PRACTICAL PRINCIPLES OF CHURCH GOVERNMENT FOR EVERYDAY LIFE
– AUTHORITY AND THE HOLY SPIRIT –
(Week 4)
In approaching a study of the Holy Spirit and His authority as it relates to practical principles of church government for everyday life, we must first acknowledge that He is a part of the Godhead. He is one of three separate personalities that make up the being of God. There is God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit. They are together in agreement and purpose, but each has His own individual role in carrying out the ultimate will of the Father. Each of these individual personalities have existed from eternity in harmony as one. We are limited in our understanding and it is extremely difficult to grasp the concept of three being one. Nevertheless, they are not hampered by time and space, nor are they at all limited by flesh and blood. They are spirit.
Genesis 1:1 opens with the statement, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.”
As one reads the text closely, it becomes obvious very quickly that “God” was not alone in the process of creation. Genesis 1:26 records the words, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness…” The following verse says, “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” We have already established the fact that it is the Savior, Jesus Christ, who holds all things together. (Colossians 1:17) Notice though verse 2 of Genesis where the Bible speaks of “the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.” A marginal reading says, “was brooding”. The Psalmist tells us, “By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.” (Psalm 33:6) The Hebrew writer tells us, “Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.” (Hebrews 11:3)
God the Father stated His will to the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit carried out that direction and brought things into being. The Son keeps those things that have been brought into being in place. The Holy Spirit gives us access to the words of the Father and the Son. He has allowed men the opportunity and the ability to write out the things of God in a known language with those individuals using their own backgrounds and writing styles. Over the course of some 1600 years about 40 different writers have been privileged to write down the very words of God by inspiration of the Holy Spirit. We have equal access to those words today. God’s word tells us of our origin, our purpose, and our destiny. The “word for word” thoughts of the creator are given to us in such away that we can know some things are right, while others are wrong. Consider the import of the words of Peter in II Peter 1:21, “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” The word picture used here is a ship being moved across the face of the open waters by the wind in the sails. In this way the Holy Spirit bore the words of God to these writers. They used their expressions and their native peculiarities, but the words were those of the Holy Spirit and they had originated with the Father-in-Heaven.
The Holy Spirit continues to have an active role in the lives of New Testament Christians today. He does not, however, work separate and apart from the written word of God. As we read and as we study we learn of the will of the Father. As we incorporate his words into our lives, the Holy Spirit acts on us in allowing us to grow spiritually and come to know the Father and the Son better. Let us study a little further.
Larry R. Scott, minister Rockingham, NC
PRACTICAL PRINCIPLES OF CHURCH GOVERNMENT FOR EVERYDAY LIFE
– AUTHORITY AND THE HOLY SPIRIT –
(Week 4)
1. Job’s friend, Elihu, tells us what in verse 4 of Job 33? ___________________________________________
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2. Does the Holy Spirit know our thoughts? (Ezekiel 11:5) _______
3. In the context of verses 28-32, what does Joel say the Holy Spirit will do? ____________________________
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4. Do we find a fulfillment of the above prophecy in Acts chapter 2? __________
How do you know? (Acts 2: __________)
5. As a result of the 12 disciples being filled with the Holy Spirit, what were they able to do? __________________ Could others understand them? _____________
6. Was the Holy Spirit present at the baptism of Jesus? (Matthew 3:16-17) ________
7. Were the disciples told by Jesus that the Holy Spirit would tell them what to say when?
_______________ (Matthew 10:19-20)
8. Who led Jesus into the wilderness so that he might be tested? (Luke 4:1) ___________
9. Jesus read from Isaiah 61:1 as recorded by Luke in chapter 4:17-19, what did He say about the Holy Spirit? ___________________________________________________________________________________
10. Does the Holy Spirit give life? (John 6:63) ________ What does Jesus say about the words He spoke? (John 6:63) _________________________________________________________________________________________
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11. In the conversion of Cornelius and his household, what did the Holy Spirit tell Peter? (Acts 11:12) _______________________________________________________________________________
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12. Does the Holy Spirit recognize Christians as God’s children? (Romans 8:16) ____________________________
13. I Corinthians 2:9-16 speaks of the work of the Holy Spirit. What are some of the things he does according to verse 10 and 13? _______________________________________________________________________________________
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14. Are we baptized by the authority of the Holy Spirit? (Matthew 28:18-20) ________
Student __________________ Date _________________ Grade _________
Instructor: Larry R. Scott, minister
Sandhills Church of Christ
Rockingham, NC