Let's Talk about The Spirit

[tigersnare]

I am reading a book by John Stott, very smart guy, for an anglican. It's called Baptism and the Fullness, it deals with the issue of some of the Church beleiving there is a post occurance called "baptism of the Spirit" or "baptism by the Spirit". He goes on to show exegetically that the baptism or gift of the Spirit is a one time occurance that happens at conversion.

But what he goes on to show is very intresting. That we can be filled with the spirit on multiple occasions. We can also be depleted by things like unbelief, sin, ect. Now keep in mind this guy is Anglican, and Reformed as for as I can read. And considering both my PCA pastors have given me different books by him I can't imagine he is too far out of line with us.

I've noticed there is not a chapter in the WCF on the spirit, and I have never been taught much about the spirit at all. My pastor at the local church made the comment that the Spirit has a "red headed step child" status in most of the Reformed world.

So here we are, let's talk about the spirit and hopefully edify one another. I notice we don't discuss theology much in this room, I'd like to see alot of contributions, there are some great minds here.

 

[AndOne]

You would be interested to see that the "Soverign Grace Ministries" - www.soverigngrace.com is a reformed church group that practices the use of the gifts of the spirit within their congregations. I have never attended one of their services but it looks like something that is much more orderly and "in-tune" with scripture based on what I've read on their website.

 

[Elderone]

But what he goes on to show is very intresting. That we can be filled with the spirit on multiple occasions. We can also be depleted by things like unbelief, sin, ect.

Our previous pastor was fond of saying "we are leaky vessels and require refilling by the Holy Spirit frequently"

My pastor at the local church made the comment that the Spirit has a "red headed step child" status in most of the Reformed world.

I cannot speak for any other Reformed Church, but ours did not give the status of "step child" to the Holy Spirit. His work was always noted when the message touched on it. However, since the Bible is about Jesus the majority of the teaching was about Him.

 

[oworm]

But what he goes on to show is very intresting. That we can be filled with the spirit on multiple occasions.

We're told in scripture to "Be filled with the spirit". (Eph 5:18)
It would seem there isnt an option!
Im thinking a lot about this lately as it has come up in my devotions. Im currently using Andrew Murrays "Holy in Christ" as my morning devotional. On day fifteen "The Holy Spirit" he says; "You can only have as much of the Spirit as your willing to have of Holiness" and "You can only have as much holiness as you have of the spirit" of course that throws up the question of "Can you only have part of the holy spirit" and of course we would say no to that since you cannot have part of a person because the HS is a person! Therefore,surely it follows that if we have the HS resident within we cannot have more or less of him!
I would disagree that we need multiple "Fillings" on the grounds that at conversion we recieve him never to depart because if he were to depart we would be damned because scripture says that "they who dont have the Spirit of Christ don't belong to Christ" (Rom 8:9)

So what of the sins and failures we experience? If they dont have the ability to cause the Spirit to depart on the grounds that we would be outside of Christ then Paul must be right when he tells us not to grieve the Spirit (Eph 4:30) (1 Thess 5:19) because that causes us to experience him less. I think the word used actually means quench or "cause to shrink back" So even if we cannot lose the residency of the Spirit we can cause him to recoil so that we experience less of Him by our unholiness.

Being filled with the Spirit is all tied up in our consecration and willingness to play our part in the process of sanctification. The closer we come to Christ in holiness of behaviour and temper the more we are filled!

 

[Jon_]

We're told in scripture to "Be filled with the spirit". (Eph 5:18)
It would seem there isnt an option!
Im thinking a lot about this lately as it has come up in my devotions. Im currently using Andrew Murrays "Holy in Christ" as my morning devotional. On day fifteen "The Holy Spirit" he says; "You can only have as much of the Spirit as your willing to have of Holiness" and "You can only have as much holiness as you have of the spirit" of course that throws up the question of "Can you only have part of the holy spirit" and of course we would say no to that since you cannot have part of a person because the HS is a person! Therefore,surely it follows that if we have the HS resident within we cannot have more or less of him!
I would disagree that we need multiple "Fillings" on the grounds that at conversion we recieve him never to depart because if he were to depart we would be damned because scripture says that "they who dont have the Spirit of Christ don't belong to Christ" (Rom 8:9)

So what of the sins and failures we experience? If they dont have the ability to cause the Spirit to depart on the grounds that we would be outside of Christ then Paul must be right when he tells us not to grieve the Spirit (Eph 4:30) (1 Thess 5:19) because that causes us to experience him less. I think the word used actually means quench or "cause to shrink back" So even if we cannot lose the residency of the Spirit we can cause him to recoil so that we experience less of Him by our unholiness.

Being filled with the Spirit is all tied up in our consecration and willingness to play our part in the process of sanctification. The closer we come to Christ in holiness of behaviour and temper the more we are filled!

Could not have said it better.

 

[~Heavens_Bride~]

Am I right in assuming many Reformed denominations do NOT beleive in the 'gifts of the spirit'..as far as the 'sign gifts'? (ie: Miracles, Mealings, Tongues etc..)

Just wondering. I do believe them to be alive today. However, beleive a lot of the Charasmatic Hoolpa going on today is just that...HOOPLA, and many are lacking the true Spirit of God.

 

[Jon_]

Am I right in assuming many Reformed denominations do NOT beleive in the 'gifts of the spirit'..as far as the 'sign gifts'? (ie: Miracles, Mealings, Tongues etc..)

Just wondering. I do believe them to be alive today. However, beleive a lot of the Charasmatic Hoolpa going on today is just that...HOOPLA, and many are lacking the true Spirit of God.

I know I believe in gifts of the Spirit, but I believe they are given at the discretion of God, and God alone. You can't "learn" or "teach" the gifts, they are granted according to God's good and pleasing will. After all, the Scriptures do teach of them in the new covenant, don't they?

Where I definitely draw the line is whenever someone is claiming to bring "new revelations" according to the Holy Spirit. That always sends up a bright red flag. There are no new revelations apart from that which is Scriptural.