The Holy Spirit Part 2

6. Consider the Spirit's ministry of empowering. a. The goal of the gospel is obedience. ROM 15:18; 16:25-26. b. The Holy Spirit empowers to obey. EZE 11:19-20; ROM 8:13-14. (1) This power must be sought through believing prayer. EPH 3:16-17; MAT 6:13; ROM 5:2 c/w HEB 4:16; 11:6. (2) This power is experienced in faithful obedience to the word, for the Spirit leads through the word. REV 19:10; 1PE 1:22; GAL 5:16 c/w PSA 119:1-3. (3) seal: To attest by a seal; to place a seal upon (a document) as evidence of genuineness, or as a mark of authoritative ratification or approval. (4) The believer's seal is his belief of God's word. JOH 3:33. AA. He sides with God and justifies Him. LUK 7:29. BB. Unbelief is Satan’s seal by contrast. LUK 7:30; 1JO 5:10. CC. Working righteousness or not are similar seals. 1JO 3:10. (5) God's seal is given in 2TI 2:19. This departure from sin by one who names Christ is God's evidence of the genuineness of that person as His own. EPH 1:13; 1TH 1:4-6. (6) The formal attestation to being a son of God (the seal) comes at baptism, as with Christ. JOH 6:27 c/w MAT 3:17. (7) Faith and good works (obedience) are the Spirit’s seal on a person as being a new creature in Christ. EPH 2:8-10 c/w JAM 2:17-18. c. Works of righteousness may be performed by unbelievers. ACT 10:1-2, 35. (1) Cornelius was yet lacking in his life toward God. ACT 10:6. (2) Cornelius was not yet a disciple for Christ. He was not a witness for Christ. The following passages would not have applied to Cornelius before his conversion: JOH 15:8, 11, 14; 1CO 15:58; COL 2:2, 7; PHM 1:4-6; 1JO 5:4-5. 7. The teaching and empowering ministry of the Spirit is the means for the abundant life. JOH 10:10. a. abundantly: Overflowingly, exceedingly, enough and to spare; hence, in large measure, plentifully, copiously, amply, sufficiently for all purposes. b. The saint should not produce mere trickles, but rivers of the Spirit's empowerment. JOH 7:38-39. c. We should be FILLED with the spirit. EPH 5:17-21. d. In so doing, we are FILLED with joy and peace. ROM 15:13; ACT 13:52. 8. Disobedience obstructs this ministry of the Spirit in the believer's life. EPH 4:30; JUDE 1:5 c/w HEB 3:15-19 c/w ACT 7:51. 9. Failure to obey God in future leading can nullify the effects of other obedience. EZE 18:24; REV 2:1-7; NUM 20:12; 1CO 9:27. V. Jesus Christ was/is the most spirit-filled Man. JOH 3:34. A. By reading of His manner of living, we have a model to live by. B. By reading, believing and obeying His words, we become more spirit-led and spirit-filled, less carnal, assured of salvation, and have life and peace. ROM 8:1-6. The Holy Spirit 4-27-25 Page 2 of 2