Wednesday 11/18/13
Topic: The Ministry of the Holy Spirit
Series – The Fear of the Lord:
The Ministry of the Holy Spirit.mp3
Key Text: Matt. 12:20
Amos 3:3
John 15:1-7
John 16:8-11
The ministry of Jesus, became the ministry of the Holy Spirit and subsequently – OUR ministry. This is called the ministry of reconciliation.
We began this week with brief review and then started talking about reconciliation. To purchase mankind back from sin and death and restore them to righteousness and life was what Jesus accomplished on the cross. The action of being reconciled is what the ministry of the Holy Spirit is today. To reveal to all mankind that their sins no longer separates them from the God Who loves them. Just like Christ, God – in the person of the Holy Spirit is pleading with the world and our siblings in Christ to be reconciled to Him. For the lost this reconciliation is into initial relationship. For the child of God it is to deeper communion and co=partnership with Him in His Kingdom.
2Cor. 5:17-21
(17) “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
(18) Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation,
(19) that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
(20) Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.
(21) For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
Have you ever felt an inward compelling to lead someone to the Lord or to restore or deepen a brother’s communion with Him? THAT was the Holy Spirit at work within you – whether you did it or not. The desire came from Him.
Php. 2:13
(13) “for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.”
As we were discussing this, we began to talk about our joint-partnership with the Holy Spirit in this ministry of reconciliation. This led us to John 15 and our inability to do anything apart from Him. At this point a question came up about another verse which on the surface seems unrelated, but it is not. It is found in Matt. 7:22,23…
(22) “Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’
(23) And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'”
This is an interesting verse and it causes many Christians unnecessary concern, for it is referring to those whom Christ NEVER at any time EVER knew, which cannot be referring to a child of God.
However…
Abiding in the Vine
The above question prompted me to address the nature of our union life with and in Christ. The need to bear fruit as a result of our active reliance upon Him and His inner workings in us. Many do not believe nor teach it, but the scriptures are clear – If we fail to abide in Him, we are cast off as a branch.
Who are the branches? Those who are IN Him.
Who are IN Him? Those who have believed into Christ and are subsequently “branches”.
There are all kinds of creative interpreting of these verses, but in reality there is only one understanding that does not require us to ignore any of the surrounding facts. This is a hard teaching, but it is necessary.
I hope you will listen with a heart to learn and ask questions in our comments area if you have any.