The Ministry of the Holy Ghost

John 14: 15 – 32 (The link will take you to the scripture)

If you look at the many religions in the world today, most of them believe in a supreme being or power. Some believe in a singular being others believe in multiple “gods.” Of those that believe in a singular god, the list narrows even more of those that believe in Jesus. Some believe that He existed but was nothing more than a good man or even a Prophet. Only Christianity believes that He was (and is) the son of God. Christianity believes that He remains alive and was actually God manifested in the flesh when He walked this earth. Jesus is the Christ, or the anointed one, that came into the world to abolish sin in the flesh and to make a way for man’s salvation by becoming the supreme sacrifice when He died on the cross. However, there is even a smaller group of people, who go by the label Christian, who believe that when Christ left this earth the Father gave us the Holy Ghost to indwell us and help us to live lives that would be committed and pleasing unto Him. That indwelling of the Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit is a belief that narrows the field of those who truly desire to live for God verses those that just believe with their minds but not with their hearts.

Being Filled With The Spirit

This will not be a lesson that distinguishes between the different teachings concerning how one is filled with the Holy Ghost and its evidence. Rather this lesson hopes to establish the merits of being filled with the Spirit and how that filling can assist us in maintaining a right and vibrant relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Being very blunt, the only true evidence of being filled with the Holy Ghost is having a heart filled with love. It is that love that permeates the life that is filled and is manifested in obedience to God.

… If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

John 14: 23

Jesus explained to His disciples that the Father would give them another Comforter. The word Comforter is translated as helper. Therefore the purpose of the Holy Ghost is to help those that truly seek guidance from the Father. This is still how the Holy Ghost ministers to us today. Man in his most basic form cannot help himself. Sin is and has always been too powerful of a foe. Before Jesus and subsequently before the Holy Ghost, man lived in sin with no hope for complete and lasting deliverance. When Jesus died on the cross, He abolished the power of sin over the flesh. However when He left, the Father sent the Holy Ghost so that we could maintain a life with victory over sin in the flesh. This is made possible when we receive the Holy Ghost into our lives and He fills us with his presence. The Holy Ghost will lead us into all truth (John 16: 13).

Let’s look at how this indwelling happens by looking at the life of Peter.

Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, whiter goest thou? Jesus answered him, Whiter I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards.

Peter said unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thy sake.

Jesus answered him, Wilt thou lay down thy life for my sake? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, The cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied me thrice.

John 13: 36 – 38

Jesus had just held the passover feast with his disciples. This would be his last with them, as He was heading to the cross. In this final exchange with Peter, Jesus was explaining the challenge of the course that He was now proceeding on and that He must go on it alone. Many think that Peter’s statement to Jesus was brazen and without much thought when he exclaimed, “I will lay down my life for thy sake.” In watching Peter’s life, I don’t believe that he was brazen at all nor was his exclamation without thought. Peter was a confident man and he believed what he said to Jesus. Peter was willing to lay down his life for Jesus’s sake. However, there was only one problem. Peter believed in Peter. Jesus wanted Peter to believe in Him.

After His time in the garden and the betrayal of Judas, Jesus was led away to the High Priest. Peter followed. However, as Peter listened to the charges and the people around him, his confidence in himself and his proclamation began to wane. I don’t know if it was fear or disillusionment. Whatever the case, the confident Peter was reduced to denying Jesus three times; to the point where a young girl accused him and he wilted under the pressure. Upon the last denial the cock did crow and Jesus looked at Peter face-to-face (Luke 22: 54-62). Not only was his confidence gone but he failed Christ to the point of weeping bitterly … and fleeing.

After Jesus was crucified, Peter elected to go back to what he knew before and that was fishing (John 21: 1-14). He had lost his confidence. However, fishing is something that he knew. And because he was a leader, the other’s followed him also. However, Jesus was not done with Peter and Peter would not be done with Christ. As Peter was fishing, Christ appeared to the disciples on the sea shore. He specifically had a discourse with Peter, alone. He asked Peter three times if he loved him and upon Peter’s response of affirmation Jesus gave Peter his commission; “Feed my Sheep.” Even though, Peter had denied Jesus, Jesus did not give up on him. Peter’s confidence in himself had to be broken for him to begin to have full confidence in Christ.

As Jesus ascended into Heaven, He told his disciples to tarry in Jerusalem until they be “endued with power (Luke 24: 49).” The disciples were still questioning about the kingdom and when it would come. However, they remained obedient to Jesus’ command. On the day of Pentecost, THE KINGDOM CAME. They were endued with the power of the Holy Ghost and began to proclaim the kingdom to all who would hear. There were various languages of those that were in attendance that day in Jerusalem. The Holy Ghost gave power for all to understand by administering the gift of tongues or languages (Acts 2: 1-11). There was no need for an interpreter. They all understood the “wonderful works of God.”

“Then Peter standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them …” These are words that utterly show the transforming power of the ministry of the Holy Ghost. Peter who lost his own confidence. Peter that denied Jesus three times, even to a little girl. Peter who Jesus had to speak to in his despair. This same Peter stood and proclaimed the Word (Jesus) boldly to the thousands that were within earshot. The many languages represented heard one man speak and all understood. So much so that about three thousand souls were saved that day! The kingdom had truly come; the Holy Ghost had truly ministered and Peter gained his confidence … in Christ.

The Holy Ghost In Us.

What about us? Has the kingdom come in our lives? Or are we still holding on to our own “confidence?” What do we trust in? Or better yet, who do we trust in? Is it our religion? Is it our Pastor or Priest? Are we like Peter and do we really have too much confidence in ourselves? In order for us to receive the kingdom or the gift of the Holy Ghost, we must release that which we have confidence in and give it up to have confidence in Christ. Remember, Proverbs 3: 5-6 tells us to “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him and he shall direct thy paths.” Those that were saved on the day of Pentecost were pricked in their own hearts. In other words, their hearts were broken. They knew they could no longer trust in themselves or their religion. They had to give it all up to follow Christ. When they did, the evidence of receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost was manifested as obedience motivated by love. The same will be manifested in us when we receive God’s Spirit today!