The Work Of The Holy Spirit Today

THE6920 CT 2 SCP John Sanders The Work of the Holy Spirit Today In my opinion, the differing views, strife, and confusion over the work and doctrine of the Holy Spirit are most unfortunate. The Holy Spirit was given to empower believers and strengthen the church, but due to debate and conflict, the Holy Spirit is hindered from the work for which He was sent. The purpose of this brief is to acknowledge the intended contemporary work of the Holy Spirit and see what God has granted in His giving of the Holy Spirit. In the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit was present during the creation (Gen 1:2 Job 26:13). In the New Testament, the Holy Spirit is described as a counselor, teacher, and guide. But what about today? For men of God who aspire to be a Pastor (1 Tim 3:1), what does the Holy Spirit have for them? For the student who longs to serve overseas and put the Great Commission into practice, what does the Holy Spirit do for them? For the church that battles with cultural relevance and Biblical integrity, what does the Holy Spirit offer them? In an attempt to present and seek the answer of what the Holy Spirit does today, this brief will provide a function of the Holy Spirit for today, Scriptural proof of that function, possible ministry applications, and in conclusion, a potential end goal. Holy Spirit Empowers The Holy Spirit has been said to be a compensation for the work of Christ after His ascension. In John 14:12, Jesus tells the disciples, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things. The disciples grieved at Jesus’ leaving and were fully aware of their weaknesses and inabilities, but Christ promised greater things. Then in Acts 2, Peter preached on Pentecost Sunday and three thousand believed. Erikson says that “the key to the disciple’s success was not in their abilities and strengths, however. Jesus told them to wait for the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4-5) who would give them power and that he has promised, the ability to do greater things.”1 Ministry applications for this, is boldness (preaching, evangelism, actions), strength (missions, physical limits), or even ability to over come the odds (Acts 4:13). Holy Spirit Illuminates In carrying on the idea of the Holy Spirit coming to be God’s presence among men after Christ’s ascension, the Holy Spirit needed to fulfill the roles Christ performed here on Earth. Jesus had been a teacher and leader to the disciples, but his influence was external word and example. Using terminology from John 14:16, the next Counselor that would abide with man forever would also be a teacher but of a different kind. The work of the Holy Sprit, contra external teaching and example “is able to affect one more intensely because, dwelling within, he can get to the very center of one’s thinking and emotions, and lead one into all truth, as Jesus promised.”2 The Holy Spirit worked as a teacher to the disciples for “when the Sprit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth” (John 16:13). The Holy Spirit seeks to clarify and bring eternal truth to whom he inhabits; this is illumination. Carl Henry says, “illumination occurs when the Spirit enables correct interpretation of Scripture…[and he] enables individuals to appropriate God’s truth savingly and attests its power in their personal experience.”3 The Holy Spirit was not just for the early church but is also present today and seeks to help believers today understand Scripture. Ministry applications for this function of the Holy Spirit today could be comprehension of Scripture (Pastor, laymen, teacher), obedience (know what Bible says), or deeper relationship (God, family, church members). 1

Millard J. Erickson, Christian Theology, 2nd ed., (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2005), 889 Ibid. 3 Malcom B. Yarnell III, “The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit,” in A Theology for the Church, Edited by Daniel Akin, (Nashville: B&H Academics, 2007), 668 2

THE6920 CT 2 SCP John Sanders Holy Spirit Intercedes In reading the Scriptures, one can be familiar with Jesus’ intercession, as the High Priest, on man’s behalf but such is so for the Holy Spirit as well. Paul speaks of the intercessory prayer by the Holy Spirit: “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.” (Rom 8:26). The reason why man needs help with their prayers is weakness. According the Ryrie “the Holy Spirit helps our entire weakness but especially as it manifests itself in relation to our prayer life, and particularly in relation to knowing what to pray for at the present moment.”4 The Holy Spirit does this to help man with their prayers, leaving “believers with an assurance that when they do not know how to pray, the Holy Spirit wisely intercedes for them that the Lord’s will be done.”5 With the Holy Spirit interceding for believers, it can be evident for “the result of such a prayer life is assurance to the believer of the certainty of his future and full redemption (Rom 8:23)”6 and is a part of every work of the church and practical implications for ministry. Holy Spirit Gives Gifts The spiritual gifts given by the Holy Spirit are not for the individual, but rather they are for the church. The doctrine of spiritual gifts is found mostly in the writings of Paul in Rom 12:6-8, 1 Cor 12:4-1, and Eph 4:11 where he gives lists of gifts, “but their orientations differ”7. No believer is “without at least one spiritual gift. Peter makes it clear that all have at least one,”8 and they are not for personal benefit but for God’s glory. The Spirit “helps the church by unifying Christians in one body of Christ, by granting gifts for the common good, and by endowing Christians with virtue.”9 These gifts were given for edification and it is in the life of the body that the gifts can be used most effectively to minister to others. In terms of ministry and the Holy Spirit working today, these gifts are meant for God’s glory and are all functions to serve His purpose. Potential End Goal There is no doubt as to the great and mighty work of the Holy Spirit, but what is the end goal of all these functions? This thought is not supported by profound theologians but just the writer of this brief. Could it be that, instead of sanctification being another function of the Holy Spirit, possibly it could be the ultimate end goal. Sanctification can be defined as “God’s claiming and subsequent purifying of the believer as his possession”10 and this is something that occurs from conversion on. Sanctification is the “process of making the person holy or good”11 and could possibly be man’s purpose and end goal. 1 Cor. 10:31 seems to provide an expectation for all mankind to do everything for God’s glory and this would include personal life, marriage, professional career, free time, hobbies, ministry and the list goes on and on. The Holy Spirit was sent for a purpose and this purpose was to work in and among mankind in order to achieve God’s goals and to aid sinful man in becoming more and more like Christ. 4

Charles Ryrie, Basic Theology, (Colorado Spring: Chariot Victor, 1997), 382 Erickson, 890. 6 Ryrie, 382. 7 Erickson, 891. 8 Ryrie, 369. 9 Yarnell, 673. 10 Kenneth Keathley, “The Doctrine of Salvation,” in A Theology for the Church, Edited by Daniel Akin, (Nashville: B&H Academics, 2007), 754 11 Erickson, 890. 5

THE6920 CT 2 SCP John Sanders