Holy Spirit – Part 9

From time to time there have been groups claiming that once again that Holy Spirit gifts are available to mankind. In modern times both the Pentecostal and the Charismatic movements have made such claims. Speaking with tongues, known as glossolalia, is the gift which exceeds all others in claims of this kind. Rarely is it claimed as an ability to speak foreign languages in the manner of the apostles (Acts 2:4,6,11). Instead it is said that those concerned are given ecstatic utterance which they do not themselves understand but have to depend on others to provide the interpretation.

For the most part this manifestation is made known in meetings of committed members of the groups concerned. It is not used as a principal means for preaching the Gospel as they see it, and this is contrary to the direct instruction and practice laid down in Scripture (1 Cor 14:22-25). Indeed, there is no evidence whatsoever that the modern phenomenon is in any way related to the gift of tongues as described in the New Testament. Nor is it unique to “Christian” groups. The same occurrences are to be found amongst members of eastern religions and in the Mormon movement. We believe that the phenomenon arises from “religious excitation”, an emotional state of mind, and not from any action by God through His Holy Spirit.

Similar considerations arise about the supposed “gift of healing”. Healings wrought by the apostles were never carried out at “healing meetings”. There was no religious service, no emotional fervor produced by hymn-singing and preaching, but instead direct and positive healing in the open, on the spot, for all to see; or in private by an apostle (Acts 3:1-10; 9:36-41). These miracles followed the pattern of the healings of the Lord Jesus Christ. For the most part, the Lord healed by a touch or by the spoken word and the results were immediately evident.

Both the procedures and the results of modern healings are widely different from those of New Testament times. There are many failures and often a lack of permanence in the healing achieved. Such was not the case with the apostles. In those days, a man who had never walked was healed in an instant and could run for joy (Acts 3:1-10). A dead woman was restored to life by the quiet prayer of one apostle and his spoken word to the corpse (Acts 9:36-41). Healers of today belong to non-Christian groups, Spiritualists, and others as well as Charismatics. The Holy Spirit cannot be the common factor. It is much more likely to be a result of the power of the mind of the healer upon the mind and will of the person who has come to be healed. Whatever may prove to be the explanation, a far more basic inquiry must be conducted into the claims of those who profess to be moved by the Spirit.

The Holy Spirit in action today

In the 1970’s, there was some dispute about how the Holy Spirit can be said to act in our time. Essentially, this resulted in two different views. These can be summarized as:²

1) The “Traditional” view was that the gift of the Holy Spirit consisted of divine supernatural help, which was given to the first century Ecclesia to assist the early brethren in the work of establishing the Truth in the earth. The Holy Spirit was withdrawn when this was accomplished and the Ecclesia established. Such gifts are not received by any today. As far as we today are concerned, we have available in the word of God the result of the Holy Spirit acting upon apostles, prophets and other inspired writers. If, of our own free will, we allow this word to influence our minds there is created in us a new mind, or spirit, which is referred to as “the Spirit of Christ” or “Spirit of God” which is recognized by works of righteousness, otherwise known as fruits of the Spirit.

2) An alternative, somewhat modified view of the Holy Spirit today is that the gift of the Holy Spirit is not to be identified with the miraculous powers, but is an inner power of righteousness received by all believers at baptism. It is not sufficient simply to assimilate in the mind the Word of God, and allow the Word to do its work in our lives, which alone produces righteousness by obedience to its commands. Rather, in addition to the Word, God sends His Holy Spirit into the life of the believer to strengthen him against temptation and help him to overcome his sin. This Holy Spirit or Comforter, which gives strength and courage cannot be explained, but its working can be felt within as it works the transformation of the mind. The receiving of this Holy Spirit is thus part of the process of salvation; in fact without it salvation would appear to be impossible.

It must be said that the second view is not widely held. Rather the current mainstream view is as follows³:

• The Bible was wholly given by inspiration of God.
• The only true God is everywhere present by His Spirit.
• The Spirit is a unity with His person in heaven.
• Creation was effected out of God’s own underived energy.
• The Son of God was begotten of the Virgin Mary by the Holy Spirit, and afterwards anointed with the same Spirit without measure at his baptism.
• Being so begotten of God, and inhabited and used by God through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, Jesus was Emmanuel, God with us, God manifested in the flesh.
• The only way in which God makes known His saving revelation is in His Word, and by this alone we come to knowledge of the truth.
• It is this Word, mixed with faith in our hearts, which produces the growth of the mind of the Spirit within us.
• Christ-like behavior is formed in us, as Paul expressed it, by the influence and effect of the Word of God at work in the believer’s life, through his understanding and conviction.
• Those who by believing and obeying the words of “the Lord the Spirit” thus enter into the fellowship of the Lord Jesus Christ are “in the Spirit” and share in the “fellowship of the Spirit”.
• The gifts and signs of the Spirit were evidences of the truth of the Gospel at the outset of its first declaration in the name of Jesus Christ.
• Comfort is to be obtained from the continuing work of the angels as “ministering spirits sent forth to minister to them who shall be heirs of salvation”.
• In line with the beliefs of our earlier brethren, we affirm our belief in the continuing care of God and of our Lord Jesus, without seeking to limit or even define all the ways in which the Father fulfils His promise to be ever with His people and to be their helper
• The following are expressly denied:

1. a) That the Holy Spirit is a person distinct from the Father.
2. That a man must receive and possess direct from God the power of the Holy Spirit to hold fast to the faith once it has been espoused.
3. We reject all expositions which rest squarely on the doctrine of the Trinity where God the Holy Ghost is the Comforter.

This neatly summarizes the vast amount of literature in our community on the subject. Note in particular item (13) above. It is impossible to fully define the way the Holy Spirit operates in believers today, but we acknowledge it is only through the grace of God, and the gift of His son, we have the hope of salvation. We know our prayers are answered, but we cannot always know how.

Conclusion

The Spirit of God is that almighty power by which He:

• Created the heavens and the earth.
• Accomplished His great acts among mankind.
• Has granted powers to chosen individuals to demonstrate their authority in His service, in ways we do not always understand.
• Knows all things, even in the lives of individuals.

The Bible portrait of God as “Spirit” has immense implications for us in our daily living. Of what use is it to profess to worship God who is Spirit, and yet to manifest a spirit that owes more to the desires of our own nature in self-indulgence, covetousness and pride than it does to the true Spirit of God.

“Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast” (Psa 139:7-10).