Spirit Filled Spirituality: Part 2

1. The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit

"The Holy Spirit has long been the Cinderella of the Trinity. The other two sisters may have gone to the theological ball; the Holy Spirit got left behind every time. But not now. The rise of the charismatic movement within virtually every mainstream church has ensured that the Holy Spirit figures prominently on the theological agenda. A new experience of the reality and power of the Spirit has had a major impact upon the theological discussion of the person and work of the Holy Spirit" -Alister McGrath

Some Misconceptions About The Holy Spirit include, but are not limited to the following:

The Holy Spirit is not an impersonal "force"

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever-- the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. John 14:16-17

The Holy Spirit is not "passive" in His approach

But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. John 16:13-14

The Holy Spirit does not come in "degrees"

Then Peter said, "Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? Didn't it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn't the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God." Acts 5:3-4

The Holy Spirit is not an "agent" of God

who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance. 1 Peter 1:2

The Holy Spirit is God and has come to minister within and through the believer in Jesus Christ.  AB Simpson called Him, the Great Undertaker!  Stating that He puts our flesh (the SELF life) to death in order that the Christ-Life might be revealed in us.

The Holy Spirit ministers in the following ways in Scripture.

The Believer Receives the Holy Spirit by Faith

He baptizes "IDENTIFIES" - (at salvation)

For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free--and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 1 Corinthians 12:13
one Lord, one faith, one baptism; Ephesians 4:5

He seals "AUTHENTICATES" - (at salvation)

And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession--to the praise of his glory. Ephesians 1:13-14
set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. 2 Corinthians 1:22

He indwells "INHABITS" - (at salvation)

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;
you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. Romans 8:9

He gives gifts "EQUIPS"

For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not? 1 Corinthians 4:7

But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 1 Corinthians 12:18

Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach;
if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully. Romans 12:4-8

He fills "CONTROLS" (continually action)

Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Ephesians 5:18

The Holy Spirit Reveals to the Believer About God

"Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?" Romans 11:34

The Holy Spirit Teaches the Believer Truth

But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. John 16:13

The Holy Spirit Matures the Believer by Putting Us to Death:

Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation--but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, Romans 8:12-13

I believe His main function is to put us to death, identify us with Jesus Christ (His Death & Resurrection) thus allowing Jesus Christ, who has come to take up residence in the believer’s heart, to live His life through the average Christian… what Watchman Nee called “The Normal Christian Life.”

I’d also like to like to refer you to Watchman Nee’s: “The Release of the Spirit” it’s in book form, audio form (Christian audio.com) and a free PDF online at:

http://www.newwineonline.com/files/pdf/books/Release_of_Spirit_WNee.pdf