Lesson 6 April 28, 2002

5. The Ministries of the Spirit

- Negatively, the believer is never told or commanded to be

(1) baptized with or by the Spirit,

(2) nor to be indwelt by the Spirit,

(3) nor to be anointed with the Spirit,

(4) nor to be sealed with the Spirit,

(5) nor in our age to even pray for the Spirit

- Positively, the only commands in the New Testament given to us as believers have to do with our relationship to the Holy Spirit and deal with our fellowship with the Holy Spirit.

* The Positive Commands: We are told to be "filled with the Spirit (Eph.5:18) and to "walk by the Spirit" (Gal. 5:16, 25).

* The Negative Commands: We are told to "grieve not the Spirit" (Eph.4:30), and to "quench not the Spirit" (1 Thess. 5:19).

In addition, there are a few passages one might view as commanding the active ministry of the Spirit, albeit indirectly or by implication because they speak of the need of His ministry in the issue referred to.

John 4:24; Ephesians 6:18; Jude 20; Romans 8:4-13

What the Spirit Is to Believers in His Indwelling

Through this universal indwelling of all believers, the Spirit becomes to each believer a seal, an anointing, a pledge, and our Enabler.

1. A Seal:

Intro:

Observations on the "we were sealed" in Eph. 1:13

1. This speaks of a finished transaction.

2. The seal is the Holy Spirit.

3. What does it mean for us to be sealed with the Spirit?

4. The word seal has several implications that flow from it!

a. Sealing implies ownership; noted in Jer. 32:9-11

b. Sealing implies security; Mt. 27:66;

c. Sealing implies authentication and approval; Jn 6:27

d. Seal also implies genuineness, what is true; Jn 3:33

e. The Holy Spirit is your seal for how long? Jn 14:16 "forever"

So the Holy Spirit, as the seal, confirms that Christians are identified with Christ and are God's property, protected by Him (cf. 1 Cor. 6:19-20; also Rom 8:9).

2. An Anointing:

Introduction:

- Anointing and indwelling our synonymous terms in Scripture.

Whatever or whomever was anointed was "most holy" set apart, consecrated for service. Ex. 30:22-30