June 4, 2017
Morning Service

Last week as we began this study of the letter to the Ephesians, it became very clear that this was written to encourage the church there (and us).  They were reminded that they were adopted into the family of God and “chosen for an inheritance.”  His plan for salvation that had long been a mystery is now explained to us in the NT scriptures.  It is up to us to read, study, and accept His free gift that was paid for in full upon Calvary’s cross.  Paul now explains to us what our receiving of the Holy Spirit means to us.

Ephesians 1:13-14  In Him also you, hearing the Word of Truth, the gospel of our salvation, in whom also believing, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,  (14)  who is the earnest of our inheritance, to the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.

·         The gift of the Holy Spirit is the evidence that we have truly trusted and believed in Christ.  Here Paul compares the giving of the Holy Spirit to paying an earnest (or guarantee or a down payment) on a purchase.  It is proof that we have an inheritance waiting upon us. 

·         When did we receive this Spirit?  Let’s look back at the first sermon Peter preached in Acts for the answer.

Acts 2:37-39  And hearing this, they were stabbed in the heart, and said to Peter and to the other apostles, Men, brothers, what shall we do?  (38)  Then Peter said to them, Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ to remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  (39)  For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all those afar off, as many as the Lord our God shall call.

·         Peter explains to us that at the time of our true repentance and baptism the Holy Spirit is given to the believer.  Notice it does not say “maybe or sometimes” it says “you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit,” it is a promise from God.  It was Peter again at the household of Cornelius (the first Gentiles saved) that witnessed them receive the Holy Spirit in the same fashion that he and the other apostles did.  It was that fact that led him to discern that since they had received the Holy Spirit, they too should enter into the waters of baptism.

·         So from these two instances we can say the Spirit is given at various times during the salvation experience.  The fact we need to stand on is that we do receive it.

·           You may have heard the term “evidence of receiving the Holy Spirit.”  This is a false teaching that claims you must “speak in tongues” to give proof of receiving the Spirit.  In the many conversions in the Book of Acts, it is not something that happens consistently; if it were essential wouldn’t you think it would happen every time?  Also in the first council meeting where the leaders of the church met, they also did not include that in their 4 vital requirements for Gentile believers.

So what is it that the Holy Spirit does for us?  Paul said here that it is our earnest guarantee of our inheritance; basically our ticket to heaven.  It is in possessing a portion of God’s eternal Spirit that assures us eternal life. It is also our guide and teacher.

John 14:26  But the Comforter, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance, whatever I have said to you.

·         This is Jesus explaining to us that it is by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in our lives that we can read, understand and retain the scriptures. God has not left us alone to figure this out on our own.  The Spirit is our teacher and guide.  There is one Spirit that should teach us all the same things.  This same Spirit is the author of our NT scriptures by inspiring the words of the writers of the Gospels and each letter that makes up our Bible.  Paul explained this to the Corinthian church very well.

 

1 Corinthians 2:9-16 But as it is written, "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard," nor has it entered into the heart of man, "the things which God has prepared for those who love Him."  (10)  But God has revealed them to us by His Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, yea, the deep things of God.  (11)  For who among men knows the things of a man except the spirit of man within him? So also no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God.  (12)  But we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit from God, so that we might know the things that are freely given to us by God.  (13)  These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.  (14)  But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.  (15)  But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is judged by no one.  (16)  For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ.

·         How better for us to understand and comprehend the things of God than for Him to tell us about them.  That is exactly what happens as we read and study God’s Word; His Holy Spirit that lives in us will reveal these truths to us.  He opens our understanding and grants us a discernment of the spiritual things of God.  As a non-believer one could never gain the same level of wisdom no matter how much they study it will seem like foolishness to them.

·         There are many scriptures that are hard to understand by themselves; but tied together with the Spirit’s help and other portions of scripture we can gain the understanding that we need.  But remember we are given a “portion” of the Holy Spirit, not all of it so there are many things that we cannot fully comprehend.  That is where our faith has to come in and fill that gap.  Isn’t that encouraging that Paul tells us that “we have the mind of Christ.” The Spirit also is our prayer partner.

Romans 8:26-27 Likewise the Spirit also helps our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.  (27)  And He searching the hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

·         Have you ever been so burdened down that as you go to pray words don’t even come?  It is then the Spirit prays for us and makes intercession to God in our place.  Though we cannot place our needs and hurts into words God knows them through the Spirit’s help.  The Spirit also guides our prayers to line up with the will of God.  Have you ever been praying and suddenly a scripture or a thought comes into your mind that helps you with what you are praying about.  That is the Spirit speaking to your heart.

To summarize all this together; God freely gives the Holy Spirit to come and dwell within us at the time of our conversion.  That Spirit is our ticket into heaven, the seal of our salvation, our spiritual teacher and guide, and our prayer partner.

 

Lord, thank you for the gift of Your Holy Spirit and may we allow it to work fully in our lives to bring us to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.