THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE BELIEVER

PART SIX

Act 6 this early church was growing by the thousands and they were concerned about some ministries that were not getting done. So they created themselves a job description to add waiting on tables to their ministry. They started looking for men to help them fulfill the work in this ministry. They didn’t just say, "who would like to wait on tables?" No :

• They were looking for people who knew God.
• They wanted people who had a good reputation.
• They wanted people who would be a good team member .
• They required people full of the Holy Spirit.
• They looked for men who had wisdom.
• They looked for men who were full of the Spirit and had yielded themselves to God.
  

The church had a ministry that they were wanting to see fulfilled, and they were looking for people who had the same vision of ministry.

The church was in agreement with the need of this ministry. They were in agreement with who would fulfill this ministry.

These seven men were already in the church. The twelve were present i n this church. They said, "Brethren, look out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business."

These men were in the church and were already well known by the people as to their abilities to serve them in this ministry.

What was the commission that Christ gave the Apostles concerning His church?

What was the commission that God gave Paul to do?

• P aul was used by God to take the good news of Christ to different parts of the country. He went to different cities and established "churches". Groups of people meeting in homes.
• As Paul was traveling, he was writing most of the New Testament. In these books he was giving God’s instruction for the church. Paul gave instruction to the believers. He gave direction the church body should take in their assembly of people. He gave pastoral training to the young preachers.
  

Whereby today we use Paul’s instructions as our guide into church policy and doctrine.

Finally we come to I Corinthians 12: SPIRITUAL GIFTS
I Corin 12:4 - 7 (Cf. verses 8-11)

"Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administration, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal."

I studied spiritual gifts under Bill Gothard, and John MacArthur, Jr. and they have done a good job of explaining the terms and meaning of the gifts as seen then and today.
Spiros Zodhiates gives this definition of spiritual gifts:

• "A definition of a spiritual gift as a result of the study of this entire chapter could be stated as an instantaneous enablement by God in the power of the Holy Spirit to do or say something beyond one’s natural abilities in order to fulfill a specific purpose of God in the time frame in which God permits it. "
  
• "These charismata are not permanent acquisitions or talents. They may be specific enablements or accomplishment within the boundary of the talents which were given by God in the first place."

Let’s look at what John MacArthur says:

The work of the Holy Spirit in individuals:

• The Holy Spirit ministry is to bring God’s elect to salvation (John 16) "The Spirit of God convicts them of sin, of righteousness and judgment." Once we have been born into the family of God the Spirit of God then begins to work, in multiplicities of ways in our lives.

• The Spirit of God works in the individual live to (1) regenerates. (2) transforms. (3) gives us a sense of sonship (Gal 4:5-6) (4) Seals us. "Its official" we are sons of God. (5) The Spirit teaches us, guide us.
  
• The work of the Holy Spirit as a church collectively.