The Holy Spirit - God's Spirit
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PART 2 - The Roles and Activities of the Holy Spirit
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Chapter 38 - The Spirit Today - an Enabler Pt 2
Summary: Considering the role of the Holy Spirit as an enabler in the life of the believer today (Part 2).
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Study notes for this audio:
(Note: This is just a summary of the points covered. There is greater detail in the audio message).
No.38 The Holy Spirit Today - an Enabler Pt 2
In the first part of this two part study, we began by looking at some of the events in the life of Samson, how the Holy Spirit gave him an outwardly physical strength to fulfil certain tasks. When we come to consider how the Holy Spirit works in us today, one of the ways is that we may be given power (dunamis) to be strengthened, not outwardly, but in the “inner man”. (Ephesians 3:16).
Here, I’d like to add a point I really should have made in the previous study.
The Greek word dunamis (power, ability) is all through the NT, as is the idea that God can give a person extraordinary ability through His Holy Spirit. But when we take a closer look at how dunamis appears in the Scriptures, we notice an interesting dispensational feature, as shown in the chart above, titled "Power in the Acts Period Compared With Today". Notice how, in the Acts Period, dunamis is associated with "signs and wonders - a visible display of the Holy Spirit's presence in a believer. However, after the Acts Period, whilst dunamis is still afforded the believer, it is not in any way an outwardly visible phenomenon; signs and wonders do not accompany this power. In other words, the Holy Spirit’s activities through the believer today are no longer actions that other people can observe and recognise as being a “sign” (semeion) somehow, or observe and be “amazed at” (i.e. teras – wonder). Rather, this working is in the “inner man” (Ephesians 3:16).
Also, from the previous study, we read from Ephesians 3, and saw that this strength may be afforded us, in order that Christ may dwell in our hearts (v.17), and that we might know the extent of the love of Christ (referred to in v.17b, 18 & 19)
The love that Christ spoke of was a love of God, and a love for others – a sacrificial, giving love that puts both God and others before serving our own needs and desires. Remember the two greatest commandments – “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind & strength”, and “Love your neighbour as yourself”. One purpose for this strengthening from the Holy Spirit seems to be in order that we might get to know these kinds of love, and apply them in our own lives, as the instructions that follow this section, in ch.4 are all about loving God, and especially our fellow believers.
In this study, I’d like to comment further on this theme of the Holy Spirit today being an enabler, and look at some other passages that speak of the same thing.
Those thoughts from the prayer in Ephesians ch.3 tie in with sentiments found in Ephesians 5:1,2
- Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.
Doesn't the passage in Eph 3 tell us we've been equipped to do this, or at the least, is a prayer that we might be strengthened and enabled to reach that point?)
- also note ch 5 v.1 “Therefore”, which links back to the last few verses of chapter 4, that speaks of not grieving the Holy Spirit. How? By getting rid of all divisive behaviour and showing the same sort of love for others that Christ showed us – “forgiving one another, just as God IN CHRIST forgave you.” (4:30-32)
A chain of thoughts keeps coming up:
- Christ loved us and sacrificed Himself for us.
- If we have placed our faith in Christ, we have the Holy Spirit dwelling with us .
- The Spirit may strengthen us to know this sacrificial type of love Christ had.
- We may be strengthened by the same Spirit to exhibit that same love in our lives.
Similar thoughts are expressed in Colossians 1
READ Colossians 1:9-14 through
v.11 a prayer (v.9) to be strengthened with power (dunamis) – for what reason? For patience and endurance in our daily life.
v.12 giving thanks because of the hope we have, because…
v.14 we have been forgiven (again, a link with the love of Christ through His sacrificial love)
There is a similar passage in Romans 5:1-8
Ideas in this passage include:
- the extent of the love of Christ, that He died for us (v8)
- if a believer, then Holy Spirit is given to us (v.5)
- tribulation brings ... hope, the Spirit is the pledge of the hope within us, and also (by comparing other scriptures) a source of strength for us v3b-5
- strength through the Spirit (before and after ) v6
Without the pledge of the Spirit, trials for the unbeliever become only either a source of anguish, inconvenience and bitterness … or at best they can build a person’s character for the rest of their natural life. However, for the believer, we have the presence and strength of the Spirit, and we can be assured / reminded that there is a bigger picture, a hope of an everlasting life with God, the Spirit being a pledge of that better more long-term hope secured for us. Whatever trouble besets us now, we can be given the strength to endure it and work through it, take appropriate steps to overcome it, with the help of the One who is always with us.
Romans 5:1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
5:2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
5:3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance;
5:4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope.
5:5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
5:6 For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
5:7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die.
5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Ties in well with the phrase just below it that ends this prayer in Ephesians ch.3
3:20 - Now unto him .... More than we think...according to the power (dunamis) at work in us
We can only do so much in our own power
This goes a lot further than any man-made tips for better living.
So much of what we have to deal with is of a spiritual nature (we wrestle not against flesh and blood 6:12), and we require supernatural, extraordinary assistance to deal with things in a way that is on accordance with how God would have us deal with the problems we are faced with.
The general message is... Make every effort to be more loving, considerate, humble, patient etc, and God's Spirit that dwells within us will strengthen us to be this way.
Take a moment to think how these things may be able to change how things play out for you in the coming week.
(Note: This is just a summary of the points covered. There is greater detail in the audio message).
No.38 The Holy Spirit Today - an Enabler Pt 2
In the first part of this two part study, we began by looking at some of the events in the life of Samson, how the Holy Spirit gave him an outwardly physical strength to fulfil certain tasks. When we come to consider how the Holy Spirit works in us today, one of the ways is that we may be given power (dunamis) to be strengthened, not outwardly, but in the “inner man”. (Ephesians 3:16).
Here, I’d like to add a point I really should have made in the previous study.
The Greek word dunamis (power, ability) is all through the NT, as is the idea that God can give a person extraordinary ability through His Holy Spirit. But when we take a closer look at how dunamis appears in the Scriptures, we notice an interesting dispensational feature, as shown in the chart above, titled "Power in the Acts Period Compared With Today". Notice how, in the Acts Period, dunamis is associated with "signs and wonders - a visible display of the Holy Spirit's presence in a believer. However, after the Acts Period, whilst dunamis is still afforded the believer, it is not in any way an outwardly visible phenomenon; signs and wonders do not accompany this power. In other words, the Holy Spirit’s activities through the believer today are no longer actions that other people can observe and recognise as being a “sign” (semeion) somehow, or observe and be “amazed at” (i.e. teras – wonder). Rather, this working is in the “inner man” (Ephesians 3:16).
Also, from the previous study, we read from Ephesians 3, and saw that this strength may be afforded us, in order that Christ may dwell in our hearts (v.17), and that we might know the extent of the love of Christ (referred to in v.17b, 18 & 19)
The love that Christ spoke of was a love of God, and a love for others – a sacrificial, giving love that puts both God and others before serving our own needs and desires. Remember the two greatest commandments – “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind & strength”, and “Love your neighbour as yourself”. One purpose for this strengthening from the Holy Spirit seems to be in order that we might get to know these kinds of love, and apply them in our own lives, as the instructions that follow this section, in ch.4 are all about loving God, and especially our fellow believers.
In this study, I’d like to comment further on this theme of the Holy Spirit today being an enabler, and look at some other passages that speak of the same thing.
Those thoughts from the prayer in Ephesians ch.3 tie in with sentiments found in Ephesians 5:1,2
- Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.
Doesn't the passage in Eph 3 tell us we've been equipped to do this, or at the least, is a prayer that we might be strengthened and enabled to reach that point?)
- also note ch 5 v.1 “Therefore”, which links back to the last few verses of chapter 4, that speaks of not grieving the Holy Spirit. How? By getting rid of all divisive behaviour and showing the same sort of love for others that Christ showed us – “forgiving one another, just as God IN CHRIST forgave you.” (4:30-32)
A chain of thoughts keeps coming up:
- Christ loved us and sacrificed Himself for us.
- If we have placed our faith in Christ, we have the Holy Spirit dwelling with us .
- The Spirit may strengthen us to know this sacrificial type of love Christ had.
- We may be strengthened by the same Spirit to exhibit that same love in our lives.
Similar thoughts are expressed in Colossians 1
READ Colossians 1:9-14 through
v.11 a prayer (v.9) to be strengthened with power (dunamis) – for what reason? For patience and endurance in our daily life.
v.12 giving thanks because of the hope we have, because…
v.14 we have been forgiven (again, a link with the love of Christ through His sacrificial love)
There is a similar passage in Romans 5:1-8
Ideas in this passage include:
- the extent of the love of Christ, that He died for us (v8)
- if a believer, then Holy Spirit is given to us (v.5)
- tribulation brings ... hope, the Spirit is the pledge of the hope within us, and also (by comparing other scriptures) a source of strength for us v3b-5
- strength through the Spirit (before and after ) v6
Without the pledge of the Spirit, trials for the unbeliever become only either a source of anguish, inconvenience and bitterness … or at best they can build a person’s character for the rest of their natural life. However, for the believer, we have the presence and strength of the Spirit, and we can be assured / reminded that there is a bigger picture, a hope of an everlasting life with God, the Spirit being a pledge of that better more long-term hope secured for us. Whatever trouble besets us now, we can be given the strength to endure it and work through it, take appropriate steps to overcome it, with the help of the One who is always with us.
Romans 5:1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
5:2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
5:3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance;
5:4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope.
5:5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
5:6 For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
5:7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die.
5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Ties in well with the phrase just below it that ends this prayer in Ephesians ch.3
3:20 - Now unto him .... More than we think...according to the power (dunamis) at work in us
We can only do so much in our own power
This goes a lot further than any man-made tips for better living.
So much of what we have to deal with is of a spiritual nature (we wrestle not against flesh and blood 6:12), and we require supernatural, extraordinary assistance to deal with things in a way that is on accordance with how God would have us deal with the problems we are faced with.
The general message is... Make every effort to be more loving, considerate, humble, patient etc, and God's Spirit that dwells within us will strengthen us to be this way.
Take a moment to think how these things may be able to change how things play out for you in the coming week.
