The Work of God the Holy Spirit

“He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.” (John 16:14)

All the comfort, instruction, and direction of God the Holy Spirit comes to sinners through the Lord Jesus Christ.

            In accordance with the disposition of the covenant of grace the Holy Spirit is Christ’s agent in this world, just as he was the Father’s agent in this world. He does nothing of himself, speaks nothing of himself, and receives nothing to himself. It is the Spirit’s delight to do Christ’s bidding in this world, even as it has been the Son’s delight to do his Father’s bidding. Christ is the Fountain of grace. The Holy Spirit is the channel through whom all the waters of grace flow to us from the Fountain.

            The gifts of the Spirit are actually the gifts of Christ bestowed upon his church by the Spirit for the glory of Christ, for the furtherance of the gospel of Christ, and for the increase and spiritual welfare of the body of Christ. A comparison of Scripture with Scripture will show this plainly (1 Corinthians 12:11; Ephesians 4:7-12). The Holy Spirit is not in competition with Christ. He has come to glorify Christ.

            Everywhere today we hear men saying, “This is the age of the Holy Spirit.” They talk about the anointing of the Spirit, the baptism of the Spirit, being slain in the Spirit, the gifts of the Spirit, the filling of the Spirit, the presence of the Spirit, and the works of the Spirit, and say very little about the Person, work, and glory of Christ. Those who tell you to seek the Spirit, those who focus your attention on the Holy Spirit do not have the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit speaks only of Christ. And those who have the Spirit of Christ speak of Christ. That man who preaches by the Spirit of God preaches Christ only, Christ alone, and Christ always.

            Let no one misunderstand me. Let us reverence the Holy Spirit, worship the Spirit, and honor the Spirit. The Holy Spirit is God. But the only way to reverence the Spirit is to reverence Christ. The only way to worship the Spirit is to worship Christ. The only way to honor the Spirit is to honor Christ.

1.    To have the anointing of the Spirit is to have Christ.

2.    To be baptized in the Spirit is to be baptized into Christ.

3.    To have the gifts of the Spirit is to have the covenant blessings of God’s grace in Christ.

4.    To have the filling of the Spirit is to have Christ in you.

5.    To have the power of the Spirit is to have the power of Christ.

6.    To have the presence of the Spirit is to have the presence of Christ.

7.    To have the work of the Spirit is to have Christ formed in you.

8.    To walk in the Spirit is to walk in Christ, with Christ, toward Christ, and for Christ by faith in Christ.

            This is not the age of the Spirit. This is the age of the Son. This is the age of Christ! This is the day of grace, the gospel day, the day of Christ. It began when the Sun of Righteousness arose from the grave with healing in his wings!

Don Fortner

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