INTRODUCTION: We have been studying Paul’s grounds for unity in Ephesians 4 for the last two weeks. We taked about the fact that there was only one body (the church) and the we could all be part of that one body. Today we will talk about another unifying element for the child of God, the one Spirit.

BODY

I. THE WORK OF THE SPIRIT IN THE OLD TESTAMENT.

A. At the creation of the world

1. Genesis 1:2 - The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

a. The word "hovering" literally means, "to brood, flutter, move, or shake."

b. This seems to suggest that the Spirit of God was active in bring form and shape to the earth. This would include putting the mountains, plains, valleys, rivers, etc. together instead of the earth being a shapeless mass.

2. Job 26:13 - By His Spirit He adorned the heavens; His hand pierced the fleeing serpent.

a. Job was likely declaring a truth known to those of Job’s day, that the Spirit of God had a work in placing the heavenly bodies in the sky. In other words, that the Spirit of God was active in putting the universe together in an orderly and beautiful fashion.

B. In dealing with God’s people, the Spirit of God lead prophets and inspired men to bring God’s Word.

1. Numbers 24:2 - And Balaam raised his eyes, and saw Israel encamped according to their tribes; and the Spirit of God came upon him.

2. 2 Chronicles 24:20 - Then the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, who stood above the people, and said to them, "Thus says God: 'Why do you transgress the commandments of the LORD, so that you cannot prosper? Because you have forsaken the LORD, He also has forsaken you.'"

3. 2 Peter 1:20, 21 - knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, 21 - for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.
 
 

A. There was a work that each of the persons of the God did in placing the Scheme of Redemption (the Gospel) in place.

1. The Father conceived, planned and set in motion, the scheme of redemption.

a. John 3:16

2. The Son willingly came to earth and offered himself as a sacrifice for sins.

a. Philippians 2:5-8

B. The work of the Holy Spirit in the Scheme of Redemption.

1. It would be impossible for the apostles to remember everything that Jesus taught them in the three years of his ministry. The Spirit would remind them of those things that Jesus taught.

a. John 14:26 - "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.

2. It would also be necessary for the Holy Spirit to teach Christ’s apostles new truth that Jesus had not had opportunity to impart to the concerning the Scheme of Redemption.

a. John 16:13 - "However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.

3. It would also be necessary to bring to remembrance truth for the apostles and inspired men when they were being called to answer before king, leaders, and rulers.

a. Luke 12:11, 12 - "Now when they bring you to the synagogues and magistrates and authorities, do not worry about how or what you should answer, or what you should say. 12 - For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say."

4. The Holy Spirit would work through spirit endowed preachers and teachers comfirming their words with miracles.

a. Acts 1:8 - "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

b. Mark 16:20 - And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.

5. The Spirit would guide the writers so that they would write without error.

a. 2 Timothy 3:16-17

6. The Spirit would give various miraculous gifts to the Christians in the first century in order to build up and perfect the church, and to finalize a completed Word.

a. 1 Corinthians 12:4-11

b. Ephesians 4:11-13

7. These miraculous gifts were to end at the completion of the Inspired Word.

a. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

 

A. The Holy Spirit pricks the minds of alien sinners with the truth of the Gospel.

1. Ephesians 6:17- "sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."

2. Acts 2:37 - Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?"

3. Acts 11:14 - 'who will tell you words by which you and all your household will be saved.'

B. The Holy Spirit indwells the Christian.

1. Romans 8:9 - But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.

2. 1 Corinthians 6:19 - Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?

C. The Holy Spirit strengthens and empowers the Christian in his daily life.

1. Ephesians 3:14-16

2. There is no doubt that the Holy Spirit strengthen and builds up the Christian today. But the question has to be, how does he do that?

3. The Holy Spirit works through a medium, the Word of God.

a. Ephesians 6:17 - And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;

 

A. The Holy Spirit has provided a means of unity.

1. It is the Spirit’s Word that can bring unity. This is the only basis. Our personal feelings and opinions cannot bring about unity of all who believe in Christ.

2. James 1:21 - Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

3. John 10:10

B. This is what is meant by Paul introductory statement about the "unity of the Spirit."

1. All Christian are those who have been born again and receive the Holy Spirit (John 3:3-5; Acts 2:38). 

2. He has the Spirit indwell him. 

3. He follows His words. 

4. He is united with all other Christians who have obeyed the words of the Spirit and follow them faithfully.

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