Recently we've been reconsidering many of the things we thought we understood regarding doctrine and faith. We have begun to question certain beliefs, church structures, and practices of the western church. Too often we have discovered what we think are unbiblical doctrines and activities. This causes us concern. We have deemed this our “Rethink.” Our questions include, how did we arrive at our doctrines? Does the Bible really teach what we think it teaches? Why do churches do what they do? What is the biblical basis of church leadership structure? Why do certain traditions get entrenched?
It's easy to be spoon fed the conventional wisdom, but it's an entirely separate thing to search these things out for one's self. In the past we have read the Bible with these unexamined understandings and interpreted what we read through those lenses. We were too lazy about our Bible study, assuming that pastors and theologians were telling us the truth, but we rarely checked it out for ourselves.
Therefore, these Rethinks are our attempt to remedy the situation.
We should note that there is more than one way to interpret doctrine, more than one way to think about the faith, and more than one way to read the Scriptures. We would not suggest that our way is the only way, or the right way; we are not Bible scholars. But we believe that one doesn't need to be in order to rightly divide the Word of God.
----------------------It's easy to be spoon fed the conventional wisdom, but it's an entirely separate thing to search these things out for one's self. In the past we have read the Bible with these unexamined understandings and interpreted what we read through those lenses. We were too lazy about our Bible study, assuming that pastors and theologians were telling us the truth, but we rarely checked it out for ourselves.
Therefore, these Rethinks are our attempt to remedy the situation.
We should note that there is more than one way to interpret doctrine, more than one way to think about the faith, and more than one way to read the Scriptures. We would not suggest that our way is the only way, or the right way; we are not Bible scholars. But we believe that one doesn't need to be in order to rightly divide the Word of God.
The Holy Spirit is a somewhat unpopular part of the trinity in some streams of Christianity. Many are uncomfortable with the supernatural influence He has, or should have, in His Church. We think this is sad. In our opinion, those who are ignorant of the Holy Spirit's work, or who have a knee-jerk reaction to charismatic excesses, or even negate things He has done or is doing, are risking the possibility of sin.
The reason is, The Holy Spirit can be
- Grieved. Ep. 4:30 (c.f., Is. 63:10):
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
- Quenched. 1Th. 5:19:
Quench not the Spirit.
- Resisted. Ac. 7:51
You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just like your fathers: You always resist the Holy Spirit!
- Insulted. He. 10:29:
How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace?
- Ignored. He. 2:3-4:
...how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. 4 God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.
- Tested: Ac. 5:9
Peter said to her, “How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.”
- Rejected: 1Th. 4:8
Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit.
- Lied to: Ac. 5:3
Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land?
- Pleased: Ga. 6:8
The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.
So our intent is to enlighten the reader regarding what the Bible says about the fellowship and ministry of the Holy Spirit in His Church.
Let's start with the outpoured Holy Spirit at Pentecost.
Pentecost
Although the Holy Spirit is found all throughout the Bible, from Genesis 1:2 to Revelation 22:17, prior to Pentecost only select and rare people personally experienced the power of the Holy Spirit when he "came upon" them. For example:
1Sa. 16:13 So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the LORD came upon David in power.
But it was always God's intent to indwell His people:
Ez. 11:19 I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them...In the Bible He is most revealed at the moment of Pentecost and thereafter. Pentecost was marked by certain phenomena: :
Ac. 2:1-4 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
This was a bewildering event to a large crowd nearby (Ac. 2:6). At first the mocked the men for being drunk, but Peter stood up to explain what had happened, and preached the very first sermon ever delivered. He attributed the unusual phenomena to a promise made by God through the prophet Joel:
Ac. 2:17 "In the last days," God says, "I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. 18 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy."
Peter quoted this prophecy to explain the phenomena in the upper room: The flames of fire, the wind, and the tongues. These were evidence of the Holy Spirit's outpouring on all people, confirmed by Joel's prophecy. Peter described it as an event marking "the last days." The last days, which began at Pentecost and consummates on the last day, the Day of the Lord, is the period of time in which we live.
Pentecost was when the Holy Spirit would no longer just "come upon" select people, but would actually take up residence in the Church and in each believer. He baptizes each new believer at the very moment they believe:
Ep. 1:13-14 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession — to the praise of his glory.
This supernatural work is the change from the dead, condemned man to the new living man. When someone repents and calls upon the Name of the Lord, the Holy Spirit does this rebirth:
Tit. 3:5-6 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior...
Ro. 7:6 But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.
So, every Christian receives the indwelling Holy Spirit when he is born again, but not every Christian is filled with the Holy Spirit.
Filled with the Holy Spirit
Paul commands every Christian:
Ep. 5:18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.
The Greek word here implies a continual action to keep being filled, or to be brought to complete fullness, with the Holy Spirit. The same word is used in this verse:
2Ti. 1:4 Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy.
This filling is a different thing than the indwelling Holy Spirit. Every Christian has received the indwelling Holy Spirit, but not every Christian is filled with the Holy Spirit. This filling is the Spirit-empowerment of the yielded Christian.
But as we mentioned above, the Holy Spirit can be quenched. Thus many Christians go through their lives powerless and dry. They don't have much fellowship with the quenched Holy Spirit. They invent reasons why they have no power. They construct whole doctrines designed to explain away the fellowship and ministry of the Holy Spirit.
However, we should be experiencing the power of the Holy Spirit in our churches today. But we don't because we don't keep in step with the Spirit:
Ga. 5:25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
Being made alive by the Spirit (born again) is the predicate for keeping in step with the Spirit (keeping close in obedience). Because He has made us alive, we therefore should keep in step with Him. We would say that keeping in step with the Spirit is key to the fellowship of the Holy Spirit.
The Fellowship of the Holy Spirit
2Co. 13:14 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
The fellowship of the Holy Spirit is a blessing that Paul hopes the Corinthian church would enjoy. This fellowship is the closeness of relationship and connectedness we should pursue with the Holy Spirit, since He desires fellowship with us.
The word fellowship is the Greek term koinónia, which is what is shared in common as the basis of fellowship (partnership, community). The Holy Spirit's fellowship means He shares with us because He is in our midst.
The word fellowship is the Greek term koinónia, which is what is shared in common as the basis of fellowship (partnership, community). The Holy Spirit's fellowship means He shares with us because He is in our midst.
How does the Holy Spirit have fellowship with us? Paul wrote:
Ph. 2:1 If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit...
Ph. 2:2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.
It should be obvious that fellowship with the Holy Spirit means He desires to be near. We should want Him to be near, and we should want to be near Him, near enough to connect with His fellowship. Seeking the nearness of the Holy Spirit means asking for more of Him:
Lk. 11:13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!
Notice how Luke equates the "good gifts" a natural father would give with the Holy Spirit the Father much more desires to give. Jesus commanded us to ask, seek, and knock for more of the Holy Spirit. This good gift is what Peter preached to the crowd:
Ac. 2:38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
So we aren't seeking blessings, spiritual gifts, a better job, or anything like that, we are seeking more of the Holy Spirit, more fellowship with Him, and more of His ministry in our lives and in our churches. Anything else is secondary to this.
Let's return to the verse in question:
Ph. 2:1-2 If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.
When we look at the Greek we do not find "with the:" ...if any fellowship *with the* Spirit... The literal translation is "if any Spirit fellowship." According to Paul, Spirit-fellowship" is how the church ought to be characterized. "Spirit-fellowship" paves the way for like-mindedness, love, and unity. "Spirit-fellowship" goes way beyond being born again and living a moral life. "Spirit-fellowship" takes us into realms of faith way beyond our typical church experience.
How does the church body interact with the Holy Spirit, and how can churches facilitate fellowship with the Holy Spirit?
How does the church body interact with the Holy Spirit, and how can churches facilitate fellowship with the Holy Spirit?
The Ministry of the Holy Spirit
Paul specifically mentioned the ministry of the Holy Spirit:
Paul specifically mentioned the ministry of the Holy Spirit:
2Co. 3:8-9 ...will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? 9 If the ministry that condemns men is glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness!Paul was contrasting the ministry of the Law which brought death [2Co. 3:6-7] with the life-giving ministry of the Holy Spirit which brings righteousness. His continual nearness and presence in the Church empowers it to proceed on to maturity, to share the Gospel, to have hope, perseverance, godliness, and endurance (1Ti. 6:11). The church without the Holy Spirit is a church without life, holiness, power, and fruit.
Paul says the Holy Spirit's ministry is glorious. With Spirit-filled Christians, the Holy Spirit is glorified in the Church. The Church's light shines in the darkness (Mt. 5:14) as a beacon of hope to the nations (Ep. 3:10). All ministry of the Holy Spirit is life giving, bears fruit in us for the Kingdom, and increases our love for the saints and passion for the things of God. And ministry of the Holy Spirit glorifies the Father and exalts the Son.
One of the ministries of the Holy Spirit is the spiritual gifts.
Spiritual Gifts
A spiritual gift is the work of the Holy Spirit in a believer, and He gives them as He chooses. The Greek word "gift" is charisma. Charisma ...divinely empowers a believer to share God's work with others, i.e. Spirit-empowered service to the Church to carry out His plan for His people.
Spiritual gifts are not natural abilities, they are Spirit-empowered. Some Christians think certain gifts have passed away, while we other gifts are still in operation. They draw a line between "supernatural" gifts and "natural" gifts. But as we just read, all spiritual gifts are Spirit-empowered. All spiritual gifts are supernatural. All Spiritual gifts are from one and the same Spirit, designed by Him primarily to encourage and build up the saints. Supernaturally.
Charisma comes from the root word charis, which in English is "grace." Grace is frequently mis-defined as underserved favor, but this is incorrect. Basically, grace is "extension towards with favor:"
...preeminently used of the Lord's favor – freely extended to give Himself away to people (because He is "always leaning toward them").Therefore, charisma is the grace of God extending Holy Spirit empowerment as He desires to bless and be near us for the benefit and building up of the church. The Holy Spirit reaches out, desiring to connect with us in koinónia.
5485 /xáris ("grace") answers directly to the Hebrew (OT) term 2580 /Kaná ("grace, extension-toward"). Both refer to God freely extending Himself (His favor, grace), reaching (inclining) to people because He is disposed to bless (be near) them.
Conclusion
The fellowship and ministry of the Holy Spirit must inform every part of the gathering of the saints, every ministry, every position, every song that is sung, and every syllable spoken from the pulpit. Notice how the Spirit continually contextualizes every reference to something the Church is or does:
Worship
Jn. 4:24 God is spirit, and his worshippers must worship in spirit and in truth.
Prayer
Ep. 6:18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
Unity
Ep. 4:3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.Spiritual Fruit
1Co. 2:12 We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.
Ga. 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control.
We conclude that a robust theology of the Holy Spirit is crucial for the Church to be what it is called to be. The Holy Spirit must become central to every part of the local church. Every undertaking ought to be tested through how the Holy Spirit might interact with it.
God is calling the church to a higher standard. We cannot do it with our present apportionment of the Holy Spirit.
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