The Holy Spirit (Part 3) – Functions of the Holy Spirit (Part A)

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The Holy Spirit (Part 3) – Functions of the Holy Spirit (Part A)

1. Functions of the Holy Spirit
   1. Inspiration of the scriptures
      1. The scriptures were given by the inspiration of God (2Ti 3:16).
      2. The Holy Spirit inspired men to speak and write the words of scripture.
         1. The OT prophets spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost (2Pe 1:21).
            1. The LORD put His words in their mouths (Exo 4:12; Jer 1:9; 1Ki 20:35-36).
            2. David, the sweet psalmist of Israel (2Sa 23:1), said that the Spirit of the LORD spake by him, and His word was in his tongue (2Sa 23:2-3).
            3. The Holy Ghost also inspired men to write down the words that God spoke to them (Jer 36:2-6).
         2. The Holy Spirit also inspired the NT apostles and prophets to speak and write the words of God which came through Jesus Christ (Gal 1:11-12; Eph 3:3).
      3. God spoke to men through the Lord Jesus Christ (Heb 1:1-2).
         1. The Holy Spirit continued to reveal God’s truth to the apostles after Jesus ascended to heaven because they could not bear to receive it all before the Holy Ghost was given to them to aid them in their understanding (Joh 16:12).
         2. The Holy Spirit taught the apostles all things and caused them to remember all the things that Jesus did and taught them (Joh 14:26).
         3. As much of a blessing as it was to have Jesus on earth teaching them, it was actually advantageous for the apostles that Jesus went to heaven and sent them the Holy Spirit who would empower them to understand what they hitherto could not (Joh 16:7).
         4. The Holy Spirit guided the apostles into all truth (doctrine) and showed them things to come (prophecy) (Joh 16:13).
            1. On the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit filled the church and the apostles, they spoke the words of God through Him (Act 2:33).
            2. The words that the Spirit inspired the apostles to speak He also inspired them to write in letters to churches, individuals, and preachers which became the Holy Scriptures of the New Testament.
   2. Teaching children of God the doctrine of the Bible
      1. The Holy Ghost teaches us the doctrine of God when we compare scripture with scripture (1Co 2:13).
      2. His method of teaching doctrine is line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little (Isa 28:9-10).
   3. Conception of Jesus Christ
      1. The conception of the human body and nature of Jesus Christ was accomplished through the power of the Holy Ghost (Mat 1:18-20).
      2. The Holy Ghost came upon Mary and caused her to conceive Jesus Christ the Son of God (Luk 1:35).
   4. Resurrection of Jesus Christ and the elect
      1. The Holy Spirit raised the body of Jesus Christ from the dead (Rom 8:11).
      2. He will likewise quicken (resurrect) our mortal bodies (Rom 8:11).
   5. Testifying of Jesus Christ (Joh 15:26)
      1. The Holy Spirit proceeded from the Father (Joh 15:26).
         1. Proceed v. – 1. Intr. To go, move, or travel forward; to make one’s way onward; esp. to move onward after interruption or stoppage, or after reaching a certain point; to continue one’s movement or travel.
         2. This verse is not teaching that the Holy Spirit’s essence or being originated from the Father (“eternal spiration”).
         3. It is simply teaching that God the Father sent the Holy Ghost to earth (Joh 14:26) in the same way that the Father sent Jesus Christ to earth (Joh 8:42; 1Jo 4:9-10) as the Word to be made flesh (Joh 1:14) and later as the Son of God into His earthly ministry (Gal 4:4-5).
         4. It is clear from Joh 15:26 that the Holy Spirit proceeding from the Father was Him being sent by the Father at the request of the Son (Joh 16:7).
      2. The Holy Spirit was sent to earth to testify of Jesus Christ (Joh 15:26).
         1. Testify v. – 1. trans. To bear witness to, or give proof of (a fact); to assert or affirm the truth of (a statement); to attest.
         2. The Spirit bears witness of Jesus Christ (1Jo 5:5-6).
         3. The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy (Rev 19:10; Joh 5:39).
         4. He would not speak of Himself, but He would rather speak what Jesus gave Him to speak (Joh 16:13).
         5. The Holy Spirit would glorify Jesus Christ (Joh 16:14).
         6. Any preacher, church, or denomination which emphasizes the Holy Spirit more than Jesus Christ is not believing in and teaching the real Holy Spirit or the real Jesus Christ.