Zac Poonen - The Ministry of the Holy Spirit and the Church - Part 2 - NCCF - July 1, 2012
Part 2 of a 3 part series Spoken at New Covenant Christian Fellowship (newcovenantcf.com) on July 1, 2012
Summary
The speaker discusses the ministry of the Holy Spirit, contrasting the early church's reliance on personal conversation and memory with modern over-reliance on the written Bible. He emphasizes that the Holy Spirit's work is to glorify Christ, leading to profound humility, as seen when Isaiah and John reacted to the glory of the Lord. True spiritual guidance points always back to Christ.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
Why did early Christians depend on the Holy Spirit?Early believers lacked printed Bibles, huge church buildings, and large Crusades, forcing them to rely heavily on the Holy Spirit and the spirit of scripture rather than legalistic letter-following.
What is the primary role of the Holy Spirit?The Holy Spirit does not draw attention to Himself, but rather glorifies Jesus Christ and takes the things of Christ to disclose them to believers.John 16:14
How does the Holy Spirit use scripture to transform us?Unlike the Old Testament where the written word was a lamp to the path, the New Testament Holy Spirit points us through the word to Jesus, the light of the world, humbling us and renewing us daily.John 1:4
An example of Jesus' selflessness in scriptureAfter preaching in Jerusalem, Jesus had no place to stay and slept under the olive trees while everyone else went home, illustrating a heart that expects nothing from people and only serves.John 7:38
Why is the baptism in the Holy Spirit so controversial?Because valuable things are always counterfeited, the baptism of the Holy Spirit has faced controversy, but the goal remains genuine conformity to Christ rather than emotional experiences.
External manifestations versus inner realityExternal gifts and manifestations are merely the wrapping paper of a gift; spiritual babies focus on the wrapping, while mature believers seek the inner reality of Christlikeness.
Discernment in how God manifests HimselfGod can manifest in a whirlwind, fire, earthquake, or a gentle breeze, meaning believers should not rigidly expect every move of God to look identical.Job 38:1
The inner man renewed day by dayEven though our physical bodies decay daily, the inner man is renewed day by day as the Holy Spirit exposes unchristlikeness and we judge ourselves.2 Corinthians 4:16
Jesus prayed and waited for the Spirit's anointingEven Jesus did not attempt His public ministry without being anointed with the Holy Spirit at His baptism, spending long hours in prayer for crucial decisions like choosing the apostles.
The purpose of the anointing is to serve othersThe Holy Spirit anointed Jesus not for personal holiness alone, but to preach the gospel, release captives, and minister to the needs of others.
God has no partiality with His younger brothers and sistersSince Jesus is our elder brother and God shows no partiality, God will do for us what He did for Jesus if we walk in humility and fulfill the same conditions.
The supreme value of prophecy in the local churchPursuing love and desiring spiritual gifts—especially prophecy to edify, exhort, and comfort—builds up people and brings the presence of Christ into a meeting.
Resisting the temptation to use spiritual power for selfSatan's first temptation to Jesus was to use His newly received power to satisfy His own needs; believers must never use God's gifts for personal gain, fame, or self-promotion.
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