- Overcomer Literature Trust
- Swindon
- Wiltshire
THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE CHURCH.
By Erich Sauer.
In the Church the Spirit of God works as the Spirit of holiness.
Educating. The Spirit glorifies the Head to the members by showing them His glory (John 16 v14).
He leads the redeemed in paths of righteousness (Rom. 8 v14, Gal. 5 v25), and effects their sanctification (1 Peter 1 v2, 2 Thess. 2 v13).
He comforts them as an advocate (John 14 v16-18), and He gives to them His witness (Romans 8 v16).
He convicts them when unfaithful and leads them to repentance (2 Cor. 2 v5-11).
He teaches them the words of Jesus (John 14 v26) and guides them into all the truth (John 16 v13, 1 John 2 v20).
Equipping for Service. Then He prepares and uses them as His instruments. He orders their gifts and gives them according to His own will (1 Cor. 12 v4-11).
He appoints their service in the Church (Acts 13 v4, 16 v6-7, 20 v28, 1 Cor. 12 v28-30).
He animates their prayers (Jude 20, Eph. 6 v18), and grants to these authority (Rom. 8 v26).
He leads their witness (Matt. 10 v20, 1 Peter 1 v12), fills it with the power of God (1 Cor. 2 v4, Rom. 15 v19, 1 Thess. 1 v5, Acts 4 v31, 7 v55-57, 13 v9), and if they are reproached He rests upon them as the Spirit of glory (1 Peter 4 v14).
In all this He is power from on high (Luke 24 v49, Acts 1 v8).
As a tree which brings forth its fruit (Gal. 5 v22), as oil which anoints and shines (Acts 10 v38), as fire which blazes (Acts 2 v3-4, 2 Tim. 1 v6), as water which cleanses (Ezek. 36 v25-26), as the early rain which refreshes (Joel 23 v23&28), as a quiet, soft rustling (Zech. 4 v6, 1 Kings 19 v12-13) and as a rushing wind, mysterious yet mighty (Acts 2 v2, John 3 v8).
Transfiguring. The Spirit is the guarantee of our deliverance, the seal of our salvation (Eph. 1 v13, 4 v30, 2 Cor. 1 v22), the earnest of our inheritance (Eph. 1 v14, 2 Cor. 5 v5), the first-fruits of the coming eternal harvest (Rom. 8 v23). And because our body is a temple of His Spirit, God will not leave it a wilderness, “If the Spirit of Him Who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He Who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit, who lives in you” (Rom. 8 v11).
Thus the significance of Pentecost reaches on into eternity. Through the Spirit we are children (Rom. 8 v14, Gal. 4 v6-7), as children we are heirs (Rom. 8v 14 & 17, Gal. 4 v7), and as heirs we are sharers of His coming glory (Rom. 8 v17).
From: ‘The Triumph of the Crucified’.