The Holy Spirit

Course:  The Ministry of the Holy Spirit in the New Testament Church

Section Two:  The Ministry of the Holy Spirit in the Gospels

Lesson 4

Lesson Title:  The Time of the Holy Spirit

 

Lesson Text:  John 7:37-39, ‘In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believes on me, as the scripture has said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spoke he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)’

 

Introduction:  The time of the Holy Ghost.  ‘…for the Holy Ghost was not yet given;’ 

The word ‘given’ is added.

‘The Holy Ghost was not yet’ meaning had not been poured out upon believers.

Time of the Holy Spirit - the time when rivers of living waters flow out from believers.

 

Illustration:

One hundred years ago it was not possible to travel as we do today.   

We could not travel by airplane, but today we are able to do things impossible before.  

Modern forms of transport have changed the way we travel. 

 

In the 19th century if a person in Western Europe felt called to missions in Asia then it would take some months to get there by ship. 

There was no Suez Canal so the only way was to sail around the South of Africa.  Anyone who wanted to go for a week would be looked upon as foolish.

Today we can fly to these places quickly and staying for a short period is not a problem.  It is a different day.

If we feel led to preach in a far away place, it would be foolish to cry out to God for a form of fast transportation – it is already available.

It is not necessary to pray for fast transportation but it is necessary to work out how to use the resources available.

We need to be able to buy an air ticket. 

 

The Holy Spirit today is moving in a way that was impossible among God's people in the Old Testament.

The Holy Spirit in the Old Testament was given in a limited way to only a small number of people like Moses, Elijah and Elisha.  

New Testament Christianity is the power of the Holy Spirit moving through the body of Christ.

 

The resource of the Holy Spirit has been given. 

We do not need to beg that God will pour out His Spirit.  He has already made this possible.

We need to come into the provision that God has made available.

 

 

This is the time of the Holy Spirit because…

1)     Jesus has been glorified.

2)     The Holy Spirit has been outpoured.

3)     It is possible for all believers to minister in the power of the Holy Spirit.

 

 

Main Points

1.      Jesus Glorified.  John 7:39, '(But this spoke he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)'

 

The Holy Spirit was not given to give the early church a boost.  The Holy Spirit was given because Jesus was glorified.

 

a)                 The Ascension

Question:  What is the name above every name? Philippians 2

The name is Lord

Jesus Christ is Lord

 

He has always been Lord as the eternal Son of God

When Jesus ascended He ascended as Man.

He has been given the name above all names because He has been victorious over sin and death.

 

He has always been at the right hand of the Father as the eternal Son of God.

Now as Man He sat down at the right hand of the Father – it was a completed work.

 

Represented His people

He inherited as Man everything that had always been His.

He inherited the Holy Spirit for His people.

Crucified with Christ

Risen with Christ

Ascended with Christ.

 

b)                 Inheritance

 

Question:  Why did the Holy Spirit come on the Day of Pentecost? 

The outpouring of the Holy Spirit was given because Jesus was glorified.  John 7:39.

 

Jesus glorified – His people ascended with Him.

Where Jesus is that is where His people are already.

Right now we are seated in the heavenly places in Christ.

Everything that belongs to Him belongs to His people.

 

The Baptism with the Holy Spirit was given on the Day of Pentecost because of  inheritance.

The 120 believers were joined to Christ – the body of Christ.

They were waiting for the Holy Spirit.

They desired the Holy Spirit.

When the Holy Spirit came, He took control.

Control of their worship

Control of their daily lives

Control of their circumstances.

 

On the day of Pentecost there came a sound like a mighty rushing wind.  The Holy Spirit came upon the disciples as He had come upon Jesus in the Jordon River.

The Holy Spirit was not given to give the Church a boost.

The Holy Spirit was given because Jesus was glorified.

 

 

 

2.      The Holy Spirit Outpoured  John 7:37, ‘In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.’

 

Question:  Should we wait for the Lord to pour out His Spirit? 

If so then we will pray for God to move.

Or does the outpouring depend upon us moving in accordance to the Word of God?

If so then the outpouring of the Spirit depends upon us being thirsty for Christ.

 

Then we should act according to the word of God believing?

We need to

a)                 Be thirsty for Christ – love for Christ

b)                 Believe His Word – love for His Word

c)                 Act according to the Scriptures – obedience to His Word

 

Thirsting for Christ

If any man thirst… let Him come to Me and drink.

Desire spiritual gifts

Gifts flow automatically.

1 Corinthians 12-14.

 

 

Deception of the enemy

Deceptive teaching that the Holy Spirit is no longer being poured out upon believers as in the day of the early church.

 

Question:  What is that which is perfect – that which is in part?

1 Corinthians 13:10  ‘But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.’

 

Interpretation of some churches is that it is the Canon of scripture.

When all scripture became available to the Church then the gifts ended.

Cannot be a right interpretation:

1.                 Not the context of the verse.

2.                 Holy Spirit was given because Jesus was glorified.  Not because the Church was waiting for the New Testament scriptures.

3.                 Gifts have been known to operate even among those who teach that they have ceased.

4.                 Jesus said rivers of living water will flow out of believers if they are thirsty and drink from Him.  Promise.

5.                 Scripture was not in the hands of the ordinary people until after the Reformation so many generations have not known the scriptures.

 

 

Church has been deceived into laying aside the power of God.

Why did the gifts stop?

Why were the gifts not  evident throughout the history of  the Church.

1.      Unbelief

2.      Wrong teaching

3.      Carnality (Revelation3)

4.      People had no desire for them

 

 

3.      Believers ministering in the power of the Holy Spirit.

This is the time of the Holy Spirit.

The rivers of living water flows out of believers.

 

The Holy Spirit moves when the body of Christ desires to move in the power of the Holy Spirit.

A revival begins when people are thirsty for Jesus.

Desire Him.

Psalm 26:4 4  One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.

Revivals do not happen until people want the presence of the Lord more than anything else.

If we desire the power of the Holy Spirit we must find thirsty believers.

It is no good being where people are not thirsty.

Believers must have fellowship with people who are thirsty.

 

A move of the Holy Spirit will be hindered by the desire to promote ourselves

Self respect will stop the move of the Spirit.

The Lord has chosen the foolish things of the world. 1 Corinthians 1:27

 

Example of a move of the Holy Spirit

What happened at the Azusa Street Revival?

Big leaders bypassed – influence of Charles Parham but Revival led by William Seymour.

 

 

All believers need to move in the power of the Holy Spirit

All believers are priests

All believers are called to ministry

All believers should desire spiritual gifts

 

 

Summary;

This is the time of the Holy spirit

1)     The Holy Spirit has been given because Jesus is glorified

2)     The Holy Spirit was outpoured on the Day of Pentecost and we need to be thirsty for Jesus and drink

3)     All believers should minister in the power of the Holy Spirit