Pastor’s Pen Pulpit Series: The Holy Spirit in Today’s World

August 31, 2003

THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

IN THE CHURCH AGE

Part I

The ministry of the Holy Spirit in the church is unique in that He is working in accordance with God’s plan for building the church. Today we will take a look at the Holy Sprit’s relation to the world of unbelievers.

The Restraining Work of the Holy Spirit.

This is a work of the Holy Spirit relative to the entire world. It is the activity of the Holy Spirit in impeding evil in the world. This work does not involve the discontinuing of evil but rather it is a ministry of the Holy Spirit by which sin is confined within certain predetermined bounds. For Scriptural proof we turn to II Thessalonians 2:1-7 which is the central passage in the Bible describing the restraining ministry of the Holy Spirit. This passage refers to the “coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (verse 1) which will not happen until after “the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition” (verse 4) and that “we know what retrains him now” (verse 6).

The Holy Spirit would be the logical member of the trinity described in verse 7 as we see Him working in similar ways in Genesis 6:3, John 15:26, and John 16:13-14. The power of the restrainer must be greater than Satan who empowers “the man of sin”. Therefore, the restrainer must be the power and person of God the Holy Spirit as it is His ministry to restrain and when the restrainer is taken out of the way (again verse 7) the ministry of the Holy Spirit in the church will no longer be operative in the world – a strong implication of a pre-tribulation rapture!

It must be understood that all means of restraint of sin is to be related to the Holy Spirit. In some cases that restraint is direct such as in the above passage. In some cases that restraint is of a more indirect nature – such as human government which principal has been established by God and is designed for the benefit of fallen man (Romans 13). However, the best of governments will ultimately fail.

If the Holy Spirit did not sustain an active ministry in restraining sin on a universal level, sin would work itself out in complete godlessness and corruption. In Romans 1:24-32 we see where God did give some over to complete abandonment to sin which implies that prior to that He had been restraining their sin

The Convicting Work of the Holy Spirit (John 16:7-11)

This aspect of the work of the Holy Spirit will be discussed more in detail when we look at the work of the Holy Spirit in bringing an individual to salvation.

The Sin Against The Holy Spirit - (Matthew 12:22-37; Mark 3:22-30). I am going to summarize this entire section.

In Matthew 12:31, 32 Jesus had been accused of casting out demons by the power of Satan. After showing the inconsistency of this accusation, He states that His ministry was performed by the power of the Spirit of God. He then stated that this accusation against Him could be forgiven but blasphemy against the Holy Spirit could never be forgiven in any age. Question: Is the Son of lesser importance than the Spirit? No! This specific sin against Jesus could only be committed at that time when He was on earth. Why? Many erroneously viewed Him as no different in essence than other men of His day. He died and rose from the dead. At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit inaugurated the Church Age and now gives clear, unmistakable, irrefutable witness to the identity and purpose of Jesus Christ today. He does this through His church. When men continue to resist the message of the church they are trodding under foot the ministry of the Holy Spirit. This is the sin of unbelief in the clear light of evidence. To reject this final witness of the Holy Spirit and to enter into eternity in this unbelieving condition –there is no forgiveness.

Beloved, just remember you and I are instruments that God uses in the world to restrain sin in our own sphere of influence. Sobering, isn’t it? God bless.

In service for our coming again Lord,