This post is a gathering into one place of as many thoughts, verses and quotes on the Holy Spirit as I can find from my blog. I have posted much if not all of this before but here it all is together….
Just to kick of with, I believe that the HS is given:
1. To assure us of salvation
2. To empower us to live godly lives since, “PRINT ON A PAGE CAN NEVER MAKE US HOLY ON ITS OWN.”
3. To make us more evangelistic (cf the boldness of Acts 2)
4. To give us gifts
Gal 3:13ff Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us…… so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.
-The goal of the gospel is “that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith” why do we so often stop? The gospel train starts at feeling powerless, continues through faith and repentance, to baptism (3:27), to receiving the Spirit and joining a body of other believers. Those who have received the Spirit can recognise others who have received him and will not be satisfied living without such companionship.
Gal 4:6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”
“…the great point of the whole teaching of the Bible, of all you can deduce from it, is to tell you that God is a God who acts. And our only hope this afternoon is that this is still true. He has not finished acting. He is going on….There is only one hope. That is that He is still the living and the acting God.” MLJ (more from him towards the end of this post….)
The bible seems clear, especially in 1 John that we are meant to KNOW God, it is the role of the Spirit to reveal God to us personally.
“so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete” 1 John 1:3-4
“…If we say we have fellowship with him….” 1 John 1:6
“..we have come to know him…” 1 John 2:3
“…whoever says he abides in him…” 1 John 2:6<!– D(["mb"," n"I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning" 1 John 2:14 "But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge" 1 John 2:20 "Butnthe anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have nonneed that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches younabout everything and is true and is no lie, just as it has taughtnyou abide in him. And now, little children, abide in him, so that whennhe appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame atnhis coming" 1 John 2:27-28 "And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us" 1 John 3:24 "Bynthis you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that JesusnChrist has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that doesnnot confess Jesus is not from God" 1 John 4:2-3 "By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit." 1 John 4:13 "And the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth" 1 John 5:6n "…so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ" 1 John 5:20
n
n"Innhim you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of yournsalvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised HolynSpirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquirenpossession of it, to the praise of his glory." (Eph 1:13-4)
n
n"hopendoes not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into ournhearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us" Romans 5:5
n
nThis was my blog summary of what happens during salvation and HS baptism
n
nThe Response
n5. God convicts us of our sins and leads us to confess our helplessness in the face of sin and our need for him.
n6.nWe then turn from sin and towards God in trust in him and in the worknof Jesus on the cross which took our punishment. A glorious transactionnproceeds where Christ receives our sin and we his righteousness. Wenturn from going our own way and decide instead to follow him. Our wholenbeing now reaches out in trust towards Christ as much as it used tonhide from him in fear and hatred.”,1] ); //–>
“I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning” 1 John 2:14
“But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge” 1 John 2:20
“But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything and is true and is no lie, just as it has taught you abide in him. And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming” 1 John 2:27-28
“And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us” 1 John 3:24
“By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God” 1 John 4:2-3
“By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.” 1 John 4:13
“And the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth” 1 John 5:6
“…so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ” 1 John 5:20
The Spirit is given to demonstrate to us that we are indeed saved.
“In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.” (Eph 1:13-4)
“hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us” Romans 5:5
The following points are taken from my blog summary of what happens during salvation and HS baptism:
!– D([“mb”,”
n7. As an outward testimony to theninward reality of what has happened to us in secret we outwardlyndeclare to others our determination to follow Christ by being baptized.nBaptism is our seal on the agreement that has occurred between us andnGod. n8. As an outward testimony to the reality of what has happened,nGod pours out his Holy Spirit on believers that seek him for such anblessing. Receiving the Holy Spirit is a conscious, real experiencenthat is usually accompanied by gifts of the Spirit such as tonguesnand/or prophecy. At its core, however is an experience of the love ofnGod poured out into our hearts. This is God’s seal on the agreementnthat has occurred between us and God and a deposit that guarantees ourninheritance.
n9. The church, on seeing that this has all occurrednwelcomes the new believer into membership of the family of God. Theyncommit to care for the new believer and in turn the believer covenantsnto serve God and his local church. The church is Gods body on earth andnexists to demonstrate his attributes to the world together. There is nonplan b, the church is Gods answer for a fallen world.
n10. On earthnbelievers live in a constant state of tension, living in the good ofnthe age to come, but at the same time groaning for that final day whenntheir salv
ation will be complete. Christians work to speed the returnnof Christ by building his kingdom, and should anticipate both greatnblessing and great hardship as the end draws near. We live ultimatelynnot for this earth but for the world to come.
n
n
nfinally, three quotes that will encourage you but may not be relevantnto read tomorro! The first is by Lloyd Jones, the second isnSpurgeon, the third is Finneys description of his experience:
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MLJ ‘What isnbeing taught in Christendom today is this, that since we have got the NewnTestament canon, since we have got the Word now, we do not need these directninterventions, we do not need God to speak to us directly, as He spoke tonAbraham and to Isaac and to Jacob and these patriarchs. We have got the Wordnnow! Is this superior to the direct speech of God? I think we are mad! There isnno other word for this. We are mad’ We are meant to be in a superior positionnto every Old Testament saint because of what has happened in our blessed Lordnand Saviour! But this teaching would have us believe that we do not need thisndirect contact with God now, and that all that has come to an end since thenformation of the New Testament canon…….remember that the great point of thenwhole teaching of the Bible, of all you can deduce from it, is to tell you thatnGod is a God who acts. And our only hope this afternoon is that this is stillntrue. He has not finished acting. He is going on….There is only one hope. Thatnis that He is still the living and the acting God. Christ is at His right hand,nand He is seated and waiting until His enemies should be made Hisnfootstool…….”,1] ); //–>
7. As an outward testimony to the inward reality of what has happened to us in secret we outwardly declare to others our determination to follow Christ by being baptized. Baptism is our seal on the agreement that has occurred between us and God.
8. As an outward testimony to the reality of what has happened, God pours out his Holy Spirit on believers that seek him for such a blessing. Receiving the Holy Spirit is a conscious, real experience that is usually accompanied by gifts of the Spirit such as tongues and/or prophecy. At its core, however is an experience of the love of God poured out into our hearts. This is God’s seal on the agreement that has occurred between us and God and a deposit that guarantees our inheritance.
Finally, three quotes on the Spirit from the past. The first is by Martyn Lloyd-Jones, the second is Spurgeon, the third is Finneys description of his own experience:
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MLJ ‘What is being taught in Christendom today is this, that since we have got the New Testament canon, since we have got the Word now, we do not need these direct interventions, we do not need God to speak to us directly, as He spoke to Abraham and to Isaac and to Jacob and these patriarchs. We have got the Word now! Is this superior to the direct speech of God? I think we are mad! There is no other word for this. We are mad’ We are meant to be in a superior position to every Old Testament saint because of what has happened in our blessed Lord and Saviour! But this teaching would have us believe that we do not need this direct contact with God now, and that all that has come to an end since the formation of the New Testament canon…….remember that the great point of the whole teaching of the Bible, of all you can deduce from it, is to tell you that God is a God who acts. And our only hope this afternoon is that this is still true. He has not finished acting. He is going on….There is only one hope. That is that He is still the living and the acting God. Christ is at His right hand, and He is seated and waiting until His enemies should be made His footstool…….<!– D(["mb","
nnn
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I have beenndefending the faith – and people have praised me for doing it. Rubbish! What anmiserable failure it has all been! From now on I am determined to do one thingnonly, and that is to give God no rest nor peace, until He does prove Himselfnand show Himself. I have expended so much energy in reasoning with the peoplenabout this faith. We have got to do that, it is part of preaching. But if wenstop at that it will avail us nothing. But what I now am concerned about and Inam concentrating on is this – asking God to show Himself, to do something,tongive this touch, this manifestation of power. Nothing else will even makenpeople listen to us. ….Nothing is going to call the attention of the massesnof the people to the truth of this faith save a great phenomenon, such as thenphenomenon of the day of Pentecost, the phenomenon of any one of the greatnrevivals, the phenomenon of a single changed life. This is something thatnalways arrests attention, maybe curiosity – what does it matter? The peoplencome and listen……
nnn
nnnWe must not bencontent until we have had some manifestation of the activity of God. We mustnconcentrate on this. This is my plea, that we concentrate on this, because itnis the great message of the Bible Let us put it like this: Do we reallynbelieve that God can still act? That is the question; that is the ultimatenchallenge. Or have we, for theological or some other reasons, excluded the verynpossibility? Here is the crucial matter. Do we individually and personallynreally believe that God still acts, can act and will act – in individuals, inngroups of individuals, in churches, localities, perhaps even in countries? Donwe believe that He is as capable of doing that today as He was in ancient timesn- the Old Testament, the New Testament times, the book of Acts, ProtestantnReformation, Puritans, Methodist Awakening, 1859, 1904-5? Do we really believenthat He can still do it? You see, it is ultimately what you believe about God.nIf He is the great Jehovah – I am that I am, I am that I shall be, unchanged,nunchanging, unchangeable, the everlasting and eternal God – well, He can stillndo it. ‘”,1] ); //–>
I have been defending the faith – and people have praised me for doing it. Rubbish! What a miserable failure it has all been! From now on I am determined to do one thing only, and that is to give God no rest nor peace, until He does prove Himself and show Himself. I have expended so much energy in reasoning with the people about this faith. We have got to do that, it is part of preaching. But if we stop at that it will avail us nothing. But what I now am concerned about and I am concentrating on is this – asking God to show Himself, to do something,to give this touch, this manifestation of power. Nothing else will even make people listen to us. ….Nothing is going to call the attention of the masses of the people to the truth of this faith save a great phenomenon, such as the phenomenon of the day of Pentecost, the phenomenon of any one of the great revivals, the phenomenon of a single changed life. This is something that always arrests attention, maybe curiosity – what does it matter? The people come and listen……
We must not be content until we have had some manifestation of the activity of God. We must concentrate on this. This is my plea, that we concentrate on this, because it is the great message of the Bible Let us put it like this: Do we really believe that God can still act? That is the question; that is the ultimate challenge. Or have we, for theological or so
me other reasons, excluded the very possibility? Here is the crucial matter. Do we individually and personally really believe that God still acts, can act and will act – in individuals, in groups of individuals, in churches, localities, perhaps even in countries? Do we believe that He is as capable of doing that today as He was in ancient times – the Old Testament, the New Testament times, the book of Acts, Protestant Reformation, Puritans, Methodist Awakening, 1859, 1904-5? Do we really believe that He can still do it? You see, it is ultimately what you believe about God. If He is the great Jehovah – I am that I am, I am that I shall be, unchanged, unchanging, unchangeable, the everlasting and eternal God – well, He can still do it. ‘
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nSPURGEON- Have ye then received the Spirit since you believed? Beloved, are younnow receiving the Spirit? Are you living under his divine influence?nAre you filled with his power? Put the question personally. I am afraidnsome professors will have to admit that they hardly know whether therenbe any Holy Ghost; and others will have to confess that though theynhave enjoyed a little of his saving work, yet they do not know much ofnhis ennobling and sanctifying influence. We have none of usnparticipated in his operations as we might have done: we have sippednwhere we might have drunk; we have drunk where we might have bathed; wenhave bathed up to the ankles where we might have found rivers to swimnin. Alas, of many Christians it must be affirmed that they have beennnaked, and poor, and miserable, when they might in the power of thenHoly Spirit have been clad in golden garments, and have been rich andnincreased in goods. He waiteth to be gracious, but we linger innindifference, like those of whom we read, "they could not enter innbecause of unbelief." There are many such cases, and therefore it isnnot improper that I should with all vehemence press home upon you thenquestion of the apostle, "Have ye received the Holy Ghost since yenbelieved?" Did ye receive him when ye believed? Are ye receiving himnnow that ye are believing in Christ Jesus?………
n
n
n…Doesnany man know what the Spirit of God can make of him? I believe thengreatest, ablest, most faithful, most holy man of God might have beenngreater, and abler, and more faithful, and more holy, if he had putnhimself more completely at the Spirit’s disposal. Wherever God has donengreat things by a man he has had power to do more had the man been fitnfor it. We are straitened in ourselves, not in God. O brothers, thenchurch is weak to-day because the Holy Spirit is not upon her membersnas we could desire him to be. You and I are tottering along like feeblenbabes, whereas, had we more of the Spirit, we might walk withoutnfainting, run without weariness, and even mount up with wings asneagles. Oh, for more of the anointing of the Holy Ghost whom Christ isnprepared to give immeasurably unto us if we will but receive him!”,1] ); //–>
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SPURGEON- Have ye then received the Spirit since you believed? Beloved, are you now receiving the Spirit? Are you living under his divine influence? Are you filled with his power? Put the question personally. I am afraid some professors will have to admit that they hardly know whether there be any Holy Ghost; and others will have to confess that though they have enjoyed a little of his saving work, yet they do not know much of his ennobling and sanctifying influence. We have none of us participated in his operations as we might have done: we have sipped where we might have drunk; we have drunk where we might have bathed; we have bathed up to the ankles where we might have found rivers to swim in. Alas, of many Christians it must be affirmed that they have been naked, and poor, and miserable, when they might in the power of the Holy Spirit have been clad in golden garments, and have been rich and increased in goods. He waiteth to be gracious, but we linger in indifference, like those of whom we read, “they could not enter in because of unbelief.” There are many such cases, and therefore it is not improper that I should with all vehemence press home upon you the question of the apostle, “Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?” Did ye receive him when ye believed? Are ye receiving him now that ye are believing in Christ Jesus?………
…Does any man know what the Spirit of God can make of him? I believe the greatest, ablest, most faithful, most holy man of God might have been greater, and abler, and more faithful, and more holy, if he had put himself more completely at the Spirit’s disposal. Wherever God has done great things by a man he has had power to do more had the man been fit for it. We are straitened in ourselves, not in God. O brothers, the church is weak to-day because the Holy Spirit is not upon her members as we could desire him to be. You and I are tottering along like feeble babes, whereas, had we more of the Spirit, we might walk without fainting, run without weariness, and even mount up with wings as eagles. Oh, for more of the anointing of the Holy Ghost whom Christ is prepared to give immeasurably unto us if we will but receive him!
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nFINNEY- As I turned and was about to take a seat by the fire, I received a mighty baptism of the Holy Ghost. nWithout any expectation of it, without ever having the thought in my mind that there was any such thing for me, without any recollection that I had never heard the thing mentioned by any person in the world, the Holy Spirit descended upon me in a manner that seemed to go through me, bodyn and soul. I could feel the impression, like a wave of electricity, going through and through me. Indeed it seemed to come in waves and waves ofn liquid love for I could not express it in any other way. It seemed like the very breath of God. I can recollect distinctly that it seemed to fan me, liken immense wings. n
n n
No words can express the wonderful love that was shed abroad in mynheart. I wept aloud with joy and love; and I do not know but I shouldnsay, I literally bellowed out the unutterable gushings of my heart.nThese waves came over me, and over me, and over me, one after thenother, until I recollect I cried out, "I shall die if these waves continue to pass over me." I said, "Lord, I cannot bear any more;" yet I had no fear of death.
n n
“,1] ); //–>
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FINNEY- As I turned and was about to take a seat by the fire, I received a mighty baptism of the Holy Ghost. Without any expectation of it, without ever having the thought in my mind that there was any such thing for me, without any recollection that I had ever heard the thing mentioned by any person in the world, the Holy Spirit descended upon me in a manner that seemed to go through me, body and soul. I could feel the impression, like a wave of electricity, going through and through me. Indeed it seemed to come in waves and waves of liquid l
ove for I could not express it in any other way. It seemed like the very breath of God. I can recollect distinctly that it seemed to fan me, like immense wings.
No words can express the wonderful love that was shed abroad in my heart. I wept aloud with joy and love; and I do not know but I should say, I literally bellowed out the unutterable gushings of my heart. These waves came over me, and over me, and over me, one after the other, until I recollect I cried out, “I shall die if these waves continue to pass over me.” I said, “Lord, I cannot bear any more;” yet I had no fear of death.
<!– D(["mb","How long I continued in this state, with this baptism continuing to roll over me and go through me, I do not know. But I know it was late in thennevening when a member of my choir for I was the leader of the choirn came into the office to see me. He was a member of the church. He foundnme in this state of loud weeping, and said to me, "Mr. Finney, whatnails you?" I could make him no answer for some time. He then said, "Arenyou in pain?" I gathered myself up as best I could, and replied, "No,nbut so happy that I cannot live."
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He turned and left the office, and in a few minutes returned with one of thenelders of the church, whose shop was nearly across the way from ournoffice. This elder was a very serious man; and in my presence had beennvery watchful, and I had scarcely ever seen him laugh. When he came in,nI was very much in the state in which I was when the youngnman went out to call him. He asked me how I felt, and I began to tellnhim. Instead of saying anything, he fell into a most spasmodicnlaughter. It seemed as if it was impossible for him to keep fromnlaughing from the very bottom of his heart.
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..justnat the time when I was giving an account of my feelings to this eldernof the church, and to the other member who was with him, this young manncame into the office. I was sitting with my back toward the door, andnbarely observed that he came in. He listened with astonishment to what I was saying, and the first I knew he partly fell upon the floor, and cried out in the greatest agony of mind, "Do pray for me!"
“,1] ); //–>How long I continued in this state, with this baptism continuing to roll over me and go through me, I do not know. But I know it was late in the evening when a member of my choir for I was the leader of the choir came into the office to see me. He was a member of the church. He found me in this state of loud weeping, and said to me, “Mr. Finney, what ails you?” I could make him no answer for some time. He then said, “Are you in pain?” I gathered myself up as best I could, and replied, “No, but so happy that I cannot live.”
He turned and left the office, and in a few minutes returned with one of the elders of the church, whose shop was nearly across the way from our office. This elder was a very serious man; and in my presence had been very watchful, and I had scarcely ever seen him laugh. When he came in, I was very much in the state in which I was when the young man went out to call him. He asked me how I felt, and I began to tell him. Instead of saying anything, he fell into a most spasmodic laughter. It seemed as if it was impossible for him to keep from laughing from the very bottom of his heart.
..just at the time when I was giving an account of my feelings to this elder of the church, and to the other member who was with him, this young man came into the office. I was sitting with my back toward the door, and barely observed that he came in. He listened with astonishment to what I was saying, and the first I knew he partly fell upon the floor, and cried out in the greatest agony of mind, “Do pray for me!”
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