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Seven manifestations of the Holy Spirit
THE SPIRITUAL LIFE
Introduction
A. There are three categories of truth:
1) Hortatory truth: these are the Bibles commands, "thou shalt," and "thou shalt not"
2) Historical narrative: these are the stories of Bible people, lands, etc.
3) Spiritual truth: these are the truths that deal with the daily walk of the Christian.
B. Comments
1) The Christian way of life demands supernatural power to meet its supernatural requirements.
2) True spirituality is a sevenfold manifestation of the Holy Spirit in and through the one whom He fills.
3) True spirituality does not consist in what one does not do, but rather in what one is becoming that results in his doing.
C. Now, let's look at the seven manifestations of the Spirit.
THE SEVEN MANIFESTATIONS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
1. THE HOLY SPIRIT PRODUCES CHRISTIAN CHARACTER
(Galatians 5:22-23)
22 But the fruit [ singular ] of the Spirit is [ verb agreement singular + plural predicate nominatives; there is no deep spiritual meaning to be associated with a singular subject and plural predicate nominative; the form of Greek allows this as good Greek, even though it would be considered poor English ] love [agaph ], joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. (KJV)
A. Galatians 5:22-23 is an explanation of Paul's statement, "For me to live is Christ."
B. Discuss "ships-passing-in-the-night" as it relates to spiritual growth.
1) Discuss 1 John 1:7 in terms of an illustration of fellowship between two believers. Principle: If you are walking in the light and a person with whom you are related is not walking in the light, the two of you will not have fellowship one with another. (This illustrates. This is not an interpretation.)
2) 2 Corinthians 6:14 (This passage also illustrates the truth regarding the relationship between a spiritual believer and a reversionistic believer. This is not an interpretation.)
3) True Christian character is produced in the believer and not by the believer.
(Use the diagram of the stick person to show with arrows that character is not produced by the believer, but in the believer.)
D. Three facts about the fruit of the Spirit:
1) The fruit of the Spirit produces divine character.
2) The fruit of the Spirit is expected by God.
3) The fruit of the Spirit is [produced only by the Spirit.
2. THE HOLY SPIRIT PRODUCES CHRISTIAN SERVICE
A. Spiritual gifts are the means whereby Christian service is carried out.
B. Spiritual Gifts: temporary and permanent.
Temporary Permanent
Apostle Pastor-Teacher
Prophet Evangelist
Word of Wisdom Teacher
Word of Knowledge Helps
Discerning of spirits Mercy
Faith Giving
Healings Exhortation
Miracles Governments
Tongues Ruling
Interpretation of tongues Ministry
C. Distinguish Christian character from Christian service.
1. Christian character is produced by developing a Christlike life.
2. Christian service is produced by the exercise of one's spiritual gift.
3. Christian character produces the fruit of the Spirit.
4. Christian service produces the gold, silver, precious stones works.
D. Every spiritual gift has a gift function (a look at the permanent gifts only):
Gift Gift Function
Pastor-Teacher Shepherding-Teaching
Evangelist Evangelizing
Teacher Teaching
Helps Helping
Mercy Showing mercy
Giving Giving
Exhortation Exhorting
Governments Governing
Ruling Ruling
Ministry Ministry
Giving Giving
E. Every believer has only one spiritual gift, but a spiritual believer can function in any gift area.
F. Gift function outside the realm of one's own spiritual gift is possible, but it is always accomplished with some degree of difficulty.
G. The spiritual believer functioning outside the area of his spiritual gift willingly turns over the reins of responsibility to someone with the appropriate spiritual gift when that person appears on the scene.
3. THE HOLY SPIRIT TEACHES
A. John 16:12-15
12 "I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.
13 "But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.
14 "He shall glorify Me; for He shall take of Mine, and shall disclose it to you.
15 "All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said, that He takes of Mine, and will disclose it to you. (NAS)
1) It should be clear that if the disciples who had been with Christ for a period of 3 1/2 years did not believe that Christ would die or rise again from the dead, they could not receive any teaching which was based on either His death or resurrection.
2) When all doctrine which is related to Christ's death or His resurrection is eliminated, there is comparatively little left of that which is in the most exact sense Christian.
3) "The period of time between the two advents of Christ is often designated as The Age of the Holy Spirit, and properly so, since these days are characterized by the activity and administration of the Spirit. In these specific days, also, the child of God is blessed to no small degree by the fact that the Holy Spirit indwells him, and the Spirit is thus residing in the Christian to the end that the supernatural power may be ever available. Were it not for this divine resource and sufficiency, the superhuman manner of life now expected from each believer would be an impossible and, therefore, an inconsistent requisition. Among the age characterizing operations of the Spirit is that of teaching or enlightening the individual in whom He dwells. This reception of truth is not confined to commonplace issues, but may reach out into the "deep things of God," and the experience of the believer when thus taught by the spirit is peculiar in this respect, that the divine Teacher is within his heart and he therefore does not hear a voice speaking from without and at stated times, as is the method of human teachers, but the mind and heart are supernaturally awakened from within to apprehend what otherwise would be unknown. It need only be observed here that, of necessity, this awakening ministry of the Spirit may be greatly hindered by sin or by unspiritual ways on the part of the child of God. This truth alone accounts for the existing difference between the spiritual Christian who discerns "all things" and the carnal Christian who cannot receive the deeper and more vital truths which are likened to strong meat (1 Cor. 2:15; 3:1-3)." L.S. Chafer, Volume 1, p. 109.
4) "In view of the fact that the minister's distinctive and essential message is in the realm of spiritual truth which can be discerned only by the Holy Spirit and that the Holy Spirit must require a yieldedness to Himself on the part of the one whom He teaches, the minister or theological student may well seek by heart-searching and confession to be in right relation to the One upon whom all progress in the knowledge of God's truth depends. A requisite life in conformity to the will of God, on the student's part, is neither incidental or optional; it is arbitrary, determining, and crucial. There is not the slightest possibility that the most educated and brilliant mind can make one step of progress in the understanding of spiritual truth apart from the direct, supernatural teaching to the individual heart by the indwelling Spirit. Hence the imperative aspect of the new birth. In like manner, there can be no full or worthy apprehension of God's revealed truth by the Christian who is unspiritual or carnal. Hence, the imperative aspect of the yielded life." L.S. Chafer, Volume 1, p. 113.
5) "Experimentally, the believer, when empowered by the Spirit, will be conscious only of the exercise of his own faculties. The Spirit does not disclose His presence directly; His ministry is to reveal and glorify Christ. His presence will be evidenced, however, by the victory that is wrought, which victory could be wrought only by the Spirit" [ when the believer is yielded to Him ].[1] L.S. Chafer, Volume 4, p. 191.
6) Note the passage again:
12 "I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.
13 "But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.
14 "He shall glorify Me; for He shall take of Mine, and shall disclose it to you.
15 "All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said, that He takes of Mine, and will disclose it to you. (NAS)
B. 1 Corinthians 2:12
12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things freely given to us by God, (NAS)
C. 1 John 2:27
27 And as for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him. (NAS)
D. I Jn 2:20-27
20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all know.
21 I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it, and because no lie is of the truth.
22 Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son.
23 Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father; the one who confesses the Son has the Father also.
24 As for you, let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father.
25 And this is the promise which He Himself made to us: eternal life.
26 These things I have written to you concerning those who are trying to deceive you.
27 And as for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him. (NAS)
E. 1 Corinthians 3:1-3
1 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to babes in Christ.
2 I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are not yet able,
3 for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men? (NAS)
4. THE HOLY SPIRIT PROMOTES PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING
(Ephesians 5:18-20)
A. The primary outworking of the filling by the Spirit is praise and thanksgiving.
B. Angels worship God for His intrinsic value. (Is. 6:3) (RV)
C. This adoration results directly and automatically when the Holy Spirit is free to work.
D. The believer is commanded to be thankful "always for all things." (Eph. 5:20)
E. If "all things are working together for good to them that love God," (Rom. 8:28) there is ample reason for giving thanks by faith for the all things.
5. THE HOLY SPIRIT LEADS
Romans 8:14
Romans 8:14 For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. (NAS)
Romans 8:14 For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons ( Greek: u(ioj not teknon ) of God. (NAS)
teknon means "child," that is, a reference to current positional truth
u(ioj means "adult son" and refers to mature believers.
1. Being led by God:
A. The directing hand of God is seen to be hovering over His people approximately 40 times in the O.T.
B. Jesus was led by the Spirit. (Mat. 4:1; Lk. 4:1)
C. As a patient may be guided back to health by giving heed to the directions of a wise physician, so the Christian may be led by the Holy Spirit into paths chosen by infinite love, infinite power, and infinite wisdom.
D. A human being is so designed by God so that he cannot guide himself.
1) Jeremiah: (Jeremiah 10:23)
2) David's helplessness: (Psalm 5:8; 25:5; 27:11; 31:3; 139:23-24)
E. Apart from the ministry of the H.S., no one can follow the path that God has chosen for him. (Romans 8:14)
Romans 8:14 For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are [[ adult ]] sons [ mature Church Age believers ] of God. (NAS)
Galatians 5:18
Galatians 5:18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. (NAS)
1. It is herein suggested that not all Church Age believers are Spirit led.
2. Those who are led by the Spirit are supplied with true counsel and guidance so that they do not need outward commandments.
3. Sincere persons may pervert true guidance if they do not understand the right relationship to the Holy Spirit through which true guidance is secured.
4. Guidance demands freedom from fanaticism, undue emotionalism, and superstition.
5. Since the whole course of life may be misdirected, it is imperative that every believer learn to be led by the Spirit for himself.
6. No step can be safely taken in life without divine guidance.
7. The leading of the Spirit is personal and intimate.
8. The importance of substituting infinite wisdom for finite guessing cannot be overestimated.
9. God guided the O.T. believers by natural light, by dreams, by voices, by clouds, by fire.
(All of these early methods are now ineffective.)
Quote (Gin North) 7/94: "We are to be led by the cloud; we are not asked to create the cloud."
10. The Spirits leading must be contemplated under the tenses or time relationships:
A. Regarding the time relationships:
1) The time before the experience: preparing to be led.
2) The time of the experience itself: being led.
3) The time after the experience: looking back at God's faithfulness.
B. Regarding preparation for divine leadership:
Proverbs 3:5
Romans 12:1-2
Philippians 2:13
11. This is one of the new realities of the Church Age, yet some believer's daily lives are shaped and adapted to the order and relationships of the Law.
6. THE HOLY SPIRIT WITNESSES WITH OUR SPIRIT
Rom 8:16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, (NAS)
1. Every Church Age believer is trichotomous: spirit, soul, and body. (1 Thes. 5:23)
2. The Holy Spirit indwells every Church Age believer. (1 Cor. 3:16; 6:19)
A. 1 Cor 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? (KJV)
B. 1 Cor 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? (KJV)
3. It is not an unreasonable to ask the question, "If the Holy Spirit lives inside the Church Age believer, where does He live inside the believer?"
Answer: He lives inside the human spirit.
4. How do we know that the Holy Spirit resides inside of our human spirit? We know by analogy:
A. Since the body of the Church Age believer is said to be the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 3:16; 6:19), the following should be understood as true:
1) As the temple has three parts, outer court (outermost part), inner court (inner part), Holy of Holies innermost part), so the body has three parts, body (outermost part), soul (inner part), and spirit (innermost part).
2) As God indwelt the innermost part of the temple (the Holy of Holies), so He indwells the innermost part of man (the human spirit).
3) Since the Holy Spirit is God, He resides inside every human spirit.
B. Conclusion: God the Holy Spirit resides inside the human spirit of every Church Age believer.
5. Romans 8:16 teaches us that the Holy Spirit bears witness with our spirit.
A. Two important truths from this passage:
1) The human spirit is a receptor organ that receives communication from God.
2) God the Holy Spirit communicates with the Church Age believer through his human spirit.
B. When the Holy Spirit communicates with the believer through his human spirit, no audible voice is heard.
C. The believer learns to identify the voice of the Holy Spirit, and with his mind is able to understand what the voice of the Holy Spirit is saying.
6. What does the Holy Spirit say to the Church Age believer through his human spirit?
A. He bears witness that we are the children of God. (Rom. 8:16)
B. It would be misleading to conclude that that is all the Holy Spirit says to the believer through his human spirit.
C. Since the Holy Spirit resides in the human spirit, all activity associated with the seven manifestations of the Holy Spirit on behalf of the believer within whom He resides is initiated through the human spirit.
1) From the human spirit He develops character in the Christian. (Gal. 5:22-23)
2) From the human spirit He develops service through the Christian. (John 7:38-39)
3) From the human spirit He teaches to the Christian. (Jn. 16:12-15)
4) From the human spirit He promotes praise and thanksgiving by the Christian. (Eph. 5:18-20)
5) From the human spirit He leads the Christian. (Rom. 8:14)
6) From the human spirit He bears witness to the Christian. (Rom. 8:16)
7) From the human spirit He makes intercession for the Christian. (Rom. 8:26)
7. Subjectivity: The Holy Spirit bearing witness with the believer's spirit relates to the subjective side of Christianity.
A. The manifestations of the Spirit to the individual believer are private and personal, therefore, subjective.
B. Believer "A" has no right to ever tell believer "B" what the Holy Spirit is saying within believer "B's" human spirit.
C. No believer can hear what the Holy Spirit is saying to another believer.
8. Every manifestation of the Spirit within a believer's life will be consistent with the truths of God's Word. (In other words, the Holy Spirit will never manifest Himself in a manner contrary to God's Word.)
7. THE HOLY SPIRIT MAKES INTERCESSION FOR US
Rom 8:26 And in the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; (NAS)
1. Prayer during the Church Age dispensation:
A. There is a new privilege associated with Church Age prayer: Hitherto you have asked nothing in My Name (John 16:24)
B. Prayer offered to the Father in the Name of the Son (John 16:23)
C. Offered in the enabling power of the Holy Spirit:
Rom. 8:26-27
Eph. 6:18
Jude 1:20
2. Romans 8:26
A. There are four categories of prayer:
1) Confession
2) Thanksgiving
3) Intercession
4) Petition
B. This passage covers prayers of intercession and prayers of petition, that is, you are praying for someone else, or you are praying for yourself, but you don't know how to pray; therefore, the Holy Spirit intercedes on your behalf.
Rom. 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
Rom. 8:27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
(KJV)
Rom 8:26 And in the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words;
Rom. 8:27 and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. (NAS)
Rom 8:26-27 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.
Rom. 8:27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will. (NIV)
Rom 8:26-27 And in the same way-- by our faith-- the Holy Spirit helps us with our daily problems and in our praying. For we don't even know what we should pray for nor how to pray as we should, but the Holy Spirit prays for us with such feeling that it cannot be expressed in words.
Rom. 8:27 And the Father who knows all hearts knows, of course, what the Spirit is saying as he pleads for us in harmony with God's own will. (TLB)
3. The Holy Spirit makes intercession for us. (Rom. 8:26)
A. The Holy Spirit is omniscient and knows the heart of man.
B. The Holy Spirit is God and knows the mind of the Father.
C. The Holy Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of the Father.
D. The one for whom intercession is made receives on the basis of the Holy Spirit's intercessory prayer.
4. Why do we need the intercessory prayer ministry of the Holy Spirit?
A. We do not know the purpose of God in another person's life.
B. We do not know the relationship between God and the person for whom we are praying.
5. The Believer who is yielded to the Holy Spirit can have an effective prayer ministry because of the interceding ministry of the Holy Spirit operating within Him.
Conclusion:
1. The filling by the Holy Spirit results in seven manifestations of Himself in and through the child of God.
2. There need be no doubt concerning the Holy Spirit's objectives in the life of the Church Age believer.
A. The H.S. produces Christian character. (Gal. 5:22-23)
B. The H.S. produces Christian service. (1 Cor. 12:4)
C. The H.S. teaches. (Jn. 16:12-15)
D. The H.S. promotes praise and thanksgiving. (Eph. 5:18ff)
E. The H.S. leads. (Rom. 8:14; Gal. 5:18)
F. The Holy Spirit witnesses with our spirit. (Rom. 8:16)
G. The H.S. intercedes. (Rom. 8:26)
[1] The bracketed information is mine.