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The Spirit and the Word

 

                                               THE WORD AND THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT          

A very large percentage of believers do not  know and are not receiving the abundance of blessings that the Lord has made possible for us, because of  limited knowledge of what the Holy Spirit desires to do, and can do for us. We are heir of God and joint heirs with Jesus Christ (Romans 8:17). ITo assist myself, as well as others, in receiving the abundance of blessings that belong to us, I have presented a short outline of the person and power of the Holy Spirit, along with a short outline of what the Holy Spirit has power to do – through the Word of God - in the life of believers.

The Holy Spirit is sent to commune with us

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. 2 Cor. 13:14

"If therefore there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Philippians 2:1-2

What does it mean to commune with the Holy Spirit?

The Greek Word for communion is: koinwnia (Strong’s G2842)

Orig: from 2844; partnership, i.e. (literally) participation, or (social) intercourse, or (pecuniary) benefaction :--( to) communicate (-ation), communion, (contri-) distribution, fellowship. G2844

Heb Strong: H8667

  1. fellowship, association, community, communion, joint participation, intercourse
    1a) the share which one has in anything, participation
    1b) intercourse, fellowship, intimacy
    1b1) the right hand as a sign and pledge of fellowship (in fulfilling the apostolic office)
    1c) a gift jointly contributed, a collection, a contribution, as exhibiting an embodiment and proof of fellowship

 2 Cor. 13:14 concludes with these important words: "be with you all". "May Christ's grace be with you. May God's love be with you. May the Spirit's fellowship/sharing/companionship be with you." This is a discription f the Holy Spirit as the  "comforter"  that is found in John 14:16-17, "And I [Jesus] will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter [Gr. allos: of the same kind as Jesus] Helper, that He [the Holy Spirit] may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not behold Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you, and will be in you." So Paul's desire in 2 Cor. 13:14 for Christians to have the "fellowship of the Holy Spirit" is what Jesus promised in John 14:17 of the Spirit: "He abides with you, and will be in you.

2 Cor. 13:14 also echoes what Paul explained in great detail in his first letter to the Corinthians, "For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit." 1 Cor. 12:13 Here we see that the Holy Spirit is the agent of salvation, by placing us into the body of Christ. In this way we all are made to "drink of the one Spirit". Hence, "drink of the one Spirit" = "communion of the Holy Spirit" = "He abides with you, and will be in you

The concept of "fellowship of the Holy Spirit" is connected with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. "Fellowship", "abiding", "indwelling", "in you" and "in your heart", are five concepts that are interconnected. Again, we find that all five of these ideas are specifically and individually applied not only to the Holy Spirit, but the Father and the Son as well. All three are persons!

The Presence and Work of the Holy Spirit

2 Peter 1: 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost

When one is born of the Spirit, the Spirit takes up His own abode in him (I Cor. 3:16; 6:19). The Holy Spirit dwells in everyone who belongs to Christ (Ro. 8:9).

1 Corinthians 2:9-13 reads: But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.  For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.  Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

John 14:26: But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you

The Holy Spirit is a member of the Godhead

"When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, 'This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.'" Matthew 3:17-18

"For through Him [Christ] we both [Jews and gentiles] have access by one Spirit to the Father.  Ephesians 2:18

But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?  Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. Acts 5:3-4

 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. 1 John 5:7-8

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Matthew 28:19

Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device. Acts 17:29

Here are some scriptures and characteristics (works) of the Holy Spirit; along with the Father and Son that are fundamental to the relationship of the Trinity and their relationship with believers:

 

Text

Father

Son

Holy Spirit

2 Cor. 13:14

Love of God

Grace of Jesus

Fellowship of Holy Spirit

Rom 15:30

Prayers to God

Jesus

Love of Holy Spirit

1 Thess. 1:6-8

faith toward God

word of the Lord

joy of the Holy Spirit

1 Pet 1:2

Foreknowledge of God

obey Jesus Christ

sanctifying work of the Spirit

Jude 20-21

love of God

mercy of our Lord

praying in the Holy Spirit

Source: http://www.bible.ca/trinity/trinity-texts-2corinthians13-14.htm                     

The Holy Spirit was involved in the creation of heaven and earth

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.  And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.  And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.  Genesis 1:1-3, 26

The Holy spirit is the Author of the Bible2 Samuel 23:2

For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. 2 Peter 1:21

The Spirit of the LORD spoke through me; his word was on my tongue. 2 Samuel 23:2

The Holy Spirit has power to set us free from the law of sin and death.

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.  For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.  For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Romans 8:1-6

What is the Work of the Holy Spirit in imparting the Word of God?

The Word of God is the instrument through which the Holy Spirit does his work. The Word is "the sword of the Spirit" (Eph. 6:17). The Word of God is also the seed the Spirit sows and quickens (Luke 8:11; I Peter 1:23). The Word of God is also the instrument of all the manifold operations of the Holy Spirit (Hebrew 4:12).

The secret of effectual service is using the Word in the power of the Spirit. All the Divine operations of salvation proceed from the Father, are through the Son, and are executed by the Spirit. That is, God's work is accomplished by the Word and the Spirit, or rather by the Spirit through the Word. The secret of effectual living is knowing the power of the Spirit through the Word. The parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:3-23) gives us an understanding of how the "seed" sown is the Word. It was scattered upon various kinds of ground.

It is important that the inner man be "renewed day by day" (2 Cor. 4:16) through the power of the Word of God and the anointing of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit must make alive (quicken) the dead soil before the Word can make a difference in the life of the individual. That is, the Word cannot profit any soul spiritually until it is“mixed with faith" (Heb. 4:2

And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost. 1 Thess. 1:6