HF173 - The Testimony of the Spirit
To: Hebraic-Foundations@YahooGroups.com
From: "Pastor Buddy Martin" <Bro.Buddy@ChristianChallenge.org>
Date: Saturday, September 22, 2007
Subject: Bible Study HF173 - The Testimony of the Spirit
Hebraics,
Its been awhile since my last study. (April 3, 2007) As many of you know I've been through a series of treatment for lymphoma. My latest reports from MD Anderson in Houston show me clear. Thank you for understanding. And thank you Doug for sending me the 'cancer candle.' It was a special treat.
Now its time to get back to the studies. The following study was provided in part on my blog. However, I wish to explore more carefully the special role that the Holy Spirit has in the life of a believer.
This is Bible Study HF173 - The Testimony of the Spirit.
In my devotion this morning I read this statement by Jeremiah: "O Lord, You have pleaded my soul's cause; You have redeemed my life." (Lam3:58 nasb - The alternate translation has 'You have pleaded the causes of my life. I'll be using the alternate throughout this study.)
Two important issues stand side by side; 'You have pleaded the causes of my life,' and, 'You have redeemed my life.' What makes these statements so interesting is that they can easily be transposed over into the New Testament with regard to the finished work of the cross and to the ongoing intercessory ministry of the Holy Spirit.
Behind Jeremiah's statement, 'You have redeemed my life,' is the story of the kinsman redeemer. The word for 'redeemed' is 'goel,' which literally means to redeem or to act as a redeemer for a deceased kinsman. Only the closest of kin could serve as a kinsman redeemer for another deceased Israelite, whether it be the marriage of a widow, the acquiring of the property of a deceased relative, or various other matters.
Jesus Christ fulfilled the role of our kinsman redeemer by way of the incarnation and through the ministry of the cross. Peter said, "Knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ." (1Pe1:18 nasb)
There was something else that really caught my eye. Where Jeremiah said, "You have pleaded the causes of my life," I wondered who would the Lord be pleading Jeremiah's case before? Is this simply the Lord taking up Jeremiah's complaint against the Assyrian army? Or can there be a deeper significance whereby we actually catch a glimpse of God's Messiah.
Where do we first catch a glimpse of the intercessions of Jesus? Is it not on the cross. The Lord said, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing." This prayer of intercession had to do with the Roman soldiers. They really did not know what they were doing. But there was a group in the Jewish leadership who did know what they were doing. This prayer was certainly not for them.
It is at the cross that Jesus becomes our kinsman redeemer. But is that where the intercessory ministry of Jesus ends? Not hardly. The apostolic writer said, "Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them." (He7:25)
Notice carefully -- He always lives to make intercession for them. The 'them' takes in all true believers.
This brings me to a second aspect of intercession that is important for believers to understand. It is the intercession that takes place in the very heart of a believer, which is the intercession of the Holy Spirit.
This intercession work of the Spirit is a very real part of every believer's walk with the Lord. But if we keep in view that the Holy Spirit is also called the Spirit of Jesus, we can then see this intercession of the Holy Spirit as Jesus continuing His ministry of intercession in our own hearts and lives.
For a background on the Holy Spirit's work of intercession, consider these two Scripture portions:
(1) "For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, 'Abba! Father!' The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God." (Rm8:15,16)
(2) "In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness, for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God." (Rm8:26,27)
Remember what Jeremiah said; "O Lord, You have pleaded the causes of my life." Jeremiah's statement could well fit in where Paul gives instructions concerning the Holy Spirit intercessions for us.
The keynote is in the verse which says, "The Spirit testifies with our spirit that we are children of God." This special intercession of the heart is expressly for those who have been twice born, that is, those who are truly the children of heaven. It is these very children of God that Paul later says can never be separated from the Father's love that is in Christ Jesus.
Another clue is where Paul said the Spirit's intercession is, 'According to the Father's will.' The work of the Holy Spirit is to help each child of God work out their problems of life, work out their failures in life, to work out their relapses in life, or simply process life as it comes, that is in accordance with the Father's will.
This issue of God's love for us is in keeping with something Jesus said -- "In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I will request of the Father on your behalf; FOR THE FATHER HIMSELF LOVES YOU, because you have loved Me and have believed that I came forth from the Father." (Jn16:26,27 Caps for emphasis only.)
The Father's is concerned with the total of our lives. We are His very children. Paul said, "And we know that God CAUSES all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. (Rm8:28 Caps for emphasis only.)
Once again this also goes along with what Jeremiah said, "O Lord, You have pleaded the CAUSES of my life."
Think about it --- If you are a parent, what would be your deepest desire for your children? You can fill in the blanks. For one thing you would only want the very best for each of your children. You can be certain that our heavenly Father's will is that we learn how to live from His very best for us. The intercession of the Holy Spirit works along this principle.
This is why the apostle John tells us that if we as a child of God, are fearing punishments from God, we do not understand God's perfect love. There is a vast difference between punishment and spiritual discipline. God is not out to punish us. Even His disciplines are always in accordance with His love and His kindness towards us.
The important thing to keep in mind is that all of God's children have the Holy Spirit as the permanent indwelling presence of Christ Himself. John said, "And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life." (1Jn5:11,12)
There is much to be said on this issue of the testimony of the Spirit. There is a rich Old Testament background that can be explored. Feel free to chime in with your thoughts, questions, or otherwise.
Blessings,
Buddy
---
Lawrence "Buddy" Martin
email: Bro.Buddy <at> ChristianChallenge.Org
Web: http://www.ChristianChallenge.org
Forum: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Hebraic-Foundations/
Forum: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DepartingUPC/
"See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled." (Heb12:15)