Contemplating The Role Of The Holy Spirit In The Pastoral Ministry (in less than 800 words)
Before we jump directly to the role of the Holy Spirit it is necessary to understand the person and the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Thus, I come up with these three heads:
I.
Person
of the Holy Spirit:
The
Holy Spirit is a divine person. He is the third person of the Godhead, known as
Trinity. The Holy Spirit is the same in essence as the other two persons of the
Trinity but different in function, theologically known as economic
subordination, from the past eternity till eternity (Heb. 9:14). Moreover, the
Holy Spirit proceeds out from the Son and the Father (John 14:16; 15:26; 16:7).
In other words, the Holy Spirit is subordinate to the Son and the Father. He is
fully God (Gen. 6:3). He is fully a spirit, a non-material being. The Holy
Spirit is an individual (separate) person (2 Cor. 13:14) but has all the nature
of God’s being. As a Person, He has emotions (Eph. 4:30), wills (1 Cor. 12:11),
and intellect (1 Cor. 2:10–13). As a being, He is omnipresent (Ps. 139:7–10),
omnipotent (Rom 15:13), and omniscient (Is. 40:13,14).
II.
Ministry
of the Holy Spirit:
Creation:
He was present in the Creation of the universe (Gen. 1:2). He gives life to a human
being (John 6:63). The Spirit empowers to do a specific work (Exo. 31:3; Acts
1:8). Also, the Spirit preserves the people of God (Eze. 36:25-29).
Revelation:
The Spirit of God gave revelation (1 Cor 2:10). In other words, He is the
author of the specific revelation - the word of God or the Bible (2 Pet 1:21).
When the Bible speaks, therefore God speaks. The communication of God unto man
is through His Holy Spirit revealing to man. The salvation of man comes with
the active participation of the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:35; Rom. 8:11).
Inspiration:
The Holy Spirit moved the man of God or those men who wrote the Holy Scripture
(2 Pet 1:20-21) that the Scripture is inspired (2 Tim 3:16) inerrant,
infallible, and authoritative in its teaching. The Holy Spirit used the Apostles
and the Prophets for the writings of the Scripture, and to be (also laid) the
foundation for the church (Eph 2:20).
Illumination:
The Holy Spirit illuminates the believers to understand and guide the believers
through the written revelation (John 16:13). Christians are to read and study
the Bible (Ezra 7:10; Rev. 1:3). The Spirit of God, who is the author is also
the teacher too (John 16:13; John 14:26). The Holy Spirit brings the Scripture
into memory too (Mat 10:19-20; John 14:26). The reading of God’s word sanctifies
believers through the illuminating work of the Holy Spirit (Ps 119: 9).
III.
Role
of the Holy Spirit:
Regeneration:
The Holy Spirit alone regenerates the soul (John 3:3–8; Titus 3:5). The Holy
Spirit glorifies Christ in the justification of the believing sinners (John
16:14). Therefore a pastor must never
rely on his own intellectual or oratorical skill for converting the soul to
Christ. A pastor must depend on the power and working of the Holy Spirit with
all humility. The Holy Spirit empowers believers to proclaim the gospel (Acts
1:8) accurately and convicts the sinners (John 16:8-11). Success and fruits of
the ministry should be to exalt Christ and not to fool oneself by crediting to
self or the novel programs of the ministry.
Sanctification:
The Holy Spirit indwells the believers (Rom 8:9), and convicts of sin (John
16:8-9). He causes repentance to God now and always. He brings the word of God
into remembrance in all situations (John 14:26). Therefore, to live a
Spirit-filled life, one must constantly be soaked into the word of God (Col
3:16). Only the presence (which is the indwelling) of the Spirit can sanctify
the believers (1 Pet. 1:2; 2 Thess. 2:13).
Assurance: The
Holy Spirit guarantees the eternal security of the salvation of the believers
in Christ (2 Cor 1:22). The fruit of the Holy Spirit assures the believers of
their salvation (John 15:5). The Holy Spirit assures the believers of the
resurrection/coming of Christ (2 Cor 5:5). The Holy Spirit comforts (John 14:16)
the saints and gives hope to the believers (Rom 15:13; Gal 5:5). Therefore,
assurance is not of works or deeds. It is given by the Spirit (John 3:8). A pastor
cannot afford to give false assurance except through the conviction of the
Spirit through His word.
Edification: The
Spirit distributes gifts to each individual believer (1 Cor. 12:11) for the
building up of the church of Christ. Therefore, a pastor must recognize the
usefulness and necessity of every individual member of the church for edifying
one another till all attain to the likeness of Christ to the praise of God’s
glory.