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We generally give more attention to the work of God the Father or God the Son than we do God the Holy Spirit. We are very comfortable extolling the Holiness and Providence of God, or meditating on the life, death, and resurrection of the Son, Jesus Christ.
However, as a general rule, we tend to spend less time considering the person and work of the Holy Spirit. This is to our detriment, and we should seek to know and worship God as a Trinitarian God.
2 Corinthians 3:17–18 (ESV) — Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
From one of our favorite hymns:
God in three persons, blessed Trinity
Here is one of the statements regarding the Trinity from our own Confession of Faith.
In this divine and infinite Being, there are three persons: the Father, the Word or Son, and the Holy Spirit. They are of one substance, power, and eternity. Each has the whole divine essence, yet they do not divide it. The Father is of none, neither begotten nor proceeding. The Son is eternally begotten of the Father. The Holy Spirit eternally proceeds from the Father and the Son. Yet, all are infinite, without beginning, and are, therefore, one God, who is not to be divided in nature and being but distinguished by several peculiar relative properties and personal relations. This doctrine of the Trinity is the foundation of all our communion with God and comfortable dependence on him.
- Trinity Fellowship Churches Confession of Faith 2.3
If we wanted to go back a bit further than our own Confession of faith, we find clear statements about the Trinity in the Athanasian Creed. This was written sometime between 450-600 A.D.
We worship one God in Trinity and the Trinity in unity, neither confounding their persons nor dividing the essence.
For the person of the Father is a distinct person, the person of the Son is another, and that of the Holy Spirit still another. But the divinity of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is one, the glory equal, the majesty coeternal. Such as the Father is, such is the Son and such is the Holy Spirit.
The Father is uncreated, the Son is uncreated, the Holy Spirit is uncreated. The Father is immeasurable, the Son is immeasurable, the Holy Spirit is immeasurable. The Father is eternal, the Son is eternal, the Holy Spirit is eternal.
And yet there are not three eternal beings; there is but one eternal being. So too there are not three uncreated or immeasurable beings; there is but one uncreated and immeasurable being.
Similarly, the Father is almighty, the Son is almighty, the Holy Spirit is almighty. Yet there are not three almighty beings; there is but one almighty being.
Thus, the Father is God, the Son is God, the Holy Spirit is God. Yet there are not three gods; there is but one God.
Thus, the Father is Lord, the Son is Lord, the Holy Spirit is Lord. Yet there are not three lords; there is but one Lord.
- Athanasian Creed
Not only do we want to Worship God as he is, but the Bible also makes clear that healthy, vibrant churches are ones that operate within the blessing and gifts of the Holy Spirit.
1 Corinthians 12:4–7 (ESV) — Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
Not only does this passage highlight the Trinity, it also reveals the diversity of the Holy Spirit’s gifts to the church. What I hope that we’ll see today and tomorrow is that the surest way for us to live out our calling to be a God-honoring church is for each one of us to be empowered by the Holy Spirit to do our part in building up the church.
The church is not built merely by godly and gifted leaders, or by good management, or by an inspiring vision statement. Instead, the church is strengthened by ordinary, fallen, flawed, weak individuals who have been transformed and empowered by the Holy Spirit of God.
We are familiar with the analogy in 1 Corinthians 12 and Romans 12, which we’ll encounter later on—this analogy of the body and its parts. But we must carry this picture beyond just thinking that the church is made up on unique individuals, though that is true. The point that Paul is making is not merely that we are unique personally, but that we have been gifted uniquely by the Holy Spirit of God for the good of the church.
We also see this in Ephesians 4
Ephesians 4:4–7 (ESV) — There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift.
When he says “grace was given” he is not only talking about the grace of salvation, but also of the unique gifts he has given to the church for our building up. Paul goes on to say:
Ephesians 4:15–16 (ESV) — Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
Do you see the result here? When each part of the body does its part, the body (that is, the church) grows and builds itself up in love.
Another aspect of being a healthy church that we must remember is that the significance and prominence of Spiritual gifts is one of the New Covenant promises to the church. This is part of what sets us apart from the Old Testament people of God.
When we ask “what is new about the new covenant” one of the things we must point out is the work of the Holy Spirit to give spiritual gifts to all believers.
Acts 2:17–18 (ESV) — “ ‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.
Peter is quoting the prophet Joel in his Pentecost Sermon to explain that what people are observing is a fulfillment of the promise to the new covenant people of God. Peter is say, “hey, do you want to know what’s different here? We are filled and empowered with the Holy Spirit, just like the prophet Joel said would happen. And, it’s not just a few people. God promised to pour out his spirit on all flesh.
Therefore, to ignore spiritual gifts is to ignore one of the means of grace to build up the church, but also to ignore one of the significant promises given that would identify and set apart the church of God in the new Covenant.
This does not mean that the Holy Spirit was not working in the Old Testament. Of course he was. The Spirit was active in creation, regenerating believers, empowering and anointing God’s servants and prophets. But there is a unique pouring out of the Spirit for the church in Acts and also today.
We want to worship God rightly and to build healthy churches. This is why one of our core values is being Filled with the Holy Spirit. (Doctrine; Spirit-Filled; Relationships; Spiritual Growth)
The Holy Spirit fills God's people with all the fullness of God. On a personal level he causes us to be born again, transforms us into the image of Christ, empowers us with gifts and fruitfulness, and brings experiences with God like we see in the New Testament. And when we gather, the Spirit inspires joyful worship, empowers us with gifts for ministry, and grants an even greater sense of the presence of God. This life in the Spirit is not just a conviction we hold but a lifestyle we pursue.
Most, if not all Christian churches would affirm this general ministry of the Holy Spirit. However, we are distinct from many churches with regard to our view of spiritual gifts—namely, that we believe all of the spiritual gifts written about or manifested in the New Testament are still available and for the church today.
There are several theological terms we could use to describe this view. We typically use the word, “continuationist” which highlights that the gifts “continue” from the birth of the church at Pentecost until the Return of Christ in the future.
Sometimes we may use the word “Charismatic” to mean the same thing, but this term can be confused with other ways we use “Charismatic” such as, “He’s such a charismatic leader” or that church has very “charismatic worship” (indicating that they clap or raise their hands in worship).
Sometimes, we may use the word Charismatic to speak of the movement of the Holy Spirit in the 1960s or 70s in which many churches began experiencing and pursuing the gifts of the Spirit. Due to some theological deficiencies within the Charismatic Movement, it has seemed good to us to use the term, “Continuationist.” It’s not a great term, but it is the least bad term to help us focus on the believe that all spiritual gifts are continuing in the church today.
You may also hear us use the term “cessationist.” This is an opposing view regarding spiritual gifts that claims that some of the gifts we see in the New Testament have ceased and are no longer available to the church today. Many cessaionists claim that these gifts ceased with the death of the Apostles or with the completion of the New Testament.
Here is another statement from our Confession of faith to describe our view of Spiritual Gifts.
10.6 — The gifts of the Spirit are given freely by God for the good of his people. He gives gifts according to his good purposes and calls his disciples to earnestly desire these gifts. Both the fruit of the Spirit and the gifts of the Spirit are granted to each Christian, testifying to the love, goodness, and almighty power of our God in transforming his people into his likeness. These gifts are to be earnestly desired in order that the church might be edified. They were granted unto the church until the Lord shall return.
10.7 — All the gifts of the Spirit listed in the New Testament are available for the church today and should be earnestly desired and exercised for the edification of the church and the advance of the gospel.
Notice two phrases here:
These two phrases highlight the distinction of being a Continuationist instead of a Cessationist.
So, this is why we should talk about this:
Now, let’s go deeper into the Work of the Holy Spirt in the Christian’s life.
Before we go into more detail about the work of the Holy Spirit through Spiritual Gifts, we want to consider the breadth of the work of the Holy Spirit in the Believer’s life. I’d like us to consider this under four broad headings.
It is important to remember that these works of the Holy Spirit are generally accepted by all Christians and churches. You don’t have to be a continuationist to value the importance of the Holy Spirit’s work in these ways.
Regeneration may not be a word that you use every day. We might say, “be born again” or talk about the “new birth.” This is the teaching the explains that apart from a direct work of God the Holy Spirit to awaken our dead, sinful hearts, no one would respond to God in faith and repentance. I preached on the New Birth from 1 Peter 1:3 recently if you’d like a fuller treatment of that doctrine.
For now, I simply want to emphasize that this is one of the significant works of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer.
Titus 3:5 (ESV) — he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,
This washing of regeneration comes through the renewal of the Holy Spirit.
John 3:6–8 (ESV) — That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
John 6:63 (ESV) — It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.
This new birth which we need to see the kingdom of God (v. 3) comes through the Holy Spirit.
Another important role of the Holy Spirit in our New Birth is simply opening up our heart and mind to the things of God. Paul highlights this in 1 Corinthians.
1 Corinthians 2:12–15 (ESV) — Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one.
Paul also points on in one of our key texts on Spiritual Gifts that “no one can say ‘Jesus is Lord’ except in the Holy Spirit” (1 Cor 12.3).
The next area that the Holy Spirit works in the believer’s life is in the area of Sanctification, which is the progressive work that begins at conversion by which God makes us more and more holy until we die or meet the Lord when he returns.
The point here is that this work is accomplished in our life through the work of the Holy Spirit.
We are sanctified
1 Corinthians 6:11 (ESV) — And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
We are transformed into the image of Christ
2 Corinthians 3:18 (ESV) — And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
We put to death the deeds of the flesh
Romans 8:13 (ESV) — For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
We engage in spiritual warfare
Ephesians 6:17–18 (ESV) — and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,
We bear the fruit of the Spirit
Galatians 5:16–17 (ESV) — But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.
Galatians 5:22–23 (ESV) — But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
It is important to remember that our sanctification is a work of the Spirit of God, and not merely “working harder” or being more committed as a disciple.
This means we need to lean in and be dependent on the Lord to empower us in the pursuit of holiness.
The Holy Spirit is also instrumental in us experiencing the nearness of God. Though God is omnipresent (all places at all times), we are limited to time and space and do not always experience the nearness of God. The Holy Spirit helps us with this.
Access to God in Prayer
Romans 8:26 (ESV) — Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.
Assurance and Confidence that we belong to God
Romans 8:16 (ESV) — The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
Galatians 4:6 (ESV) — And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”
1 John 3:24 (ESV) — Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.
Knowing the Love of God
Ephesians 1:17–19 (ESV) — that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might
What a tangible list of blessings and promise of the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives! This captures so many of the things that we desire to know experientially (and not just intellectually). God has give us his Spirit so that we might have a foretaste of the glory that will be ours.
Before we move on to the work of the Spirit in the church, we should see one last promise of the work of the Holy Spirit. This could fit into the next point as well, but we should see that the Holy Spirit empowers believers for ministry and evangelism.
Acts 1:8 (ESV) — But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Here we have the final words of Jesus before he ascended into heaven. These were the last words given by Christ for the age of the Church that was just beginning.
This verse functions as a kind of summary of the Book of Acts. However, the promise of this verse did not end with the closing of Acts. It is still an operational promise for believers today.
It is a promise of God’s power and presence as we speak for him and testify to his words and deeds.
We have seen that the Holy Spirit works in the lives of believers for their New Birth and sanctification, so that they might experience the presence of God, and to give them power for evangelism and ministry.
If this isn’t true of you?
Now, let’s turn to the specific work of the Holy Spirit in the building of the New Testament church.
Of course, all of the work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers will have an impact on the health and vibrancy of the church. What I hope for us to see here are some of the unique aspects of the Holy Spirit’s work which cause the church to be established and built up.
We have already referenced Ephesians 4 one time, but in verse 3, Paul encourages all believers to be eager to “maintain the unity of the Spirit.” There is a unity and cohesiveness to the church spread across the world because we are all brought into the church through the one Holy Spirit.
Paul gets at this again in 1 Corinthians.
1 Corinthians 12:13 (ESV) — For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.
We take this for granted in many ways, but it’s no small thing that Christians all across the world—every tribe, tongue, people, and nation—are brought into the church by the one Holy Spirit. For all of the differences among cultures across the world, God is able to unify us through the work of the Holy Spirit.
As we begin to consider Paul’s argument to the Corinthian church, it’s helpful to see Paul’s emphasis here. There were divisions in the church at Corinth. They had divided loyalties. They were abusing the Lord’s Table. They were abusing their spiritual gifts.
In the midst of all of this, Paul reminds them that they were all baptized into one body in one Spirit.
This is a good reminder for us today as we encounter disunity and division within the church. If we are in fact a part of the body of Christ, then what unites us is greater than our differences. This isn’t meant to erase the importance of doctrinal or ethical distinctions within the church. We must weigh our lives and doctrine by the Word of God. But, it is intended to point us to a place of humility that we were brought into the church, not by our own works of righteousness, but by the washing and regeneration of the Holy Spirit.
We can learn from the Corinthian Christians that an emphasis on Spiritual Gifts apart from this commitment to unity can cause problems.
Now, let’s finally turn to the diversity of gifts which we are here to discuss.
There are lists of gifts in 4 main passages in the New Testament. We will be looking at each of these sometime tonight or tomorrow morning.
It’s important to recognize that we don’t imagine any of these lists as being an exhaustive list of the ways the Holy Spirit empowers Christians for ministry.
Let’s see these words in action. They are both in 1 Corinthians 12. First, we see πνευματικός in verse 1.
1 Corinthians 12:1 (ESV) — Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed.
“Spiritual Gifts” could be translated “Spiritual things” but it is fairly clear from the context that he is referring to spiritual gifts, which he points to in verse 4.
1 Corinthians 12:4–7 (ESV) — Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
We should notice several things from vv. 4-7.
Now look at verse 13 for two more observations.
1 Corinthians 12:11 (ESV) — All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.
We have already noticed that these gifts come from the Holy Spirit, but here Paul emphasizes that they are “empowered” by the Spirit. These gifts are expressions of God’s power manifesting in believers’ lives.
Second, notice that the distribution of gifts is personal and intentional. “He apportions to each one individually as he wills.” This means that Spiritual gifts are not random or haphazard. They are expressions of God’s goodness to the believer and to the church.
I think we have enough information now to arrive at a definition of Spiritual Gifts.
Here is a somewhat complex definition from Sam Storms.
All spiritual gifts (charismata) are acts of service or ministry (diakonia), which are produced (energema) through us by the triune God (pneuma “Holy Spirit” in v. 4; kurios “Lord Jesus” in v. 5; theos “God the Father” in v. 6).
In light of this, we may define a spiritual gift as a God-given and, therefore, gracious capacity to serve the Body of Christ. It is a divinely empowered or spiritually energized potential to minister to the Body of Christ by communicating the knowledge, power and love of Jesus.
- Sam Storms, Beginner’s Guide to Spiritual Gifts, p. 21
Wayne Grudem gives a somewhat simpler definition.
A spiritual gift is any ability that is empowered by the Holy Spirit and used in any ministry of the church.
- Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology, Second Edition, 1255.
Notice the broad application of spiritual gifts.
Paul gives the majority of his attention to Spiritual Gifts in 1 Cor 12-14 to the building up of the church.
However, it is clear that Paul expects the practice of Spiritual Gifts to have an impact on the evangelization of the lost as well.
1 Corinthians 14:24–25 (ESV) — But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all, the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you.
The reality and power of God shown through the exercise of his gifts brings conviction and faith to the unbeliever.
1 Corinthians 12:1 (ESV) — Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed.
1 Corinthians 14:1 (ESV) — Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.
Luke 11:13 (ESV) — If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
1 Peter 4:10 (ESV) — As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace:
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