WHAT THE SPIRIT DOES
11/04/18 10:47
In the last section we looked the two Scriptures used to support a leading by the Spirit theology and at how being led by the Spirit, according to the Bible, means that we let the Spirit lead us into ways that are pleasing to God while denying the desires of the flesh. While there are no other passages that explicitly talk about being led by the Spirit, there are other things the Bible says the Spirit does for us. Let’s look at these things.
You may want to have a paper and pen handy. I would encourage you to write down the passages, as they flash on the screen, look up these passages, and not take my word for it... look at what God’s Word says.
The Spirit was sent to convict the world, teach in righteousness, and to judge (John 16:7-11).
The Gospels, and Acts, are an account of how Christ rose up the church. Because there were things that they were waiting for, things not yet learned, and things not yet written, the Spirit of God did different things for them then that which He does for all cultures and generations. There are many things the spirit does for all people through all times; what I mean by that is the gifts are still alive today, yet there’s comments made that was intended for the apostles only. Let me explain. They are the foundation of the church. It was through them the church arose. There were conversations that Christ was having with them that the spirit will do with them in order to raise the church up. And we have the spirit today to empower us to continue in what God intended for the church to continue in. We see these facts though misapplied Scriptures.
The Spirit guided the apostles into all truth (John 16:12-13) so that through them, and their teachings, we may become partakers of the divine nature, being able to escape the corruption of the world through lust (2 Peter 1:2-4). What the Spirit revealed to the apostles, they preached to the churches (1 Corinthians 2:9-13), and they communicated to the churches by letter (Ephesians 3:3-5).
Some say that Matt 4:4 means that man shall not live by the bread (which they say is the Word of God) alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. This thought is pulled completely from context of Scripture. Satan temped Christ to turn rocks into bread - food for the body - and Christ quoted Deuteronomy 8:3 which the passage was referring to manna, bread - food for the body. The context is that we shall not live by our stomachs along but upon the faith upon everything instructed by God.
I wanted to add in here how Christ said, “My sheep know my voice”, but I ran into a problem when looking this up. This cliché comes from John 10:27. I said cliche because to my surprise the verse actually reads:
My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me
(John 10:27 NKJV)
One would say that you need to know to be able to hear, and I don’t disagree with that; but that’s NOT what it says and I believe we need to be careful not to change meaning of text. When we change meaning, we allow an opening for new, un-Biblical doctrine. What Christ said is exactly what He meant. His sheep HEAR and they follow. Who is Christ? The Word. Christ’s sheep seek after, read, hear, and don’t stop there; they follow what He says.
The belief of a person being able to be led by the Spirit without the Word of God is absolutely un-Biblical. The Word of God is the Sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17); which is part of the Armor of God. All Scripture is God breathed, and is good for doctrine, reproof, correction, instruction in righteousness, so that a Christian will be complete and thoroughly equipped for good works (2 Timothy 3:16-17). In fact, Paul even states that the Holy Spirit guided through the use of Old Testament Scripture (Hebrews 3:7). Those who resist the Word, resist’s the Holy Spirit (Acts 7:51-53). Therefore, when someone sets their mind on the things of the Word of the Spirit, they will be led by the Spirit (Galatians 5:18), living according to the Spirit and not according to the flesh (Romans 8:5; Gal 5:16), and they will experience life and peace (Romans 8:6) as they produce the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-25). It is by the Spirit that we find the power to be able to put to death the deeds of the flesh (Romans 8:13); because they follow the leading of the Spirit for this purpose (Romans 8:14).
The Spirit of God is given to us to spread the word of the Gospel of the Kingdom of God to all nations (Acts 1:8); and will give us boldness to do those things (Acts 4:31).
The only way that one can receive the Spirit and to be led by the Spirit is to obey the Commandments of God (John 14:15-16); because the Holy Spirit is only given to those who obey Him (Acts 5:32).
How does the Spirit NOT lead the Christian? No where do we see the Spirit leading people though subjective means as in “feelings” or intuitions. Instead, we’ve seen how the Spirit uses the Word of God, we also see where there are direct and clear commands by the Spirit (Acts 16:6-7), which were contrary to what the Apostles felt they should do. Due to failure to note this distinction, there is much religious confusion. People tend to appeal to “feelings” to justify their beliefs and practices, yet our emotions and feelings can be a deceptive guide (Proverbs 28:26; Jeremiah 17:19). What may seem to be right, may not be right (Proverbs 14:12); therefore, He has provided a standard by which to know the truth (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
Ok, you have to stay with me during this. There are many times that the Spirit has connected the dots of Scripture so that I can understand it as a whole. This would be done while I’m meditating on Scripture and on God. Many believe that no one can understand Scripture unless the Spirit guides them. This is based on 1 Corinthians 2:14. What has ended up happening is that there are many people who have claimed the Spirit led them to an interpretation that is contrary to Scripture. The context of 1 Corinthians 2:14 is a contrast between the apostles and philosophers. The philosophers cannot know God’s will simply by wisdom (1 Corinthians 1:18-20). It was by the Spirit that the apostles received God’s will (1 Corinthians 2:6-14). The one who does not seek after God does not have the benefit of the Spirit’s revelation; where those who are actively seeking Christ do. If you want to know the will of God for your life - read the Bible. It’s very clear on this subject.
The Spirit has revealed God’s will to us by the apostles and prophets and when we read their writings, we can understand that will (Ephesians 3:3-5); and know that we have eternal life (1 John 5:13). The Spirit of God has already revealed God’s will through the prophets of old. We simply need to have a good and honest heart that seeks to find what is true of the will, in the Word of God (Acts 17:11). When having difficulties, He is there to help us be free from preconceived notions so that He can completely open His Word to us (Psalms 119:18).
Many think the Spirit will lead them into new truths that are not in Scripture. This is based on a misapplication of John 16:13. The context of this passage is the Spirit of God working through the lives of the apostles. This is a conversation that Christ is having with His apostles while preparing them for their work (John 16:1-7). Together, with the Spirit, they would be witnesses of Christ (John 15:26-27). The Spirit of God would aid the apostles in the tasks set out for them, reminding them of what Y’shua had taught them, and revealing the rest of what He wanted them to know (John 14:25-26; 16:12-13). With the aid of inspired Scripture, we have what we need to be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
The Spirit is here, and working in us. We gain the Spirit when we accept Christ as our Lord and we repent from sin. The Spirit leads us into a walk with God that is free from the walk in fleshly desires. He uses the Scriptures, that were inspired by the Spirit of God, through the apostles to pen, and preserved for us to lead us into righteousness into good works. The Spirit fills us to give us boldness so that we can reach the nations, the world, for God. The Spirit is not leading to new truths, especially those which are contrary to that which the Spirit has already revealed in His Word. The Spirit is not teaching new doctrine. The Spirit does not replace the Word but enforces the Word of truth. And the Spirit does not come on people in a church setting so they can get goose bumps, speak in ecstatic languages, fall to the ground and roll around just so they can get up and fatten themselves on a buffet after church and sit down on the couch to watch a game when more than half the world is living in poverty and dying without God.
Let's get real. There are two types of religious groups: those who have a educated religion and those with an uneducated religion.
An educated religion is when the people have this education of what Scripture says, yet no relationship with God; and many times they rule out the timeless truths because they don’t have a relationship with God and don’t see these truths manifested in their lives.
Then the uneducated religious people are those who claim to have all these spiritual blessings, with all these spiritual gifts, but they keep it within the walls of the church because they don’t have a relationship with God, they are only after their own fuzzy feelings.
It does not matter which of these religious groups people fall into; neither one had joy. They constantly complain about every little thing, they wear their feelings on their sleeves and a chip on their shoulder. It’s no wonder the church doesn’t want what we got. If they had a relationship with God, they would not be so hateful, judgmental of the world, and grumpy. In the parable of the talents, in Matt 25, those who invested with the gifts provided to them, they found joy in the Lord. If the church stopped burying the gifts that God gave, whether by the Spirit, or by our physical, stopped playing around between four walls, and they spread what they had to others who need God, they would not be so grumpy.
We need to be straight on this, you don't need to know the bible to spread the the joy and glory of God to others - that's by the guidance of the Spirit of God. If you have the Bible, it's one way in knowing better the character of God and seeing His desires of our life so we don't get in either religious rut. If we have the Bible, and we forsake the study of the Bible so that we can play in worldly pleasures, we are living very dangerously on that fence.
Friends, don’t fall for every spirit that may seem right. Test the spirits to see if they are from God; and that is done by the Word of God.
Don't let feelings of the human spirit keep you from following the teachings of the Holy Spirit!
You may want to have a paper and pen handy. I would encourage you to write down the passages, as they flash on the screen, look up these passages, and not take my word for it... look at what God’s Word says.
The Spirit was sent to convict the world, teach in righteousness, and to judge (John 16:7-11).
The Gospels, and Acts, are an account of how Christ rose up the church. Because there were things that they were waiting for, things not yet learned, and things not yet written, the Spirit of God did different things for them then that which He does for all cultures and generations. There are many things the spirit does for all people through all times; what I mean by that is the gifts are still alive today, yet there’s comments made that was intended for the apostles only. Let me explain. They are the foundation of the church. It was through them the church arose. There were conversations that Christ was having with them that the spirit will do with them in order to raise the church up. And we have the spirit today to empower us to continue in what God intended for the church to continue in. We see these facts though misapplied Scriptures.
The Spirit guided the apostles into all truth (John 16:12-13) so that through them, and their teachings, we may become partakers of the divine nature, being able to escape the corruption of the world through lust (2 Peter 1:2-4). What the Spirit revealed to the apostles, they preached to the churches (1 Corinthians 2:9-13), and they communicated to the churches by letter (Ephesians 3:3-5).
Some say that Matt 4:4 means that man shall not live by the bread (which they say is the Word of God) alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. This thought is pulled completely from context of Scripture. Satan temped Christ to turn rocks into bread - food for the body - and Christ quoted Deuteronomy 8:3 which the passage was referring to manna, bread - food for the body. The context is that we shall not live by our stomachs along but upon the faith upon everything instructed by God.
I wanted to add in here how Christ said, “My sheep know my voice”, but I ran into a problem when looking this up. This cliché comes from John 10:27. I said cliche because to my surprise the verse actually reads:
My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me
(John 10:27 NKJV)
One would say that you need to know to be able to hear, and I don’t disagree with that; but that’s NOT what it says and I believe we need to be careful not to change meaning of text. When we change meaning, we allow an opening for new, un-Biblical doctrine. What Christ said is exactly what He meant. His sheep HEAR and they follow. Who is Christ? The Word. Christ’s sheep seek after, read, hear, and don’t stop there; they follow what He says.
The belief of a person being able to be led by the Spirit without the Word of God is absolutely un-Biblical. The Word of God is the Sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17); which is part of the Armor of God. All Scripture is God breathed, and is good for doctrine, reproof, correction, instruction in righteousness, so that a Christian will be complete and thoroughly equipped for good works (2 Timothy 3:16-17). In fact, Paul even states that the Holy Spirit guided through the use of Old Testament Scripture (Hebrews 3:7). Those who resist the Word, resist’s the Holy Spirit (Acts 7:51-53). Therefore, when someone sets their mind on the things of the Word of the Spirit, they will be led by the Spirit (Galatians 5:18), living according to the Spirit and not according to the flesh (Romans 8:5; Gal 5:16), and they will experience life and peace (Romans 8:6) as they produce the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-25). It is by the Spirit that we find the power to be able to put to death the deeds of the flesh (Romans 8:13); because they follow the leading of the Spirit for this purpose (Romans 8:14).
The Spirit of God is given to us to spread the word of the Gospel of the Kingdom of God to all nations (Acts 1:8); and will give us boldness to do those things (Acts 4:31).
The only way that one can receive the Spirit and to be led by the Spirit is to obey the Commandments of God (John 14:15-16); because the Holy Spirit is only given to those who obey Him (Acts 5:32).
How does the Spirit NOT lead the Christian? No where do we see the Spirit leading people though subjective means as in “feelings” or intuitions. Instead, we’ve seen how the Spirit uses the Word of God, we also see where there are direct and clear commands by the Spirit (Acts 16:6-7), which were contrary to what the Apostles felt they should do. Due to failure to note this distinction, there is much religious confusion. People tend to appeal to “feelings” to justify their beliefs and practices, yet our emotions and feelings can be a deceptive guide (Proverbs 28:26; Jeremiah 17:19). What may seem to be right, may not be right (Proverbs 14:12); therefore, He has provided a standard by which to know the truth (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
Ok, you have to stay with me during this. There are many times that the Spirit has connected the dots of Scripture so that I can understand it as a whole. This would be done while I’m meditating on Scripture and on God. Many believe that no one can understand Scripture unless the Spirit guides them. This is based on 1 Corinthians 2:14. What has ended up happening is that there are many people who have claimed the Spirit led them to an interpretation that is contrary to Scripture. The context of 1 Corinthians 2:14 is a contrast between the apostles and philosophers. The philosophers cannot know God’s will simply by wisdom (1 Corinthians 1:18-20). It was by the Spirit that the apostles received God’s will (1 Corinthians 2:6-14). The one who does not seek after God does not have the benefit of the Spirit’s revelation; where those who are actively seeking Christ do. If you want to know the will of God for your life - read the Bible. It’s very clear on this subject.
The Spirit has revealed God’s will to us by the apostles and prophets and when we read their writings, we can understand that will (Ephesians 3:3-5); and know that we have eternal life (1 John 5:13). The Spirit of God has already revealed God’s will through the prophets of old. We simply need to have a good and honest heart that seeks to find what is true of the will, in the Word of God (Acts 17:11). When having difficulties, He is there to help us be free from preconceived notions so that He can completely open His Word to us (Psalms 119:18).
Many think the Spirit will lead them into new truths that are not in Scripture. This is based on a misapplication of John 16:13. The context of this passage is the Spirit of God working through the lives of the apostles. This is a conversation that Christ is having with His apostles while preparing them for their work (John 16:1-7). Together, with the Spirit, they would be witnesses of Christ (John 15:26-27). The Spirit of God would aid the apostles in the tasks set out for them, reminding them of what Y’shua had taught them, and revealing the rest of what He wanted them to know (John 14:25-26; 16:12-13). With the aid of inspired Scripture, we have what we need to be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
The Spirit is here, and working in us. We gain the Spirit when we accept Christ as our Lord and we repent from sin. The Spirit leads us into a walk with God that is free from the walk in fleshly desires. He uses the Scriptures, that were inspired by the Spirit of God, through the apostles to pen, and preserved for us to lead us into righteousness into good works. The Spirit fills us to give us boldness so that we can reach the nations, the world, for God. The Spirit is not leading to new truths, especially those which are contrary to that which the Spirit has already revealed in His Word. The Spirit is not teaching new doctrine. The Spirit does not replace the Word but enforces the Word of truth. And the Spirit does not come on people in a church setting so they can get goose bumps, speak in ecstatic languages, fall to the ground and roll around just so they can get up and fatten themselves on a buffet after church and sit down on the couch to watch a game when more than half the world is living in poverty and dying without God.
Let's get real. There are two types of religious groups: those who have a educated religion and those with an uneducated religion.
An educated religion is when the people have this education of what Scripture says, yet no relationship with God; and many times they rule out the timeless truths because they don’t have a relationship with God and don’t see these truths manifested in their lives.
Then the uneducated religious people are those who claim to have all these spiritual blessings, with all these spiritual gifts, but they keep it within the walls of the church because they don’t have a relationship with God, they are only after their own fuzzy feelings.
It does not matter which of these religious groups people fall into; neither one had joy. They constantly complain about every little thing, they wear their feelings on their sleeves and a chip on their shoulder. It’s no wonder the church doesn’t want what we got. If they had a relationship with God, they would not be so hateful, judgmental of the world, and grumpy. In the parable of the talents, in Matt 25, those who invested with the gifts provided to them, they found joy in the Lord. If the church stopped burying the gifts that God gave, whether by the Spirit, or by our physical, stopped playing around between four walls, and they spread what they had to others who need God, they would not be so grumpy.
We need to be straight on this, you don't need to know the bible to spread the the joy and glory of God to others - that's by the guidance of the Spirit of God. If you have the Bible, it's one way in knowing better the character of God and seeing His desires of our life so we don't get in either religious rut. If we have the Bible, and we forsake the study of the Bible so that we can play in worldly pleasures, we are living very dangerously on that fence.
Friends, don’t fall for every spirit that may seem right. Test the spirits to see if they are from God; and that is done by the Word of God.
Don't let feelings of the human spirit keep you from following the teachings of the Holy Spirit!