Holy Spirit’s work are less familiar.
Broadly, beyond his involvement in the creation, which we mentioned earlier in this series of studies, the Holy Spirit appears to be the “operational” feature of the godhead, being intimately involved and interactive with humans, especially but not exclusively since Pentecost.
The following list includes a number of mentions in the Bible of the Holy Spirit’s work.
Creator of the world – John 1:3; Col 1:16? ; Psa 104:30
Gave the apostles words to say – Luke 12:12; 10:19-20
Reminded apostles of Jesus’ words – John 14:26
Led Jesus, and leads us – Matt 4:1; Luke 4:2; Romans 8:14; Gal 5:18;
Raised Jesus from the dead – Rom 1:1-4; Romans 8:11
Revealer of truth – John 16:13-14; 1 Corinthians 2:9-10
Gives birth (born of the Spirit) - John 31-16
Renews – Titus 3:5
Enables discernment – 1 Corinthians 2:14
Convicts – John 16:8-9, leading to washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit – Titus 3:5
Bears witness – John 15:16; 1 John 5:7-8
Agent for Jesus’ sacrifice – Hebrews 9:14
Sanctifier – 1 Peter 1:1-2
Enabler, or power, of miracles, casting out demons – Luke 4:14, 18f; John 3:34; Matthew 12:28; Hebrews 2:3-4; 1 Corinthians 12:7-11; Acts 10:38; cf. Acts 19:1-7
It was by the power of the Holy Spirit that Jesus was raised from the dead. The same Spirit will give life to our mortal bodies – Romans 8:11
Gave prophecies to the prophets – 2 Peter 1:21; 2 Samuel 23:2-3
Manifestations, cont.
The Holy Spirit guides – John 16:13
Intercedes – Romans 8:26
Sends – Acts 13:4
Instructs (e.g. Philip) – Acts 8:29; (Peter) Acts 11:12; Paul and Barnabas (Acts 13:2)
No doubt the Holy Spirit has other ministries that are not included in this list, some of which we may not be informed about in the scriptures. However, these works show that the Holy Spirit’s work is very wide, and deeply involved in human affairs.
The Holy Spirit’ ministries break the time barrier of the centuries between Christ’s redemptive work and second coming, meaning later generations know God as a living being, not just a historical one.
Are the Holy Spirit and the Bible the same?
One of the Holy Spirit’s ministries, stated by Jesus in John 16:13-14, was to guide the disciples into all truth:
But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on his own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you.
In the above list, that work of the Holy Spirit is cited as the revealer of truth. The Holy Spirit did indeed reveal to Jesus’ disciples truth that was not previously known. A part of the use of that function was the writing of the scriptures. Of course the New Testament was not written entirely by those eleven disciples who were present when Jesus said it (Judas Iscariot had already departed before Jesus’ lengthy discourse and prayer in John 14-17 began – John 13:30). John Mark, a co-worker with Paul and Barnabas, wrote an account of Jesus’ life. Luke, who was a traveling companion of the apostle Paul, wrote another account of the life of Jesus and the vitally important historical book of Acts. Paul, an apostle who entered the work later (Acts 9:1-30), was not present. The author of the letter to the Hebrews is not known.
However, it may be thought that Jesus meant the Holy Spirit would guide those eleven apostles and others into the truth that would eventually become the scriptures as we know them. One cannot reasonably argue against that premise, for that is indeed what did happen. Paul recognized this and so stated in a letter to Timothy (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
In that passage, the “spir” portion of the word “inspired” comes from the same root in the Greek as the word “Spirit,” and so we rightly recognize the Spirit’s work of guiding the writing of the scriptures as a ministry of the Holy Spirit.
The question remains, in modern times does the Holy Spirit work through those scriptures and in no other way? Some have posited that such is the full extent of the Holy Spirit’s way of working today. The argument is that in revealing the truth through the scriptures, we have all we need for understanding the gospel, which is God’s plan of salvation, and what he requires for godly living. The argument continues, saying that any operation of the Holy Spirit beyond the written scriptures would amount to new scripture, and that no new scripture is needed.
It is true that the scriptures give us the complete information we need to lead us to Jesus Christ and the salvation that is found in the gift of his life on the cross. However, the imparting of previously unknown information is only one of the Holy Spirit’s many ministries. While that ministry, it is rightly said, has been completed, the Holy Spirit has other ministries which are of a continuing nature, such as being involved in the new birth (born of water and the Spirit), renewal of believers, enabling discernment, convicting sinners leading to washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, sanctification of believers, and interceding for us when we pray.
Therefore, although I do not diminish the completeness and authority of the scriptures, I do not accept the proposition that the Holy Spirit works only through the written word today. I am strongly inclined to believe that some ministries of the Holy Spirit in the first century ran their course and are no longer needed, and no longer occur. Miracles and prophecies are examples. But I do not accept the notion that the Holy Spirit’s ministries such as interceding for us in prayer, indwelling us and bearing fruit in our lives are part of the written scriptures or have ceased.
Blasphemy Against the Holy Spirit
Blasphemy is a very old sin. The Hebrew word most often used in the Old Testament, ga^daph, means to hack with words, that is, to revile, or reproach. Another word used in the Hebrew, qa^bab, means to malign, stab with words, or curse.
The creature has been condemned down through the centuries of time for speaking against the creator. In Leviticus 24 Moses is told by God that any and all blasphemers are to be stoned to death by the entire congregation (nation) of Israel.
In the New Testament, the word in the original language that most concerns us is blasphe¯mia, which means to vilify, and includes blasphemy, evil speaking, and railing (especially against God).
The New Testament contains frequent warnings against the sin of blasphemy. When Jesus came into this world, he came to a world ruined by sin. The devil attacked him with every temptation in every way he could as long as Jesus lived. Men, inspired by devilish purposes, reviled, slandered and blasphemed him, and finally they crucified him. The climax of their words against Jesus and his mission is found in the accusation that he was in league, on the same team, with the devil. When Jesus healed a demon-possessed man, the Pharisees actually committed the sin of blasphemy when they said:
It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons that this man casts out demons. Matthew 12:24
But we know that it was by the power of the Holy Spirit that Jesus cast our demons, for he told them:
But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. Matthew 12:28
To claim that it was by the power of Beelzebul, or Satan (see verse 26), was the specific sin of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, for Jesus continues immediately in Matthew 12:31-32:
Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.
In Mark’s account of this same incident we read,
Truly I tell you, people can be forgiven all their sins and every slander they utter, but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; they are guilty of an eternal sin.” He said this because they were saying, “He has an impure spirit.” (Mark 3:28–30).
Then in Luke’s account we read,
And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. (Luke 12:10).
What is this terrible sin of which Jesus speaks in these passages?
Why is it worse than the forgivable sin of speaking against the Son of man?
Jesus’ accusers, the Pharisees, ascribed God’s works, which were wrought by the Holy Spirit, to the prince of demons.
All of the Jews’ lives and all through their history God had been speaking to them, appealing to them, offering them His truth and his revelation. But they had so long shut their ears to that voice, refused that guidance, been blind to that truth, that when God incarnate came to them in the person of Jesus, they utterly failed to realize who he was and to recognize his power. They even thought they saw in him the work of the devil.
If a man cannot recognize the goodness of Jesus incarnate when he sees it, then he does not even know when he is sinning. If by repeated acts of rejecting God’s power and God’s powerful word, he has reached this state, then repentance is impossible, because goodness has lost its appeal, and evil has lost its shame. It is not God who has shut the door (if he had he could open it); the person who has reached this point has shut it on himself.
Any person who would say “I hope I have not yet committed the sin of blaspheming God’s Spirit” has not reached that critical point. No man who is aware of the fact that he is a sinner in need of a Savior has reached this point.
The one way that we can be sure that we never individually and personally blaspheme against the Holy Spirit is to keep ourselves sensitive and receptive to the voice of God. The person who lives close to Christ, constant in prayer, diligent in the study of God’s word, and mindful of God in whom he lives and moves and has his being, cannot commit this sin, for such a person is always ready to listen to God’s truth, and recognize it when he sees it.
THE HOLY SPIRIT
Part 7 Questions
1.What ministries of the Holy Spirit do you recognize as being active in your life?
2. Are some of the Holy Spirit’s ministries, as discussed in this lesson not active today? If so give examples.
3. Can you think of any ways the Holy Spirit works that are not discussed in this lesson?
4. What are your thoughts on the question of the Holy Spirit and the Bible? Are they identical for today’s purposes?
Answer True or False by circling T or F:
1. T F The Holy Spirit is involved in a person being born again.
2. T F The New Testament in its entirety was written by Jesus’ 11 disciples (excluding Judas).
3. T F No scripture is being revealed in modern times.
4. T F Blasphemy against the Son of Man will never be forgiven.
5. T F A person may accidentally blaspheme against the Holy Spirit without realizing it.
Discussion and Thought
1. Do you think the Holy Spirit works today through the written word and in no other way?
2. Many people worry that they might have committed “the unpardonable sin” at some time in their lives. If someone has actually spoken against the Holy Spirit and later regrets it, prays for forgiveness, repents is baptized, and strives to live in a way pleasing to the Lord, can such a person ever be saved? Please share your thoughts and reasons for your conclusion.
