Do You Know Him? Part 7

Now that we have seen the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of Jesus and the believer, in the final part of this series, we will now see the Holy Spirits work in the church, the Body of Christ. When Jesus said, "I will build my church" we need to understand that it was the Holy Spirit who was send by the Father and Son to be the builder. The Holy Spirit is the agent of the Godhead (three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, yet one God indivisible) who came to earth to build the church through the cooperation of every believer. This is a very important point. Every believer is to cooperate with the Holy Spirit so that Christ can build His church, not churches. We also saw that the out pouring of the Holy Spirit on believers reveals quite a difference between the Old and New Testament saints.  The major aspects of the work of the Holy Spirit in the church include...

• The Holy Spirit filled the believers on the Day of Pentecost forming and empowering the church (Acts 2:1-4)
• The Holy Spirit is the governing Agent directing the government of the church (Acts 15:28)
• The Holy Spirit formed the church to be the new and living temple of God (1 Corinthians 3:16)
• The Holy Spirit brings gifts and graces to the church (1 Corinthians 12:4-11, Romans 12:6-8)
• The Holy Spirit produces fruits in the church to counteract the works of the flesh (Galatians 5:22-23)
• The Holy Spirit brings anointing and illumination o the church (1 John 2:20, Ephesians 1:17-18)

Jesus while in His ministry as the Son of Man for three and one half years was fully dependent upon the Holy Spirit's workings. During this entire time, the Holy Spirit was able to operate through Him freely and uninhibited. This is exactly how the Holy Spirit should be permitted to work throughout the entire Body of Christ, through every believer. He should have the freedom to operate through every believer unimpeded so that He can build the church correctly. You might be thinking, "Well He is building the church correctly." This is only true to a certain extend. If He were permitted to build the church His way, then the only thing that the "Protestant Reformation" should have brought to the church would have been 'Reformation" not division that continues happening today!

Before His crucifixion, Jesus gave the disciples instructions concerning what was to come, especially concerning the Holy Spirit who would be sent in His place. (John 14:16-17, 26, 15:26-27, 16:7-15) After His resurrection, He met with His disciples and gave them further instruction which we call "The Great Commission."  
"And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen. (Matthew 28:18-20)

"And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover." ( Mark 16:15-18)

"Then He said to them, "Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And you are witnesses of these things. Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high." (Luke 24:46-49, with Acts 1:4-8)

As we can see, the Holy Spirit was to be the source of the church's success. However, it would require full cooperation on the part of all believers not the apostles only. Many in the church today must let go of fear, doubt and unbelief and permit the Holy Spirit to rule and reign. Every believers must step aside, let simple faith rise up and permit Him to have full access to our lives. As we have seen in this seven part series the many workings of the Holy Spirit in both Old and New testament, I pray that you will honestly trust God's Word and move forward into the wonderful work of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit not only indwells the believer, but He fills and empowers all believes to fulfill the work that Jesus started during His ministry time on earth. The lost world is depending on us, the entire church! Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.