THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE LIFE OFTHE BELIEVER

Christ, Categories, Controversy and choices.

Christ says – (Mat 7:6-11) Do not give that which is holy (the sacred thing) to the dogs, and do not throw your pearls before hogs, lest they trample upon them with their feet and turn and tear you in pieces.7 Keep on asking and it will be given you; keep on seeking and you will find; keep on knocking [reverently] and [the door] will be opened to you.8 For everyone who keeps on asking receives; and he who keeps on seeking finds; and to him who keeps on knocking, [the door] will be opened.9 Or what man is there of you, if his son asks him for a loaf of bread, will hand him a stone?10 Or if he asks for a fish, will hand him a serpent?11 If you then, evil as you are, know how to give good and advantageous gifts to your children, how much more will your Father Who is in heaven [perfect as He is] give good and advantageous things to those who keep on asking Him! Luke’s telling of this teaching identifies more precisely what those good things are (Luke 11:13) 13 If you then, evil as you are, know how to give good gifts [gifts [i]that are to their advantage] to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask and continue to ask Him!

Categories, The life of the flesh - Connected to us via Adam – the

old The life of the Spirit - Connected to us via Christ – the

new  The work of the Holy Spirit in the life of believer falls into two

main categories. 1) The indwelling 2) Spiritual gifts.

Spiritual gifts fall into two categories 1) Permanent 2) Temporary

Temporary gifts divide into two categories Ecstatic Non ecstatic

The opinion on those Temporary gifts fall into two categories

1) Continuationists 2) Cessationists

Choices God has given us choice. It is His gift

to pre fall humanity made in His image. He has re-gifted all Christians with the capacity for real choice. He calls us to examine & explore the deep things of God, with the sole purpose of deepening our relationship with Him.

Philippians 3:15 (AMP) 15 So let those [of us] who are spiritually mature and full-grown have this mind and hold these convictions; and if in any respect you have a different attitude of mind, God will make that clear to you also

Biblical journey

1. He assures us that we belong to His family & will become more like His Son

Romans 8:16-17, 2. He seals us now & indwells us now to position us for

future glory 2 Corinthians 1:22, 3. He gives us His power to be His witness, universally. Acts1:4-8, 4. He sanctifies us from the beginning 2 Thessalonians 2:13, 5. He gives us an advocate forever John 14:16, “ 6. He will teach us all things & remind us of that

teaching John 14:26, "

7. He constantly reveals Christ, John 15:26, 8. He guides us in all truth. John 16:13, 9. He always glorifies Jesus John 16:14, 10. He gives us power to obey God Ezekiel 36:27, 11. He releases us from the law of sin

and death. Romans 8:2, 12. He releases us to the law of

righteousness in Him. Romans 8:3-4,

13. He sets our minds to live fully & experience peace

Romans 8:5-6, 14. He lives in us with resurrection power Romans 8:11, 15. He gives power to say no to the flesh Romans 8:13, 16. He intercedes for us perfectly in the will

of God. Romans 8:26-27, 17. He enables us to be gratified Galatians 5:16-17, 18. He expresses the freedom of grace in us. Galatians 5:18,

19. He produced His fruit in us Galatians 5:22-23 20. He can be grieved assists but enables

us not to grieve others Ephesians 4:30-32, Acts 13:5221. He always declares the

Lordship of Christ 1 Corinthians 12:3, 22. He brings freedom to us and around us 2 Corinthians3:17, 23. He pours love in our hearts Romans 5:5, 24. He fills us with joy. Acts 13:52

25. He strengthens us with His power. Ephesians 3:16, 26. He gives us righteousness, peace

and joy. Romans 14:17, 27. He reveals, searches and applies

the deepest things of God to us. 1Corinthians 2:9-14, 28. He engenders true worship through

us John 4:23-24 29. He strengthens & encourages us. Acts 9:31,

30. He tells us what to do, who to speak to, where to go and how to do it

Acts 8:27-29, 31. He leads us in ways contrary to

our own Matthew 4:1 32. He gives us understanding of the

gifts God has freely given us. 1 Corinthians 2:12,

Filling & Gifts. Then & now? We are sealed we can be filled (fully controlled by)  

Sealed = Sphragizo – to set a seal upon, mark with a seal, a) For security from Satan, b) Since things sealed up are concealed (as the contents of a letter) to

hide, keep in silence, keep secret c) In order to mark a person or a thing 1) to set a mark upon by the

impress of a seal or a stamp 2) angels are said to be sealed by God d) In order to prove, confirm, or attest a thing 1) to confirm authenticate,

place beyond doubt e) Of a written document f) To prove one’s testimony to a person that he is what he professes to

be.  Filling – Pletho = To fill, to be fulfilled & to be filled 

They were filled in the NT narrative. Can we be filled today? Is it a “once off” or a continual or situational or renewable or

controllable? I believe the answer is yes we can be filled. That filling is situational,

conditional, renewable, & controllable.

Gifts- What are they?

Where are they?

Romans 12exhortationgivingleadershipmercyprophecyserviceteaching

1 Corinthians 12administrationapostlediscernmentfaithhealinghelpsknowledgemiracles

prophecyteaching

tonguestongues interpretationwisdom

Ephesians 4apostle

evangelismpastor

prophecyteaching

Misc. Passagescelibacyhospitalitymartyrdommissionaryvoluntary poverty

Today? Pentecostalist Charismatics The Vineyard Movement Cessationist  The Open but Cautious View   My View - Situational & positional - Continuing but

likely to be diminishing I believe that all the gifts are situational, i.e. determined by the need &

given according to God’s sovereign foreknowledge. I personally believe that all gifts are possible today, but are likely to diminish in direct proportion to the understanding of the written word. We have everything we need for life & godliness. We have the authoritative written word of God. We have every spiritual blessing in Christ Jesus. God is relational, within Himself & with us. We are partakers of the divine nature. Christ & the Father are one, His prayer was the we would be one with Him as He is with the Father. Christ is in me. I am in Christ. The Holy Spirit is in me. I am thoroughly equipped for every good work. He has prepared those good works in advance for me to do and the implication is, that He will provide all that is needed for the successful completion of those good works, in a way that brings glory exclusively to Himself