“The fellowship of the Holy
Spirit” is a blessing for all believers in Christ (2
Cor. 13:14; Phil. 2:1).
We do not need any new baptism
of the Holy Spirit to enjoy this blessing. All
things are ours in the Christian life when we
believed on Christ and received Him. The apostle
Paul tells us we are heirs and joint-heirs with
Christ. Every believer has received the indwelling
of the Holy Spirit from the moment he believed on
Christ. The baptism of the Spirit placed us in the
body of Christ. We can now enjoy the communion of
the Holy Spirit.
The only thing that can now mar
this fellowship with the Holy Spirit is unconfessed
sin. We abide in communion with the Spirit of God as
we abide in the finished work of Christ on the
cross. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and
righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us
from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9, NASB 1995).
We live in the fellowship of
the Holy Spirit, which is the fellowship or
communion of the Father, the Son, and the Holy
Spirit.
The fellowship of the Holy
Spirit is so important that to blaspheme Him is to
suffer eternal judgment. Every other sin can be
forgiven with the exception of speaking evil of Him
(Matt. 12:31-32). To blaspheme the LORD God was
punishable by death in the Old Testament (Lev.
24:15, 16). In the New Testament to blaspheme the
Spirit results in eternal judgment. To blaspheme
against the Holy Spirit is to blaspheme against the
very essence of the Spirit of God. It is a sin
against the constant striving of the Holy Spirit for
us to repent and believe on Jesus Christ. It is a
defiant attitude until the very end of this life.
The fellowship with the Spirit
is so important because we are united to Christ in
the bonds of the Holy Spirit. We communicate with
Him and He with us. He is our teacher and guide. He
leads us. He is our advocate within who interprets
the desires of our heart and the will of God. He
gives us the power to do the will of God. He
convicts us of sin and exhorts us to go to the
cleansing fountain.
Our fellowship with the Spirit
is of utmost importance because He seeks partnership
with us in life and ministry. His resources are
unlimited, inexhaustible, and His power is
invincible. He longs for our intimate fellowship
with us. He longs to be admitted to the inner life
of the soul.
However, there are attitudes,
reservations, interests, unbelief, prayerlessness,
selfish-ambitions, arrogant pride, anger,
bitterness, etc. that grieves and quenches His work.
When we are in agreement with
Him the personality of the believer is quickened and
sanctified. Our desire is to be in constant
fellowship with Him.
When we cooperate with Him He
comes to give us a daily life that overflows with
the fruit of the Spirit. When we are in agreement
with Him there is His power operating in and through
us. Ministry becomes a daily adventure with Him at
the helm. Our empathy for the needy are deepened and
enlightened. Our compassion for the lost soul is
strengthened and we pray with passion that they will
be saved. Ordinary Christians become empowered when
clothed with the Spirit of God.
The fellowship,
joint-participation, partnership and communion, with
the Holy Spirit is communion with the LORD God. It
should affect everything we do in our Christian life
and ministry.
True spiritual unity comes from
within; it is a matter of the heart, and is based on
this relationship. That is why Paul in Philippians
2:1 appeals to believers on the strength of this
unique relationship with the Spirit. We could
translate “if” with “in view of the fact that,” or
“since” you enjoy this “fellowship with the Spirit”
as a result of the Spirit’s permanent indwelling
ministry (1 Cor. 6:19). This may
refer, however, to fellowship that comes from the
Holy Spirit, just as encouragement comes from Christ
and comfort comes from love.
Let us not neglect the sweet
fellowship of the Holy Spirit in life and ministry.
Selah!
Message by Wil Pounds (c) 2006
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Unless otherwise noted "Scripture quotations taken from the NASB."
"Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE" © Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation Used by permission." (www.Lockman.org)Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET) are from the NET Bible copyright ©1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://www.bible.org/. All rights reserved.
Wil is a graduate of William Carey University, B. A.; New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, Th. M.; and Azusa Pacific University, M. A. He has pastored in Panama, Ecuador and the U. S, and served for over 20 years as missionary in Ecuador and Honduras. He had a daily expository Bible teaching ministry head in over 100 countries from 1972-2005. He continues to seek opportunities to be personally involved in world missions. Wil and his wife Ann have three grown daughters. He currently serves as a Baptist pastor and teaches seminary extension courses in Ecuador.
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