A STUDY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT (Part Sixteen)

By Bob Myhan

Initially, the Holy Spirit sanctified us [set us apart] when the Father “delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love” (Col. 1:13). It is likewise the case that the Holy Spirit sanctified us when “the Lord added [us] to the church” (see Acts 2:47). Everything that the Holy Spirit does is also done by the Father and Son because the Father and Son sent the Holy Spirit to do it (John 14:26; 15:26). Thus, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit were all causes of our sanctification. But they were mediate not immediate causes. They set us apart by the word of God when we, as alien sinners, first rendered obedience to it.

We continue to be set apart as we “live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age” (Titus 2:12). Hence, the Holy Spirit continues to sanctify by means of, not apart from, the word of God.

The Holy Spirit also makes it possible for the child of God to “put to death the deeds of the body” (Rom. 8:13). But how does He do this? Does He do it directly and immediately, apart from the word of God, or does He do it indirectly and mediately, through the word of God? If it is the former, the child of God need not be concerned with it. But, if the latter, the child of God must heed the word of God.

Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. (James 1:21-25)

Thus, here again is something the Holy Spirit does by means of the revealed word of God. Such does not demand the literal presence of the Holy Spirit in the body of the child of God. It is sufficient that the child of God maintains the attitude expressed by David in Psalm 119:11.

Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You!

In addition, the Holy Spirit leads those who are truly sons of God, “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God” (Rom. 8:14). But are sons of God led by the Spirit of God directly or indirectly? If it is the former, the sons of God have no need for “the word of truth.” But the apostle to the Gentiles wrote:

“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15).

Diligence is required precisely because it is by means of the word of God that the “sons of God” “are led by the Spirit of God.”

The Holy Spirit bears witness with our spirits that we are God’s children.

The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs--heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. (Rom. 8:16-17)

But, again, the question is raised as to whether the Holy Spirit bears witness by means of or apart from the word of God.

That man needs divine guidance is certainly made clear in Scripture.

O Lord, I know the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man who walks to direct his own steps. (Jer. 10:23)

That the Scriptures are sufficient guidance in all spiritual matters is also clear.

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Tim. 3:16-17)

Each child of God has the testimony of two witnesses that he is, indeed, a child of God. First, the Holy Spirit testifies, via the word of God, regarding that which is required of those who would be God’s children. Second, the spirit of the child of God testifies that he has done [or is doing] that which is required.

The Spirit of God produces fruit in the child of God.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law (Gal. 5:22-23).

But it is the responsibility of the child of God to develop this fruit, which will be developed by him if he applies the word of God to his life consistently.

[To be continued]

DIVINE PROVIDENCE (Part Eleven)

Providence and Civil Government

By Bob Myhan

Another example of divine providence in civil government is the defeat of Babylon by the coalition government of the Medes and Persians.

Belshazzar, king of Babylon, was drinking wine from the holy vessels that had been taken from the temple in Jerusalem when “the fingers of a man's hand appeared and wrote opposite the lampstand on the plaster of the wall of the king's palace; and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote” (Dan. 5:1-5).

The king’s wise men “could not read the writing, or make known to the king its interpretation,” which greatly troubled the king (5:8-9). But the queen advised,

"O king, live forever! Do not let your thoughts trouble you, nor let your countenance change. There is a man in your kingdom in whom is the Spirit of the Holy God. And in the days of your father, light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, were found in him; and King Nebuchadnezzar your father--your father the king--made him chief of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers. Inasmuch as an excellent spirit, knowledge, understanding, interpreting dreams, solving riddles, and explaining enigmas were found in this Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar, now let Daniel be called, and he will give the interpretation" (5:10-12).

Then Daniel was brought in before the king. The king spoke, and said to Daniel, "Are you that Daniel who is one of the captives from Judah, whom my father the king brought from Judah? I have heard of you, that the Spirit of God is in you, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom are found in you. Now the wise men, the astrologers, have been brought in before me, that they should read this writing and make known to me its interpretation, but they could not give the interpretation of the thing. And I have heard of you, that you can give interpretations and explain enigmas. Now if you can read the writing and make known to me its interpretation, you shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold around your neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom."

After reminding Belshazzar of the hard lesson learned by his predecessor, King Nebuchadnezzar, Daniel interpreted the handwriting.

“But you his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, although you knew all this. And you have lifted yourself up against the Lord of heaven. They have brought the vessels of His house before you, and you and your lords, your wives and your concubines, have drunk wine from them. And you have praised the gods of silver and gold, bronze and iron, wood and stone, which do not see or hear or know; and the God who holds your breath in His hand and owns all your ways, you have not glorified. Then the fingers of the hand were sent from Him, and this writing was written.

"And this is the inscription that was written:

MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN.

“This is the interpretation of each word. Mene: God has numbered your kingdom, and finished it;

“Tekel: You have been weighed in the balances, and found wanting;

“Peres: Your kingdom has been divided, and given to the Medes and Persians." Then Belshazzar gave the command, and they clothed Daniel with purple and put a chain of gold around his neck, and made a proclamation concerning him that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom.

That very night Belshazzar, king of the Chaldeans, was slain. And Darius the Mede received the kingdom, being about sixty-two years old. (5:22-31)

 [To be continued]