10250 North Freeway @ West Road
Houston, Texas 77037
Tel: (281) 447-8484
10250 North Freeway @ West
Road
Houston, Texas 77037
Tel: (281) 447-8484
Peculiar
Misunderstandings
Written by Dr.
Lester Hutson
Copyright
- Lester Hutson - 1989
This material is copyrighted and may not be copied or reproduced
without the express written permission of Dr. Lester Hutson.
Message #7
MISUNDERSTANDING
THE CURRENT ROLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
(Part #3)
"The Holy Spirit in Providence"
Text * II Romans 8:28
III. NOW LET US TURN OUR ATTENTION TO WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS THE HOLY SPIRIT IS ACTUALLY DOING IN OUR CURRENT AGE:
A. In the first place, it is good to know that the Holy Spirit is in control of providence.
1. This is the general work of the Holy Spirit, and though His providential workings will always be in perfect harmony with His written Word, they are not dependent upon the introduction or presence of His Word. God controls the natural and spiritual universe. Colossians 1:16-17 says God in Christ created all things and causes all things to consist or continue to function as they do. Jesus the Son has gone to the Father, and is seated at His right hand, Hebrews 10:12 and Hebrews 1:2-3. Upon His departure, He sent His agent, the Holy Spirit, by which He carries out His current work in the universe, John 16:7. The question arises, "How is God on earth today? In the person of the Father, the Son, or the Holy Spirit?" The Biblical answer is "the Holy Spirit." Though Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are omnipresent, it is the Holy Spirit whose main function is on earth conducting the providential workings of the universe today.
2. There is no biblical escape from this conclusion. As Christians, we believe God is sovereign for Romans 13:1 declares, "There is no power but of God." Nothing happens by chance or accident. The concept of chance is pagan; not Christian. Thus, every function of nature and providential arrangement is either the direct or permitted act of God. (He allows many things which are against His directire will. Satan through sin authors these; and God allows it, but only within limited proportions, Job 1:10-12; 2:5-6.) The tides, the weather patterns, laws of physics, movement of the stars and moons, the balance of nature in the animal and plant kingdoms, and all providential occurrences are the handiwork of God. It is God, in the person of the Holy Spirit, who controls these things. To deny this is to say that the daily overseeing and maintenance of the universe is the primary role of the Father or Son, which does not seem to harmonize with scripture. And, to deny that Father, Son, or Holy Spirit controls providence is to fall into the pagan trap of random chance. So, we affirm that a primary role of the Holy Spirit today is the control of providence.
3. An embracing of this position has many personal implications for individuals. For one thing, it says He can arrange events of nature for or against anyone at any time. It is Romans 8:28 which says, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose." This can be true only in view of the fact that He is in control. This is biblically demonstrated in Jesus' calming of the storm (Mark 4:38-39); the seemingly unguided arrow which struck Ahab (I Kings 22:34): the special storm, fish, goard, and worm of Jonah; the specially arranged earthquake of I Samuel 14:15; the remarkable hailstones and standing still of the sun and moon in Joshua 10:11-14, and dozens of other amazing physical phenomenon and providential workings.
The apostle Paul was acknowledging the Holy Spirit's personal use of providence on our behalf when he said, "For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries," I Corinthians 16:9. The Holy Spirit of God can close doors on you or open doors for you. A flat tire, traffic jam, storm, health changes, job change, death around you, injury, war, change in the economic climate, or thousands of other factors can be a means of opened or closed doors for us. The Holy Spirit of God knows exactly how to arrange such providential occurrences to apply to us very personally and individually. Sometimes He may not allow you to go where you planned, or do what you wanted. And, on other occasions, He may create a path for you where the way seemed utterly impossible as He did in delivering Peter from jail in Acts 12:1-10. The Spirit of God has power to arrange circumstances to have a direct bearing on your life. They affect us every day; and the only way to explain them from a Christian viewpoint is the Holy Spirit's control of providence. He can even remove providential hinderances to our service, or He can allow things into our lives to test and strengthen us, or to set us up as a useful tool in one of His object lessons to the sons of men as in the case of the man in John 9:2-3.
4. Any believer, who has much Bible knowledge at all and who is observing what is happening around him every day, knows God is doing these things. Believers often talk about what "the Lord is doing" in their lives; yet some have a hard time admitting that it is the Holy Spirit of God who is doing these things. Perhaps that is because of those who blame so many of their erratic activities and mistakes on the Holy Spirit, as we've previously discussed. Although, let it be understood that there is a vast, vast difference in the providential circumstances the Holy Spirit arranges, and in our interpretation of and reaction to them. Much of the discredit to the Holy Spirit grows out of individual's misunderstandings of what He providentially does and their adverse reactions thereto, which they blame on the Holy Spirit. Yet, the failures of men to recognize the providential workings of the Holy Spirit of God and to properly interpret their designs is no just reason to deny the providential workings of the Spirit. The problem is not in what the Holy Spirit is providentially doing; the problem is in how men are seeing it and responding to it. David wrote, "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth His handiwork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard." The problem is that men don't recognize, nor understand what He's doing.
5. The Holy Spirit is busy every day in the providential workings of the universe, including the personal affairs of men. And, as indicated earlier, He does so as He pleases, with or without the introduction of His Word. Five miles deep in the sea or on the hottest star where no man is and the written Word is not, the Holy Spirit of God is at work causing providence to work as it does. Likewise, He can unilaterally close or open any door at any time, apart from His Word. So, don't get to thinking the Holy Spirit is boxed up in the Word and can not function apart from it. That is not the case.
Yes, when it comes to the conversion of the lost, He does so through His Word. And, as we have repeatedly emphasized; He is giving no new revelation, nor does He ever work out of harmony with His Word. Yet, He is not the written Word, nor is He limited to it. He can, and does, do things apart form His Word as in His control of providence.
6. And, much of His providential work is designed to gain the attention of men, and turn them to His written Word where they can receive the instructions necessary to life and service. Romans 1:19-20 says, "Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse." The providential workings of the Holy Spirit of God should gain the attention of all men and turn them to God; yet many ignore, reject, and turn from them as in the case of those discussed in Romans 1:21-32. Although, Romans 2:4 declares, "the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance." As we've taught, the Holy Spirit of God will not work in the heart of a sinner apart from the Word of God to turn him from error. Although, if that sinner will but open his eyes to what is before him, he will see everywhere the providential workings of the Holy Spirit of God to reach him, and bring him to repentance.
"It Does Make a Difference What You Believe"