There is a person who is more involved in the spiritual growth of a Christian than anyone else. It is His responsibility to fill the life of the believer with wisdom, power, and truth, and to lead him/her to spiritual maturity. Yet, this person is neglected, misunderstood, and even rejected by many in the faith. This person was personally sent by Christ to be the helper and counselor who would lead them in their mission to take the gospel message to every corner of the world. This person is of course, the Holy Spirit, and His work is crucial in the life of Christians. The items that I have just described are part of His ministry to believers as He dwells in them and directs their sanctification process. The works and ministry of the Holy Spirit are clearly stated throughout the New Testament with commentary by the gospel writers such as the Apostle Paul and John. Some of their commentary will be included throughout this teaching in the form of bible quotes. Such as the one below.
Because the Spirit and His doctrine have been ignored or neglected, Christians fail to grow and mature in the faith. It is as if they are new plant seedlings that remain as seedlings and fail to grow because they do not receive the necessary water and sunshine which is provided by the work of the Holy Spirit. The neglect of the Holy Spirit is not a new issue, it has plagued the Church for ages. As an example, a sermon preached by the Rev. Robert Murray McCheyne of the Church of Scotland in 1846 makes mention of this neglect.
“There is, perhaps, no subject upon which there is greater ignorance than that of the Spirit of God. Most people in our day, if they answered truly, would say as those twelve men at Ephesus: “We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Spirit” (Acts 19:2). And yet, if ever you are to be saved, you must know Him, for it is all His work to bring a poor prisoner to Christ. A little boy, when dying said: “Three persons in the Godhead. God the Father made and preserved me; God the Son came into the world and died for me; God the Holy Spirit came into my heart and made me love God and hate sin!”
These same words could be preached today, and they would be just as true as they were 180 years ago. What was needed then, is the same thing that is needed now–A robust teaching on the Doctrine of the Holy Spirit. As Rev. McCheyne proclaimed in his sermon, “if ever you are to be saved, you must know Him.” He also informs us that the Holy Spirit comes into our hearts to make us love God and hate sin. What a great truth he preached that day to his congregation; I can almost hear him forcefully preaching the Word in his native Scottish brogue. We indeed must know Him in order to be saved because He is the power and instrument of our conversion and regeneration. In regard to loving God and hating sin, it is the work of the Holy Spirit that is responsible for the growth and sanctification of the believer. It is His leading and teaching that takes the new believer from newborn in Christ to a mature believer in the faith. Many believers remain as newborn babes because they fail to grow spiritually. They neglect the power of the Spirit that dwells in them as the helper who was promised by Christ just prior to His death and resurrection, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you,”(John 14:15-17). The Holy Spirit is sent by Father, and through the Son to continue His work on the earth following His death, to minister to the believer as the Spirit resides in him or her. The Spirit dwells in us as our advocate, comforter, and protector. This is explained in the following excerpt from a commentary on the Gospel of John.
“He will give you another Counselor.” The word “Counselor” is here applied to both Christ and the Spirit, and rightly so, for the task of comforting and exhorting us, and guarding us by their protection, belongs to both of them equally. Christ was the protector of his disciples while he lived in the world, and afterwards he committed them to the protection and guardianship of the Spirit. It may be asked, are we not still under Christ’s protection? The answer is straightforward. Christ is a continual protector but not in a visible way. While he lived in the world, he openly revealed himself as their protector; but now he guards us by his Spirit.”
Calvin, J. (1994). John (Jn 14:16). Crossway Books.
The person and ministry of the Spirit as presented in the teachings of Scripture is collected and arranged for proper instruction–as the Doctrine of the Holy Spirit. This is the teaching of Jesus, passed on through His apostles, and recorded in the pages of Holy Scripture for our edification. Unfortunately, the importance of Scripture has been lost over the last few centuries and along with-it Christians have become spiritually shallow. The times of the great awakenings were long ago, led by men who were spiritually steadfast, Spirit filled, and led by the Spirit for great works. In the event of another great revival, the Spirit will again raise another group of such men.
Fruits of the Spirit
If you are Spirit filled and in Union with Christ through the Spirit, then your life will overflow with the blessings of the Fruits of the Spirit. You will enjoy a life filled with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The indwelling Holy Spirit is God living in us and through us. This is the wonder of the ministry of the Spirit, that God is dwelling in us day in and day out, every minute of the day and night. He strives with us in all of our hardships, and He struggles with us in our fallenness as He convicts us of sin and points us toward repentance. He also rejoices with us as we move from victory to victory toward righteousness. We are far from perfect, but the Holy Spirit is perfect, and He is with us forever as our counselor, comforter, and helper. May you cherish this gift that the Father and Son have given to you!
To view the full teaching on the Doctrine of the Holy Spirit, click below:: Introduction to the Doctrine of the Holy Spirit
Hosea 4:6 Teaching Ministry 
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