My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish—ever; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. - John 10:27-29

The Holy Spirit executes or applies that which the Father wills and the Son has secured. Before we begin this morning’s message, let’s briefly go over the works of the Holy Spirit that we’ve covered thus far. Just for fun, I’ve made this list into a matching game. See how many you can pair up correctly. The Holy Spirit…

_____ 1. Convicts the Lost…             a. to All Believers
_____ 2. Convicts Believers…           b. Meaning of Scripture
_____ 3. Restrains the Rise…            c. into the Family of God
_____ 4. Effects All Aspects…           d. of the Antichrist
_____ 5. Baptizes New Believers…    e. Writing of Scripture
_____ 6. Adopts New Believers…       f. of a Believer’s Salvation
_____ 7. Gives Spiritual Gifts…          g. unto Salvation
_____ 8. Inspired the…                      h. into the Body of Christ
_____ 9. Illuminates the…                  i. unto Confession

Were you able to match them all? Great job! This morning we will discuss yet another important work of the Holy Spirit. Today’s sermon is titled, “The Keeping of the Holy Spirit”.  

I. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS A SEAL

In Biblical times, and even today, kings would use a signet ring or something similar to make their personal imprint in a seal, which was usually made of wax. The king’s seal could be placed on virtually anything and carried a variety of meanings. Kings regularly used seals to authenticate the source and authority of a written message or decree. Those who received signed and sealed orders from the king were obligated to comply. For example, the Persians fully intended to exterminate the Jews after receiving a signed and sealed order from the king (Esther 3:12, 8:8).

Other times seals were used to guarantee security or indicate possession. Much to his chagrin, King Darius placed his seal on the stone that covered Daniel’s lion’s den. It was secured by the king and was not to be opened without his consent (Daniel 6:17). The Jewish priests urged Pilate to guard and secure Jesus’ tomb, hoping to prevent it from being disturbed. A Roman seal was placed on the stone to scare off anyone who might dare move it (Matthew 27:66).

Royal seals were not to be opened by those who didn’t have the proper authority or permission. In John’s apocalyptic vision, no one could be found in Heaven, on earth, or in Hades below who was worthy to open the seals of God’s scroll except for the Lamb (Revelation 5:3, 6-9). Not even Satan himself, in all his might, had the standing or ability to break the LORD’s seal.

The presence of the Holy Spirit in a believer’s life is God’s seal upon them (Ephesians 1:13; 2 Corinthians 1:22a). It indicates that they belong to Him. As His possessions, Christians are under God’s protection and are sealed and secured until the day of their final redemption and glorification (Ephesians 4:30). The Devil and all his demonic forces are powerless to break or remove God’s seal or to steal away those who have been marked with it.

II. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS A DOWN PAYMENT

In Biblical times, and even today, buyers who made large purchases would be required to put down a pledge or down payment to ensure the seller that the remaining portion of the sale price would be paid. This initial payment was sometimes referred to as earnest and it indicated that the buyer was serious about completing the purchase. If they failed to do so, they would lose their down payment as well as the property being purchased.

In like fashion, the Bible states that the Holy Spirit’s presence within the believer is God’s down payment or pledge to someday provide them with the rest of their inheritance (2 Corinthians 1:22b; 5:5). God’s pledge will remain in force until He completes the redemption of His own possession to His praise and glory (Ephesians 1:14). The Holy Spirit is God’s earnest who guarantees that He will make good of the promises and blessings that He’s made to His people.

The Greek word used in Scripture to describe the Holy Spirit as a pledge or earnest is “arrhabon”. By simply adding an “a” to the end of it, the word changes to “arrhabona” which means engagement ring. The Holy Spirit’s indwelling presence of a Christian indicates that they are betrothed to Christ and awaiting the coming marriage of the Lamb and His Bride (Revelation 19:7).

III. THE HOLY SPIRIT PROVIDES ASSURANCE

Have you ever doubted God? Have you ever wondered if you were truly saved? Truth be told, probably all of us have from time to time. The Devil loves to stir seeds of doubt into the hearts and minds of Christians. If he can make them doubt or question the LORD and/or His motives, he can more easily tempt them into sin and/or hinder them from living in victory. Fortunately, the Holy Spirit helps believers to live with the assurance of their salvation and with the certainty of God’s promises to them.

The Holy Spirit testifies to the Christian’s human spirit assuring him or her that they are a child of God (Romans 8:16). We talked about adoption earlier in this series - God is our Father. That said, even children can sometimes feel unloved and forgotten by their parents. The Holy Spirit constantly reminds believers that God loves them and will never forsake them.

John wrote that, although no Christian has ever personally seen God, they can “know” that they are His because of the Holy Spirit’s presence within them (1 John 4:12-13). Notice that he didn’t say that it's most likely or probable… He stated that believers can know for certain that they are saved. This steadfast assurance derives from the Holy Spirit.

CONCLUSION

Baptists ascribe to a belief known by theologians as “The Eternal Security of the Believer”. This doctrine is commonly described among normal folks like myself as “Once saved, always saved”. We hold to the Biblical teaching that once a person comes to Christ, they can never fall from grace or lose their salvation. If someone professes to be a believer, but later turns from the faith and doesn’t return, then they were never truly saved to begin with. There are many verses and passages in the Bible that support this doctrine.

Eternal security is also evident in the keeping work of the Holy Spirit. The Baptist Faith and Message 2000 (our denominational statement of faith) states… “He [the Holy Spirit] seals the believer unto the day of final redemption. His presence in the Christian is the guarantee that God will bring the believer into the fullness of the stature of Christ.” Could there be any greater assurance than this?

If you have never repented of your sins and trusted in Jesus Christ for forgiveness and salvation, then you're not sealed. The Holy Spirit doesn’t abide in you, no down payment has been made to you, and you have no assurance of eternal life. But that could all change in an instant. Would you, in broken sincerity, give your life to Jesus today?

Then He [Jesus] opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in His name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.” - Luke 24:45-47

“What are the major activities or works of the Holy Spirit described in the Bible?” This is the question we’ve been seeking to answer over the last several weeks in our current sermon series. Here is listing of those that we’ve covered thus far:

The Holy Spirit…

• Executes All Divine Operations
• Convicts the Lost unto Salvation
• Convicts Believers unto Confession
• Restrains the Rise of the Antichrist
• Effects All Aspects of a Believer’s Salvation
• Baptizes New Believers Into the Body of Christ
• Adopts New Believers Into the Family of God
• Gives Spiritual Gifts to All Believers

This morning we will continue our exploration of the works of the Holy Spirit. We will discuss the relationship between the Holy Spirit and the Bible. What role did the Holy Spirit play in the development of the Bible and how does He interact with it today? Over the next 40 minutes or so, we’ll try to find some answers.

I. THE REVELATION OF GOD

According to my Bible dictionary, the word revelation means “The act of disclosing to others what was previously unknown to them. Specifically, it is God’s disclosure or communication of truth to mankind, either personally, or by his authorized agents, the prophets and apostles.” Revelation is usually categorized in 2 ways - general revelation and special revelation.

General revelation comes through creation and nature. The natural world itself declares the existence of God (Psalm 19:1-4; Romans 1:20). As such, those who deny that God exists are “without excuse” because He has made Himself evident to all people. While general revelation proves that God is real, it doesn’t explain His purposes or intentions for mankind.

Special revelation comes through supernatural means. God has, over the course of time, revealed Himself through personal appearances, dreams, visions, spoken utterances, the Word of God, and ultimately the incarnation of Jesus Christ (Hebrews 1:1-3). In these ways, God has provided humanity with specific instructions necessary for salvation and godly living.

Most Southern Baptists, myself included, believe that God’s special revelation to mankind was completed with the advent of Jesus Christ and the canonization of the Bible. God’s Word is sufficient and contains the full disclosure of His will and His instructions for humanity. Everything man needs to know about God is in the Bible. It was given “once for all”, thus no “new revelation” is necessary (Jude 1:3). Any claims of revelation from God outside of the Bible should be met with extreme skepticism.

II. THE INSPIRATION OF SCRIPTURE

God’s special revelation to mankind has been written and is preserved on the pages of the Bible. This miraculous work was accomplished by the Holy Spirit. He inspired the various human authors of the Bible to write God’s message precisely as the LORD desired. As such, God’s Word is completely trustworthy.  It is inerrant (in its original manuscripts), infallible, and fully authoritative.

The word inspiration means “God breathed” and sets the Bible apart from any other book ever written. God’s Word is just that - it is His own words written to men by men under the direction and guidance of the Holy Spirit. Every word of the Bible is inspired by the Holy Spirit and it provides everything necessary for the sinner to be saved and the believer to be fully equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:15-17). No other word is needed.

Although each Biblical author had their own unique style and linguistic personality, the Holy Spirit guarded their writing to ensure that it wasn’t an expression of their own will but rather an accurate revelation of God’s will (2 Peter 1:21). The Bible contains a beautiful collection of history, poetry, prophecy, wisdom literature, epistles (or letters), law, gospel narration, and apocalyptic writings that are attributed to around 40 different authors over a period of almost 1,500 years. Amazingly, all 66 books of the Bible fit seamlessly together and all point to its central theme - Jesus Christ. The continuity and complementary nature of Scripture attest to its divine inspiration.

III. THE ILLUMINATION OF SCRIPTURE

Illumination refers to increasing the light so that things can be seen more easily. When someone turns on the light in a dark room, the furniture and items in the room become visible. Illumination didn’t create these things - they were already there, but were hidden by the darkness. The light simply allowed them to be seen.

The same is true in a spiritual sense. The Holy Spirit illuminates the Bible so that Christians can understand the thoughts and words of God (1 Corinthians 2:10-16). His revelations are already present in the scriptures, but they are not always “seen” by individual believers. The Bible is like an inexhaustible mine of limitless treasure just waiting to be discovered. The Holy Spirit shines light on these treasures, allowing Christians to comprehend God’s truth in a deeper and more profound way.

Paul prayed that God would enlighten the eyes of the Ephesians’ hearts so that they might know the hope of His calling and the riches of His glory. Later, he prayed that they would be enabled by the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit to, among other things, comprehend the fullness of God (Ephesians 1:17-18; 3:14-19). Both of these passages refer to illumination - the ability to grasp the wondrous truths of the LORD. The Bible is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path because of the illuminating work of the Holy Spirit (Psalm 119:105).  

CONCLUSION

To sum up, revelation is the disclosure of the truth, inspiration is the recording of that truth, and illumination is the personal understanding of that truth. The Holy Spirit inspired the writing of Scripture to ensure that it perfectly and sufficiently communicates God’s special revelation to mankind. Furthermore, the Holy Spirit illuminates Scripture so that we can truly understand it when we read it. These are 2 more of the important works of the Holy Spirit.

I trust that in the last days, when we see Jesus face to face, God will reveal Himself in a much greater way. There is more revelation to come, beloved, and it promises to be spectacular. But for now, we should be content with the revelation He has given to us in creation, in Christ, and recorded on the pages of the inspired Word of God. It is enough to meet our every need. We should also be thankful that the Holy Spirit helps us to understand God’s Word, and should strive not only to know it, but to obey it!

“If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?” - Luke 11:13

A month and a half ago we began our current sermon series which I’ve titled “The Works of the Holy Spirit”. We are naming and discussing several of the major works that are accomplished by the Holy Spirit. We’ve learned that the Holy Spirit is the “executor of all divine works”, both in God’s creation and in its creatures. That said, the Bible places most of its emphasis on the Holy Spirit’s work within believers.

The Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin, so that the lost might be saved and the saved might walk more closely with the LORD. The Holy Spirit restrains the rise of the Antichrist. The Holy Spirit effects all facets of salvation, including regeneration, justification, sanctification, and glorification. The Holy Spirit unites all believers by adopting them into the family of God. He also baptizes them into the likeness of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection and adds them to the Body of Christ, which is the New Testament Church.

In this morning’s message, we’ll consider what the Holy Spirit does for Christians after baptizing them into the Body of Christ. I am calling this sermon “The Holy Spirit Distributes Gifts”. We will conduct a brief overview of the various spiritual gifts that are listed in the Bible.

I. THE PURPOSE OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS

Scripture teaches that after the Holy Spirit baptizes new believers into the Church, He gives each of them 1 or more gifts. Christians commonly refer to these as “spiritual gifts”. There are a variety of different spiritual gifts, which are to be used in a variety of different ministries to do a variety of different works in the Church. However, all of these gifts come from the same Holy Spirit who distributes them as He wills. These gifts, or manifestations of the Spirit, are to be used by members of the Body for the profit or good of the entire Body (1 Cor. 12:4-7, 11, 27).

A single body has many members, each serving its own distinct function or functions. So also the Church is made up of many members who each possess their own spiritual gift(s). These gifts are to be used harmoniously with one another to accomplish the work of the Church. Therefore, it is imperative for each member to utilize their spiritual gift(s) in order for the Body to operate in a balanced and healthy way (Romans 12:4-6a). Christians are to employ their gifts as “good stewards of the manifold grace of God” so that He might be glorified through Christ in all things (1 Peter 4:10, 11b).

II. A PARTIAL LIST OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS

There is no complete listing of the spiritual gifts anywhere in the Bible. However, there are a few passages that provide partial lists. These are often combined and considered together. Scripture implies that there are even more spiritual gifts and names several other traits and/or abilities that might qualify, though not explicitly included in any of these lists. This ambiguity has led to the creation of a variety of different spiritual gift lists and inventories over the years.

These are the spiritual gifts listed in 1 Corinthians 12:8-10, 28b and Romans 12:6-8:

Word of wisdom - to skillfully apply God’s truth to life situations; counsel.
Word of knowledge - to understand with insight the revelatory truths of God.
Faith - to possess a strong, unshakable confidence in God, His Word, and His promises.
Healings - to effect immediate physical healing for a person.
Miracles - to effect other supernatural works besides healings.
Prophecy - to declare the will, purposes, or intentions of God.
Discernment - to determine if a message or spirit is of God or of Satan. 
Tongues - to speak in languages unknown to the speaker.
Interpretation - to understand languages unknown to the hearer.
Teaching - to explain the meaning of God’s Word and how it is applied; instruct.
Exhortation - to call others to obey God’s Word, through encouragement or correction.
Giving - to joyfully share what one has with others.
Leadership - to rule or preside over others within the church.
Administration - to organize, plan, and execute tasks within the church.
Mercy - to show compassion, sympathy, and sensitivity to those who are suffering. 
Helps - to aid or render assistance to others within the church.

In his first letter, Peter divides some gifts into 2 broad categories - speaking gifts and serving gifts (1 Peter 4:11a). Some of the speaking gifts are teaching, exhortation, word of wisdom, and word of knowledge. Some of the serving gifts are leadership, administration, mercy, and helps. Other categories have been suggested by various people or groups for the remaining gifts, such as enabling gifts and sign gifts.

Some Christians include apostleship, prophecy, evangelism, shepherding (pastoring), and teaching in the list of spiritual gifts (Ephesians 4:11-12; 1 Cor. 12:28a). Others, myself included, view these as offices within the first-century church, not necessarily spiritual gifts. This perspective holds that the New Testament apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers possessed the 1 or more of the aforementioned gifts.

III. THE DEBATE OVER THE SIGN GIFTS

The sign gifts, or miraculous gifts, include healing, miracles, tongues, interpretation, and prophecy (when defined as receiving extra-biblical revelation). There is a debate within Christianity regarding these particular spiritual gifts. Continuationists argue that the Holy Spirit still distributes these spiritual gifts just as He did in the early days of the church. Cessassionists hold that the sign gifts have ceased and are no longer distributed to individual believers as they were when the church first began (1 Cor. 13:8). Based upon years of study, the historically held position of Southern Baptists is cessationism.

The majority of Southern Baptists contend that the miraculous gifts were given to the apostles and a handful of their closest associates during the infancy of the Church in order to establish their credibility and the authority of their message. However, once the Church was firmly established and entrenched, the sign gifts ceased. As these individuals died, so also did the office of apostleship. I often compare the sign gifts to booster rockets on a space shuttle. They were needed to get the Christian Church off the ground, but then became unnecessary for and a deterrent to the furtherance of its mission and fell off.  

Cessationists are often accused of denying the miraculous work of the Holy Spirit today. Such accusations are blatantly false. Cessationists believe that the Holy Spirit can and regularly pray that He will miraculously heal people and perform other supernatural works, in accordance with God’s will, and at His discretion. These miraculous works may even be carried out on occasion through an individual person, but often they are not. What cessationists dispute is that particular Christians today are gifted with the ability to perform these spectacular signs at their own discretion.   

CONCLUSION

I know we have chased a few rabbits this morning and I apologize, but spiritual gifts - especially the ongoing distribution and use of the sign gifts - are a hotly contested topic in modern Christianity. Many of the popular Charismatic and Pentecostal churches and movements have become fascinated with these gifts. This has led to rampant abuse and outright deception on the part of some, resulting in the disillusionment and dismay of many of their congregants. It has also drawn attention away from the much more significant, eternal works of the Holy Spirit.

Let’s get back to the main point. After baptizing a born again believer into the Body of Christ, the Holy Spirit distributes 1 or more spiritual gifts to them. Although the exact number of spiritual gifts is uncertain and the viability of some is disputed, those that are given are to be used to edify the Church and advance its mission.

In closing, if you are a Christian, you have been given at least 1 spiritual gift. How are you using it to serve the church? If you're not using it, the body is suffering. I’m not trying to guilt anyone, but if the shoe fits… We are not called to be spectators, friends, but rather participants in the LORD’s kingdom work.

After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and He saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him, - Matthew 3:16

Well, hello again and welcome! This morning we will continue our series on “The Works of the Holy Spirit”. Before we begin, let’s look back at some of the works we’ve already covered. 

The Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment providing lost people with the opportunity to be saved and calling believers to continual confession of unconfessed sin so that their fellowship with God and effectiveness for Him may be unhindered.

The Holy Spirit currently prevents this world from becoming completely overwhelmed and dominated by sin. He restrains the rise of the Antichrist (the Man of Lawlessness) and thereby delays God’s final judgment, and will continue to do so until He is taken away.

The Holy Spirit effects all aspects of salvation. He regenerates the new believer, making them spiritually alive. He justifies the new believer, acquitting them of their sin so that they stand blameless before God. He sanctifies believers, working to put away the deeds of the flesh and increasingly conform them into the image of God as they grow and mature in their faith. When Christ returns, He will glorify all believers by fully and finally removing all remnants of sin from them and will fit them with incorruptible and immortal bodies that are fashioned for eternity.

We are just getting started in our study of the amazing works of the Holy Spirit. In today’s sermon, we will add a few more to our growing list. I have titled this message “The Adjoining Works of the Holy Spirit”. Here we go!

I. BAPTIZED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT 

Just prior to His ascension into Heaven, Jesus gathered the apostles together and commanded them to wait in Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit fell upon them. He said, “John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” (Acts 1:4-5) What did Jesus mean when He said this? What is baptism of the Holy Spirit?

The Bible teaches that all Christians, regardless of their ethnicity or social status, are baptized by the Holy Spirit into the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12-13) . This is something that happens to all believers at the moment of salvation. When a sinner receives Christ, the Holy Spirit instantaneously “baptizes” them into the Church. Christians do not have to initiate this baptism or seek it out. The baptism of the Holy Spirit happens once and only once in the life of all believers.

Scripture also states that when a lost person trusts in Jesus, they are “buried with Him” in baptism (Colossians 2:12). In other words, they are baptized into the likeness of His death. Having become unified with Him, they also share in the likeness of His resurrection so that they might walk in newness of life (Romans 6:3-5). When a person is baptized in the Holy Spirit, the redeeming work of Christ that was accomplished and secured through His death, burial, and resurrection is applied to and actualized within the new believer.  

This spiritual reality is pictured symbolically in water baptism. Water baptism alone does not lead to salvation, whereas baptism of the Holy Spirit corresponds with it (Acts 19:1-7). John the Baptist was fully aware of the limitations of water baptism for the repentance of sin. While it was an expression of guilt and the desire for forgiveness, it was not a profession of belief in Christ. He spoke of One coming after him, who would be greater than him, who would baptize people with the Holy Spirit, leading not only to forgiveness, but to salvation (Mark 1:7-8).   

II. ADOPTED INTO GOD’S FAMILY

The Bible says that everyone who has a saving belief in Jesus Christ is given the right to become a child of God (John 1:12). John marvels in the love of God and celebrates the fact that all Christians are His children (1 John 3:1). The Bible uses this language throughout, describing God as the Father and believers as His sons and daughters.

Jesus came to redeem sinners that they might receive adoption as His sons (Galatians 4:4-7). This miraculous work is carried out by the “Spirit of adoption”, aka the Holy Spirit, who indwells believers (Romans 8:14-17). When a person is saved, they are spiritually adopted into the family of God and, as His children, become heirs of His inheritance.

During the Passover meal, just hours before His arrest and crucifixion, Jesus promised that He would send the Holy Spirit to indwell and empower the apostles after His departure. He assured them that He would not “leave them as orphans” (John 14:18). When the Holy Spirit arrived, they would be adopted into the family of God. So it is with all believers who place their faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.  

III. UNITED WITH BELIEVERS

Through His work of baptism and adoption, the Holy Spirit unites all Christians together in profound ways (Ephesians 4:1-6). There is 1 Holy Spirit who indwells all believers. There is 1 baptism that He executes in the lives of all believers. This baptism joins them to 1 body, making them all members of 1 church. Christians are united as fellow members of the Body of Christ, who are called to work together harmoniously to advance the kingdom of God.

There is only 1 faith in 1 Lord, Jesus Christ, that leads to salvation. When a sinner is saved they are reconciled with the 1 God and adopted by the 1 Spirit into His family. God the Father, who sent His Son Jesus to seek and to save the lost, is the father of all people who have trusted in Him. Christians are united as the children of God; they are spiritual brothers and sisters.

Believers should strive to live in unity with each other understanding that they are siblings in the same family. Paul urges Christians to be humble, gentle, and patient with one another. He implores God’s children to bear with one another in love and be diligent to keep the Spirit of unity in the bond of peace. Beloved, the Holy Spirit brings unity to believers in that they are all fellow members of His body (the church) and are all siblings in His family (the children of God).  

CONCLUSION

This morning we have discussed the baptism of the Holy Spirit, the doctrine of adoption, and the importance of Christian unity. We have explored how the Holy Spirit works to join or bind believers together in these ways. Before we close, let’s briefly summarize what we’ve learned.
 
Baptism of the Holy Spirit brings a new believer into the fellowship of the Church, making them a member of the Body of Christ. It also allows them to participate in and partake of the benefits secured by Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection. It is effected by the Holy Spirit in the lives of all new believers at the moment of their salvation.

The Holy Spirit adopts new believers into the family of God. As His adopted sons and daughters, Christians receive all the rights and blessings that are afforded to God’s children. They become heirs of the inheritance He has prepared for them.

Believers are brought into unity with each other when they become co-members of Christ’s body, the church, and become brothers and sisters in the family of God. They should embrace this unity with one another that is made possible by the Holy Spirit and should strive to walk in it.

Next week we will continue this series on the works of the Holy Spirit with a message about the spiritual gifts. When a person is baptized into the Body of Christ, the Holy Spirit gifts them to serve the body. More about this next Sunday… have a blessed week.

Therefore I say to you, any sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven people, but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven. And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.- Matthew 12:31-32

Last Sunday we discussed the Holy’s Spirit’s dealings with sin. We learned that He convicts the world of “sin, righteousness, and judgment” so that lost souls might come to salvation in Jesus Christ. After a person is redeemed He continues to convict them of unconfessed sin so that they might walk in closer fellowship with God and be more effective in their Christian witness and service. In addition, the Holy Spirit’s indwelling presence within believers who make up the New Testament Church restrains or prevents the Antichrist from ascending to power, thereby delaying the events of the end times and God’s final judgment upon the earth.  

When an unbeliever comes under Holy Spirit conviction and places their faith in Jesus Christ as the Lord of their lives, they are immediately “saved” and indwelt by the Holy Spirit. There are several facets of Biblical salvation and the Holy Spirit is integral to each of them. According to The Baptist Faith and Message 2000 (BFM2000) “salvation includes regeneration, justification, sanctification, and glorification.” In our message this week, we’ll consider how the Holy Spirit works to accomplish all 4 of these components of salvation.

I. EFFECTS REGENERATION 

The BFM2000 states “Regeneration, or the new birth, is a work of God’s grace whereby believers become new creatures in Christ Jesus.” Regeneration is a supernatural work in which a person who was dead in their trespasses and sins is made spiritually alive or alive to Christ (Ephesians 2:1,5). This rebirth is made possible by the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5).

Jesus spoke with a Pharisee named Nicodemus about regeneration (John 3:1-8). He said that in order for a person to see the kingdom of God they must be born again. He explained that this regeneration was not of a physical nature, but rather a spiritual one. In order to be truly saved, a person must be born of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit regenerates a repentant sinner.

Christ abides in believers through the presence of the Holy Spirit. When the Holy Spirit indwells a person, their spirit is made alive (regenerated) while their body of flesh remains dead (Romans 8:9-10). The new birth is the beginning of a new life in Jesus Christ. 

II. EFFECTS JUSTIFICATION

The BFM2000 states “Justification is God’s gracious and full acquittal upon principles of His righteousness of all sinners who repent and believe in Christ. Justification brings the believer unto a relationship of peace and favor with God.” Acquittal is a legal term which means to declare someone innocent or without fault. So when God justifies a new believer, He determines that they are not guilty, because their sin has already been placed upon and paid for by Jesus Christ. Furthermore, they are freed from the punishment associated with that sin.

Justification is effected by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:11). In fact, the Bible teaches that Jesus Himself was vindicated or “justified” by the Spirit (1 Timothy 3:16). The difference between Jesus’ justification and humanity’s is that He was declared “not guilty” of sin because He was actually sinless, whereas we are declared “not guilty” of sin because He became our substitute. When a person is justified, they are made righteous in His sight and their standing before Him is restored (2 Corinthians 5:21).

III. EFFECTS SANCTIFICATION

The BFM2000 states “Sanctification is the experience, beginning in regeneration, by which the believer is set apart to God’s purposes, and is enabled to progress toward moral and spiritual maturity through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit dwelling in him. Growth in grace should continue throughout the regenerate person’s life.” Sanctification is a life-long process in which a Christian is increasingly conformed to the image of Christ. This gradual transformation is brought about by the Holy Spirit (1 Peter 1:2; 2 Corinthians 3:18).

In his letter to the church at Rome, Paul urged believers to live by the Spirit rather than according to the flesh. By doing so, the practices of the body (our old, sinful thoughts and behaviors) are put to death or brought into submission (Romans 8:12-13). This is referred to as mortification. As our carnal natures are increasingly subdued, we became further sanctified by the purifying work of the Holy Spirit.

IV. EFFECTS GLORIFICATION

The BFM2000 states “Glorification is the culmination of salvation and is the final blessed and abiding state of the redeemed.” Whereas regeneration is the beginning of the sanctification process, glorification is the ending of it. Glorification will take place when sin is finally and fully removed from the lives of believers and God’s glory is revealed in them (Romans 8:18).  

Glorification will involve putting on a new glorified body that is not tainted by or inclined to sin (1 Corinthians 15:51-53). Our present bodies of flesh will be done away with and replaced with glorious bodies that are fitted for eternity (Philippians 3:20-21). It was the Holy Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead, and He will raise the mortal bodies of believers also that we might dwell with Christ forever (Romans 8:11, 17).

CONCLUSION

The convicting work of the Holy Spirit affords lost people with the opportunity to accept Christ and receive salvation. Beyond this, the Holy Spirit works to effect regeneration, justification, sanctification, and glorification within the lives of those who are saved. Thus, every facet of salvation is carried out by the Holy Spirit.
  
When a person places their faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior, they are regenerated or “born again”. They die to sin, are freed from it, and are made spiritually alive to Christ. New believers are also justified. They are forgiven of their sin, acquitted and declared innocent, and pardoned of its penalty. Over the course of their lives, believers are sanctified as they mature in their faith, mortify the deeds of the flesh, and are increasingly transformed into the image of Christ. This process culminates with glorification, which will occur when Jesus returns. At this time all remnants of sin will be purged from the believer’s life and they will be fitted with an incorruptible and imperishable body. With these various aspects of salvation in mind, it is appropriate to say that Christians have been saved, are being saved, and will be saved. And again I emphasize, it is all done by the Holy Spirit. Incredible!

In our next message, we will look at another work of the Holy Spirit that takes place at the moment of salvation. We will discuss what it means to be baptized in the Holy Spirit. I hope you’ll be able to join us again this upcoming Sunday. Until then, have a blessed week.

“But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Advocate [Holy Spirit] will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.” - John 16:7

The Holy Spirit is fully and completely God, equal with the Father and the Son in all aspects of His deity. Furthermore, He has personal characteristics just as the Father and Son do. He is the 3rd Person of the Trinity and His role is to execute or carry out that which the Father wills and the Son has secured within creation (particularly in the lives of believers).

Throughout the Old Testament era, the Holy Spirit selectively came upon particular people, often temporarily and/or for a specific purpose. The Church Age began when the Spirit fell upon the apostles at Pentecost, and since then He permanently indwells all believers from the moment of their salvation until that of their physical death. Therefore, His presence is full and constant within the lives of those who are saved. Christians should understand that being filled with the Spirit means living under His influence and control.

This morning we will begin discussing several specific works of the Holy Spirit starting with how He deals with sin. We will consider how He reveals to various people the dangerous effects of sin and how He presently prevents sin from overwhelming the world. This message is titled, appropriately enough, “The Holy Spirit’s Dealings with Sin”.

I. CONVICTS THE LOST

Jesus stated that the Holy Spirit convicts “the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment” (John 16:8-11). When the Holy Spirit's conviction comes upon a lost person, He impresses upon them the horror and gravity of their sin which often leads them to experience feelings of guilt and shame. Beyond their need for forgiveness, however, He also reveals their own depraved, carnal nature and desperate need to be made righteous. Finally, He shows them that apart from salvation in Christ Jesus they will face God’s just and deserved judgment and condemnation.

The Bible clearly teaches that no person can come to God on their own prerogative. In ancient cultures, no one was allowed access to or audience with the king without an invitation (Esther 4:11).In the same way, a fallen sinner cannot simply approach the King of kings whenever they choose. Jesus taught that no one could come to Him unless drawn by the Father (John 6:44). This drawing occurs when the Holy Spirit convicts a lost person. Holy Spirit conviction is the invitation that allows access to King Jesus.

There is no salvation apart from Holy Spirit conviction. Thus, the work of the Holy Spirit to convict lost people is absolutely critical in God’s redemptive plan. Many of His other works do not even begin until after a person repents of their sin and accepts Jesus as Lord and Savior. Moments of Holy Spirit conviction come and go in the lives of nonbelievers, and are only afforded as God allows. For this reason, when a lost person comes under Holy Spirit conviction they should not resist His stirring (Acts 7:51), but should rather seize the opportunity to receive salvation in Christ Jesus while it's being extended to them.

II. CONTINUES TO CONVICT CHRISTIANS

Even after a person accepts Christ, they continue to commit sins. The Apostle Paul spoke about this dilemma at length in his letter to the Romans (Romans 7:14-20). He struggled with doing the things he didn’t want to do while not doing those that he wanted to do. Beloved, despite being made right with God, a Christian still has to contend with their fleshly nature. Although they have been made new, that newness is not yet completely realized. As they mature in Christ, grow in His likeness, and increase in their knowledge and understanding of His will and Word, they will sin less, but will never reach perfection or sinlessness in this life.

Therefore, the Holy Spirit continues to convict believers of sin by making them aware of their transgressions and ongoing need to confess them. Scripture states that if Christians will confess their sin, the LORD will forgive them and cleanse them of all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). In the model prayer, Jesus taught believers to regularly pray that their sins would be forgiven (Matthew 6:12), indicating that sin still persists after salvation.

When a Christian confesses sin, their fellowship with or closeness to God is restored. Their witness for God is strengthened and their fruitfulness increases. Unconfessed sin in the life of a believer renders them ineffectual and perhaps even detrimental to the cause of Christ. Thus, the Holy Spirit’s conviction of sin in the lives of Christians is extremely important to their own spiritual well-being as well as to the larger congregation.

III. RESTRAINS THE MAN OF SIN

In the days of Noah, evil had grown so great and sin so prevalent on the earth that God decided to bring about widespread judgment upon mankind (Genesis 6:5-8). He sent a flood that wiped out all of sinful humanity, sparing only Noah and his immediate family. They were charged with  repopulating the earth and starting over again. This global catastrophe occurred during the Old Testament, when the Holy Spirit was not indwelling believers in the same way that He is now.

The Bible teaches that God intends to judge the earth and its inhabitants again (2 Peter 3:7-10). Leading up to this judgment, the Antichrist will rise to power and establish dominion over the nations and peoples of the earth. He will display all sorts of supernatural abilities and powers, deceiving many into believing that He is the Christ. However, he will turn against God’s people and persecute them mercilessly until Jesus returns and the LORD’s judgment is poured out.  

Although the world today is saturated with sin and iniquity as it was in Noah’s day, the Holy Spirit’s indwelling presence within believers (ie, the New Testament Church) prevents it from being completely overwhelmed by evil. The Bible refers to the Holy Spirit as the one who restrains the Antichrist, thereby preventing his ascension to power and delaying the judgment that will surely follow. However, when the Restrainer is taken out of the way, there will be no one on earth with the power to prevent sin’s dominance or postpone God’s judgment (2 Thessalonians 2:6-7). I believe that this will take place at the Rapture, when the Holy Spirit’s indwelling presence will depart as Christians are caught up to Heaven, ushering in the 7-year Tribulation and the rise of the Antichrist. 

CONCLUSION

The Holy Spirit convicts lost people of their sin, providing them with opportunities to receive salvation. He also convicts believers, prompting them to confess their sins in order to restore and maintain their fellowship with God. Finally, He restrains the rise of the Antichrist and prevents sin from completely engulfing the world. Over the next few weeks we are going to explore more of the Holy Spirit’s work as it pertains to salvation.

Before we close today, I want you to consider how amazing these works are. We as sinful people would be eternally lost and completely without hope apart from the access we have to Christ through the Holy Spirit’s convicting power. Friends, this is a miraculous work that enables people to find eternal life in and through Jesus. It alone is more remarkable, profound, and eternally significant than any and all physical healings and/or natural miracles. The Holy Spirit’s greatest works are not necessarily seen with the eye.

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed, to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord.” - Luke 4:18-19

Last Sunday we began a new sermon series called “The Works of the Holy Spirit”. We began by identifying who the Holy Spirit is and what role He plays within the Trinity. We looked at several scriptures which clearly and definitively teach that the Holy Spirit is God - He is not a force, feeling, or phantom. He is the 3rd Person of the triune Godhead - Father, Son, and Spirit. The Holy Spirit is a divine person who possesses both the characterics of God and personal attributes. He carries out or executes the will of the Father within creation (which includes applying the redemptive work of the Son within believers). To use Mike Riccardi’s term, the Holy Spirit is “The Executor of All Divine Operations”.

God’s creative, sustaining, and ongoing work within the natural universe is performed by the Holy Spirit. We see this displayed in several instances throughout scripture. However, the Bible spends much more time discussing the works of the Holy Spirit within the lives of believers than it does within the natural order, not that those aren’t remarkable. God is more concerned about His people than the earth upon which they live. That said, this morning we are going to speak about “The Presence of the Holy Spirit” within Christians. 

I. THE INDWELLING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

There is a significant difference between the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament and in the New Testament. During the Old Testament and prior to Pentecost, the Holy Spirit selectively came upon particular people, often temporarily and/or for a specific purpose. If that individual fell out of favor with God or when their special service was complete, the Holy Spirit could depart from them (Psalm 51:11). For example, the Holy Spirit came upon King Saul enabling him to prophesy (1 Samuel 10:10), but then later left him after his sinful disobedience (1 Samuel 16:14). We see this same activity with several other Old Testament characters including various kings and judges, perhaps most notably Samson (Judges 14:6, 16:20).

Near the end of His earthly ministry and time of His departure, Jesus promised the disciples that He would ask the Father to send the Holy Spirit to abide in them “forever” (John 14:16-17). In keeping with this promise, when the Holy Spirit fell upon the apostles at Pentecost the manner of indwelling changed. Since that time, the Spirit permanently indwells all believers who have accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior (Acts 2:38). His inner-presence is not selective, temporary, or task-specific. By permanent, I mean constantly, from the moment of someone’s salvation until their physical death. He does not come and go throughout their lives.

When we present the gospel to children or new believers, we often invite them to “Ask Jesus to come into their heart”. In reality, it is the Spirit of Christ (that is, the Holy Spirit) who comes into and abides within those who are saved (1 John 3:24). The Spirit of God dwells within all Christians, and His absence indicates that someone is not truly saved (Romans 8:9). In addition, the Bible teaches that the physical bodies of believers are the temple of God, because the Holy Spirit resides within them (1 Corinthians 3:16-17; 6:19-20). For this reason, we should take care of ourselves and practice good health. These and many other similar verses and passages teach that the Holy Spirit permanently indwells Christians today.

II. THE FALLING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

Although the Holy Spirit was already present and active during the Old Testament, the prophet Joel spoke of a coming day when He would be poured out upon all mankind (Joel 2:28-29). This outpouring or “falling” was a unique, one-time historical event that marked the beginning of the Church Age. The Holy Spirit fell upon believers living at that time who, despite being saved by faith, were not yet “indwelt” by the Holy Spirit. This transformation is documented in the book of Acts and occurred in 3 distinct phases. The Holy Spirit first fell upon the apostles in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost resulting in the salvation of 3,000 Jews (Acts 2:1-4). Next He fell upon Samaritan believers (Acts 8:14-17) and finally upon Gentile believers (Acts 10:44-45). These 3 instances represent the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on all people groups - the Jews, the Samaritans, and the Gentiles.  

Following the outpouring of the Holy Spirit described above, there are no additional instances in the Bible when the Holy Spirit spontaneously “fell” or was “poured out” upon a believer or group of believers. Such an action would be redundant and unnecessary seeing that there were no longer any believers who were void of the Holy Spirit, nor would there be in the future. Why would the Holy Spirit need to fall upon those who were already indwelt by Him? Are we to believe that the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit becomes stale over time and needs to be refreshed? Certainly not!

For Christians today, it is reasonable to pray for the Holy Spirit to pour Himself out or “fall” upon lost people or heathen nations because He does not yet abide in them. However, this is not a prayer that believers need to pray for themselves or one another. My concern is that many modern church-goers who pray for the Holy Spirit to “fall” upon them or their congregations are more interested in seeing, receiving, and/or performing the miracles that were associated with His initial outpouring than they are in living in faithful obedience to God.

III. THE FILLING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

Being “filled” with the Spirit can have different meanings depending on how it is used. In some instances it refers to indwelling, which we’ve already discussed. When a sinner comes to faith in Christ, they are filled with the Holy Spirit at the moment of their salvation. This filling is the initial arrival of the Holy Spirit within the life of the new believer.

Another meaning of being “filled” with the Holy Spirit applies to those who are already Christians. In fact, the Word of God encourages believers to be continuously filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18). Now you may ask, if a Christian is permanently indwelt by the Holy Spirit from the moment of their salvation, aren’t they already filled with the Holy Spirit? Yes, they are filled with His presence, but may not be swayed by His influence. Let me explain…

The Greek word “pneuma” in the New Testament and the Hebrew word “ruach” in the Old Testament are the most commonly used words for spirit found in the Bible. Both of these words can also mean breath or wind. The Holy Spirit is frequently described as breath or wind in the Bible (Job 26:13, John 3:8). That said, when we think about the “filling” of the Holy Spirit within the lives of Christians, we shouldn’t imagine a container being filled with wine or grain, but rather a sail being filled with the wind. Figuratively speaking, the wind of the Holy Spirit is always blowing within those who are indwelt by Him, but they must hoist their sails in order to capture it lest they row in their own strength, perhaps even against it.  

Paul warns believers not to “quench the Spirit” with sinful behaviors and evil practices (1 Thessalonians 5:19). Such carnality is the opposite of Spirit-filled living. However, when Christians submit to God’s will and walk in faithful obedience to HIs commands, they metaphorically hoist their sails and are filled with His Spirit who then propels them with the LORD’s strength in the direction that He desires for them to go.

CONCLUSION

Let’s take a moment to go over the major points of today’s sermon.

During the Old Testament and prior to Pentecost, the Holy Spirit selectively came upon particular people, often temporarily and/or for a specific purpose. If that individual fell out of favor with God or when their special service was complete, the Holy Spirit could depart from them.

The manner of the Holy Spirit’s presence in people’s lives changed when He was poured out or “fell” upon the apostles at Pentecost. His outpouring included the Jews, Samaritans, and Gentiles - ie, all people. Since then, the Holy Spirit permanently indwells all believers from the moment of their salvation until their physical deaths. He doesn't come and go.

Seeing that Christians today are already indwelt by the fullness of the Holy Spirit, they should understand that being “filled” by the Spirit has to do with being under His control, not being in His presence. When Christians live in submission to God’s will and faithful obedience to His commands, they are “filled” with the Holy Spirit who gives them strength and guidance.

Next week we will begin looking at specific works that the Holy Spirit accomplishes within the lives of God’s people. Until then, have a blessed week.

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. And the earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. - Genesis 1:1-2

This morning we are beginning a new sermon series titled “The Works of the Holy Spirit”. We are going to spend the next few months discussing the role and various activities of the Holy Spirit according to Scripture. I decided to preach on this topic after attending a conference last fall with my son and hearing Mike Riccardi, a prominent theologian and professor who works with John MacArthur at Grace Community Church in California, speak about it. This is a very timely issue as there is much confusion and misinformation about the Holy Spirit being promoted in the Christian church right now, especially within more pentecostal and charismatic movements. Some of these influences are beginning to infiltrate and affect more conservative traditions, including Southern Baptists. That said, we need to have a solid, informed, and Biblically based understanding of the Holy Spirit and what He does.

Before we delve into the numerous works of the Holy Spirit, let’s start by clearly identifying who He is and what role He plays. This opening message will be the foundation upon which the remainder of the series rests. It is called “Who Is the Holy Spirit?”.

I. THE IDENTITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

There are many flawed and/or erroneous teachings about the identity of the Holy Spirit. I can remember as a child hearing Him called the Holy Ghost regularly by church leaders. Thankfully this misleading term is not as common in Christianity as it used to be. It conjures up the idea that the Holy Spirit is like an apparition of a dead person who appears to be alive. This is ridiculous. Some people mistakenly liken the Holy Spirit to a mystical force. Think about the Star Wars movies and how the Jedis were taught to use and trust “the force”. Friends, the Holy Spirit is not merely an intense feeling, inclination, or impression. Still others believe that the Holy Spirit is more like an impersonal power source which is available for Christians to tap into. Again, the Holy Spirit is much more than this.

The Bible unequivocally teaches that the Holy Spirit is God. In Acts 5:3-4, Peter rebukes Ananias for lying to the Holy Spirit about the price of a piece of property that he sold and concludes that by doing so he has lied to God. Peter’s statement clearly equates the Holy Spirit with God - they are the same.

The Holy Spirit is the 3rd Person of the Godhead or Trinity. The Baptist Faith and Message 2000 describes the doctrine of the Trinity like this: “The eternal triune God reveals Himself to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, with distinct personal attributes, but without division of nature, essence, or being.” Though this explanation defies human understanding, by faith we as Christians accept and believe that the Holy Spirit is simultaneously unified with, distinct from, and equal to the Father and the Son.

II. THE DIVINITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

The Holy Spirit possesses all of the divine characteristics of God. He is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent. These shared characteristics confirm that He is not simply a feeling, phantom, or force, but rather He is God. 

By omnipotent, we mean that He is all-powerful. In Luke 1:35, the angel Gabriel tells Mary that “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you” and you will give birth to the Son of God. In this verse and many others like it throughout Scripture, we see that the power of Almighty God is inherent in the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is omnipotent.

By omniscient, we mean that God is all-knowing. In 1 Corinthians 2:10-11, Paul writes that “no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.” This verse plainly teaches that the Holy Spirit knows the thoughts of God. Seeing that God knows all things, then the Holy Spirit likewise knows all things. He is omniscient.

By omnipresent, we mean that God is everywhere present. In Psalm 139:7-8, David asks “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.” There is no place to hide from the Holy Spirit, because He is present everywhere. He is omnipresent.

III. THE PERSONHOOD OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

Although the Holy Spirit does not have a physical or material body, He is still a divine person. He possesses a mind, emotions, and a will. These are personal traits, like those of human beings. We share these attributes with God because we were created in His image. The proper pronoun for the Holy Spirit is “He”, just like it is for God the Father or God the Son.

The Holy Spirit has a mind. Going back to 1 Corinthians 2:10-11, which we cited earlier in this message, He knows all things and “searches” the depths of God. In other words, the Holy Spirit ponders, reflects upon, examines, and investigates the thoughts of God. These are the mental and intellectual exercises of a mind.

The Holy Spirit has emotions. In Ephesians 4:30, Paul writes that our sinful behaviors “grieve” the Holy Spirit. He is actually saddened by our disobedience. In Romans 8:26-27, we read that the Holy Spirit intercedes for us in accordance to God’s will with “groanings too deep for words”. These are just a couple of examples of the Holy Spirit’s feelings and emotions.

The Holy Spirit has a will. In 1 Corinthians 12:7-11, Paul explains that the Holy Spirit distributes various spiritual gifts to the members of Christ’s body. How does He determine who receives each particular gift or gifts? Paul concludes this passage by stating that the Holy Spirit apportions them “as He wills.” It is His prerogative to decide. 

IV. THE ROLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

As stated previously, each Person of the Trinity - the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit - is fully and equally God. None of them are less or lower than the others in any way. However, each serves a particular role within the Godhead. It is the Holy Spirit’s role to carry out or execute the will of the Father within creation (which includes applying the redemptive work of the Son in the lives of believers). In other words, what God the Father decrees and the Son has secured the Holy Spirit accomplishes, both within the hearts of believers and in the natural universe. At the conference I mentioned in the introduction of this morning’s message, Mike Riccardi referred to the Holy Spirit as the “Executor of all Divine Operations”.

No analogy is perfect so we should be careful when using them, but they can be helpful. When I think about the manner in which God chooses to work, I like to picture the Father as the brain and the Holy Spirit as the hands and feet. What the brain desires, the hands and feet do. Without the brain, the hands and feet don’t function. Without the hands and feet, the brain’s desires cannot be realized. They work together to get things done. The power of the Holy Spirit to affect change is governed by the will of the Father.

CONCLUSION

As we conclude, let’s quickly review the major points of today’s message.  

First, the Holy Spirit is God. He is the 3rd Person of the Trinity - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Second, the Holy Spirit is divine. He is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent.
Third, the Holy Spirit is a person. He possesses a mind, emotions, and will.
Fourth, the Holy Spirit carries out or executes the will of the Father within creation (which includes the redemptive work of the Son within believers).

Now that we have established who the Holy Spirit is, we can begin exploring many of the things that He does. In the coming weeks we will examine several works of the Holy Spirit. I am eagerly looking forward to it and I hope you are too. God bless you.

This morning I delivered the annual "State of the Church Address".  We reviewed some of the highlights at Calvary Baptist Church in 2024.  We acknowledged and celebrated many of the ways God worked in and through our church last year.  We also reviewed our annual financial statement and emphasized the mission giving and building projects that were accomplished in 2024.  It was an awesome year!  Then we looked forward to 2025 and previewed a few things we are looking forward to in the coming months.  The bottom line... God showed Himself faithful to us again last year, and we anticipate great things in the year ahead as He continues to work in and through our little church.  The state of the church is good, because we serve a good and righteous LORD.  Our new sermon series on "The Works of the Holy Spirit" will begin next week.  God bless you. 

And Mary said: “My soul exalts the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. For He has had regard for the humble state of His bondslave; For behold, from this time on all generations will count me blessed. For the Mighty One has done great things for me; and holy is His name. And His mercy is upon generation after generation toward those who fear Him. He has done mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their heart. He has brought down rulers from their thrones, and has exalted those who were humble. He has filled the hungry with good things; and sent away the rich empty-handed. He has given help to Israel His servant, in remembrance of His mercy, as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and his descendants forever.” - Luke 1:46-55

This morning I will deliver my 11th Christmas sermon as your pastor. As you’ve discovered by now, each year I try to come up with something fresh and different for this special occasion. I don’t want our annual service to become rote and mundane. So in preparation for this Sunday, I took a look back over the past 10 Christmas messages I’ve given here at Calvary Baptist Church. These were the topics and/or titles we’ve tackled over the last decade:
 
God’s Wrapped Gift - The Swaddling Clothes
The Indescribable Gift - The Blessing of Jesus
Traditional Advent Series with Candle
The Significance of Virgin Birth
What Is Hannakuh?
The Star of Bethlehem
An Old Testament Christmas
The Genealogy of Christ
The Nativity Story - Luke 2
The Wise Men - Matthew 2

I’m not sure how much longer I’ll be able to come up with new ideas. However, about a month ago my mind was drawn to “The Magnificat” in Luke 1:46-55. I decided to preach on it as this year’s Christmas sermon. Then, just a few days ago, I saw that this week’s Sunday School lesson focused on Luke 1:26-38. That said, if you were in Sunday School this morning you’ve just finished studying some of the background and context for the upcoming message. I just love it when things fall into place like that! It gives me a sense of affirmation. Still, for those who missed Sunday School, let’s begin by setting the scene.

BACKGROUND

The angel Gabriel appeared to the virgin Mary and told her that she had been chosen by the LORD to be the mother of Christ. She would conceive of the Holy Spirit, give birth to the Son of God, and would call His name Jesus. He would be the long awaited Messiah who would reign over His people Israel forever. Furthermore, Gabriel told Mary that her cousin Elizabeth, who was past normal childbearing age, and her husband Zacharias were also expecting a child.

So Mary left her hometown of Nazareth to go visit Elizabeth, both to see how she was progressing and to tell her of her own supernatural pregnancy. Mary greeted Elizabeth when she arrived, but before she could deliver the wonderful news Elizabeth felt her baby kick inside her womb. Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and cried out, “Blessed are you Mary. For the child you carry is the Lord and even my unborn baby recognizes Him and has leaped for joy!”

Though Mary had yet to reveal anything about her condition, both Elizabeth and her soon-to-be born son (John the Baptist) already knew and rejoiced that she was to be the mother of Jesus. Amazed, Mary sang a poetic song of praise to the LORD which is known as “The Magnificat” or “The Song of Mary”. The Latin word magnificat means to magnify, exalt, or glorify. 

PART 1

Mary opens her song with an expression of exultation and praise unto the LORD. Then she proceeds to explain the reasons for her joy. These can be divided into 3 categories, or stanzas, of poetic lyrics. The first is because God has chosen her to be the mother of Jesus.

Speaking of herself, Mary declares that “God has regarded the humble state of His servant”. This statement indicates that she is both humble and a servant of the LORD. She does not think highly of herself, but rather is quiet, meek, and modest. She continues by recognizing the historical significance of her calling, rightly proclaiming that from “this time on all generations will count me blessed”. She has a grasp on the magnitude of her role. Finally, she exclaims that “the Mighty One has done great things for me” not only in this instance but throughout her life and hallows His wonderful name.

PART 2

As Mary continues singing, her focus shifts to a second category of reasons for her joy - because God chooses to bless others who are like her.

She starts by saying that from generation to generation, “God bestows His mercy on those who fear Him” To fear the LORD means to submit to Him, obey Him, and revere Him. She recalls the mighty and miraculous deeds that God has done and how He has “scattered those who were proud”. More specifically, “He has brought down rulers from their thrones and exalted the humble”. Mary is celebrating the LORD’s manner of resisting the proud while showing grace to the humble (1 Peter 5:5-6). Then she declares that “He has filled the hungry and sent away the rich empty-handed”, meaning that God has blessed those who are lowly and dependent on Him, while not blessing others who are haughty and self-reliant.

PART 3

As Mary’s song draws to an end, she names a third cause for her joyful praise - because God has chosen her people as His covenant nation.

She closes by proclaiming that God “has given help to Israel in remembrance of His mercy” which He has spoken about and promised to “Abraham and his descendants forever.” Mary is celebrating the extraordinary fact that God chose tiny, seemingly insignificant Israel to be the recipients of His covenant promises and the keepers of His Law. She delights that He has demonstrated His mercy to His people in countless ways throughout the centuries, and now has willed that the long-awaited Messiah be born of them.

In preparation for today’s message, I did a little research on this topic. I found a breakdown of the world’s population by religion back in 2012. Though these numbers are a bit dated, I think they more than adequately underscore the point. God has, once again, chosen the most unlikely candidate as His own.

Christianity - 32% (2.2 billion)
Muslim - 23% (1.6 billion)
Unaffiliated/No religion - 16% (1.1 billion)
Hindu - 15% (1 billion)
Buddhists - 7% (500 million)
Folk/Tribal Religions - 6% (400 million)
Other Religions - 0.8% (58 million)
Judaism - 0.2% (14 million) 

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, the Magnificat is Mary’s song of exaltation to the LORD. She sang it after Elizabeth confirmed that which the angel Gabriel had already told her - that she would give birth to the Messiah! God chose Israel, the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to be His covenant people. At the right time, from among them, he chose lowly Mary to be the mother of His holy Son, Jesus. And He has and continues to choose the small, the weak, the poor, and the humble to accomplish His will, to do His work, and to carry out His purposes! God uses the ordinary to achieve the extraordinary, so that no one will boast in themselves or mistake that He alone is responsible for great things (1 Corinthians 1:26-29). To Him be the praise and glory forever! Merry Christmas!