JRS 67
The Ministry of the Holy Spirit in the Life of the Christian
7/13/2025
Selected Scriptures
Jesse Randolph

This evening, we are going to begin our descent in our study of the Holy Spirit.  Not decent hopefully in quality but decent like weÕre wrapping up in the second half of our study.  We are going to take a couple of weeks off in the first part of August and then at the middle to end of August, weÕll wrap up this study with topics like the Fruit of the Spirit, the Gifts of the Spirit, the Abuse of the Spirit, and I want to take time, a session, to devote to Teaching and Preaching in the Spirit. 

But tonight, weÕve got sort of a patchwork message.  WeÕre going to consider various ways in which the Holy Spirit ministers to and in believers, in the present church age.  ThatÕs the title of this eveningÕs message, THE MINISTRY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE LIFE OF THE CHRISTIAN.  Last week, you might recall, the message was on the role of the Holy Spirit in our salvation.  As we considered, there we looked at the Convicting Ministry of the Holy Spirit, the Regenerating Ministry of the Holy Spirit, the Indwelling Ministry of the Holy Spirit, the Baptizing Ministry of the Holy Spirit, and the Sealing Ministry of the Holy Spirit.  This week weÕre going to look at the role the Holy Spirit plays in the believerÕs life, once, of course, that person is saved. 

Last week I thought IÕd be kind of ambitious and give you 5 points, 5 blanks to fill out.  This week I got really ambitious, and I doubled it.  So, you have 10 blanks on your outline.  But what youÕre going to see, weÕre going to actually go through the first 7 or 8 I think, really quickly.   YouÕll wonder if weÕre going to be done early tonight, and we wonÕt.  WeÕll go fast to the first 7 or so, we have a lengthy time with #9 and then weÕll wrap up quickly with #10 there.  

But weÕre going to get right into it, starting with the discussion of 1. THE ASSISTANCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.  ThatÕs your first blank.  Another way we could say this is the Help of the Spirit.  The help of the Holy Spirit.  We do know of course that the Holy Spirit is the believerÕs Helper.  ThatÕs what Jesus Himself said in John 14:16 where He said to His disciples in the Upper Room, ÒAnd I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate, that He may be with you forever; the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him.  You know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.Ó So, thereÕs the advocate that one day would be sent, the Spirit of truth.  

We do need the SpiritÕs help, do we not?  Do you find the Christian life to be easy every single day of the week, or every day of your Christian existence?  Do you ever find yourself knowing what youÕre supposed to do biblically speaking, but not knowing how youÕre going to do it?  Well, thatÕs where the Spirit comes in.  The reality is, God has set certain expectations for us.  He has placed certain demands on us like calling on us to imitate Him.  Ephesians 5:1-2, ÒTherefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, and walk in love, just as Christ also loved us and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.Ó 

God calls on us to not only imitate Him but to do good works in His name.  Ephesians 2:10, ÒFor we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.Ó He calls on us, God does, to resist powerful spiritual forces in this world. I Peter 2:11, ÒBeloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul.Ó 

He calls on us to speak of Him to others.  II Corinthians 5:20, ÒWe are ambassadors for Christ, as God is pleading through us.  We beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.Ó He calls on us to worship Him.  John 4:24, ÒGod is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.Ó  He calls on us to make Jesus Christ the center of our life, the axis, the hub, the core, the purpose for everything we do.  Colossians 3:4, ÒWhen Christ, who is our life, is manifested, then you also will be manifested with Him in glory.Ó

So how are we supposed to do all of this in our own strength?  Well, thatÕs the point.  We canÕt. We are unable to do so and thatÕs where the ministry of the Holy Spirit comes in.  As the One who assists us, as the One who is our Helper.  It is the Spirit who is able to produce in us those godly characteristics which help us in some sense, to resemble those of our Lord.  Galatians 5:22-23. ÒBut the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.Ó It is through the Spirit that we are able to learn and understand the truth that God has given us in His Word.  I Corinthians 2:9, ÒBut just as it is written, ÒThings which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered the heart of man, all that God has prepared for those who love Him. But to us God revealed them through the Spirit, for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God.  For whom among men knows the depths of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him?  Even so the depths of God no one knows except the Spirit of God.  Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the depths graciously given to us by God.Ó  So, the Spirit helps us know the Word.  

The Spirit also is the One who gives us victory over the spiritual forces of darkness in this world. Galatians 5:16, ÒBut I say, walk by the Spirit and you will not carry out (gratify) the desires of the flesh.Ó It is the Spirit who helps us present acceptable worship to God.  Philippians 3:3, ÒWe are the circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and boast in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh.Ó It is the Spirit who helps us bring glory to God.  I Corinthians 6:19-20, ÒOr do you not know that your body is a sanctuary of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?  For you were bought with a price: therefore, glorify God in your body.Ó  So, broadly speaking, the Holy Spirit has a ministry of assistance to believers.  He truly is, just as Jesus said He would be, our Helper. 

Well, that was our first blank.  THE ASSISTANCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.  HereÕs our second one.  2. THE PRAYING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.  The Spirit is involved in the believerÕs prayers in two ways.  First, the Spirit guides and directs us as we pray, so that we bring to God those petitions which are in accordance with His will.  Ephesians 6:18, it says we are to be Òpraying at all times with all prayer and petition in the Spirit, and to this end, being on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, as well as on my behalf, that words may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel.Ó  But the first words there are referring to the SpiritÕs guidance of the believerÕs heart, the believerÕs mind as he or she prays.  ItÕs the Spirit who brings Scripture to mind as we pray.  ItÕs the Spirit who brings people to mind to pray for.  ItÕs the Spirit who brings circumstances that we should be praying for.  ItÕs through the SpiritÕs guidance and assistance that He enables us to pray effectively. Jude 20 here says ÒBut you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life.Ó 

I mentioned there are two aspects of the ministry of the Holy Spirit in the prayers of the believer.  ThatÕs one of them.  He guides us in our prayer.  The other way that He ministers to us in the realm of prayer, is by praying through us with Ògroanings too deep for words.Ó Take a look at these words in Romans 8:26, ÒAnd in the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness, for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.Ó So, the need is articulated here.  We need help because of our own weaknesses, our own infirmities.  We do not know how to pray as we should, it says.  Now the word ÒweaknessÓ here is singular.  ItÕs not weaknesses, itÕs the Spirit helping our entire state of weakness.  Especially as it manifests itself in relation to our prayer life.  And especially in relation to us not knowing what to pray at any specific moment at any given time.  The Spirit ÒhelpsÓ us.  He ÒhelpsÓ our weakness, specifically, in our prayer.  That word ÒhelpsÓ there, literally means He Òputs His hand to the work in cooperation with us.Ó The ÒhelpÓ that He gives us is in the form of these Ògroanings which are too deep for words.Ó 

What this is telling us is that as we pray the Holy Spirit, our Helper, actually prays within us in some sort of inaudible unutterable form of expression.  Now some take this as the Spirit essentially unscrambling our otherwise very scrambled prayers.  Unscrambling or otherwise very indecipherable prayers.  The text actually doesnÕt say it that way.  ThatÕs not what itÕs saying definitively.  All itÕs saying is that the Spirit intercedes for us. He does so with these ÒgroaningsÓ the meaning of which, as humans, weÕre unable to detect or to decipher.  How He does that, or what these ÒgroaningsÓ sound like or if these groanings have any form of audible sound in any realm, itÕs not clear.   

What is clear though, is what the text tells us, which is that the Holy Spirit intercedes for us, He prays for us, and of course, His ministry of intercession is always effective.  Because He shares in the same eternal, divine will as God the Father and God the Son, theyÕre all equally God sharing of the same divine essence, which means He always prays according to the perfect divine will of God. The next verse, Romans 8:27 says Òand He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.Ó Again, His prayers are always in alignment with the will of God.  That means His intercession, His prayer is always effective.  The big picture summary here of the second point, the Holy Spirit guides us in our prayers and He Himself intercedes for us.  Those are the two prongs that make up the two-fold praying ministry of the Holy Spirit. 

HereÕs number three.  3. THE CONVICTION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.  As we saw last week, when we were looking at the ministry of the Holy Spirit in salvation, one of the ministries of the Holy Spirit to the unsaved, before he, before she by a miracle of grace, is regenerated, is to convict the unbeliever of their sin.  That truth comes out here in John 16:8-11, Jesus again to the disciples says ÒAnd He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment; concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me; and concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father and you no longer see Me; and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.Ó 

Well, itÕs not as though the Spirit, if I can say it this way, closes up shop in His convicting ministry once a person is saved.  ItÕs not like He doesnÕt convict the believer once that person is a believer.  No.  The Spirit continues to bring conviction to consciences, even after He has quickened a person.  Brought a person to life by regenerating them through faith.  In connection with the other two Persons of the Trinity, the Spirit reveals to us, as we study His Word, those blind spots of ongoing sin.  The Spirit is involved in the process that we see here in Psalm 139:23-24, ÒSearch me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way.Ó The Spirit, like the Father, like the Son is involved in the work of reproof and discipline that God allows into a believerÕs life, whether that becomes through the reproving words of another believer or even more directly from God, like here in Revelation 3:19, ÒThose whom I love, I reprove and discipline. Therefore, be zealous and repent.Ó The Spirit, as an act of conviction, is the one who prompts us, as it says in I John 1:9, to Òconfess our sins.Ó And then God Òis faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.Ó 

The Spirit, in other words, in addition to being our Helper, is our Revealer.  He shows us our sins. He does so through other Spirit-indwelt believers.  He does so through the Spirit-breathed Word.  He does so through our Spirit-directed conscience.  He does so through our Spirit-changed heart.   He helps us by way of His conviction, to continue to walk in step with the Spirit as it says in Galatians 5:25.  

Here's our fourth one.  4. THE WITNESS OF THE SPIRIT.  The Holy Spirit bears witness with our spirit, our human spirit as to our relationship to God or with God.  As humans, we are made in GodÕs image.  We both have a physical, human body and we also have a human spirit.  The one who has put their faith in Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit as we see in this passage, Romans 8:16, testifies with our Spirit that we are truly in GodÕs family. ÒThe Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God.Ó The Spirit testifies.  The Spirit bears witness. 

This could also be referred to as the ÒassuringÓ ministry of the Holy Spirit.  The Spirit is the One who assures the Christian that he in fact is a child of God.  The Spirit is the One who brings assurance to the believer who is struggling with that question of am I truly saved.  The Spirit does so not by way of feelings or hunches or senses.  One is not assured of salvation simply because they ÒfeelÓ like they are saved.  One is not unsaved simply because on any given day they donÕt feel like they are saved.  ThatÕs not the litmus test.  The litmus test for determining whether a person is saved is measuring their life against the objective truth of GodÕs Word.  The question always is do you, do I, do we measure up to what GodÕs Word says?  Do we pass the test?  ThatÕs how we know what I John 5:13 says, that we have eternal life.  In fact, let me put that up here.  These things, this is the purpose statement of the book of I John. ÒThese things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God.Ó  I John is written to believers to provide assurance to believers, Òso that you may know that you have eternal life.Ó The whole purpose of I John, JohnÕs letter here to this group, is to assure believers through a series of objective tests, by which they can know, with certainty, with assurance, that they are saved.  

Getting back to our topic here though.  As a believer is reading the words of I John, who is it thatÕs testifying with their spirit that they Òare children of GodÓ?  Answer?  The Holy Spirit. ÒThe Spirit Himself.Ó ThatÕs how itÕs phrased in Romans 8:16. Testifies with our spirit that we have eternal life.  That we are children of God.   

Now note the connection this next passage makes.  Between the work of the Spirit, and the salvation, the assurance of salvation, that we can have through Jesus Christ, and through His Word.  I John 5:6, ÒThis is the One who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ; not with the water only, but with the water and with the blood.  It is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is the truth.Ó

ThatÕs our fourth one.  Moving right along.  HereÕs our fifth point.  5. THE TEACHING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.  ThatÕs our fifth blank on your worksheet.  The teaching of the Holy Spirit.  This is sometimes often referred to as the illuminating ministry of the Holy Spirit.  Jesus was the first to mention the fact that the Holy Spirit would, when He came, play a teaching role.  John 14:26, ÒBut the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.Ó  The Spirit, in other words, would bring to the apostlesÕ minds later, the disciplesÕ minds later, the teachings which Jesus had given them in the flesh.  So that those teachings could ultimately later could be taken down in written form, for future generations to come.  For that I would say we are immensely grateful for the teaching ministry of the Holy Spirit.  Since it is through the teaching ministry of this Spirit that we have the Word of God in our laps, and prayerfully in all of our hearts.  

Consider these words, also from John 16:12-15, Jesus still here is saying ÒI still have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.  But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you (teach you) into all the truth; for He will not speak for Himself, 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.  All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore, I said that He takes of Mine and will disclose it to you.Ó 

Now the ministry of the Holy Spirit was yet future when the Lord spoke these words.  This was before Pentecost, so this ministry began at Pentecost, the beginning of the church age.  But note the content of the teaching ministry of the Spirit.  It encompasses Òall the truthÓ it says.  Meaning, all revelation concerning Christ Himself. ÒHe will take of Mine (He says) and disclose it to you.Ó What is our source of information about Christ?  The Bible!  Meaning the Holy Spirit teaches the believer the content of Scripture. That same idea is picked up here by Paul in I Corinthians 2:7-12, ÒBut we speak GodÕs wisdom in a mystery, the wisdom which has been hidden, which God predestined before the ages to our glory, which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.  But just as it is written, ÔThings which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered the heart of man, all that God has prepared for those who love Him. But to us God revealed them through the Spirit, for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God.  For whom among men knows the depths of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him?  Even so the depths of God no one knows except the Spirit of God.  Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the depths graciously given to us by God.Ó

The basic truth thatÕs being communicated here is that through His teaching ministry or His illuminating ministry, if you prefer that term, the Holy Spirit provides followers of Christ with an understanding of divine truth.  Not a perfect understanding of divine truth.  But an understanding of divine truth which is different than their lack of understanding that they had before they were believers.  The spirit also gives followers of Christ discernment to distinguish as we see here in I John 4:1, between spiritual truth and error. ÒBeloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God.Ó IÕve got to say itÕs the teaching ministry of the Holy Spirit which sadly in our day is often both overlooked and undervalued.  ThereÕs no shortage of Bible scholars and theologians and exegetes in our time, who are proficient in, expert in Koine Greek and Biblical Hebrew.  TheyÕve studied the languages.  TheyÕve studied the doctrine.  TheyÕve studied the theology.  TheyÕve studied the history of doctrine.  But in so many cases sadly, because they are unconverted, because theyÕve not put their faith in Jesus Christ, because they donÕt have the Spirit to teach them, their insights, their observations into Holy Scripture, are virtually value-less.  

Give me a gas station attendant who knows Jesus Christ and His interpretation of the Scriptures over a Doctor of Theology who doesnÕt have a relationship with the Lord and doesnÕt have the Spirit any day of the week.  I mean one of those has a wide audience of people that he teaches the PhD in Theology.  But only one of those, the gas station attendant, has the Spirit teaching him and actually illuminating for him the truth of GodÕs Word.  The reality is without salvation, without the Spirit, no one can truly know, or understand, or faithfully teach GodÕs Word.   Again, I Corinthians 2:14, ÒA natural man does not accept the depths of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them.Ó Or II Corinthians 4:3-4. ÒAnd even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this age has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.Ó 

Or A.W. Pink says ÒI may devote myself to the study of the Scriptures in the same ways as I would to the study of some science or the mastering of a foreign language.  By diligent application, persevering effort, and consulting works of reference (commentators, etc.), I may steadily acquire a comprehensive and accurate acquaintance with the letter of GodÕs Word and become an able expositor thereof.  But I cannot obtain a heart- affecting, a heart-purifying, and a heart-molding knowledge thereof.  None but the Spirit of truth can write GodÕs Law on my heart, stamp GodÕs image upon my soul, and sanctify me by the Truth.Ó Amen to that.  He would also go with the gas station attendant. 

It's the Spirit though who illuminates the truth of GodÕs Word.  ItÕs the Spirit who teaches GodÕs children and He does so through the Scriptures.  R.C. Sproul. ÒIn the process of sanctification, the Spirit is our teacher.  His textbook is the Bible.Ó That being so, as believers, when we approach the Scriptures, we should be praying something like this.  Psalm 119:18, ÒOpen my eyes, that I may behold wonderful things from Your law.Ó 

Number six.  6. THE GUIDING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.  The Holy Spirit guides believers.  Another way to say this is He ÒleadsÓ us.  In fact, thatÕs how the principle is articulated here in Romans 8:14, ÒFor as many as are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.Ó Especially when we turn to the book of Acts, we see a number of ways in which this principle in Romans 8 is illustrated and is carried out.  For instance, we know that the Holy Spirit leads and guides us in the will of God.  He opens doors.  He closes doors.  He brings people to our lives.  He has people to leave our lives.  Through it all, He points us in the direction that He would like us to go.  Here is Acts 16:6-7 as an example of this, ÒAnd they passed through the Phrygian and Galatian region, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia; and after they came to Mysia, they were trying to go into Bithynia, and the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them.Ó So, we see this Spirit willing that people go in one direction or not go in another direction.  

The book of Acts has number of different ways the Spirit guided believers in the earliest days of the church.  Acts 8:29, The Spirit told Philip to go over and join the chariot.  In Acts 10:19-20, ÒPeter was reflecting on the vision, and the Spirit said to him, ÒBehold, three men are looking for you.  But rise up, go down and accompany them without taking issue at all, for I have sent them Myself.Ó  Acts 13:2, ÒWhile they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ÔSet apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.ÕÓ Acts 20:22-23, ÒNow, behold, bound by the Spirit, (this is Paul saying) I am on my way to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit solemnly testifies to me in every city, saying that chains and afflictions await me.Ó 

Now the Spirit is no longer speaking audibly today like He was in the book of Acts.  Now that all of the apostles have died, now that the canon is closed, and now that God has revealed to us what He wants to reveal to us in the church age.  But the principle still holds that the Holy Spirit still leads and guides us in nonaudible ways today. 

He guides us by helping us search out and recognize GodÕs will for us.  Romans 12:2, ÒDo not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may approve what the will of God is.Ó Ephesians 5:8, ÒFor you were formerly darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light (for the fruit of that light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.Ó So, He guides us in helping us understand GodÕs will.  He also guides us in helping us understand and live by various commands given us in Scripture.  Psalm 119:11, ÒYour word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You.Ó Psalm 119:105, ÒYour word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.Ó Romans 15:4, ÒFor whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through the perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.Ó  The Spirit plays a role in all of this.  

He guides us through other circumstances with people and events He brings into our lives, whether itÕs kings, like in Proverbs 21:1, or illnesses like Paul mentions here in Galatians 4:13.   When we seek the leadership and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, He does lead us and He does guides us.  He never allows us to walk in the dark.  He wonÕt lead us on crooked paths. Instead, Proverbs 3:5-6, He, God, will make our paths straight.   

Well, that brings us to our seventh ministry of the Holy Spirit and this one will be even more brief.  This is number 7. THE EMPOWERING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.  WeÕre making great time.  All believers we know are engaged in a battle.  That battle that wars, is the battle between the flesh and the Spirit and the Spirit and the flesh.  It takes the indwelling of the Holy Spirit to provide the victory for the believer.  Look at the next couple of verses here which really highlight this battle thatÕs raging.  The empowering ministry of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer, to bring about victory and deliverance. 

Galatians 5:17 says Òfor the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you do not do the things that you want.Ó Or Romans 8:13 says Òfor if you are living according to the flesh, you must die, but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the practices of the body, you will live.Ó This language in both of those passages is so clear.  That as believers we are in a spiritual battle.  The victory in that battle will be won not by our own might, not by our own strength, but instead by the might and the strength of the Spirit, as He empowers us to fight the spiritual battles that are before us, but a battle that God is ultimately of course, going to win. 

HereÕs a helpful quote from Andrew Murray on the empowering ministry of the Holy Spirit.  He says ÒThe Spirit is the great power of God; the Holy Spirit the great power of GodÕs redemption, as it comes down from the Throne of Him to whom all power has been given. The Holy Spirit is the power from on high for carrying on the work for which Jesus sacrificed His Throne and His Life.Ó If we have been saved, if weÕve trusted in Jesus Christ, we have the Spirit not only in us but empowering us.  He empowers us not to dunk a basketball.  He empowers us not to win the lottery, or to win the Nobel Peace Prize.  He empowers us to win these battles against the flesh.  To win these battles against the spiritual forces of darkness which still exist in this world.  He empowers us, in other words, to resist the devil, to flee from the devil and his angels who seek to make wreck of us.  

HereÕs our next one.  8. THE SANCTIFYING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.  To be ÒsanctifiedÓ by definition, means to be set apart from sin.  To be set apart unto God for His service.  For starters, we are positionally set apart.  Positionally sanctified as believers the moment that we are saved. We commonly and more frequently refer to that as Òjustification.Ó But both terms are used here in I Corinthians 6:11, where we see both sanctification and justification used to describe this same event of being saved. ÒAnd such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified (all three are referring to the same event of salvation) in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.Ó 

So, thereÕs this one sense in which ÒsanctificationÓ happens immediately upon salvation, as one positionally goes from being a ÒsinnerÓ to being a Òsaint.Ó But the Bible also teaches we know, the concept of progressive sanctification.  Whereby, the believer, throughout his or her life grows progressively in holiness, and godliness, and Christlikeness as sinful tendencies and sinful cravings are progressively purged with the SpiritÕs help from their life.  We see the SpiritÕs role in our progressive sanctification, as believers, mentioned in a few different places. 

We start with the principle that the holy God who has saved us, has saved us to be a holy people.  I Peter 1:15, Òbut like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your conduct; because it is written, (in Leviticus 11) ÔYou shall be holy, for I am holy.ÕÓ I Thessalonians 4:7, ÒFor God did not call us to impurity, but in sanctification.Ó I John 2:1, ÒMy little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin.Ó 

See God hasnÕt saved us to have some libertine attitude about sin and ungodliness.  He has set us free from the sin which once enslaved us.  But He set us free to be slaves of a different kind.  To be ÒSlaves of righteousnessÓ as it says here in Romans 6:1 ÒBut thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you obeyed from the heart that pattern of teaching to which you were given over, and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.Ó 

Now the salvation that God has granted, it does have this eternal end in view.  We know that we will one day be with Him and we look forward to that day.  Worshiping in unrestrained bliss around His throne.  But weÕre not there yet.  ThereÕs still work for us to do here.   God has given His charge to grow in Christlike character.  To become increasingly like the Lord Jesus.  As we move away from our old, sinful lifestyles and habits and practices and progressively cultivate and display Christlike character in our lives and thatÕs the SpiritÕs work.  The Spirit does that in us.  He produces spiritual fruit in us, the Òfruit of the Spirit.Ó Galatians 5:22-23, ÒWhich is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.Ó 

Or look at these words in II Corinthians 3:18, ÒBut we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.Ó Or Romans 6:19, these are all sanctification verses. ÒFor just as you presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness, leading to further lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness, leading to sanctification.Ó Romans 6:13, ÒDo not go on presenting your members to sin as instruments of unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.Ó One more. II Corinthians 7:1, ÒTherefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.Ó Sanctification, as you can see from these verses, is mentioned in a variety of different places in the New Testament.  Albeit not always with the same exact terminology. 

So practically speaking, how do we, with the SpiritÕs help, do all of this?  How do we grow in sanctification?  What does the SpiritÕs sanctifying ministry look like in a believerÕs life practically speaking?  Well for starters, it involves separation.  Separation from ideas and people who point us away from Jesus.  ThatÕs II Corinthians 6:14 here, ÒDo not be unequally yoked with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?  Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever?Ó So, we need to think about separation. 

There also must be this conscientious, and proactive, and prayerful effort to Òput offÓ our ungodly practices and behaviors, which as weÕre going to see in a moment, quench the Spirit and grieve the Spirit and said, Òput onÓ Godly behaviors in their place.  For instance, Ephesians 5:1-2 talks about the things we are to put on. ÒTherefore, be imitators of God, as beloved children, and walk in love, just as Christ also loved us and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.Ó Or Colossians 3:8-10, ÒBut now you also, lay them all aside: (hereÕs the things we put off) wrath, anger, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth.  Do not lie to one another, since you put off the old man with its evil practices, and have put on the new man who is being renewed to a full knowledge according to the image of the One who created him.Ó

Then there also as part of the sanctification process, has to be not only the knowledge of, but submission to, the Word.  John 17:17, ÒSanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth.Ó There must be a willingness to receive correction and discipline.  Hebrews 12:10, ÒFor they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our benefit, so that we may share His holiness.Ó There does have to be this focus on the future, including the rewards that will be given for faithfulness in the future and the loss of rewards which will be suffered by the unfaithful. 

I Thessalonians 5:23, ÒNow may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely, and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.Ó But in all of it, in every aspect of our sanctification process, we are refined and purified in preparation for glory.  In all of it, it is the Spirit doing the work in us.  ItÕs a reminder here in Romans 8:13, Òfor if you are living according to the flesh, you must die, but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the practices of the body, you will live.Ó As we close out this eighth point, a couple of helpful quotes.  John Ryland Jr. says, ÒCan a man have the Holy Spirit, and not love holiness?Ó ThatÕs a good summary of the sanctifying work of the Spirit.  R.C. Sproul says, ÒIn salvation we are not only saved from sin and damnation, but we are also saved unto holiness.Ó Amen.

That takes us to our ninth point.  You can see weÕre going to spend a little more time here.  We will be covering 9. THE FILLING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.  WeÕll take a little bit more time on this one, the filling of the Holy Spirit, because thereÕs a fair amount of confusion out there, about what the filling ministry of the Holy Spirit is and what it is not.  Part of this stems, this confusion, from the fact that while there is one principle command for the believer to be filled with the Holy Spirit, that comes here in Ephesians 5:18, ÒAnd do be drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Holy Spirit.Ó ThatÕs our command to be filled. 

Well, the confusion comes from the fact that there are some 15 places in the New Testament, outside of this command where there is a reference to somebody being filled with the Holy Spirit.  Now also adding to the confusion and forgive me if I geek out a little bit here, is that there are two different verb forms used in the Greek language, in those 15 or so instances, where filling of the Spirit is mentioned.  Some of those 15 references, one Greek verb is used and some of the other 15 references a different Greek verb is used.  

One of those verbs, I wish I would have spelled this for you up here, is pimplemi.  Pimple and then mi, if you want to spell it.  Pimplemi.  ThatÕs how you would spell it.  And the other is pleroo.  Those are the two Greek verbs that refer to filling, people being filled by the Spirit at various different places in the New Testament.  Pimplemi and pleroo.  

LetÕs start there with this discussion of the Greek.  These two verbs, pimplemi and pleroo.   Why are they categorized?  Why are two different verbs chosen to, in our English Bibles, describe seemingly one act?  

Well, the verb pimplemi emphasizes the event of being filled with the Spirit.  Filled by the Spirit.  ThatÕs what we see in Scriptures like Luke 1:15, ÒHe will be great in the sight of the Lord; he will not drink any wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit.Ó Or Acts 2:4, ÒThey were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues.Ó Or Acts 4:31, ÒWhen they had prayed earnestly, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with confidence.Ó Acts 13:9, ÒBut Saul, who was also known as Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, fixed his gaze on him.Ó 

In each of these instances, God overpowered the person and sovereignly filled and controlled that person with His Spirit for some special activity.  There were no conditions or strings attached.  Rather God, if I can say it this way, He commandeered each of these individuals that IÕve just read off very quickly, as He filled them with His Spirit for His ultimately mission for them, or His purpose for them at that particular time.  So thatÕs the pimplemi form of ÒSpirit filling.Ó 

The other Greek verb used for the Òfilling of the SpiritÓ Is pleroo.  This verb really stresses the pervasive influence or control of the Spirit in a believerÕs life.  This pleroo verb suggests the abiding state of fullness of the Holy Spirit.  Not some specific event where the Spirit fills somebody, but itÕs an abiding state of fullness that theyÕre always in.  We see that in places like Luke 4:1, ÒJesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was being led around by the Spirit in the wilderness.Ó ThatÕs pleroo.  Acts 7:55 speaking of Stephen, ÒHe was full of the Holy Spirit, and he gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God.Ó  Pleroo.  Acts 11:24, ÒHe was a good man, (this is Barnabus) and he was full of the Holy Spirit and of faith.Ó Pleroo.  Acts 13:52, ÒAnd the disciples were continually filled (Pleroo) with joy and with the Holy Spirit.Ó 

So, in other words, we have these two aspects of Spirit filling, which are brought out by these two Greek verbs, but they are translated the same way in our English language as though they are all the same, but theyÕre slightly different.  The first aspect again pimplemi, is describing the sovereign act of God, whereby He commandeers somebody for the SpiritÕs activity.  Then the second one, pleroo, describes GodÕs extensive control or influence through the Spirit in a believerÕs life.  

That brings us back to the passage, the main passage that we have to consider as we discuss the filling of the Spirit.  Because this is the only command we must be Òfilled with the Spirt.Ó  We have these 15 other references to people being filled.  These historical references are to people being filled.  But this is the only command we have to be filled with the Spirit.  Ephesians 5:18, ÒAnd do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled (pleroo) with the Holy Spirit.Ó So, Paul here is not talking about a single event of filling.  That would be pimplemi, this is more the abiding state of fullness type of filling.  But he does so, Paul does, in the form of a command.  Be filled.  Now in writing these words, by virtue of the fact that Paul is giving a command here, to be Òfilled with the Holy Spirit.Ó That suggests something.  It suggests that it is something that every believer can experience, but itÕs not something that every believer does experience.  Or else there wouldnÕt be a command here.  

Right? I meant think about that.  There are no commands in the Scriptures to a believer living in the New Testament era like we do, to be baptized with the Holy Spirit.  There are no commands to be indwelt with the Holy Spirit.  There are no commands to be regenerated by the Holy Spirit. There are no commands to be sealed by the Holy Spirit.  There are statements that all of those things have happened to us as believers, but there is no command to do the thing that has already happened to us.  

Well why?  Because God has already caused those things to happen to us.  Those things whether it be regeneration or baptism or indwelling or sealing, have already happened to every single one of us who have believed in the name of Jesus Christ.  It would be nonsensical, illogical, to command someone to seek something they already have.  It would be like me sending my boys out in the morning and saying, Ògo be a Randolph today!Ó  They already are.  Why that command?  It would make no sense.  I could command them to Ògo be mature, go be sensible, go be wise,Ó because that doesnÕt always happen with perfection around the Randolph house.  But I wouldnÕt go say, Ògo be a Randolph.Ó  ThatÕs the idea here.  The believer is not always filled with the Holy Spirit, hence the command here to be filled with the Holy Spirit.   

Paul is giving this command to the letter recipients at Ephesus to be filled with the Holy Spirit because he didnÕtÕ believe that everyone who received his letter had been filled.  Or was experiencing the filling of the Holy Spirit.  Instead, to be Òfilled with the Spirit,Ó it was something for them still to seek.  Something for them still to pursue.  Not just for the Ephesians of the first century, but for Christians of all generations. 

So, bringing this back to the SpiritÕs ministry in the life of believers today.  What exactly is the filling of the Holy Spirit?  What does Paul mean here in Ephesians 5:18, when he says, Òbe filled with the Spirit?Ó  Well, thereÕs several principles to extract from this passage.  Each of which communicates something unique about being filled with the Holy Spirit. 

First of all, we already alluded to this, but this is a command.  Nowhere else but here is the believer commanded to be filled with the Spirit.  This is it and like I just mentioned with the Randolph illustration, nowhere is somebody commanded to be indwelt by the Spirit or baptized with the Spirit.  But they are commanded to be filled.  The believer is commanded to be filled ÒcontinuallyÓ with the Spirit.  ThatÕs the verb tense here to Òbe beingÓ filled with the Spirit.   

Second principle is the Òfilling of the SpiritÓ is conditional.  Right?  There are no conditions tied to the indwelling of the Spirit, or the baptism of the Spirit for the believer.  Meaning we arenÕt going to lose our indwelling if we start acting a certain way.  Believers are believers and they are sealed permanently with the Spirit.  Not so with filling.  The filling of the Spirit is conditional.  Meaning, obedience to the other commands of Scripture are necessary in order to be filled with the Holy Spirit.  For instance, we have this command in Ephesians 4:30, ÒDo not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.Ó  Now in context here if you look at Ephesians 4, thereÕs these moral commands surrounding this exhortation.  Believers are warned not to lie in Ephesians 4:25. Not to prolong their anger in Ephesians 4:26. Not to be bitter or unforgiving in Ephesians 4:31-32.  

Now when a believer does those things, when they lie, when they harbor anger or bitterness or resentment, they grieve the Holy Spirit.  Grieving the Holy Spirit prevents a believer from being filled with the Holy Spirit.  ThatÕs the big idea here.  That means that when we become aware of ongoing sin in our lives, what weÕre called to do is repent of that sin.  Revelation 2:5, ÒRemember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first.Ó  I John 1:9, ÒIf we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.Ó But when we are in sin, in unrepentant sin, when weÕre in that state, and weÕve all been there, of justifying our sin or excusing our sin or looking the other way toward our sin, we grieve the Holy Spirit, and weÕre prevented from being filled.  But when we repent, when we confess our sins to God, we can have confidence that only that He will forgive us of that sin, but that we again can be filled with His Spirit.   

Then thereÕs this command I Thessalonians 5:19, ÒDo not quench the Spirit.Ó Now to ÒquenchÓ here does not mean to permanently extinguish like one would put out a fire.  The Spirit can never be completely snuffed out in a believer.  He permanently indwells us we know.  Remember John 14, ÒI will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate, that He may be with you forever.Ó But to ÒquenchÓ the Spirit does mean to stifle Him.  To hinder His activity in our lives.  When we do that, when we resist Him, when we give ourselves over to sin, we quench the Spirit.  By the way the verses that surround that passage I Thessalonians 5:19 about quenching the Spirit, there are commands like pray without ceasing, in I Thessalonians 5:17, or being thankful in I Thessalonians 5:18. When we fail to heed those commands and commands like them, we quench the Spirit.  ItÕs as though weÕve doused cold water on the SpiritÕs activity in our life and in that moment, we are not filled with the Spirit.  Now just to be clear, we are still indwelt by the Spirit, we are still baptized by the Spirit, weÕre still regenerate if we put our faith in Christ.  WeÕre still sealed with the Spirit, but we are no longer filled in that moment.  What we need to do again is repent.  Confess.  He will forgive and then we can seek His filling again. 

Another one is Galatians 5:16, ÒBut I say, walk by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.Ó Now ÒwalkÓ here means how we conduct our lives.  Rather than living in accordance with our old ways, and our old nature, believers are exhorted to walk by the Spirit, yield to the Spirt.  We do so by living out the fruit of the Spirit here in Galatians 5:22-23. Walking produces fruit like this.  But if weÕre not walking according to the Spirit, and instead walking according to the flesh, weÕll end up doing the deeds of the flesh listed here. Galatians 5:19-21, ÒThe deeds of the flesh are evident, sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.Ó When we are engaged in the deeds of the flesh, we are not filled with the Spirit.  We cannot simultaneously be engaged in the deeds of the flesh and be filled with the Spirit.  

So, the question is, youÕre probably getting now, is it all boils down to what kind of life am I living?  ThatÕs what being filled with the Spirit boils down to.  What kind of obedience, or disobedience, am I demonstrating?  If IÕm walking in obedience to Christ and His commands, well then, IÕm filled with the Spirit.  If IÕm walking in disobedience to Christ and His commands, then IÕm not.  Robert Gromacki says, this is poignant. ÒIt is possible to be filled with the Spirit on Sunday and not be filled on Monday.  Each Christian must ask himself or herself, ÔAm I at this moment spiritually clean and submissive to the leadership of the Spirit?ÕÓ We are called to be Òfilled with the Spirit.Ó WeÕve just seen that itÕs conditional.  ItÕs conditioned on our obedience to other commands of Scripture.  The filling. 

Another item to just mention quickly is that the Òfilling of the SpiritÓ is repeated.  This is a present imperative verb, meaning we are commanded to be Òcontinually being filled.Ó ÒKeep on being filledÓ is a good way to translate this phrase.  So, a Christian can be filled and filled over and over again.  ItÕs not a one-time experience where youÕre being filled continually being filled, with the Holy Spirit.   

Andrew Murray notes that Òthese words are a command.  They enjoin upon us, not what the state of apostles or ministers ought to be, but what should be the ordinary consistent experience of every true-hearted believer.  It is the privilege every child of God may claim from his Father, to be filled with the Spirit.  Nothing less will enable him to live the life he has been redeemed for, abiding in Christ, keeping His commandments, and bearing much fruit.Ó 

We have just considered what being filled with the Spirit entails.  Now what we want to do very briefly is consider some of the effects of being filled with the Spirit.  When one is filled with the Spirit, what does that look like practically in their life.  One would be Galatians 5, manifesting the fruit of the Spirit.  Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, self-control, faithfulness.  When the Spirit controls a life, he will produce that fruit in that life. 

Another of those is just remembering the context here of Ephesians 5:18. One who is filled with the Spirit will manifestly demonstrate self-control.  We get that from the context here.  Look at the part we really havenÕt looked at yet of this passage.  ÒAnd do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit.Ó Look at the first command.  Do not be drunk with wine.  Drunkenness of course shows a personÕs absolute lack of self-control.  The nature of the Christian life is to be the exact opposite.  In contrast to the uncontrolled drunkard, the Christian, having the Spirit in Him, is to be marked by self-control.  Yieldedness to the Holy Spirit and that shows that they are Òfilled with the Spirit.Ó Ryrie notes that ÒTo be Spirit-filled is to be Spirit-controlled, and this means dedication of life, putting away of sin, and constant dependence on His power.Ó

Also, Ephesians 5:18, which we have looked at several times now, is surrounded by other principles and ideas which in form what Spirit filled living looks like.  Because right after Ephesians 5:18 of course comes 5:19 and look at what is says.  WeÕre to be Òspeaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your hearts to the Lord; always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father; and being subject to one another in the fear of Christ.Ó 

So here we have four different ways that Spirit filled living manifests itself.  Praise as we speak to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs.  Worship as we sing and make melody with our hearts to the Lord.  Thanksgiving for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Remember Paul is in prison as he writes this.  Then subjection, or submissive to one another in the fear of Christ.  Those are manifestations of Spirit filled living.  

I wonÕt read this once again, but the Spirit filled believer is going to be receptive to the teaching ministry of the Holy Spirit through the Word.  Then Spirit filled believers will live out their dedication to the Lord through their non-conformity to this world.  Romans 12:1, ÒTherefore I exhort you, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a sacrifice living, holy, and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.Ó  

Ok.  That brings us at last to our tenth and final point and this will be so so short.  We will get out of here loosely in time.  10. THE GLORIFYING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.  IÕll keep it super short.  Enough with the preliminaries.  The Holy SpiritÕs primary ministry, IÕll just say it this way, is to glorify Jesus Christ.  ThatÕs it.  It comes out in a few quotes here.  Murray, ÒIt is in the loving, obedient disciple the Spirit is promised to dwell; in him the Spirit glorifies Christ.Ó A.W. Pink, ÒThe Spirit teaches the believer many things, but His supreme subject is Christ, to emphasize His claims, to exalt His Person, to reveal His perfections, to make Him superlatively attractive.  Many things in Nature are very beautiful, but when the sun shines upon them, we appreciate their splendor all the more.  Thus, it is when we are enabled to view Christ in the light of the SpiritÕs teaching.Ó Spurgeon, ÒThe Holy Spirit always keeps sweet company with Jesus Christ.Ó 

The aim of the SpiritÕs ministry in all things, in all that He does, is to see Jesus Christ glorified. Meaning, if your study so far this summer, our study together of the Holy Spirit, has not elevated your love for Jesus Christ, your affections for Jesus Christ, your commitment to follow and serve Jesus Christ. Well then ironically you have been sitting under a study of the Holy Spirit, but that study is not having its intended effect, which is to elevate your view not merely of the Spirit, but of Jesus our Lord.  This Spirit always points to Christ.  The Spirit works to conform us into the image of Christ, and the Spirit aim is always to bring glory to Christ. 

I need to wrap up.  But to build on that last point.  May Christ be the supreme treasure of each of our hearts this week.  May Christ be honored not only on 84th Street this evening but in our homes all week long.  May Christ be honored in our marriages.  May Christ be honored in the parenting and grandparenting relationships we have.  May Christ be honored in the interactions that we have with the lost.  May Christ be honored in all.  ThatÕs how we know that the Spirit is at work in our midst.  LetÕs pray.

God thank you for a chance to consider the work of your Spirit in our lives as followers of our Savior Jesus Christ.  Building on that last point God, I pray that we would never lose our sense or our sight on that connection between the SpiritÕs ministry in our lives and in doing various things in us.  But those are all ultimately to point to and glorify our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.  I pray that we would remember that truth would sink in and that would carry over, not only into what we are doing here this evening but throughout the week wherever you may take us.  Help us to be a people who are not only Spirit indwelt, we have to be that to be saved, but Spirit filled.  Help us to be a people that are sensitive to sin and eager to root it out with your help and a people who are eager to put on holiness and godly living for the sake of our Savior Jesus Christ.  Be with us this week God.  Strengthen us for our service to You.  May You be honored in our lives in every way.  In ChristÕs name, Amen.