The Holy Spirit

by Prasher, C, Lindsay | Category: A Centenary Review Of Major Themes | Mar 1988

God the Holy Spirit wields an unseen but powerful force in every divine activity relative to mankind from the initial creation right on to the new heaven and the new earth. His importance cannot be underlined too strongly.

The purpose then, of this article is to review the extent to which this blessed Person and His work have been presented in Needed Truth during the first century of its publication. The review is made firstly by year, then by subject and lastly by symbol and the resulting analysis for each is stated, but only briefly because of the limited space available.

Analysis by year

When all relevant articles were listed in date order, with a short resume of each, the list was indeed impressive. Clearly editors have been conscious of the vital need to bring as many aspects as possible of the Holy Spirit's person and work to the readers attention at regular intervals. In each decade, with the exception of the 1920s and the 1980s, there has been at least one year's main study devoted to Him, and a balanced view of His past, present and future activities has been maintained. Between these major sequences more sporadic coverage in the form of short term series or single articles have resulted from the exercise of individual writers.

Analysis by subject

From the list of articles in date order it was possible to cross reference them in terms of subject. Typical subjects are: the Holy Spirit in creation, the Spirit in Old Testament times, the Spirit's influence in the birth, life, anointing, death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus, the Spirit in apostolic times, the present and future activity of the Spirit, and so on, each with important sub-divisions. Again the list was impressive in its confirmation that it appeared that all facets had been covered, with the possible exception of symbols of the Spirit, discussed below. Aspects with particular relevance to the present have been repeated many times and rightly so as new generations of Christians appear. Some of these aspects have been selected for strengthening treatment in this article.

Analysis by symbol

Many different symbols are found in Scripture to illustrate the work of

the Holy Spirit, enough to warrant an analysis under such headings as fire, flame, cloud, wind, water, dew, oil, a dove and a voice. Some of these have appeared individually from time to time and the possibility remains of filling the gap with a series on symbols of the Holy Spirit, at once to maintain the desirable sequence of a major contribution every decade and to give the widest variety in treatment.

Important aspects for today

Three themes are considered to be of particular interest for today's Christian:

i)the Spirit and the inspiration of holy Scripture

ii)His effectual working in individual Christian's lives

iii)His leading in collective worship and testimony in churches of God.

i) The Bible is the sole basis for Christian faith and practice. Hence the part played by the Spirit in the writing of Scripture is important. It is here underlined that the Bible writers acknowledge the Spirit's assistance. For example, David confessed, "The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and His word was upon my tongue" (2 Sam. 23:2). The Lord Himself confirmed this: "David himself said in the Holy Spirit . . ." (Mark 12:36). Other Old Testament passages are declared to be spoken by the Spirit, such as Psalm 95 (Heb. 3:7) and Jeremiah 31:33-34 (Heb. 10:15). Prophecies relating to the Christ, and these are widely dispersed in the Old

Testament, are stated as being signified by the Holy Spirit (1 Peter 1:11), and all the Bible is covered by 2 Peter 1:21, which states, "men spake from God, being moved by the Holy Spirit". The implication of 2 Peter 3:15-16 is specially relevant to the New Testament because Paul's writings are there acknowledged to be Scripture.

ii) The outworking of the Spirit in individual believers is summarized in just nine words in Gal. 5:22 (RVM)

love longsuffering faithfulness joy kindness meekness

peace goodness self-control

Further, these nine words are not haphazardly given, but in an interesting order, typical of the ways of the Spirit. The first three are basic emotions for good and contrast with hatred, unhappiness and turmoil which

the Spirit would have removed from our lives. The second trio relate to our thoughts and actions towards others and contrast with the last trio, which are really to do with "me". I must be faithful and meek and exercise self-control, but toward others I must be longsuffering, kind and good. The order of presentation in Galatians is in keeping with that other expression of the Spirit: "each counting other better than himself" (Phil. 2:3). Prayerful self-examination before God of these nine words will be a rewarding exercise and many articles have been devoted to this theme during the past century.

iii) Apart from individual exercise, Christians who have the privilege of serving in churches of God are further encouraged to know the leading of the Spirit in capacity as a kingdom of priests, offering collective worship through the Great High Priest. The magazine, which is devoted to the spread of the truth of the house of God, has over the years consistently highlighted the particular joy which this service brings both to God and to men, when the Spirit is given freedom to attune praise on earth to the sweet music of heaven.

The most important aspect for today

Beyond all question, the greatest need of Christians today is the fulness of the Spirit, the avoidance of quenching His good influence and

allowing His power to liberate a Christian's full potential. In the survey of articles on this theme it was seen that it had been given the greatest prominence, and rightly so.

Hence, in conclusion, there are quoted some extracts from that marvellous chapter 8 of Romans, in which every encouragement is given to live by the "law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus" and not by the "law of sin and of death".

1.If any man hath not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His (v.9).

2.But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwelleth in you, He that raised up Christ Jesus from the dead shall quicken also your mortal bodies through His Spirit that dwelleth in you (v.11).

3.The mind of the Spirit is life and peace (v.6).

4.The Spirit Himself maketh intercession for us ... according to the will of God (vv. 26,27).

5.Walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit (v.4).

There will always be the conflict between the flesh and the Spirit but it is our responsibility to avail ourselves of the Spirit's power.

Prasher, C, Lindsay | Mar 1988
A Centenary Review Of Major Themes