Part 15
2. It is for all believers, no mater their spiritual condition. The Corinthians were carnal and babes and they are classed as being baptized, and are seen as the temples of the Holy Spirit.
It once crossed my mind as to why God did not make the Baptism of the Spirit optional as He did the filling. I guess He wanted to be sure that He had a church. If He had made it optional few would have come seeking baptism, as few today seek the filling of the Spirit.
3. It is not optional.
4. It is not avoidable. You can't accept the Lord and duck, missing the Baptism of the Spirit. It is automatic, compulsory, and mandatory.
5. Of all the things that are mentioned in the activity of the Spirit in relationship to Christ it is of interest that Christ was never Baptized with the Spirit. The baptism of the Jordon was with water, the spirit came upon Him but not as a baptism of the Spirit. (Luke 3:22;4:1,14,18)
This is only logical, because He was not a part of the church age. Indeed, He made it possible for the church age to exist. He was ascended to be with the Father long before the Baptizing of the Spirit was placed into effect. Logically — He didn't need to be baptized with the Spirit. He was already head of Body — no need to be made part of it.
6. The baptism is called by different names. "baptized with the Holy Ghost" Acts 1:5; "baptized into Jesus Christ" Galatians 3:17, Romans 6:3; "baptized into his death" Romans 6:3.
Since Ephesians 4:4-6 is very clear that there is only one baptism, then we must assume that all of these are one.
7. There is no Old Testament scripture that mentions such an occurrence, nor any that prophecy it's coming. Again, that is obvious in that none of these people were part of the church age. The Baptism of the Spirit is strictly a church age occurrence. The thing that brought an Old Testament person into Israel was circumcision. Indeed, circumcision would be a looking forward to the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.
8. Chafer in his Bible Themes mentions on pp 110,111 that the baptism into the body is separate from the baptism into Christ. This would be hard
to hold, in light of the plain declaration that there is one baptism. (Ephesians 4:4-6)
SPIRIT BAPTISM MISAPPLIED
1. The usual Charismatic thought is that it is subsequent to the salvation experience. This thought has been covered in past studies. The idea that tongues is the signification that a person has received the baptism of the Spirit has been mentioned as well. Both lines of thinking are in error.
2. A Baptist theologian of the past generation by the name of E.Y. Mullins in an article in the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, "Baptism Of The Holy Spirit" indicates that the texts relating to Spirit baptism are all related to water baptism, and that the Spirit mentioned with these references is to signify that the church is to be operating in the Spirit at those times when the believers are being added to the local church by water baptism. (Orr, James; "The International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia"; Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Pub., 1939, pp 309-310)
He feels that the baptism of the Spirit ended before the end of Acts and that it never again took place. I think a look at the related verses will show this to be a very strained view.
3. Along with the view that the baptism of the Spirit is subsequent to the salvation experience, there are those that feel that this is a second work of grace which leads to complete sanctification and sinless perfection within this life.
In other words you might accept the Lord and go along as a good to moderate Christian for a time, be it a year or many years, and one day receive the Baptism of the Spirit and all of a sudden be totally sanctified and perfect — going out to serve God in a new manner. There seems to be no basis for this thinking in the Word.
4. Another Baptist theologian, Dale Moody in "The Word Of Truth" (Grand Rapids; Eerdmans; 1981; p 447) according to Ryrie mentions, "God imparts the Spirit in baptism" (Reprinted by permission: Ryrie, Charles C.; "Basic Theology"; Wheaton: Victor Books, 1986, p 362) Another research paper for you: Are the indwelling of the Spirit and the Baptism of the Spirit the same act or occasion. Indwelling is a living place,
while Baptism is an act of placing into the body of Christ. The two seem to differ, yet they are closely related to all that goes on in salvation. Indeed, the fact that the Spirit indwells may place us in Christ. The fact would become the act. More study might be appropriate on the possibility.
5. Some of the men we hold dear weren't as clear as possible on the doctrine. Ryrie mentions, "men like R.A. Torrey and D.L. Moody were unclear in this area. Torrey taught that a person could or could not be baptized with the Spirit at the moment of salvation (The Baptism With The Holy Spirit [Minneapolis: Bethany House, 1972], pp. 13-4). In his biography of Moody, Torrey recounts Moody's baptism as something that occurred subsequent to salvation (Why God Used D.L. Moody [New York: Revell, 1923], pp. 51-5)." (Reprinted by permission: Ryrie, Charles C.; "Basic Theology"; Wheaton: Victor Books, 1986, p 363)
Torrey tells us, "The baptism with the Holy Spirit is an absolutely necessary preparation for effective service for Christ along every line of service." He goes on to say in the next paragraph. "Any man who is in Christian work who has not received the baptism with the Holy Spirit ought to stop his work right where he is and not go on with it until he has been 'clothed with power from on high.'" This is in the context of the baptism being secondary to conversion and an item for which you must ask, but only after you are surrendered to God totally. (Torrey, R.A.; "Baptism With The Holy Spirit"; Minneapolis: Bethany House, 1972, pp 13, 14) He goes on to equate baptism to filling. He seems to see a one time special occurrence that is subsequent to salvation.
6. Some hyper-dispensationals believe that the baptism of Acts is separate from the baptism of the epistles. Both baptisms are usually viewed as water baptism.
SPIRIT BAPTISM APPLIED
1. Probably one of the great tragedies of the church age is going to go into history as the schism between believers. I am not advocating the union of all believers, however I feel there is a wide gap that ought not be there.
I am a good Baptist by nature, education, and conviction so I can tell stories on my own breed. There was a man that died and went to heaven. At the gates he was introduced to an angel that was going to give him a tour of heaven. As the tour progressed they stepped into a huge building. Inside was a long hallway with many doors. The angel stepped to the first door. The door was marked Lutheran. The angel opened the door and introduced the new arrival to everyone. They moved back into the hall and the man commented on how nice the Lutherans had been.
They then stepped to the door marked Christian Church....
They then stepped to the door marked Brethren....
They then stepped to the door marked Presbyterian....
All of the peoples were friendly and the man seemed surprised. The angel then stepped to another door. He turned to the man and stated, "Now, we have to be very quiet when I open this door. I won't be introducing you to these people." The angel opened the door and the man looked in only briefly before the angel closed the door very softly. The man asked why he did not get to meet these people. The angel stated, "Well, the Baptists don't know anyone else is here and we hate to bother them."
Nothing Against The Baptists. All Of Our Churches Tend Toward The Idea That Only "We" Will Be There.
In the area of the teaching of the Spirit the gap is of necessity due to the great divisiveness of the Charismatic movement as well as quite often the related life styles involved.
John 13:35 mentions, "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." Unless you take that statement as a very idol mumbling of our Lord it is a very startling reality that most of us can't relate to.
To love the Charismatic is our job. We needn't participate in their antics and doctrine, but we are to love them.
To love the Baptists is our job. To love the Brethren as in Plymouth is our job. To love the Lutherans is our job, if they are believers. I've listened to some Lutheran radio, and it usually puts the fundamental preachers to
shame. To love the independent Bible church people is our job if we are Baptists or Brethren.
We Are Part Of The Same Body, And We Are All Part Of The Lord Jesus Christ.
Do Not Misunderstand Me. I Am Not Saying Let's Get Together With False Teaching. We Are, To Love One Another, However.
2. Indeed the above thinking relates to the believers within the local assemblies. To love one another would move toward a real working of the Spirit in most churches.
3. If we are baptized into the body of Christ and into Christ himself at the moment of salvation, then to fall away to a lost state would demand your removal from the Body, and from Christ. What a challenge to the doctrine of the insecurity of the believer.
4. If you are a member of the body of Christ then God has a place for you to serve. You may be a nose to smell out false doctrine, or a finger to point at the dangers of the world. You may be a foot to do the door to door work, or you may be a knee to do the praying. You, however are not the brain so I trust that you will never act like it. You are something, so get to work. God has a ministry for every last one of us. It may not be glorious or it may be glorious. Never the mind, it is our place to do as He bids for the betterment of the Entire Body.
Cambron's "Bible Doctrines", pp 141-142 has a chart that might be of use to you. I would like to adapt it for your further study.
CONTRASTING BAPTISM AND FILLING OF THE SPIRIT
BAPTISM OF THE SPIRIT FILLING OF THE SPIRIT
1. RELATES TO POSITION 1. RELATES TO WALK
2. EXTERNAL (POSITION) 2. INTERNAL
3. FOR EVERY BELIEVER 3. OPTIONAL WITH THE BELIEVER
4. NEVER COMMANDED 4. COMMANDED
5. OCCURS AT SALVATION 5. MAY OCCUR AT BELIEVERS WILL
6. OCCURS ONCE 6. MAY OCCUR MANY TIMES
7. OCCURRED POST PENTECOST
7. SOME FILLED PRE PENTECOST
THE HOLY SPIRIT'S WORK IN THE FILLING OF THE BELIEVER
DOCTRINE DEFINED
Chafer in his major themes mentions, "The filling of the Spirit may be defined as a spiritual state where the Holy Spirit is fulfilling all that He came to do in the heart and life of the individual believer. It is not a matter of acquiring more of the Spirit, but rather of the Spirit of God acquiring all of the individual." (Chafer, Lewis Sperry; "Systematic Theology"; Dallas, TX; Dallas Seminary Press, 1947, p 115)
What a beautiful thought — the Spirit doing all that He desires to do in my life. I trust that you contemplate that sometime. All That He Desires To Do.
DOCTRINE EXAMINED
1. Ephesians 5:18, "And be not drunk with wine, in which is excess, but be filled with the Spirit" Being drunk has the idea of the wine controlling the person who is drunk. Being filled has the idea of being controlled by the Spirit completely.
As the drunk is lowered, to a lower plain of life and activity, so the Spirit filled believer will live on a higher plain than the non-filled person. Not that they are in a fog, but they are being all that God wants them to be at all times.
Ryrie mentions that the drunk gives himself over to the influences of the wine as the believer gives himself over to the influences of the Spirit.
In his book on the Holy Spirit he states, in reference to the person under the control of wine, "he thinks and acts in ways normally unnatural to him. Likewise, the man who is Spirit-filled is controlled, and he too acts in ways that are unnatural to him." (Taken from: "The Holy Spirit"; Ryrie, Charles C.; Copyright 1965, Moody Bible Institute of Chicago; Moody Press. Used by permission. pp 93-94) This does not mean that the
believer is out of control with joy, peace and longsuffering. It is to say that the believer is under the control of the Spirit. It means that the person is doing all that they can to follow and serve the Lord via the Spirit's leading.
DOCTRINE RECEIVED
How can the believer be filled with the Spirit? This is a question that needs to be considered.
1. We cannot be filled by asking for it. There is no reference in scripture that tells us to pray for the filling. We are only told to be filled. This would indicate that it is a simple act of the will.
2. We cannot be filled by someone else asking for it. In other words the prayer of the saint in the congregation before the sermon asking for God to fill the pastor is technically in error. We might ask that the Lord would move the pastor to seek to be filled before he begins — however that might take some time for him to get ready for it.
3. We cannot be filled by denying ourselves of food, drink or other items. There is nothing that we can give up that will bring the Spirit's filling except for one thing. Your Control Of Your Life.
4. We cannot be filled by meditation. No matter how psyched up we get, no matter how laid back we get, no matter how quiet we get, we cannot be filled.
5. We cannot be filled by any work that we can do, save a clean life before God living from day to day in His control, and not in our own control. You have merely to seek out sin in your life and confess it properly and allow the Lord to take control.
If you are not willing to submit to the authority of your parents, you cannot be filled. If you are not willing to follow All The Lord's commandments you cannot be filled with the Spirit. If you are not willing to forgive another, then the Spirit cannot be in control, for you are. If you are in control, then the Spirit is not, and you are not filled.
If there is anything that you will not allow the Spirit to control in your life then you are not filled with the Spirit. That might include: Not following local, state or federal laws: speed limits, safe driving, copyright laws, etc.
Not following whatever rules, or authority God has placed over you. We have choirs all over the country singing praises to their God with copied sheets of music, which is strictly illegal. How much praise do you think that the Lord hears? We have Christians breaking speed limit laws on the way to church. How excited does God get over such dedication?
Can a person be filled at a time when there is no conflict of interest? In other wards if God has told me to drink no more and I determine not to drink. At a point tomorrow I take a drink — was I filled from the place of being in His control and the point at which I determined to take a drink? It would seem that yes would be the answer. He had full control until my will decided to take the drink and disobey — or indeed take back the control that had been relinquished to the Spirit.
SIMPLE FACTS THAT HURT
Can't I sin just a little bit and still be mostly controlled by the Spirit? No.
Can't I use my mind to produce a feeling of filling and not be totally turned over to the Spirit? No. No matter what physical or mental contortions you may deem as profitable — they are worthless in relation to the filling of the Spirit.
Chafer mentions three items of concern before you can be filled. Walvoord and Ryrie elaborate on these three points as well.
1. 1 Thessalonians 5:19, don't quench the Spirit.
2. Ephesians 4:30, don't grieve the Spirit.
3. Galatians 5:16, walk in the Spirit.
If you are grieving or quenching the Spirit then you are not allowing Him to control you. We will look at these in future sections.
The third item of "walk in the Spirit" would naturally relate to walking your Christian life in the control of the spirit.
Torrey on the other hand lists seven steps to being filled. You need to realize he is equating baptism and filling and is askew on this doctrine slightly.
He bases his first thoughts on Acts 2:38, "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." (The following seven points adapted from, Torrey, R.A.; "Baptism With The Holy Spirit"; Minneapolis: Bethany House, 1972, pp 11-37.)
1. Repent. Acts 2:38 (change your mind)
2. Repent. Acts 2:38 (renounce sin)
3. Be Baptized.
4. Obedience. (Based in part on Acts 2:38 and on Acts 5:32.)
5. Have A Real And Intense Desire. Luke 11:13
6. Ask. Luke 11:13
7. Faith. Mark 11:24
Point five, six and seven are looking for Church age truth in Jewish information. The asking for the Spirit is something that the Old Testament saint had to do, but we in this age automatically receive Him in His fullness.
You see, Mark Torrey feels there is more to filling than what is normally seen. He is speaking of something that we must seek after and ask for. This would indicate that his filling is a second item that is dependant upon us, and not God. Indeed, he must have seen baptism and filling as the same, and that being, a special work aside from the indwelling of salvation.
It is easy to see how his teaching can be used by the pentecostal groups.
DOCTRINE APPLIED
1. It is a command. We are to be filled. The term filled in Ephesians 5 is an imperative and something to be done. No rationalizations, no excuses, no comment, no discussion, no outs, no maybe's, no alternatives, no options, no AAAHHH but Lord's, no anything. We Are To Be Filled.
2. Some would ask how often you should be filled. In short the Ephesians text is in the present tense and several authors suggest that it be translated as "keep on being filled." The idea is as often as you need it, or maybe
better yet, you are to be controlled continually. The choice of God would be to be filled once and never have need of it again, however God is realistic and has set it up so that all may be filled as they have need.
Constantly, should be the goal. It is a continual item of interest to the believer. Every time you take over control, there will have to be a resumption of power by the Spirit.
As a person matures they will continue to find new areas of life to yield to Him, and this will require new commitment to the Lord's control of that area of their life.
3. Some suggest Colossians 3:16 as an equal to the Ephesians 5:18 text.
"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, in all wisdom teaching
and admonishing one another, in psalms and hymns and spiritual
songs singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord."
They equate the two passages, because in geometry there is a law or axiom which states if two things are equal to the same thing then they are equal. In other words if a=c and b=c then a=b.
I'm not sure what angles and lines have to do with scripture, but there may be a close similarity between allowing the word of Christ to dwell richly in you and being filled with the Spirit.
If we are filled with the Spirit we will fill our minds with the thoughts of Christ and vice versa if we fill our minds with the words of Christ we will probably be filled with the Spirit.
4. The result of not being filled as a believer, is only one. The result is sin. To not follow the command of the Lord is SIN. Now, if you take some time to consider the average Christian that is not walking in the Spirit, that is, one that is doing his or her own thing — then you have a sinning Christian. Every person that is living for themselves in the church is in sin. Need we guess why the average church is unfruitful?
RESULTS OF THE FILLING
1. Fruit: The fruit of the Spirit will be the main result of the filling of the Spirit. Galatians 5:16-26 tells us what the fruit of the Spirit are. I have contrasted these with the opposites.
FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT NO FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT
LOVE DISLIKE/HATE
JOY SADNESS/GET ALONG
ATTITUDE
PEACE TURMOIL/UPSET CONFUSION
LONG-SUFFERING SHORT TEMPER/SHARP
TONGUE
GENTLENESS RUFFNESS/TERSENESS
GOODNESS LACK OF GOOD/BADNESS/NASTINESS
FAITH DOUBT/WORRY
MEEKNESS OUTWARD/KNOW IT ALL
SELF-CONTROL SUBMIT TO PEER
PRESSURE/SIN
Which Column Do You Operate In? These items of contrast are easy enough to understand for most of us. We understand the basic meaning of the fruit of the Spirit. We also understand that the fruit is to be seen in our lives. This means when you are preaching. This means when you are buying gas. This means when you are disciplining your children. This means when you are in a business meeting that isn't going well. This means when you are taking a test. This means when you are fixing a flat tire. This means when you are discussing what that mealy mouthed creep said about you at the business meeting. This means at all times of the day and night, and all situations.
Now, How Many Of Us Want To Claim That We Are Really Filled With The Spirit All The Time? Most Of The Time Yes, Maybe Much Of The Time Yet There May Be Some Times When We Aren't.
2. Proper Church Services: Ephesians 5 mentions that the filling precedes the following activities of the church. Ephesians 5:18-21, "And be not drunk with wine, in which is excess, but be filled with the Spirit, Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God." Worship, praise, singing, thanksgiving, submissiveness (Wow — even submissiveness from filling.).
Have you ever been in a service where you felt that everyone must be filled with the Spirit? In Denver years ago the pastor came for the usual Sunday evening service and ask for testimonies. The congregation began sharing and finally he interrupted, and had us sing another song. Before he had a chance to go further, another person stood and mentioned that they had something to share and this kept occurring. About 45 minutes into the service the pastor mentioned that he was not going to fight what was going on and sat down and enjoyed what was going on. We finished a little after the hour and all went away very refreshed (without a sermon.).
While we were home missionaries we were asked to present our work in a church in Denver. We drove down the night before and enjoyed a very neat couple's home. We went to church the next morning and found that they did not have the usual services. They sat in a square around a table on which the Lord's table was set. They shared from the word, from the heart and prayed. From time to time we would sing a song, then the service was closed with the Lord's table.
If you were to be in a group like this on a regular basis you would learn quickly that to be a part of the worship you would have to be filled with the Spirit a lot of the time during the week so that you would have something to share on Sunday morning.
3. Service: Naturally the spiritual gifts would be involved in this, but the thought of filling would also relate to the natural sharing of one's faith with those around them. Evangelism would be the natural result of filling.
Let's consider a few questions.
Can you be a spiritual person without being filled with the Spirit? This is a question of semantics probably. The point is this, if you are constantly filled, then you will be becoming a spiritual person. A new believer can be filled but not necessarily a spiritual person, in that he has much maturing to do before he can be walking in the spirit on a moment to moment basis.
Is it wrong for two believers that have been saved the same amount of time to be on different spiritual maturity plains? Only if one has been negligent in allowing the Spirit's control. The Spirit may have need of great maturity on the part of one for the ministry yet not need the same depth of maturity for the job of the other. It is the individual's responsibility to be filled, and allow the Spirit to draw the person to the maturity that He desires.
I trust that you will never look down upon a person that has less maturity than you. Be pleased that the Spirit has done what he has done with you and allow the Spirit to do the same with all other people. Indeed, they may not be below you — your opinion of your own maturity may be inflated.
To sum up let me share a quotation from Chafer. "From the nature of the filling of the Spirit, it may be concluded that the wide difference in spiritual experience observed in Christians and the various degrees of conformity to the mind and will of God may be traced to the presence or absence of the filling of the Spirit." (Taken from the book, Major Bible Themes by Lewis Sperry Chafer and John F. Walvoord. First edition copyright 1926, 1953 by Dallas Theological Seminary. Revised edition copyright 1974 by Dallas Theological Seminary. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. p 117)
In short it seems to me if you want a simple key to the whole topic it is this. When you sin, 1 John 1:9 it and He is back in control. The sooner you 1 John 1:9 your sin the quicker He will be back in control. Is this an oversimplification? I Trust That It Is Not.
THE HOLY SPIRIT'S WORK IN
SEALING OF THE BELIEVER
THE DOCTRINE PRACTICED
The sealing of the Holy Spirit is that process by which the Holy Spirit is sealed up within our own ego and person, so that He is rendered completely inoperative in our lives. NO. This is not what sealing is, but many today seem to operate as if this were the proper interpretation and definition of the doctrine.
Ephesians 4:30,
"And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, by whom ye are sealed unto the day of redemption."
Note, that whatever this sealing is, it is for a long long time. It is till the day of redemption. We will have the Spirit until the day that we are finally and completely redeemed from this earth and miserable state. We also notice that we are not to grieve the Spirit in this verse. We will deal with this subject in a coming study.
What is a seal? An animal that likes to balance balls — yes. Christmas and Easter seals — yes. However, in this case it means much more. In the legal area it is something that indicates a guaranteeing of the contents of that which is sealed.
Let me give you some illustrations of seals? There are seals dating to the days of the Babylonians for certain. They have found barrel seals that are placed in the Babylonian period with pictures of a man and woman and snake. Seals have been around for many years. They would role the seal in fresh clay to leave the impression. The kings of Europe used ring seals. They would imprint warm wax with their ring so that all could know that the item was from the king. We still have the ancestors of the old time seal. When you graduated you probably received a diploma imprinted with a seal of some sort.
Gift shops still sell little seals with wax sticks. You melt the wax on the back of your sealed envelope and then press the seal into the hot wax. It is for ornamentation, yet it guarantees that the seal of the letter has not been disturbed.
When a new teacher's belongings arrived one summer in Wyoming, the driver had to use tools to break a steal band that had been placed on the container when it was loaded in Germany. That seal guaranteed that no person had entered that container along the way. The seal had a number on it that was a double guarantee of no entry. That number matched the receipt that the couple had signed in Germany.
As believers, God has sealed us in some manner, and the Spirit is that seal. He is our guarantee that something is going to happen, that our final redemption will come. He is also our guarantee that nothing is going to happen — that is our eternal security.
Since He is our seal, how can we know that we are saved? We can know by knowing the work and presence of the Spirit in our life. If you have known the presence of the Holy Spirit in your life, then you have known the seal that guarantees your salvation.
There is the idea of approval as well in the seal. When the container was sealed there was an approval from someone on the other end that knew that what was inside was in good shape and complete.
"Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest
of the Spirit in our hearts." 2 Corinthians 122
Note should be made that the sealing is like indwelling in that it is for all believers, even the carnal and babes of Corinth. It is automatic, it is complete, it is irrevocable, it is impossible to reject when you are saved, and it is impossible to reject when you don't feel that you're saved.
The seal of the Holy Spirit comes when we believe and are saved.
"In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise, Who is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory." Ephesians 1:13, 14
Just when is this redemption going to take place? Either at death, or at the Rapture.
The seal on the overseas container, with its number also identified that container as belonging to that particular couple. So, the seal that we bear identifies us as belonging to the one that sealed us — God. 2 Timothy 2:19 tells us,
"Nevertheless, the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his; and, Let every one that
nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity."
It is of interest in the verse that God knows His own because of the seal that He has given, but notice that next phrase. Based on God knowing His own, Paul adds, "...Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity." Based on God knowing us, we are told to depart from iniquity..
There are two terms used for seal in the New Testament.
Both terms are always translated as some form of the word seal. (sealed is Strong's number 4972 which is the Greek word "sphragizo"; seal is Strong's 4973 which is the Greek word "sphragis")
INFORMATION OF INTEREST
1. Ryrie mentions that Ephesians 1:13 can be interpreted two ways quite perfectly, due to the construction. It can indicate that there was an interval of time between believing and the sealing. The other, quite valid, interpretation is that they occurred at the same moment. He also mentions, and he agrees with me, that logically it would fit best for the believing and sealing to occur at the same time, or in that instant when all the many things of salvation occur. However, logic demands the sequence of trusting, then those saving items from God.
2. It is hard to tell whether it is the Spirit that actually does the sealing or if He is only that which is given. It is clear that God sealed, but was it the Father, Son or Spirit. We can't be certain from the texts we are given.
Ephesians 4:30, "And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, by whom ye are sealed unto the day of redemption." This text seems to indicate it was the
Spirit, the verse can also read "in whom" ye are sealed rather than by whom. The preposition is translated both ways in the scriptures.
In 2 Corinthians 1:21 it mentions that it is God that seals us. It would seem logical that if God is keeping, and God is the one that promises, and God is the one that seals that it would be the Father that does the Sealing with the giving of the Holy Spirit.
3. The 2 Timothy passage (2:19) does not specifically speak of the seal of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is not mentioned. It probably is, however authors tend to assume, then state it as fact.
4. John 6:27 mentions that God sealed Christ. We can learn little from this due to the special relationship Christ had to the Trinity. Whether this is speaking of the same type of seal or not we don't know. I would assume possibly that if there were similarities that Paul would have mentioned it. Christ needed no seal in relation to redemption because He didn't need to be redeemed or saved, so I doubt that it was the same.
5. Actually the sealing of the Holy Spirit is the indwelling of the Spirit. His dwelling in us is that guarantee that is the seal.
1. Ownership was one of the things that the seal of the New Testament day meant. In Ephesus they had a large lumber trade. Merchants of the area would come to select and buy lumber, then place their seal or signet on the lumber. At a later time one of his workers or servants would come to the harbor and select out the lumber that had their masters seal on it and take it home.
The seal is not unknown in real estate transactions. The Old Testament relates of times when deeds were sealed, and this is a picture to many of the seven seal book of Revelation. The seal was to be opened, or used by only certain people.
The seal implies ownership. We are bought with a price. Again, I must ask the question that I have posed in previous studies. If God owns us then how dare we begin to make decisions concerning what we are going to do in
life without first contacting Him? We presume enormously to consider our lives apart from His wishes.
2. We have seen that the Old Testament saints were not indwelt, baptized, nor sealed. What can we draw from those facts? God is doing something special for us in the Church age. The next question is, why? Might it be that God is proving something very special to the principalities of the air? That no matter what God does for man, or offers to man, that man will turn against God. It seems that this may be a good reason for the dispensations.
3. The idea of sealing is also a very good doctrine for the insecure believer. If God has sealed us then there is no way that we can unseal ourselves. He will keep us until all that He has promised has come to pass. Any concept of the seal in history relates that the seal guarantees the contents of something. How can the contents ever unseal itself? Impossible.
Ryrie has a very good paragraph. "The concept of sealing includes the ideas of ownership, authority, responsibility, and, above all, security. Sealing assures us of the security of God's promises to us, especially our salvation. We can be certain
(a) that He possesses us,
(b) that we have a secure salvation sealed by and with the Spirit, and
(c) that He purposes to keep us to the day of our full redemption." (Reprinted by permission: Ryrie, Charles C.; "Basic Theology"; Wheaton: Victor Books, 1986, p 360)
I like that thought that almighty God purposes to keep us.
4. The 2 Timothy text mentions that the sealed person is to depart from iniquity. We need not say much more than that.
5. It is of interest that the sealing is an act which yields nothing further than what it, in itself, means. Because of it we will continue to be sealed unto the day of redemption, however there is nothing further that will benefit or act on our behalf aside from its original intent.
6. 2 Corinthians 1:22 and Ephesians 1:13,14 both mention that the Spirit is our earnest. In real estate transactions there is what they call earnest
money. It is money given by the buyer and received by the seller as a token of their promise to one another to consummate the deal. It is their guarantee to one another. God has given us the Holy Spirit as His earnest money to guarantee His deal with us. The Spirit is our guarantee that He will redeem us.
Not only are we sealed to that end but the Spirit is a double guarantee of what God has promised.
If we then are assured that we have the Spirit indwelling us on a permanent basis then we can have security. Tell that to the insecure believer and possibly it will do some good.
THE HOLY SPIRIT'S MINISTRIES
TO THE BELIEVER
COMFORT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Lord told the disciples,
"But the Comforter, who is the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatever I have said unto you." John 14:26
The term comforter is Strong's 3875, which is the term "parakletos," means "an intercessor, counselor". (Strong) The term is only used of the Spirit in the gospel of John and once in 1 John 2:1 were it speaks of Christ as the "advocate".
THE SPIRIT COMFORTS THE BELIEVER IN A NUMBER OF WAYS
1. When we are in tribulation. 2 Corinthians 1:4 mentions,
"Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them who are in any trouble, by the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted of God."
This mentions God but the Holy Spirit is named the comforter in four texts (John 14:16,26; 15:26; 16:7) so this probably speaks of the Spirit.
How do you comfort someone that is in tribulation. Hurt with them, encourage them, remind them that the Lord is able etc. This is what the Spirit can do for us if we allow Him to.
This text also gives reason for some of our many and varied tribulations. They are sent our way so that we will have the ability to relate to others that come along during our lives that have need of our comfort and help. Is it any wonder a person going into the ministry has so many trials and tribulations? No, they are being prepared.
2. When we are cast down. 2 Corinthians 7:6, "Nevertheless God, who comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of
Titus;" The text is likening the comfort to the comfort that comes when a friend arrives on the scene. Not only should the Spirit be a welcome comfort for us, He should be our friend.
3. When we have need of His ministry. This would come from the Word as He guides us to texts and helps us to understand the ideas set forth. It is also accomplished through the communion of the Spirit that we will see. He will encourage us as we pray and He can guide our thoughts along the proper directions.
He also encourages us and comforts us as He directs other believers to us for those purposes. This is an indirect work of the Spirit.
TEACHING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
John 14:26 mentions that the Spirit will bring things to the remembrance of the disciples. This specifically was to the disciples concerning the revelation that they would record in the future.
"But the Comforter, who is the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatever I have said unto you."
The last phrase is what requires us to limit this specific promise to those that had heard Christ in person.
The previous text may have been for the disciples however 1 Corinthians 2:9-10 indicates that the Spirit reveals things to us that we could not know otherwise.
"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."
This should point up to us one very glowing fact. The education level of a person does not relate to the spiritual understanding of the person. The better the education of the believer the better his understanding will be if he is truly walking with God. That is understanding in the detail and knowledge of the specifics of the Word. The uneducated can find, at times,
deeper depth in their spiritual walk than the educated, due to their desire to know God rather than know about God.
The key is being born again. If you consider the great liberal theologians and all their education. Education has done nothing for their understanding of the Word of God. They are not born again and do not have the Holy Spirit within them to teach them the spiritual truths. This is why they are off in all sorts of areas of falsehood.
1 John 2:27 is a statement, not that the believer needs no human teachers, but is to let the believers John was writing to know that the truth of the preceding statements would be made evident to them through the Spirit. If the text were teaching that there were no need for human teachers then we would not need Bible Institutes, colleges and seminaries, nor teachers at those
institutions of learning. We would not need teachers in our Sunday Schools and churches. Teachers ARE needed.
The idea of no human teachers is not Biblically acceptable because the gift of teaching was given so that some might impart knowledge to others (Ephesians 4:11). If there were no need of human teachers there would be no need for a gift of teaching. (2 Timothy 2:2 also)
1 John 2:20 speaks of the anointing of verse 27. "But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things." We do have a teacher and instructor in residence. We need to acknowledge and listen to that teacher.
Our physical teachers can teach nothing unless we are receptive to what they teach, likewise with the heavenly instructor that we have; If we aren't open to His teaching then we will not learn. (See also John 15:26 which mentions that the Spirit would testify of the Lord, and John 16:12-15 which tells us that the Spirit would guide the apostles into all truth. This was to give them the information that they were to preach and teach to the church and relay in the revealed word.)
There is one other area in which the Spirit can teach us. The Spirit has imparted a spiritual gift of teaching for some to use in the ministry of the Word. Anyone ministering the Word with the gift of teaching is in a sense being taught by the Spirit and teaching others via the Spirit.
Equally true is the fact that a Spirit filled person teaching the Word is sharing information to the believer via the Spirit's directions. This would not necessitate the gift of teaching.
Spirit filled and gifted writers have opportunity as well. They minister to us, and the Spirit ministers indirectly through them.
PRAYING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
We do not know just how the Spirit is involved in our prayer life yet the scripture is plain that He is. The Spirit is involved in two ways in our prayer life.
1. He is in the business of guiding our prayer life as we allow Him control. There are times when you are very burdened for someone, and you just take time to pray for them. This has happened to me a time or two.
I may have shared this illustration in an earlier study. A few years ago I was studying and suddenly a couple in our church popped into my mind. They were not well known to us for we had never really gotten together. They were the picture of health. I just had a burden to pray for them at that moment. I had no idea what to pray so kept it general — that the Lord would meet all the needs of their life at that point in time. Two days later I received news that the man had died of a heart attach and his wife was being told at about the same time that I had been praying for them.
Only the Spirit of the Lord could prompt such things. At times He may burden you to pray on a continuing basis for a person. There are times when I am burdened for a specific missionary or problem, and will pray for it for a long time. Usually I pray until I know that the problem is resolved or until another missionary becomes the focus of my prayers.
Ephesians 6:18 mentions that we are to pray in the Spirit. This would indicate that we are to be directed by the Spirit in our prayer life.
2. The Spirit assists us in our prayers at times. Romans 8:26,
"Likewise, the Spirit also helpeth our infirmity; for we know not what we should pray for as we ought; but the Spirit himself maketh
intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered."
Now, I'm not sure what all this verse means but I would like to challenge you with a humorous, but serious interpretation of this verse.
We do not know how to pray as we ought and the Spirt intercedes for us. May we apply this to the prayer of the saint that absolutely knows that he needs a new Corvette? And what would the Spirit do upon hearing such a request. Yes, GROAN. No, this is not the meaning of the verse necessarily, yet I'm not so sure that the first part isn't partially true.
At times we do not pray as we ought for we are asking amiss as the book of James tells us (James 4:3). When we are asking amiss, I feel that the Spirit is interpreting, or converting our message into something usable for the Father.
In computers there are different languages used. Some computers can use programs that translate or convert information from another computer and use it. The conversion makes the information meaningful to the receiving computer. It seems that the Spirit translates things into language that the Lord can understand.
A prayer such as, "Oh, Lord I need a new car." can be translated a number of ways, and the Spirit interprets the statement correctly in light of the situation and God's will?
The term infirmity may show forth our very basic lack as believers, and that lack is our prayer life. We need help in that area of our spiritual life to say the least.
This verse also is a part of the basis for the idea that the Spirit leads us in our prayers, that is, to the areas in which He desires we pray. These areas might be those things that we don't know about, or those things that we wouldn't think of on our own.
Verse 27 of Romans 8 is also of interest to our thoughts. "And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God." God knows the heart of man because the Spirit is making intercession for us According To The Will Of God.
LEADING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
The leading of the Spirit is not just a New Testament occurrence. There were people that were led in the Old Testament.
In the account of the servant seeking a bride for Isaac, we see this. Genesis 24:27, "...I being in the way, the Lord led me to the house of my master's brethren." The prophets also mention that they were lead of the Lord to speak and act.
The New Testament is bold in its statement that the Spirit does lead. Indeed, the Spirit lead's every believer that will allow Him to lead. Romans 8:14, "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God."
Galatians declares that those that are led of the Spirit are not under the law. Since we know that the church age saint is not under the law, then all believers must be led by the Spirit. "But if ye be led by the Spirit, ye are not under the law."
There are some things that the Spirit will not do as He leads the believer. He will never contradict the revealed Word of God. He will never add to the Word of God. In essence, the Word is our guide in many many areas.
It was of interest to me in 1992 someone predicted the rapture was going to occur on October 28. Naturally it did not occur. The news reports mentioned that many had quit their jobs, some sold their houses and some women had abortions. Now, if God really was leading in the setting of the date of the Rapture, why would he lead people to sell homes and quite jobs. The evidence demands that there was little leading of the Spirit in these lives. The abortions really bother me. Abortion is the killing of children. How could a believer rationalize it is better to kill a baby than to be carrying a child at the time of the rapture? Logic is lacking.
There are some things that the Spirit will do when He is leading. He will lead and guide in areas that the Word does not cover such as geographical area of ministry. He will encourage and stimulate toward the Word and it's clear commands of living and instruction.
The leading of the Spirit is very much determined by our proximity to the Lord. In other words if we aren't filled with the Spirit then we cannot really look for guidance from Him.
It is like a car moving down the street. As long as the driver is in the drivers seat and directing the car he can lead or direct that car as he desires, however if he crawls into the back seat and releases the wheel the car is not directed in any sense by the ex-driver.
Please take time to read Acts 16:6-10. Paul was sensitive to the Spirit's leading and was directed to the places of witness that were on God's mind. It should be remembered also that all of the places Paul went were also due to the leading of the Spirit. The Spirit may use different methods of leading in different situations.
Paul was headed to different destinations and the Lord intervened in a real sense in this text, yet He at times just placed some towns on Paul's mind and gave him a burden for them. The Spirit does not always use the dramatic methods of leading, or He may, it is His choice.
You may find that the Lord will be very dramatic in some leading. If you lose your job then you may assume that the Lord is leading you to something new. At other times you will only have a burden in your life to do a certain thing and the Lord will give you continuing peace as you press forward in that direction.
Acts 13:4 in speaking of the first missionary journey mentions that Saul and Barnabas were sent forth by the Holy Spirit. Earlier in the text the Spirit is active in bringing this about. Please read Acts 13:1-4. A Beautiful Picture Of The Spirit Of God Leading And Guiding In The Sending Of Missionaries.
(Some Miscellaneous texts: Acts 8:29 mentions that the Spirit told Philippians to go; Acts 10:19-20 records the account of Peter being sent to the house of Cornelius; Acts 20:22,23 shows that the Spirit was leading Paul to Jerusalem.)
COMMUNION WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT
2 Corinthians 13:14 states,
"The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen."
The term communion is of interest to us especially since it is between the Spirit and ourselves. This is the Greek term koinonia or fellowship. How can the Spirit and the believer have fellowship? Good sermon material for you to develop. At the very least we can know that we can.
FUTURE OF THE SPIRIT
Walvoord has a lengthy discussion of this on pp 227-234. We will only touch on the subject today.
In the Tribulation:
Revelation 7:14 mentions that many will be saved during the Tribulation period. It is assumed that the Spirit will be the agent of regeneration as He has been in the church age. "And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they who came out of the great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb."
We are not told that He will indwell the saints as He did in the Church age. We might assume that He will, based on the line of thinking that has been presented in previous lessons. If He did not indwell in the Old Testament, because of the lack of regeneration, but does indwell in the New Testament because regeneration is completed, then we might assume that the Tribulation saint will also be indwelt. All Tribulation saints and new Millennial saints will be regenerated as were the New Testament saints. It is logical that they will be indwelt.
The aspect of the Spirits ministry to the lost world may be missing after the Church age however. His conviction that was mentioned in John (16:711) will probably not be in effect. Thessalonians (2 Thessalonians 2:5-12) indicates that His special presence will be removed at the rapture.
The tribulation saints will be martyred from the looks of the book of Revelation so they may die shortly after salvation. If they die then this question may be irrelevant.
There are prophecies of the Spirit being poured out upon the Jews in the end times so the Spirit will be active on earth in some manner. (Joel 2; Zechariah 12:10,
"And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplications; and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.")
The following texts will show that there is an indwelling of some sort in the kingdom age. Whether it is the same indwelling of the church age or not we aren't told.
Millennial Kingdom:
During the Millennial kingdom there will be an indwelling of the Spirit that seems to be a general indwelling. Ezekiel 36:27, "And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep mine ordinances, and do them." verse 26 also relates.
The Spirit will be upon the Lord during His reign in the kingdom. Isaiah 11:2-3,
"And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him,
the spirit of wisdom, and understanding,...."
We, the Church age believers, will be in heaven during the tribulation and reigning with Christ in the Millennial kingdom. The saints of the Tribulation will probably be with us as well. The Kingdom saints will live throughout the kingdom age, unless they are unnaturally killed. In these cases, we are not told of their determination. Some feel that they will be at the Great White Throne, and others feel that they will be raised at the end of the kingdom.
Since Christ is going to be there on earth, and since we know He has power over death, He may raise them from the dead on the spot. We just are not told.
If you hurt — He comforts you.
If you need knowledge of the Word — He gives it.
If you need to know where to go — He leads.
What more do we need?
Some believers need much more. I knew a man that knew that he was living in sin, he knew that the Lord was caring for him, he knew that the Lord wanted him to change his lifestyle, yet, he was confused and didn't know what to do. He knew what to do, he just didn't want to do it. He Needed To Get Out Of Sin.
God has perfectly equipped us for something. What? The work of the Lord. He equipped us with a Leader to guide us to our place in the church ministry, a Teacher to help us understand the Word, and a Comforter in case we hit hard times.
We have it all, yet we want more — all that the World system can offer. It doesn't compute. We should be satisfied with His provision. His provision of Himself to draw us, to save us, to indwell us, to comfort us, to teach us, to lead us, etc.
THE HOLY SPIRIT'S MINISTRY
THROUGH THE GIFTS
It is obvious that the gifts have been misused from the beginning. This is seen in the epistle to the Corinthian church. This has been true for most of history. The other extreme is also true. Many have completely sidetracked the gifts due to the fear of being mistaken for the "other guys." Fundamentalists and Evangelicals have often over reacted to problems others have with the Holy Spirit, by ignoring all aspects of the Spirit.
This is true in almost any area where we want to refrain from identification with problems others have. A current example is the contemporary music. Many want to refrain from the use of the Charismatic inspired choruses and music. Yes, it is good to reject much of this music. Some of it is doctrinally in error. Yes, it is good to reject the music, because in purchasing it you are furthering the propagation of false doctrine. HOWEVER, you need not refrain from all choruses. Many are from an age past, long before the Charismatic movement started into the music business. There is much good music that is being rejected because it looks like the wrong stuff.
Another point might be made at this point. Why are fundamentalists not producing some good music?
SPIRITUAL GIFTS DEFINED
Pache states, "It is a certain qualification given by the Spirit to each individual believer to enable him to serve within the framework of the body of Christ." (Taken from: "The Person And Work Of The Holy Spirit"; Pache, Rene; Copyright 1954, Moody Bible Institute of Chicago; Moody Press. Used by permission. p 180)
I'm not sure what he means by "a certain qualification". Qualification seems to indicate an attribute or certain thing that the person has, rather than the thought of ability.
Ryrie tells us that "A spiritual gift is a God-given ability for service." (Taken from: "A SURVEY OF BIBLE DOCTRINE"; Ryrie, Charles C.; Copyright 1972, Moody Bible Institute of Chicago; Moody Press. Used by permission. p 79) This seems to be the better thought — that of an ability given by the Spirit.
Might we combine the two definitions to bring about the better ideas? A spiritual gift/gifts are special abilities given to the individual by the Holy Spirit, for use within the local church for the building up of the saints.
We cover the gifts themselves in ecclesiology so we will just take a quick look at the gifting of the saints at this point.
A gift is not an office, nor a special supernatural ability to tell others off, nor a geographical location. (Some pastors think that they should be given pastorates only in Southern California and the Pacific Northwest, but never in the Midwest Especially Nebraska and Wyoming, and Especially In The Winter.)
A gift is not just any ability that a person may have. Some mention that a good painter has the gift of painting. They may have, but it isn't a spiritual gift. The gifts are listed in the scripture and they are fewer than many believers believe them to be.
I trust that I won't burst anyone's bubble but there is no gift of writing, nor gift of youth work, nor gift of janitor, nor gift of gab, nor gift of talebearer, nor gift of pastoral critic, nor gift of ...... .
Some suggest a gift is an ability that the Lord has enhanced through the ministry of the Holy Spirit. This might be suggested in some cases, such as teaching, however it is certainly not true in all of the gifts. Consider the sign gift tongues. No natural ability was needed prior to the speaking in tongues. Indeed, there is no real indication that any natural ability is involved in the gifts.
"If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ABILITY which God giveth, that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion forever and ever. Amen." 1 Peter 4:11
This would indicate the ability is given. They are not natural abilities or they wouldn't be gifts.
Walvoord goes one step further, and rightly so, and states that they are not natural abilities enhanced. His thinking is of interest. The old person is of the natural birth as are all natural abilities. The new birth brings with it a new person and new abilities. The spiritual gift is new. "Spiritual gift must not be regarded, then, as an enlargement of natural powers, but a supernatural gift bestowed in keeping with the purpose of God in placing that individual in the body of Christ." (Walvoord, John F., A.M., Th.D.; "THE HOLY SPIRIT"; Grand Rapids: Dunham Publishing Co.; 1958, p 167)
He mentions earlier that the gift is bestowed at the point of the baptizing of the believer into the body of Christ. However, this idea of giving at the baptism contradicts the seeking of the better gifts that Paul mentions. (1 Corinthians 14:12; 12:31)
As to time — I'm not sure at this point when they are given. There is indication to me that gifting is a result of a person's walk with God. If God wants a person to become a pastor teacher, and the person goes into training, then the gift would be given. However, if the person did not follow God's call there would be no need for the gift to be given.
The gift may go with an office or position yet not necessarily. The gift of pastor teacher is one that normally goes with being a pastor yet the gift would work well in ministries like Rescue Missions and in some cases where the person is shepherding a group of people that are not necessarily a church.
The gift of teacher does not have to be at Most Important Seminary, but it may be teaching in a Sunday School class, a rescue mission, a Bible study, or in the pulpit. The gift of pastor teacher requires both the shepherding and teaching. Teaching can go on in any geographical location. (There is a section in ecclesiology on the gift of Pastor Teacher.)
The Spirit gives the gifts both sovereignly and specifically. 1 Corinthians 12:8-11, "For to one is given, by the Spirit, the word of wisdom; to another, the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another, faith by the same Spirit; to another, the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To
another, the working of miracles; to another, prophecy; to another, discerning of spirits; to another, various kinds of tongues; to another, the interpretation of tongues. But all these worketh that one and the very same Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will."
As He wills, shows the sovereign action of the Spirit, and the multiple types of gifts are listed thus showing that they were specific gifts.
It would be interesting to know if there is any basis upon which the gifts are given other than by The Spirit's sovereign choice. Does He know that a person will enjoy that gift as well as using it? Does He know that a person will use that gift effectively?
Every believer has at least one gift, but may have more than one, while not necessarily having all of the gifts. (1 Corinthians 12:7; 1 Corinthians 12:11) I have known several people that have two or three gifts but very seldom are more than three evident at a time.
It is not uncommon for a gift to surface after several years of ministry.
I have felt for many years that my main gift was teaching while I have other gifts that are not of the public nature. In recent days I am beginning to see the gift of administration coming to the forefront. Not only do I find that I function well in areas of administration, but I also enjoy that sort of work.
1 Peter 4:10 mentions,
"As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God."
The clear message here is that the gifts are for the help of others, rather than for the one gifted. The gifts are for the edification of the church (Ephesians 4:11ff)
There were some gifts that seem to have been for the beginning of the church. Hebrews 2:3,4
"How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him, God also bearing them witness, both with
signs and wonders, and with diverse miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to his own will?"
The fact that Paul at one time in Acts was healing people with cloths that he had touched and then later could not heal himself and a couple of others would indicate that the gift of healing had passed away in Paul's own life time.
The text which many use to show that the gift of tongues and prophecy have passed away is 1 Corinthians 13:8-13. Some say that it proves that they passed away and others disagree. There is no proof acceptable to the Charismatic to show that the gifts have passed away, be it I Corinthians, any other text, or even logic.
This text mentions when the perfect is come then the sign gifts will pass away. The charismatic will say that the perfect is referring to Christ and His return so the gifts are still here. The non-Charismatic feels that the Perfect is the Canon of Scripture, or the completion of Revelation.
It will be interesting to see if the kingdom theology people don't shift the "perfect" into being the kingdom restored.
The list of gifts is found in three different locations. Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 12:8-10; Ephesians 4:11. The list includes "apostleship, prophecy, miracles, healing, tongues, evangelism, pastoring, ministering or helps, teaching, faith, exhortation, discerning spirits, knowledge, showing mercy, giving, administration." (Taken from: "A Survey Of Bible Doctrine"; Ryrie, Charles C.; Copyright 1972, Moody Bible Institute of Chicago; Moody Press. Used by permission. p 81. There are also some listings of the gifts in different arrangements in ecclesiology — topic D06750)
There is a verse which tells us to covet the better gifts so we must assume that our desire must have something to do with the Spirit's distribution of gifts. ("But covet earnestly the best gifts;...." 1 Corinthians 12:31) It would also indicate that they are given at different times. You may have some of the lesser gifts, but you can seek after the better gifts and evidently receive if it be the Spirit's will. (1 Corinthians 14:1, 39 both show that prophecy in Paul's day is one of the gifts to be desired. The
term desire in 14:1 is the same Greek word that is used in 12:31 and 14:39. 1 Corinthians 12:28 indicates that there are levels of gifts as well.)
There are some authors that see the Ephesians 4:11 passage as a presentation of gifted men rather than gifts. This is true in a sense. They are men, yet they have the specific spiritual gift that is mentioned. The Spirit gave the gifts to the men and then lead them to minister in the particular church. If I am a pastor teacher, pastoring in Cheyenne, WY, I am in a sense a gift to that assembly of believers, however I am nothing special, because He could have lead many men with the proper gifts to minister to that assembly. The gift is what is given to the assembly not the person. It is the gift that is of importance, rather than the gifted.
Some hold to what they call a primary, secondary gift possibility. For example your primary or main gift may be the gift of teaching. You may have other gifts that are manifest and used at other times but are not as well used as the teaching. You may have the gift of helps along with teaching. These often seem to go together.