The Ministry of The Holy Spirit

TOPIC: THE MINISTRY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

Main Text: Acts 13:1-13

Memory Verse Text: Acts 1: 8

The Book of Acts is rightly ‘The Acts of the Holy Spirit’; that is, His activity in and through the church.  In the four Gospels we see Him operating through the perfect human body of the Lord Jesus; in Acts, however, we see Him working through the mystical body of Christ – the church. 

 In the Gospels we have the record of “all that Jesus began to do and to teach” (Acts 1:1) during the three years of His public ministry;  but the Acts records all that He continued to do from the throne, by the Holy Spirit, through the church.

1. The Holy Spirit is to initiate or form the Church.

The Holy Spirit forms the church (Acts 15:14-15); but what is true of the church is true of a church, that is, a local assembly of Christians.  Whether in Antioch or anywhere else, the initiation of the church or a church is not the work of man but of the Holy Spirit.   The Church is not a religious meeting but a company of born-again believers.

2. The Holy Spirit is to give gifts to the Church.

There is no such thing as ‘a one-man ministry’.  In every true church initiated by and administrated by the Holy Spirit many gifts are in operation.  One man, or several, may be set aside for the position of leadership, ministry and pastoral oversight, but this does not constitute ‘a one-man ministry’.  1 Corinthians 12, 4, 7, 8-10, 28. 

 Every believer has some gift, and when the Holy Spirit is honoured and obeyed many gifts are in operation.  What is your gift?  Are you at His disposal for Him to use you in the way of His choice?

3. The Holy Spirit is to unite believers together in one living Fellowship.

Only He can do this!  He takes men and women of different temperaments, nationalities and social positions and makes them “all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28). 

4. The Holy Spirit is to call out His chosen instruments for special service.

While every member of the body of Christ has some gift, some are called by the Holy Spirit and set aside for specific ministry – which is always missionary in its emphasis. He still calls men and women in the same way today.  His call must always precede our going, but His call is easily recognisable, for it is specific, personal – He calls by name, as He did Barnabas and Saul.  Is God calling you to some specialised ministry at home or abroad?  Hebrews 12:25.

5. The Holy Spirit is to equip and send forth those whom He chooses and calls.

The laying-on of hands was an act of identification on the part of the local church; it is significant to notice that they “sent them off” (verse 3), and that they were also “sent on their way by the Holy Spirit” (verse 4).  Here is the administration of the Holy Spirit and the co-operation of the local church.  When He sends, He equips.  He gives all necessary grace (2 Corinthians 12:9), wisdom (James 1:5), and guidance. 

6. The Holy Spirit is to overcome opposition.

In every Spirit-born work there will be opposition.  Wherever the Holy Spirit is working the Devil is also at work.  We have an example of this in verses 6-11. 

 Satan sought to hinder through “a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet” (verse 6), who “opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith” (verse 8). 

The Holy Spirit dealt with this situation, however, and He did it through Paul (verses 9-11).  Paul did the speaking (verse 10), but he was only the channel (verse 9). 

7. The Holy Spirit is to save souls.

If we know how to co-operate with the Holy Spirit in times of difficulty and crisis; His primary purpose is always the salvation of souls.

PRAYER NOTE

Father fill me anew with the Holy Spirit, and help me to submit to His ministry in my life.

Help me to walk in obedience to the Holy Spirit without grieving Him in my life.

Help the Church to cooperate with the Holy Spirit to see more of His manifestations in our lives and ministries.