Holy Ghost Power (#1)

What Do our Texts Offer?

They offer Holy Ghost power for obedient believers to be filled with divine strength and spiritual fruit. This operation on heart and mind is wonderful and to be diligently sought.

 

What Is the Holy Ghost?

The question can be framed better as, Who is the Holy Ghost? He is God Himself, one part of the Trinity with the Father and the Word (I John 5:7; Matt 28:19). He is a Him, not It.

 

What Is Power?

Power = ability to do something; ability to affect something strongly; physical or mental strength; might; vigor, energy. Compare scripture (Eph 3:16; 6:10; Col 1:11; Phil 4:13).

 

Does He Have Power?

Yes, He is omnipotent God and Creator (Gen 1:1-2; Job 26:13; 33:4; Is 40:12-17), in Jesus’ power (Luke 1:35; 11:20; Acts 10:38), and apostles changing world (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:8).

 

Is He More than Power?

Yes, He is the personal presence of God and Jesus with us and in us for intimate fellowship, far beyond a force, power, or influence (Eph 4:30; Gal 4:6; Rom 8:16; John 14:21-23).

 

Did He Give Power to Men?

Yes, He mightily empowered in both testaments (Nu 24:2; Judges 3:10; 6:34; 15:14; I Sam 10:10; 16:13; Luke 4:1; Acts 5:12-16; 19:11-12; 6:5,8,10; 7:55 cp Matt 10:19-20; Heb 2:4).

 

Does He Give Power to Ordinary Men?

Yes, the men of our text, church members at Rome, were ordinary men, and they could obtain extraordinary gifts and fruits of grace by His power (Rom 15:13; 5:5; II Cor 9:8).

 

Why Is He Compared to Water?

Water is essential for life – even for a few days. Jesus promised to end all thirst for believers with rivers flowing – spiritual power, pleasure, fruit (John 4:10-14; 7:37-39; Rev 22:17).

 

How Did the Church Get the Spirit?

God gave the Spirit to Jesus as spoil for dying for us, and then Jesus gave the Spirit to His churches (Isaiah 53:12; Matt 3:11; John 7:37-39; 15:26; Acts 2:33; Psalm 68:18; Eph 4:8).

 

Why Is He Called a Promise of the Father?

God the Father had promised the Spirit long before and He fulfilled His promise at Pentecost (Ps 68:18 cp Eph 4:8; Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-5; 2:33; Joel 2:28-32; Acts 2:16-21).

 

What Is A Main Ministry of the Spirit?

He testifies about Jesus the Son of God rather than about Himself, which indicts most Charismatics and Pentecostals (John 15:26; 16:13-15; I Cor 12:3; Eph 3:14-19; I Jn 5:6-9).

 

What Is Another Main Ministry of the Spirit?

He confirms and comforts believers inside by intimate testimony they are beloved sons of God (Acts 9:31; Rom 5:5; 8:15-16; Gal 4:6; Eph 1:13-14; 4:30; II Cor 1:22; 5:5; I Jn 4:13).

 

What Is Another Main Ministry of the Spirit?

The Holy Ghost provides conviction and strength to bear fruit to be more like Christ (Rom 14:17; 15:13; Gal 5:22-23; Eph 5:9; II Cor 3:18; Acts 9:31; 13:52; John 15:5; Phil 4:13).

 

What Is Another Ministry of the Spirit?

He assists prayer in both content and fervency, which greatly increases your holy leverage with God, thus prayer in the Holy Ghost (Rom 8:26-27; Jas 5:16; Eph 6:18; Jude 1:20).

 

Why Is He Called the Comforter?

He replaced the ascended Lord Jesus as the personal presence of God with believers, so we are not left alone (John 14:16-18,25-27; 15:26; 16:7; Acts 9:31; Rom 5:5; 15:13; Phil 2:1).

 

Why Do Baptists Often Neglect Him?

Baptists are cessationists, which means they believe the apostolic gifts ceased, and to avoid confusion with Charismatics or Pentecostals, they erroneously avoid much Spirit emphasis.

 

How Do We Get the Spirit?

We get the Holy Spirit’s personal presence, beyond regeneration, as a gift from God when we believe and obey the gospel (John 7:39; Acts 2:38-39; 5:32; 10:44-48; Eph 1:13-14).

 

Do We Get Apostolic Gifts with Him?

No, the apostolic gifts were only given in the generation of the apostles, the time of reformation stretching from John to the destruction of Jerusalem. See detailed help … here.

 

Can We Get More of the Spirit?

Yes, by obedience and prayer we may get more of Him than by baptism and obedience to the gospel (Luke 11:13; Acts 4:31; Eph 5:18; Psalm 51:11; John 14:21-23; II Kings 2:9).

 

Are there More Ministries of the Spirit?

Yes, and the best place to learn is Ephesians, where Paul identified about 12, some of which they did not yet have (Eph 1:17; 3:14-19; 5:18; etc.). See this helpful PPT sermon … here.

 

Do Ministers Need Holy Ghost Power?

Yes, and one text stands above others about the difference of God’s Spirit in a bishop, which varies from apostles to pastors (II Tim 1:6-8,14; I Cor 2:4-5; II Cor 3:5; I Cor 12:4-11).

 

What Hinders or Limits His Power?

Sin hinders or limits His power in you (Ps 66:18) … by personally grieving Him (Eph 4:30), quenching His influence (I Thess 5:19), or vexing Him to anger (Isaiah 63:10; Heb 10:29).

 

What Else Can Hinder Him?

Too much confidence or trust in yourself or any other helper indicates a lack of confidence and trust in the Holy Spirit (Zech 4:6-10; Ps 127:1; Isaiah 30:7; 31:1; Jer 17:5; II Cor 12:9).

 

What Else Can Hinder Him?

Your activities and inputs affect the Holy Spirit, so Paul condemned fornication for its use of your body (I Cor 6:12-20; II Cor 6:14-18; 7:1). He is holy, so your inputs must be holy.

 

What Is the Temple of the Holy Ghost?

A local church is His temple, He its candlestick (Eph 2:22; Rev 2:5; I Cor 3:16-17); your physical body is His temple (I Cor 6:19-20; II Cor 7:1), requiring great holiness in both.

 

Does that Mean God Is Inside Me?

Yes, for He teaches your spirit in your unseen heart (Rom 5:5; 8:9-16; I Cor 6:19-20; I John 3:24; 4:12-13; John 14:23; I Cor 2:10-16), which demands your holiness in body and spirit.

 

Does that Mean God Is Inside Our Church?

Yes, each local church is His temple, which demands our holiness, love of Christ, and commitment to truth, or He can be removed (I Cor 3:16-17; Eph 2:22; Rev 2:4-5; I Jn 4:6).

 

Can He Be Taken Away from Me?

His influence can be greatly reduced, though a full removal cannot occur in a regenerated child of God, but David witnessed Saul’s great loss (Ps 51:11; I Sam 16:13-14; Rom 8:9).

 

What About the Lord’s Day?

John was banished to Patmos, but even there he was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and he was greatly blessed, which we seek by preparing Saturday (Rev 1:10; Isaiah 58:13-14).

 

Is the Spirit Better than Spirits?

God created wine and strong drink to cheer and comfort, but Paul warned about alcohol spirits to seek more Spirit (Eph 5:18; Phil 2:1; Isaiah 25:6; 55:1; Ps 104:15; Pr 31:6-7).

 

Can Music Help the Spirit?

Yes, both testaments indicate a relationship of music to the soul to hinder evil spirits or to enhance the Holy Spirit (I Sam 10:5-6; 16:16,23; II Kings 3:15; Eph 5:18-19; James 5:13).

 

Is There a War I Should Fight?

Yes, your flesh despises the Spirit and loves everything contrary to Him, and the opposite is also true, so you must crucify the one and choose the other (Gal 5:16-25; Rom 8:5-9).

 

How Should We Measure the Spirit?

By the word of God and all it says about Him and His effect and fruit in men’s lives, so that we are not deceived by another spirit (Luke 9:55-56; II Cor 11:3-4; James 3:13-18).