The Essentials Part 5: The Doctrine of the Holy Spirit Part B

 The Essentials Part 5: The Doctrine of the Holy Spirit Part B 

We are continuing our series on "The Essentials." These are important doctrines that will help you resist the cultural attacks on our Christian faith. This week we will continue our study of the Doctrine of the Holy Spirit as we finish with the topics, "Being Filled with the Holy Spirit" and what it means to be "Walking in the Spirit," and "Rejoicing in the Holy Spirit's Saving Work." When we complete this study, you will be able to spot the counterfeit "holy spirit" movement authored by Satan himself. The doctrine of the Holy Spirit is a "hill we will die on." Don't be deceived with some of the nonsense that is being promoted as a real work of the Holy Spirit. The Scriptures will guide you into Truth.

Part 1: Being Filled with the Holy Spirit

Any Biblical discussion of the Holy Spirit's ongoing work in the life of the believer leads to the inevitable question: What does it mean to be filled with the Holy Spirit? We want our answer to be Scripturally based and sound theologically. It is regrettable that those who claim to be charismatics have hijacked the designation, "Spirit-filled" Christians. Charismatics define the being filled with the Spirit in terms of ecstatic experiences. They point to supposed signs and wonders as the evidence of the Spirit's power at work in them. If you look at the Word of God, you will not see that speaking in tongues or being "slain in the Spirit" are not evidence of being filled with the HOLY SPIRIT.  

We want to look at the Word of God for clarity. The definitive New Testament passage is found in Ephesians 5: 18: "Do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but filled with the Spirit." In contrast of being controlled by drink, which manifests itself in irrational and out-of-control behavior, those who are Spirit-filled consciously submit themselves to His holy influence. The command to "be filled" is in the present tense, indicating this is to be an ongoing experience in the life of every Christian. As we have seen, all believers are baptized (1 Corinthians 12: 13; Galatians 3: 27), indwelt (Romans 8: 9), and sealed (Ephesians 1: 13) by the Holy Spirit at the moment of salvation. The above list represents realities occurring only once, but if believers are to grow in Christlikeness, they must be continually filled with the Spirit, allowing His power to permeate their lives so that all they think, say, and do reflects His divine presence.

The book of Acts provides several illustrations of the fact that being Spirit-filled is a repeated experience:

1. Peter was filled with the Spirit on the day of Pentecost, but then again in Acts 4: 8. 

2. Many people were filled on the Day of Pentecost but again they were filled in Acts 4: 31.

3. In Acts 6: 5, Stephen is described as a man "full of faith and the Holy Spirit." Acts 7: 55 reiterates the fact that he was "full of the Holy Spirit.".

4. The Apostle Paul was filled with the Spirit in Acts 9: 17 shortly after his conversation, and again in Acts 13: 9. 

5. As they were filled with the Holy Spirit, the apostles and early church were empowered to build up fellow believers in the church and to fearlessly proclaim the gospel, even in the face of severe persecution from the world.

When we review the New Testament Scriptures, we find that being filled with the Spirit is demonstrated not through ecstatic experiences but through the manifestation of spiritual fruit. In other words, Spirit-filled Christians exhibit the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control" (Galatians 5: 22-23). They are "led by the Spirit" (Romans 8: 14). What are they led to do? Read verse 13: "...but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live." "Being led" means you are being led to mortify sin in your life. That is being Spirit-filled." If you read Romans 8: 5-8, you will see that the apostle's point is that those who are Spirit-filled seek to please God by pursuing God by pursuing practical holiness. 

The tragic irony is that the movement labeling itself as "Spirit-filled" is notorious for sexual immorality, financial impropriety, and extreme worldliness when it comes to living extravagant lifestyles. The charismatic movement is regularly involved with some type of scandal. No matter how many times someone "speaks in tongues" or is "slain in the spirit," it is the fruit of their lives that reveals the true nature of their hearts. Those whose behavior is characterized by the works of the flesh (Galatians 5: 19-21) are not filled with the Holy Spirit, no matter how often they babble "retie my bow tie or get a Honda."

After commanding believers to be filled with the Spirit, Paul provides specific examples of what that would look like:

1. Joyful singing (Ephesians 5: 19);

2. Hearts full of thanksgiving (v. 20);

3. Selflessness toward others (v. 21);

4. If they are married, their marriage honors God (vv. 22-33);

5. If they have children, their parenting patiently unfolds the gospel (6: 1-4); 

6. If they work for an earthly employer, they work hard for the Lord's honor (vv. 5-8);

7. If they have people that work for them, they treat their employees with kindness and fairness (v. 9).

The above is what it looks like to be a Spirit-filled Christian. His influence in our lives makes us rightly related to God and to others. 

In Colossians 3: 16-4: 1, a parallel passage to Ephesians 5: 18-6: 9, Paul explains that if believers “let the word of Christ richly dwell within [them],” they will likewise respond by singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. They will do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, “giving thanks through Him to God the Father.” Wives will be submissive to their husbands; and husbands, in turn, will love their wives. Children will obey their parents, and parents will not exasperate their children. Workers will work diligently for their employers and employers will treat their employees with fairness.

A comparison of Colossians 3: 16 with Ephesians 5: 18 demonstrates the inseparable relationship between the two passages; since the fruit produced in each case is the same. Thus, we see that obeying the command to be filled with the Spirit does not involve emotional hype or mystical experiences. It comes from reading, meditating on, and submitting to the Word of Christ, allowing the Scriptures to permeate our hearts and minds. In other words, we are filled with the Holy Spirit when we are filled with the Word, which He inspired and empowers. As we align more and more to the Word of God, we come increasingly under the Spirit’s control. 

To be filled with the Spirit, is to yield our hearts to the authority of Christ, allowing His Word to dominate our attitudes and actions. His thoughts become our meditations. His standards become our highest pursuit, and His will becomes our greatest desire. As we submit our all to God’s truth, the Spirit leads us to live in a way that honors the Lord Jesus Christ. Moreover, as the Holy Spirit sanctifies individual saints through the power of the Word, He energizes them to show love to one another within the body of Christ (1 Peter 1: 22-23). It is within the context of edifying other believers that the gifts of the Spirit are discussed in the New Testament. Significantly, spiritual gifts are not a sign of being Spirit-filled, sanctification is. As believers are sanctified, coming under the Spirit’s control, they are equipped to use spiritual gifts to serve others. 

To be truly Spirit-filled means to walk in holiness, righteousness and sanctification. That is the message of the New Testament when it comes to being Spirit-filled.

Part 2: Walking in the Spirit

The New Testament describes the Spirit-filled life using the analogy of walking in the Spirit. Galatians 5: 25 reads: “If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.” Just as walking is done one step at a time in the natural, being filled with the Spirit involves living under the Spirit’s control in a thought-by-thought, decision-by-decision manner. Those who are truly Spirit-filled yield every step to Him.

We are commanded to walk in newness of life, purity, contentment, faith, good works, a manner worthy of the gospel, love, light, wisdom, a Christlike manner, and truth. For those qualities to characterize the way we walk, we must first walk in the Spirit. He is the One who produces the fruit of righteousness in and through us.

Galatians 5: 16-17 reads: “Walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desires of the flesh. For 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 may not do the things that you please.” The concept of walking refers to a person’s regular manner of life. Those who are characterized by walking in the flesh demonstrate that they are unsaved. By contrast, those who walk in the Spirit give evidence of the fact they belong to Christ. 

Because the power of sin has been broken for believers, they have the ability to fulfill God’s law through the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 8: 2-4). As those who walk according to the Spirit, they are able to do those things that please God. The lost, by contrast, are hostile toward God and dominated by fleshly pursuits (vv. 5-9). 

Having been born again by grace apart from works, believers eagerly desire to follow Christ (1 Thessalonians 1: 6), and the Holy Spirit enables them to do just that. Of course, that does not mean Christians no longer struggle against sin and temptation. All believers still battle against the sinful flesh. The flesh is the enemy within. It is the remnant of the old man that wars against godly desires and righteous living (Romans 7: 23). To fall prey to the flesh is to grieve the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4: 28-31). 

If we as believers are going to gain victory over the lusts of our flesh, and grow in holiness, we must function in the Spirit’s power. It is imperative that we “put on the full armor of God” (Ephesians 6: 11), including the “sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God” (v. 17), in order to fend off the fiery attacks of the evil one and mortify the flesh. 

The believer’s sole defense against sin’s constant assault is the protection provided by the Holy Spirit, who arms His saints with the truth of Scripture. On the other hand, the believer’s single power for spiritual growth is the Spirit’s sanctifying work, as He grows and strengthens His people through the pure milk of the Word (1 Peter 2: 1-3). It is essential that you remember that you can’t sanctify yourself through your own efforts (Galatians 3: 3). It was the Holy Spirit who set us apart from sin at the moment of salvation (2 Thessalonians 2: 13), and as we submit to His influence each day and each moment, He empowers our victory over the flesh.

Thus, to walk in the Spirit through the indwelling influence of the Word is to fulfill the ultimate potential and capacity of our life on this earth as children of God. Being Spirit-filled means you are moment by moment submitting our hearts and minds to the Word of Christ, walking in the Spirit and not the flesh, and daily growing in love and affection for the Lord Jesus Christ unto the service of His whole body, the church. This is not about uttering mindless gibberish, crashing to the carpet or some other mystical encounter. This is about being a disciple of our LORD. 

Truly, the Christian life in all of its fullness is a life lived in the power of the Holy Spirit. He is to be the dominating influence in our hearts and lives. He alone enables us to live victoriously over sin, to produce the fruit of the Spirit, and to be pleasing to our Heavenly Father. It is the Holy Spirit who brings us greater intimacy with God. He illuminates the Scripture, glorifies Christ in us and to us, guides us into God’s will, strengthens us, and also ministers to us through other believers. The Spirit does all this to conform us into the image of our Lord and Savior, guaranteeing we will one day be totally perfected when we see Christ face-to-face.

Part 3: Rejoicing in the Spirit’s Saving Work

The Holy Spirit is involved in every aspect of salvation: justification (1 Corinthians 6: 11), to sanctification (Galatians 5: 18-23), to glorification (Romans 8: 11). The Bible highlights His work of convicting, regenerating, converting, adopting, indwelling, and securing. Our response should be awestruck worship, praising the Trinity for the gift of redemption: the Father elected His children unto salvation, the Son’s sacrifice providing the means through which the lost can be reconciled to God, and the Holy Spirit for His active role in the salvation of sinners, imparting life to dead hearts and sight to those spiritually blind.

The Puritan Thomas Goodwin stated:

“A man’s communion and converse is…sometimes with the Father, then with the Son, and then with the Holy Ghost; sometimes his heart is drawn out to consider the Father’s love in choosing, and then the love of Christ in redeeming, and so the love of the Holy Ghost, that searcheth the deep things of God, and revealeth them to us, and taketh all the pains with us; and so a man goes from one witness to another distinctly. Assurance is not a knowledge by way of argument or deduction, whereby we infer that if one loveth me then the other loveth me, but it is intuitively, as I may express it, and we should never be satisfied till all three persons lie level in us, and all make their abode with us, and we sit as it were in the midst of them, while they all manifest their love unto us.”

Even though Goodwin lived in the 17th century, his perspective is needed in churches today. Believers need to understand the work of each member of the Trinity in order to worship God most fully. 

Authentic worship requires both spirit and truth (John 4: 23).

Conclusion

Don’t be deceived by the false theology presented in heretical charismatic churches. Know the truth and it will set you free. Now you know the true role of the Holy Spirit in the world today. Don’t be deceived. Stand up for the truth!.