2 Corinthians 3, Ephesians 5 | Spirit and Truth

--

Slides:

1 Corinthians 14:29-33

Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others pass judgment. 30 But if a revelation is made to another who is seated, the first one must keep silent. 31 For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all may be exhorted; 32 and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets; 33 for God is not [a God] of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.

The church discovers and submits itself to the agenda of Jesus through the Spirit of God and the truth of the Word.

Some observations and exhortations regarding the work of the Holy Spirit.

- Don’t let cynicism and fear govern our relationship with the Him.

- Discerning and following Him can be messy and tiring.

- He may move in unique ways which we cannot control.

- His work can be emotive.

- He will not contradict the truth of the Word.

- We should constantly pray that His Spirit would fill us to overflowing.

God’s Word is the most clear way He has given us to understand His nature, His ways, and His voice and to sanctify us through the renewing of our minds.

James 1:22-25

But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; 24 for [once] he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. 25 But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the [law] of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.

2 Corinthians 3:18

But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.

2 Corinthians 3:4-8

Such confidence we have through Christ toward God. 5 Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as [coming] from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God, 6 who also made us adequate [as] servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. 7 But if the ministry of death, in letters engraved on stones, came with glory, so that the sons of Israel could not look intently at the face of Moses because of the glory of his face, fading [as] it was, 8 how will the ministry of the Spirit fail to be even more with glory?

The interaction of the Word of truth and ministry of the Spirit:

- If our discernment is fueled by cynicism and fear, then the letter will kill the life that comes in the move of the Spirit.

- The Word handled in right doctrine and motive still serve the move of the Spirit by sanctifying the Church in and through it.

“Some churches believe in the gifts and ministry of the Holy Spirit, but don’t have a strong emphasis on Biblical teaching. Others place a strong emphasis on teaching the Word of God, but don’t believe the gifts of the Spirit are available and valid today. In Calvary Chapel we value the teaching of the Word and possess an open heart to the work of the Holy Spirit.” (Chuck Smith)

God has called us to be His bold witnesses: acting in love and unity, submitting to the authority of His Word, walking in the power of His Spirit.