The Wind, the Water, and the Oil

(Part 1)

We want to preach a short series of messages on the work of the Holy Spirit from three Biblical illustrations. These illustrations include the wind, the water, and the oil. We will see several functions of the Holy Spirit in the work of salvation, sanctification, and in Christian service.

Before we begin to preach on these three illustrations, I want us all to understand that we are totally dependant on the Holy Spirit for every spiritual work that will ever be accomplished. This is true of the salvation of sinners (from start to finish), as well as the sanctification, edification, and spiritual growth of the saints, and also the praise and worship of God.

Beloved, we cannot truly worship God without the presence, and power, and help of the Holy Spirit. Without the Holy Spirit all of our worship is carnal, and therefore is not true worship at all. And without the Holy Spirit all of our works are carnal, and therefore they are of no value or profit to anyone, but they will come to nothing. May the Lord help each of us to see this important truth. Beloved, without the Holy Spirit, we can do nothing!

In our first two messages, we want to consider the illustration of the wind, as compared to the Holy Spirit. For our text we want to read John 3:4 - 8.

John 3:4 – 8 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? 5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. 8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

In verse 8, Jesus Himself illustrates the work of the Holy Spirit in the new birth, by comparing the work of the Holy Spirit with the wind. There are many comparison’s that could be made between the wind and the works of the Holy Spirit, from both Biblical examples, as well as examples from nature. This morning we want to focus our attention on some of the illustrations from nature, and this evening we will see some illustrations from the Scriptures.

1. For our first illustration, we want to notice that the wind caries pollen through the air, which in turn fertilizes thousands of species of trees and plants on the earth.

If you don’t believe this is true about the wind carrying pollen, just ask some of our folks that have allergy problems – they will tell you about pollen! The process of pollination is partially responsible for the new birth of much of the earth’s plant life.

2. For our second illustration, wind also spreads the seed from trees and plants, and caries it near and far, where it finds good soil to take root and bring forth new life.

These first two examples of the wind beautifully illustrate the work of the Holy Spirit in regeneration. The Holy Spirit makes sure that the Gospel, like pollen, finds the elect of God, where it then brings forth fruit unto salvation and eternal life. In like manner, the Holy Spirit distributes the Gospel seed near and far, where it will find good ground, and take root, and bring forth new life.

Yes beloved, the wind “bloweth where it listeth”, carrying life giving seed to the good ground afore prepared by the Holy Spirit, where it brings forth everlasting life.

It is important to mention here that the Holy Spirit uses human instrumentality, and the good works of His people to accomplish His work of salvation in the world. Yet we need to understand that all such human works are at His sovereign disposal to use anyway that He sees fit to bring about the salvation of His elect. In any case, all the results are owing to the work of the Holy Spirit, and not at all to the human instruments that He uses to bring about salvation.

So, like the wind in nature, the Holy Spirit is responsible for sowing and conceiving, and bringing forth new spiritual life in the hearts of lost sinners.

3. Thirdly, the wind caries the clouds of rain that fill the rivers and the water springs of the earth.

We will consider water in another message, but here we just want to see the relationship between the natural wind and the water of the earth, with the spiritual wind and water that dispense God’s sovereign grace to sinners in the world.

In the Bible, water often represents the Word of God, which brings forth life and growth. But it is the wind that caries the clouds that water the earth when and where the Lord sees fit. Likewise it is the wind of the Holy Spirit that caries the Word of God, and showers the waters of God’s grace upon the souls of men, when and where the sovereign God of Heaven sees fit.

This seems to be the teaching of our text in John 3:8 (READ). “The wind bloweth where it listeth,” that is, God sends His salvation by His Holy Spirit wherever He so chooses. The wind is under the divine, sovereign control of God. Men cannot cause the wind to blow, nor direct or redirect it’s course. Neither can men alter the purpose or the divinely ordained affects of the Holy Spirit on the souls of men. So we can understand that salvation is the sovereign work of the Holy Spirit of God, and not of men.

4. Fourthly, the wind is mighty in power.

As we already mentioned, the wind carries about all the great clouds that water the ends of the earth. Consider the four winds of the earth (as they are described in the Scriptures), that carry all the clouds of water to the four corners of the earth, where they sustain life and bring forth new life. The winds never cease to blow, and to complete their circuit in the ongoing work of God to give life and sustain life on the earth. Likewise the Holy Spirit never ceases from His mighty worldwide campaign to bring spiritual life to God’s elect; throughout all nations and all generations of time.

The winds of the earth also drive and control the movements of the great oceans and seas, and cause them to do all their pleasure. Likewise the Holy Spirit drives and controls all the seas of peoples on the earth. Men do nothing but what the Holy Spirit permits them. No one gets by on the Holy Spirit. No one is out of His sight. Nothing and no one is outside of His sovereign control, but He is the one “Who now letteth and restrains, until He be taken out of the way” during the great tribulation period. Yes beloved, the Holy Spirit is in control of all men, whether good or evil.

We also understand that the wind is driven by the great power of the sun. In like manner, the work of the Holy Spirit in the world is driven by the Son of God. Notice the following Scripture:

John 16:13 -15 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. 14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. 15 All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

Everything the Holy Spirit does or speaks in the world, even His whole purpose for being in the world, is to do the will of the Son of God, and to glorify His Holy Name.

Other examples of the wind’s power are the great winds such as typhoons, and tornados, and hurricanes. We all have seen or heard of what these powerful winds can do in the natural world. There is no man or work of man that is not subject to the mighty power of the wind.

In like manner there is no human heart, or proud and haughty spirit that the Holy Spirit can not break down. There is no mountain of pride too big or too strong that the Holy Spirit cannot bring down to the dust of the earth in repentance. On the other hand, there is not a poor and lowly sinner that the Holy Spirit is not able to raise up from the miry pit of sin and to set upon the solid rock of Jesus Christ.

Beloved, there is not a sinner on earth that is too mighty or too weak for the Holy Spirit to convict of “sin, of righteousness, and of judgment” (John 16:8). The Holy Spirit is powerful like a mighty rushing wind to break up the stony heart of sin, and impart the fear of God into the soul, and faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ in the heart of lost sinners for eternal salvation.

You see beloved, not only is the Holy Spirit responsible for spreading the Gospel seed to the elect of God throughout the earth, but He also works effectually in the Gospel to bring lost sinners to salvation.

5. Fifthly, the wind is everywhere present in the earth.

There is no place on earth where the wind does not blow. The wind is universal in the world. Everywhere it brings refreshing showers. Everywhere it brings its fierce storms. Everywhere it brings peace and calm.

Likewise the Holy Spirit is everywhere in the earth at all times. He is there to bring showers of blessing and salvation. He is there to bring the storms of God’s wrath upon the Heathen who break His laws and despise His grace. He is there to bring peace and calm when they repent of their wicked ways and turn to God for mercy. But He is always there – everywhere, to accomplish the purposes of God in the earth.

6. Sixthly and finally, the wind purifies and refreshes the earth.

If it were not for the wind there would be nothing to drive away the carbon monoxide, and all the pollution and smog from cars and factories. There would be nothing to circulate and purify the air that we breathe. There would be no mechanism in place to replenish the oxygen in the air, which is required for all physical life.

The Holy Spirit, likewise purifies the souls of God’s children from the pollution of sin that we “breathe” in this old world every day. The Holy Spirit works along with the water of God’s Word and the light of God’s Son to sanctify and cleanse us, to make us more like the Lord Jesus, and more fit for the Master’s use in the ministry of the Gospel.

He also keeps our spirits from stagnating in human misery from the curse of sin. He refreshes us with new supplies of grace, and blessings, and joy – and if we Baptists can receive it, the Holy Spirit refreshes us with the precious feeling of His wonderful presence in our hearts. Yes beloved, when we are filled with the Spirit we can feel His presence and joy, as if we were caught up into Heaven and sitting on a cloud!

Conclusion:

We have seen some of the ways in nature that wind illustrates the work of the Holy Spirit in the world.

Has the Holy Spirit sown the seed of the Gospel deep into the soil of your heart and soul? Has the power of the Holy Spirit broken up your stony heart to repent and believe? You will only know this for sure if the Holy Spirit has shown you that you are a sinner against God, and that you are in danger of His imminent judgment.

And you will know for sure of the Holy Spirit’s work of salvation if you believe in your heart that Jesus died, was buried, and rose again the third day for you. This is the only way that you can know for certain that the Holy Spirit has begun a good work in you, by repentance and faith in Jesus for the salvation of your soul.

How about we who are saved? Does the wind of the Holy Spirit continue to blow upon us in sanctification, and confession, and cleansing of sin? May the work that He has begun in us be performed until the day of Jesus Christ!

Has the refreshing wind of revival blown upon us lately? Have we felt the refreshing presence and joy of the Holy Spirit in our hearts lately. I pray that the Spirit of God would blow upon us with refreshing from on high, and that the Spirit of God will fill our hearts today to overflowing, and bring renewed joy and power into our lives as members of Calvary Baptist Church.

The Wind, the Water, and the Oil

(Part 2 - The Wind Continued)

This morning we preached on the wind and the Holy Spirit using some examples from nature. This evening we want to preach on the wind and the Holy Spirit from examples in the Scriptures. We want to see five illustrations of the wind in the Scriptures that we can relate to the Holy Spirit of God and His work in the world. There are many other illustrations of the wind in the Scriptures, but we will only take time to notice these five.

1. First, we want to see the wind and God’s sovereignty in the Scriptures.

Psalm 78:26 He caused an east wind to blow in the heaven: and by his power he brought in the south wind.

God is the cause of the wind, not “mother nature.” Likewise the Holy Spirit of God blows upon the earth according to God’s sovereign will and good pleasure. All the Holy Spirit’s works are dispensed to men according to God’s eternal purpose of grace. He is the cause.

Psalm 107:25-26 (This is the story of the mariners on life’s sea) For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof. 26 They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble.

The stormy winds on the sea rise up at the Lord’s sovereign command, and cause great fear in the mariners. Likewise the stormy wind of the Holy Spirit on life’s sea brings the fear of God, and conviction and repentance of sin, at the sovereign command of Christ. May the Holy Spirit be pleased to raise a stormy wind of repentance in Ashland, Kentucky!

Jonah 1:4 But the LORD sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken.

Again, we see the wind at the sovereign command of God to bring chastisement upon His children. In like manner, the wind of the sovereign Holy Spirit of God brings chastisement upon His people. It is a fearful thing to run from the Lord, and to slight His will! The sovereign Holy Spirit will rise up like a stormy wind upon our life if need be.

Psalm 147:18 He sendeth out his word, and melteth them: he causeth his wind to blow, and the waters flow.

God is sovereign over the wind and all the showers of blessings that He bestows upon the earth. God sends the rain upon the just and the unjust alike. Likewise, the Holy Spirit is sovereign over the showers of spiritual blessings that He showers upon His people. We are totally dependent upon the Holy Spirit for His blessings upon our church.

Psalm 148:8 Fire, and hail; snow, and vapour; stormy wind fulfilling his word:

The stormy wind fulfills God’s sovereign Word in creation. Likewise the wind of the Holy Spirit fulfills all of God’s sovereign Word in all creation, and among all men, and especially in the lives of His people.

Yes, the wind is under the sovereign control and command of God. So the Holy Spirit of God is sovereign in all His works among the children of men.

2. Secondly, we want to see the wind and God’s judgment.

Most of the references to the wind in the Scriptures, speak about God’s judgment upon the wicked, and even upon His own people when we sin against Him. I believe that the Holy Spirit is largely responsible for executing God’s wrath upon sinners in the world.

Exodus 10:13 And Moses stretched forth his rod over the land of Egypt, and the LORD brought an east wind upon the land all that day, and all that night; and when it was morning, the east wind brought the locusts.

Here in Exodus we read about the plagues that God sent upon Egypt (which is a type of the world), and we see that the Lord used the wind in the dispensing of these plagues. So likewise in the day of God’s judgment, the wind of the Holy Spirit will aid in the dispensing of God’s plagues upon the wicked world, which will be utterly destroyed as Egypt nearly was.

Psalm 1:4 The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.

In this wonderful Psalm about the blessed Christian life, we see that the ungodly and the wicked are driven away by the wind of God’s judgment. One day the wicked will be driven away to the place of torments by the wind of the Holy Spirit. Oh that sinners would repent!

Isaiah 41:16 Thou shalt fan them, and the wind shall carry them away, and the whirlwind shall scatter them: and thou shalt rejoice in the LORD, and shalt glory in the Holy One of Israel.

In the context, God promised that “worm Jacob” that He would deliver Israel from their enemies. In our text we see that He did this using the wind. This was not literal, of course, although it certainly could have been. Beloved, God protects His people from our enemies with the wind of His Holy Spirit.

Isaiah 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

Here God’s chosen nation was in a deplorable condition. Their sins, we see, were responsible for taking them away into degradation and eventually into captivity. When we grieve the Holy Spirit with our sins of idolatry, and immorality, and rebellion against the revealed will of God, like Israel we also will be taken away. Perhaps our joy and blessings will be taken away, or our candlestick as a church, or even our very lives.

Hosea 8:7 For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind: it hath no stalk: the bud shall yield no meal: if so be it yield, the strangers shall swallow it up.

Again, this verse speaks of God’s judgment upon Israel, especially for their sins of idolatry. The mighty whirlwind of God’s judgment would strip them of all their blessings, and cause them to be carried away captive among the Gentile nation of Assyria.

So we see that the wind speaks of God’s judgment upon the wicked, and upon His own chosen people. May God help us to realized that the Holy Spirit is not only here to bless us, but also to judge and chasten His people. May we not quench the Holy Spirit and grieve Him with our sins, and our unfaithfulness, and our carelessness. May we always strive to please Him in all things. May we endeavor to walk and live in the Spirit of God, so that we don’t fulfill the lusts of the flesh.

3. Thirdly, we want to see the wind and Gods’ blessings.

1 Kings 18:45 And it came to pass in the mean while, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel.

Here in this verse God sent the wind, which brought clouds and a great rain upon the earth following a 3 ½ year period of drought. The drought was caused by Israel’s sins of idolatry. It is the wind of the Holy Spirit that brings refreshing showers of blessing, and revival upon the Lord’s people, after periods of drought because of our sins.

Song of Solomon 4:16 Awake, O north wind; and come, thou south; blow upon my garden, that the spices thereof may flow out. Let my beloved come into his garden, and eat his pleasant fruits.

This book speaks prophetically of Christ and His Church. Symbolically this verse is prophesying of the great outpouring (or baptism) of the Holy Spirit upon the Lord’s Church, which was fulfilled in the book of Acts chapter 2. Note the following verse:

Acts 2:2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

Oh, beloved, what a great out-flowing of the blessings of God through His Church that resulted from the baptism of the church in the Holy Spirit. Not only was there great joy and great blessings and great power within the church, but from that time forward, that initial manifestation of the Holy Spirit overflowed to millions upon millions of souls in eternal salvation, and the perpetual growth of the Lord’s churches in the world. Yes, that “rushing mighty wind” of the Holy Spirit from Heaven, is still blowing in and through the Lord’s true New Testament Churches today!

4. Fourthly, we want to see the wind and salvation.

Exodus 14:21 And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.

In this text the Lord used a strong east wind to deliver His people, and to provide a way of escape from their enemies. God’s deliverance of Israel from Egypt is a type of soul salvation through Jesus Christ. Thus, the wind of the Holy Spirit makes a road of salvation through the whelming flood of sin and judgment, so that His people can pass through dry shod on the narrow road of God’s grace, through repentance and faith in the Gospel of Jesus. Christ is the way of salvation, but the Holy Spirit must open that way to Christ for us to pass over by faith.

The wind of Holy Spirit also makes a way for us to escape all our enemies and spiritual foes as we travel this road of grace. He is our protector, our guide, and our comforter for life.

Ezekiel 37:9 Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.

In this chapter we read about the valley of dry bones, and how that God told Ezekiel to prophecy to the multitude of dry bones. When Ezekiel prophesied, the dry bones came together, and then flesh, and sinews, and skin came upon them. And then in our text, Ezekiel was told to prophecy to the wind, which breathed the breath of life into these lifeless bodies, and they lived. God then told Ezekiel that these dry bones were the whole house of Israel.

This passage of Scripture speaks primarily of the rebirth of Israel, when one day God is going to send the wind of the Holy Spirit and save the nation of Israel in one day, as it were, during the Great Tribulation period. He will cause national repentance, and national faith in their Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ. They will look upon Him who they have pierced, and they will believe and be saved.

All people who believe that God is through with national Israel some day are going to see that He is not. They shall all see that Israel is God’s chosen nation, and the greatest nation on the earth. During the millennial kingdom, Israel shall rule and reign with Christ on the earth. He shall be their King, and He shall reign in Jerusalem for a thousand years upon the throne of David. Afterward Israel will have a special place with God in the new heaven and the new earth in the eternal age.

This passage also speaks of the soul salvation of all God’s elect of all ages. The wind of the Holy Spirit blows on the dead, dry bones of lost sinners, and by repentance and faith in the Gospel of Jesus, those dry bones come to new life in Christ. Beloved, the power of the Holy Spirit is essential to salvation. There is no soul saved without the power of the Holy Spirit giving that soul spiritual life in regeneration, and imparting repentance and faith in the Son of God!

Can these dry bones live, Ezekiel? Yes! They can live by the wind of the Holy Spirit blowing on them in regeneration, and faith in Jesus for salvation of their souls.

This passage also speaks of the resurrection. One day all the graves of the saved will open, and the dead in Christ shall rise first in the rapture of the saints, followed by all the martyred saints of the tribulation period. This is the first resurrection. Blessed are all they who have part in the first resurrection! They shall be resurrected to eternal life in the glories of the Lord. One thousand years later, at the Great White Throne judgment of God, all the wicked dead will be resurrected and judged according to their sins, and sentenced to eternal death in the lake of fire. This is the second resurrection, and the second death.

5. Fifthly and finally, we want to see the wind and God’s omnipresence and His majesty.

This morning we saw the omnipresence of God in the illustration of nature. Tonight we want to see this truth confirmed in the Scriptures. Notice the following verse:

Psalms 104:3 Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind:

Figuratively, the wind declares the omni-presence of God throughout the whole earth. As we saw this morning, there is no place on earth where there is no wind. The wind is everywhere in the earth. In this verse we see the God is pictured as walking upon the wings of the wind. Thus, where there is wind, there is the presence of Almighty God.

Beloved the Holy Spirit of God is that presence of God throughout His creation. The wind of the Holy Spirit is everywhere, and therefore God is everywhere in the world. There is no place where men can escape the presence of God. There is nothing that the Holy Spirit does not see. There are no words of the tongue, or thought of the heart that He does not hear. There is no sin that He does not know all about. There is nothing done in secret, because the Holy Spirit is everywhere, beholding the evil and the good!

Beloved, Santa Claus is a myth, but I’ll assure you that God the Holy Spirit is real. He sees and knows all that we say, do, and think – and He is keeping a complete and accurate record! If you are a lost sinner, I pray that God the Holy Spirit will give you regeneration, and repentance and faith in Jesus even this very hour.

Because the Holy Spirit is omni-present in the world, He is always present in the lives of God’s people to protect us from our enemies, and to help us, guide us, comfort us, teach us, and give us wisdom and power to serve the Lord on this road of grace. It is a great encouragement and comfort to know that He is always there wherever the journey of life may lead us. Not only that, but He dwells inside of us as believers, and He never leaves, nor forsakes us throughout our lives.

Not only is God’s presence seen in Psalm 104:3, but also we see His majesty displayed on the wings of the wind. We can just imagine His glory, and power, and majesty as He gracefully rides across the heavens on His chariot of clouds upon the wings of the wind. We understand that this is figurative of how that God’s glory and majesty is revealed in His work of His creation. Truly the wind and clouds of heaven declare His glory and splendor.

Likewise the wind of the Holy Spirit and all His mighty works, declare the majesty and glory of God. Through His work of regeneration, the Holy Spirit reveals to the hearts of men the glory and majesty of God in the face of Jesus Christ. He also reveals God as the sovereign Creator of the universe, and all things therein. The heavens declare the glory of God, but men cannot see that glory until the Holy Spirit opens their “spiritual eyes” to see that God Almighty designed and created all things by the word of His power.

When the Holy Spirit regenerates a man, then he can truly see and appreciate the power, and majesty, and glory of God in all His works of creation and salvation. When the Holy Spirit reveals salvation to a man, then will he cast out all of his vain and foolish notions of works for salvation, when he understands the majesty and glory of salvation by grace through faith in the cross of Jesus. He will see the supremacy of God in His works of salvation, and the futility of his own puny works. So then we can see, it is the wind of the Holy Spirit that reveals God’s majesty and glory to men.

Conclusion:

In our message we saw the sovereignty of God displayed in the wind, as well as in the Holy Spirit in the lives of men. The Holy Spirit of God truly is sovereign over all the affairs of this world.

We further saw the judgment and the blessings of God manifested in the wind, and in the Holy Spirit who brings both judgment and chastisement, as well as blessings upon the lives of men as He sees fit.

We saw the salvation of God in the wind and in the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit that must bring salvation to lost sinners. Without His intervention of the grace of God, and His quickening power in regeneration, there would no soul be saved. Thank God for the Holy Spirit’s work in salvation!

We saw the omni-presence of the wind and the Holy Spirit. Yes, the Holy Spirit truly is everywhere present in the world. There is no hiding or running from Him. All lost sinners would do well to throw down their arms of rebellion, and repent and believe on Jesus while it is called today. And the Holy Spirit is everywhere present to help and bless all who are saved by the grace of God.

Finally we saw the glory and majesty of God in the wind in creation, and how that the Holy Spirit reveals the glory and majesty of God in salvation and also in creation. Oh beloved, no man will ever truly see the glory and the majesty of God until he is made alive by the Spirit in regeneration.

May God help each of His children to understand the importance of the Holy Spirit and His work in the world through these illustrations of the wind.

The Wind, the Water, and the Oil

(Part 3- The Water; READ John 7:37 - 39)

Introduction:

In the Scriptures, water is used by the Holy Spirit to symbolize several things. Some of these include the Word of God, salvation, eternal life, health, healing, restoration, and even of God’s judgment. Water is also symbolic of the Holy Spirit, Who is the theme of this series of messages.

Water is primarily the symbol of life. The earth is sometimes called the water planet, and as far as we know, it is the only planet capable of supporting physical life as we know it.

In biology, water is the medium of all physical life. Our bodies, and the bodies of most living creatures, consist mostly of water. Most living things can only survive a matter of days without water; including us humans. It is no wonder that the Holy Spirit used water in the Scriptures as the symbol of life.

In chemistry, water is called the universal solvent. Think about it, one of the simplest of all compounds, H₂O, is the most important solvent to the earth’s chemical processes, including the organic chemistry of all living creatures.

In the natural world, water serves many vital needs of the life and health of our planet. Again, water is essential to all life and growth. Water also cleanses and purifies the earth. Water in the atmosphere captures the impurities in the air and removes them through precipitation. All the rivers and streams, and oceans and seas of the world, are like a gigantic aeration system, which converts waste into harmless or even useful substances.

Water is also a great vehicle in God’s universal transportation system. Water itself is not only essential to life, but water also transports all the nutrients and chemicals necessary for the life of all living things. In the soil, water transports all the nutrients and chemicals that make all the plants grow, which are the primary food supply of all living creatures. Our blood is made mostly of water, which carries life giving nutrients to the trillions of cells that make up our bodies. The Bible teaches us in Leviticus 17:11 that “…the life of the flesh is in the blood”, which consists mostly of water.

Now that we’ve seen the importance of water in the physical world, we want to turn our attention to the spiritual realm. This morning we want to preach on the water of the Holy Spirit. Beloved, just like water is to physical life, the Holy Spirit is to spiritual life. Without the Holy Spirit there would be no new birth, and therefore no spiritual life, and no spiritual growth, and no cleansing from sin, and no sanctification. Without the water of the Holy Spirit, all the souls of men would dry up and perish!

All the religions of the world, including many so-called Christian churches, which deny the Person and work of the Holy Spirit in salvation, are dead in their sins without Christ, and are bound for the second death.

1. The water of the Holy Spirit and the written Word of God (John 6:63).

The Holy Spirit and the written Word of God are inseparable. We preach about the Holy Spirit and the written Word of God separately, but the fact is, you cannot separate the two in practical application in the lives of men. The Holy Spirit uses the Word of God to work in the lives of the elect, and the Word of God is only effectual in men when applied to the heart by the Holy Spirit. People who say “I have the Spirit of God” but don’t understand the Word of God and the Gospel, or who say “I know the Word of God,” but have not the Spirit of God, are still dead in their sins.

Jesus said “the words that I speak unto you, they are Spirit, and they are life.” No man can understand the Word of God without the Spirit of God, because they are spiritually discerned (2 Corinthians 2:14). The Bibles that we hold in our hands are made out of inanimate paper and ink. By themselves they are no more alive than the pews you are sitting on. And when men read the Bible without the Holy Spirit they cannot understand what they read. That is the reason for all the false doctrines, and false churches in the world, because men who have not the Holy Spirit, are attempting to interpret the Word of God with their natural minds.

Remember that the Holy Spirit is the author of the inspired Word of God. Please notice the following verses with me (2 Timothy 3:16, 2 Peter 1:20-21). The Holy Spirit authored and inspired the written Word of God, and so He cannot be separated from it, any more than the three Persons of the Triune God can be separated.

We read in John 16:8 that the Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment, speaking about the message of salvation. He does this using the men of God as they preach the Word of God. He also calls to our remembrance whatsoever things that Jesus taught in His Word.

So when we consider the water of the Holy Spirit and His life giving work of salvation, we need to keep in mind that He always uses the Word of God in the salvation of sinners. We also need to remember that the written Word of God must go forth in power and demonstration of the Holy Spirit, otherwise it will have no spiritual effect in the lives of sinners.

2. The water of the Holy Spirit and salvation (Isaiah 12:1 - 3; 55:1 - 3).

These passages picture salvation as water drawn from a well. We want to consider the passage in Isaiah 55 for a few minutes, and see if we can identify the waters of the Holy Spirit in salvation. This passage is speaking especially about salvation to the Gentiles.

Verse 1

“Ho, every one that thirsteth…” These are the souls that the Holy Spirit has made thirsty. The old flesh never thirsts after salvation. The flesh only thirsts after the lusts of the flesh. Beloved, the kind of thirst spoken of in our text is a work of the Holy Spirit deep down in the soul of a man. This thirst is caused by conviction of sin, when we are brought to see that we are sinners against God, and in danger of God’s punishment because of our sins.

This thirst makes us want to be forgiven of our sins, and to get our hearts right with God. We don’t know what this means at the time, but we only know that we want to find out. All our lifetime we were rebels and enemies of God, but now all of a sudden we are willing in the day of His power. We were made thirsty by the Holy Ghost, Who calls us to drink from the well of salvation. All sinners who shall ever be saved, are brought by the Holy Spirit to thirst for the waters of salvation.

What are the waters that Isaiah is speaking of in our text? They are the waters of the Gospel of Jesus. They are the waters of salvation through faith in the Messiah, the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, Who would come into the world, and go to that cross and shed His blood, and die for the sins of His people. Afterward He would be buried in a borrowed tomb. After three days He would rise from the dead to live forevermore! Through faith in His death, burial, and resurrection, God’s chosen people are eternally saved from their sins, and receive the gift of eternal life.

Beloved, this is the Word of the Gospel. It is written in the “old black book.” It has been preserved and preached down through the centuries of time by the ministers of the Gospel. But “who has believed our report, and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?” What man, woman, boy or girl, will come to the waters by faith and drink of the Gospel?

Who will come to the well of salvation and drink waters of life? All those to whom it is given of the Father shall come. All those whom the Father shall draw by the Holy Spirit. All those whom “the Lord our God shall call” by His Holy Spirit. All those whom the Father hath given the Son will come to the waters, and they shall in no wise be cast out.

All those who have no money are bidden to come. All those who are spiritually bankrupt, who see themselves as poor and needy sinners. All those who are of a poor and contrite spirit, them will God not despise. They are bidden to come and to buy without money. They are bidden to come by faith and drink the wine of Christ’s sinless blood. They are bidden to drink the milk of the Word, which is the simplicity of the Gospel of Jesus. They are bidden to feast on all the graces, and all the benefits afforded by the Gospel to poor and needy sinners.

And beloved they shall come to the waters. The Holy Spirit calls them to drink of the Gospel. The Holy Spirit makes the Gospel desirable to them, and real to them, and they shall come to the well of salvation and drink. They will come to Jesus by faith, and all at once they will see Jesus lifted up on the cross for them, and they will believe in Jesus, that He died for them, was buried in the tomb, and raised from the dead the third day to save their souls from sin and death.

Verse 2

Beloved, how many people are trying to buy a salvation, which is no salvation at all? How many people are laboring for a salvation, that will not satisfy the need of their soul? How many people are trying to buy salvation with money and price; with their so-called good works and good deeds that they do? Oh, beloved, there is no price that we can pay for salvation.

We have nothing to give the Lord that He does not already own. All our works are as filthy rags in His sight. We are all as an unclean thing in the sight of the Holy God of Heaven. Beloved, we must come to the well of salvation and buy without money and without price. That is, we must come as poor, miserable, and destitute sinners, and take of the waters of salvation freely, as a free gift of God!

Verse 3

“Incline your ear…” – That is, be quiet and pay careful attention! Listen intently to what the Holy Spirit is saying to you! How many people do not listen to the preacher, and the message that the Holy Spirit is speaking through Him?

Come to Jesus by faith, and hear the message of the cross. Hear the Holy Spirit speaking to you. Can you hear Him speaking to you even now? Can you hear Him calling you to the cross of Jesus? Can you hear Him saying, “believe in Jesus and your soul shall live.”

If you will believe the Gospel, He will make an everlasting covenant with you. This is the covenant of grace, which Jesus sealed with His own blood. This covenant shall never be annulled. It shall never be changed or altered in any way. This is the everlasting covenant of salvation that God makes with all who will believe in Jesus. All who drink of the well of salvation are eternally saved. And God, Who cannot lie, guarantees our salvation with an everlasting covenant. He then seals this covenant with the Holy Spirit of promise!

The sure mercies of David are all the blessings and benefits of salvation through the Son of David, Who is the Lord Jesus Christ. They are sure mercies because Jesus is the eternal, and faithful Son of God sent down from Heaven to bestow mercy on needy sinners.

Beloved, it is the water of the Holy Spirit that puts the thirst for Jesus in our souls, and brings us to the well of salvation. It is the water of the Holy Spirit that makes the Gospel real to us, and then gives us the faith we need to believe it.

We see that the water of the Holy Spirit is essential to salvation through faith in Jesus. No man can, or will come to the well of salvation apart from the Holy Spirit. And when a soul is drawn to the well of salvation to drink, He will also find the water of the Holy Spirit in the well. The Word of the Gospel is dissolved in the water of the Holy Spirit, as it were, Who makes it available and agreeable to the souls of men to drink and be saved.

Conclusion:

To conclude this part of our message, we hope that we have seen that all spiritual life is owing to the water of the Holy Spirit.

Just like water is to physical life, the Holy Spirit is to spiritual life. He transports all the life giving supply of the Word of God and the Gospel of Jesus, and makes it available and agreeable to the souls of the elect.

He is the water of life that transports the Gospel deep into our very heart and soul. Beloved, the water of the Holy Spirit makes the Gospel real and alive to the sinner. Without him, the Gospel would go no farther than the ear, and the old natural heart.

I ask you this morning, have you been to the well of salvation, and have you drunk from the Gospel waters?

If not, come to Jesus by faith, believing that He died, was buried, and risen again the third day for you, and you will be eternally saved the very moment you believe.

And then confess Him as your Saviour before this church, and surrender to Scriptural baptism, and serve Him as a member of His church. His Church is where He receives all the glory and honor from His people.

“Unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus, throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.” (Ephesians 3:21).

The Wind, the Water, and the Oil

(Part 4- The Water- conclusion)

This morning we saw the water of the Holy Spirit with respect to the written Word of God, and to salvation through the Gospel. This evening we want to see the water of the Holy Spirit working inside the believer. This is our eternal life and our sanctification.

1. First we want to see the water of the Holy Spirit and eternal life (John 4:9, 10, 14).

We have been preaching about the external work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of men. This evening we want to focus our attention on the internal work of the Holy Spirit that takes place within the very hearts and souls of all true believers.

Verse 14 of our text introduces a wonderful truth (Read). Here we see the water of life within the believer. You see, not only do we drink from the well of salvation, but we get the well too! Most of us have heard that song, which says “I keep coming back to the well of grace.” But the truth is, beloved, we don’t come back to the well, because the well of grace abides within us!

The well that Jesus is speaking of here, is actually more like a spring, or better yet, an artesian well. An artesian well is a well that receives its supply of water from a higher source, such as a mountain. Because the water source is higher than the well, the well actually overflows from its mouth like a perpetual spring of pure refreshing water.

Water in this illustration, is the water of life – that is, eternal life. And just like an artesian well, the well inside the believer receives the water of life from the mountain of God, the Heavenly mount Zion. And like an artesian well, that pure water of eternal life overflows from the mouths of his children.

This water of eternal life is the water of the indwelling Holy Spirit, which flows forth from Jesus in Heaven. This evening we want to notice several things about the water of life from verse 14.

1) First, whosoever drinks this water of eternal life shall never thirst again.

This morning we preached about what it means to thirst for the waters of salvation. Now we see that all who drink of these waters will never thirst for salvation again. You only drink from the well of salvation one time. After that, you have the well inside you. In fact, you are the well that contains the water of eternal life, which is the Holy Spirit.

Salvation can never be lost, beloved, but Jesus gives us the water of eternal life. In salvation the Holy Spirit takes up permanent residence inside our soul. He will never leave nor forsake us. He seals us until the day of redemption. We will never thirst for salvation again, but the eternal life of the Holy Spirit lives inside our well forever.

2) Secondly we see in verse 14 that this water is given to us by the Lord.

Eternal life is a gift, as we saw this morning. It is not bought or earned, but it is freely given by the grace of God, and it is freely received by the poor, penitent sinner, who comes humbly to the well of salvation.

3) Thirdly, this water of life “…shall be in him a well of water…”.

The water of the Holy Spirit lives inside of His people. This truth is impossible for the natural man to understand, but we really and truly have the Holy Spirit dwelling inside of us when we are saved.

Beloved, this is the difference between genuine salvation and just having a head knowledge of the Gospel. This is the difference between repeating a prayer or signing a card, and knowing the witness of the Holy Spirit, which causes us to cry “Abba, Father!”

Beloved, we sing that song “He lives”. In the chorus it says “you ask me how I know He lives…He lives within my heart.” Jesus lives inside us, through the indwelling Holy Spirit, and we cannot have the Holy Spirit dwelling in us and not know it.

We don’t have to convince ourselves or others that we are the children of God, but the indwelling Holy Spirit is our witness that God is our Father. Beloved, we have an anointing and an unction from the Holy One that testifies that we are the children of God.

4) Finally, the well of living water in our soul, springs up into everlasting life.

What does Jesus mean by “springing up”? Beloved, the water of the Holy Spirit isn’t like the stagnant water of the dead sea, but it is alive, and life giving, like the sea of Galilee. Like Galilee, the water flows in, and the water flows through, and then the water flows out.

Like the artesian well, the water of the Holy Spirit flows down from above into the deep regions of the heart and soul, and then flows out of the mouth and the life in good works and in the fruit of the Spirit.

You see, that water of eternal life in our soul is not a stagnant pond, but is a flowing river.

John 7:38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

Jesus said this concerning the Holy Spirit that would be poured out upon His Church on Pentecost.

Some of these rivers of living water that will flow out of our hearts include:

1) Joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17).

2) The fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22 – 23).

3) Good works that God has ordained for us to walk in (Ephesians 2:10).

4) Holy, and godly living (Titus 2:12).

5) And witnessing the Gospel of Jesus (Matthew 28:29).

2. Secondly, the water of the Holy Spirit and sanctification (2 Thessalonians 2:13-14).

We talked this morning about water, and how that it cleanses the air, and how that the rivers and oceans purify waste. Water not only purifies, but it also helps living things to grow, and to mature, and to be productive. This process of cleansing and growth we will liken to sanctification of the Spirit in the believer.

The primary meaning of sanctification in the Scriptures, is to be set apart for God’s use in His service. To be sanctified, or set apart for God, involves several things. We want to notice some of these this evening.

1) First, we want to see the initial, and eternal work of sanctification in the believer.

For sinners to be set apart to serve a Holy God, we must first be cleansed from our sins. We can’t serve God in our sins. Therefore, the Holy Spirit sanctifies us, or sets us apart to hear and believe the Gospel, and by faith in the Gospel we are justified, and sanctified, and cleansed from all our sins by the work of Jesus on the cross. This is taught in 2 Thessalonians 2:13 – 14 where we just read (read again).

But this is only the beginning of the Holy Spirit’s work of sanctification in the believer. From the time we are saved, until we are called up to glory, the Holy Spirit continues this work in what we often call progressive sanctification, which leads us to our next thought.

2) Secondly, we want to consider the teaching of progressive Sanctification.

We want to spend the rest of our time this evening, preaching on Holy Spirit’s work of progressive sanctification in the lives of believers.

1. First we want to see progressive sanctification and cleansing from sin.

In order to be set apart to serve God, we need to be cleansed from our sins continually. It is the Holy Spirit inside of us that cleanses our souls from sin, with the blood of Christ. We pray for forgiveness and cleansing of sin, but it is the Holy Spirit that cleanses and purges our conscious through the blood of Jesus to serve the living God (Hebrews 9:14).

Read 1 Corinthians 6:9 - 11

We see in these verses that when we are saved we are washed from our old sins and wicked ways. This is accomplished by the Holy Spirit in that initial sanctification.

Then in 1 John 1:7 - 10 we read that we are continually cleansed from our sins.

In Ephesians 5:25 - 27 we read that Jesus washes and cleanses His Church collectively through the water of the Word of God.

He does this through the teaching and preaching of the Word and the power of Holy Spirit. Beloved, this work can only happen if God’s people are in attendance.

When people miss church they don’t receive this special cleansing by the water of the Word and the Holy Spirit that they so need.

2. Secondly, we want to see progressive sanctification from sin.

Not only do we need spiritual cleansing from our sins, but we also need to be set apart from our sins and sinful ways, and from the sinful ways of this old world. This is also part of our progressive sanctification.

Read 1 Peter 1:13 - 17

Peter tells us to be holy as God is holy. The words “holy” and “holiness” are very similar in meaning to the word sanctification. In this passage, Peter is talking about purity of heart, and purity of mind, as well as purity of life.

We are to be pure from sinful thoughts and motives. We are to be pure from sinful acts, and sinful deeds, and sinful pleasures. And we are to be pure from the sinful lusts of this world. Beloved, we are to be set apart from these.

One of our goals in sanctification is to be set apart from sin, so that we can be more like the Lord Jesus. Jesus is called the Holy One. The Bible says that He knew no sin. He never once committed a sinful act. He never once had a sinful thought. And He is our example of holiness that we are to follow.

Therefore, our great incentive to be holy is the Lord Himself, Who is absolutely sinless and holy. He is so holy that He cannot even look upon sin.

Peter said in verse 15, that we are to be holy in “all manner of conversation.” This includes all aspects of our lives in this world. Some areas where this applies include:

-Our speech. Do our words betray us?

-Our behavior and conduct. Does our conduct betray us?

-The places we go, things we do. Do the places we go and things we do betray us?

3. Thirdly, we want to see progressive sanctification unto service.

Not only do we need to be sanctified from sin, but we also need to be sanctified to serve the Lord.

John 17:17 - 19 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. 18 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. 19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.

Here Jesus is speaking of sanctification to Christian service. Jesus said “I sanctify myself.” He didn’t mean sanctification from sin, because He had no sin. But He was speaking about sanctification to do the will and the work of God. “As thou hast sent me…so have I sent them…” The Father sent the Son to finish the works that He gave Him to do.

Beloved, in like manner, Jesus sends us into the world with a work to do. Jesus prayed the Father that we would be set apart to do the work that He gave us to do. And do you know how that He asked the Father to sanctify us? He said “sanctify them through thy truth.” The Father sanctifies us through the teaching and preaching of His Holy Word!

Conclusion:

In conclusion, do we have the water of eternal life flowing out of our souls?

Like an artesian well, does the water of the Holy Spirit flow out of our lives to others?

Is it manifested in rivers of waters, flowing forth in good works and fruit of the Spirit?

Do we have that unction and witness of the Holy Spirit that we are the children of God?

How about our sanctification?

Have we been sanctified by the Holy Spirit to drink from the waters of the Gospel?

If so, are we growing in our progressive sanctification?

Are we cleansed from our sins every day?

Are we being set apart more and more from our sins, and from the sins of this world?

And are we being set apart more and more unto serving the Lord and doing His work?

The Wind, the Water, and the Oil

(Part 5- The Oil)

Introduction:

This morning we want to preach on the oil of the Holy Spirit. We will consider some of the natural uses of oil in our everyday lives and see if we can make some analogies with the oil of the Holy Spirit.

Secondly we’ll see some of the Biblical uses of oil and study the spiritual significance of the use of oil in the Bible.

This evening we will consider the anointing of the oil of the Holy Spirit from several examples in Scripture, and attempt to apply them to our lives as we serve the Lord today.

So far we preached about the wind and the water of the Holy Spirit, which mainly illustrated the Holy Spirit’s external work in the world, and His internal work inside of God’s people. When we think of the oil of the Holy Spirit, we want to mainly think of His work through His churches and His people.

1. First we want to consider some of the everyday uses of oil in our lives.

Some uses of oil include oil for food and food preparation, fuel, lubrication, medicine, and cosmetics. You might be able to think of some other uses of oil, but we’ll just consider these five this morning.

1) Oil used as a food and in food preparation.

Most foods that we eat either contain oil or are prepared with oil of some kind. Most cooking would be impossible without the use of oil.

In like manner, all spiritual food must contain the oil of the Holy Spirit, and be prepared using the oil of the Spirit. All spiritual food that is nourishing and healthy to the soul must contain the oil of the Holy Spirit, otherwise it would be of no use or spiritual value.

Bible doctrine without the preparation of the oil of the Holy Spirit won’t hold together, but will fall apart. It doesn’t have a good taste to the soul. It is dry, and won’t go down into the belly of the heart with understanding, and therefore it cannot provide the nutrition that the soul needs.

All the Bible doctrine that we can eat, does us no good whatsoever, if it is not mingled with the Holy Spirit. So the preparation of oil of the Holy Spirit is essential to all teaching and preaching of the Word of God, if it is going to be good for our soul.

There are many people who have swallowed a lot of Bible doctrine without the oil of the Holy Spirit, but it has done them no spiritual good. They are puffed all up with knowledge and pride, but their lives have not been changed by the power of God through the Holy Spirit and the Word.

2) Oil used for fuel.

Oil is a major source of fuel in our modern world. Oil is used for light and heat, and to fuel motor vehicles, trains, ships, and aircraft. Diesel fuel, jet fuel, and kerosene are all light grades of oil. Gasoline is refined from crude oil, which powers most automobiles in the world. Oil in one form or other, provides much of our world’s energy supply. Oil in the food we eat also provides energy to fuel our bodies.

It is the oil of the Holy Spirit that provides spiritual energy and power for the Lord’s people and His Churches to function, and to do the work of the Lord in the world.

When we consider the anointing of the oil of the Holy Spirit, we want to think of His power working both in us, and also through us as we reach out to help others, whether inside the church or out in the world.

In order to be used of the Lord then, we need the power of the oil of the Holy Spirit.

3) Oil used for lubrication.

Oil prevents friction between all the moving parts of machinery. Without oil our automobiles and appliances, and all the machinery in all the factories in the world, would burn up in a matter of minutes or seconds. The entire industrial revolution would have been impossible without oil to lubricate the machinery, and to make it run cool and smoothly.

Beloved, it is similar with the oil of the Holy Spirit in the Lord’s Churches. Without the oil of the Holy Spirit there would be friction between all the moving parts, or that is, the members of the church. There would be friction and heat from strife, and anger. Members would always be rubbing each other wrong and tempers would flare up, and in no time the church would burn up and stop running altogether.

Yes, beloved, we need the oil of the Holy Spirit to keep friction and heat out of our churches, and to make our church run smoothly and efficiently, as we do the work of the Lord.

4) Oil used for medicine.

Oil is used in the preparation of many medications, especially those applied to the skin and to wounds of the body. Oil is mixed with other medicinal compounds such as antibiotics, and when applied to wounds and diseases can help heal and cure the body.

Likewise, the oil of the Holy Spirit cures and heals our souls. When the oil of the Holy Spirit is mixed with the Word of God, and applied to the heart and soul of man, it can heal the disease of sin, and save the soul from eternal death. It also mollifies, and heals the saints of God when we get sin sick, and infected by all the sinful diseases that we pick up as we travel through this sinful world.

2. Secondly we want to see how oil was used in the Scriptures.

Some ways that oil was used in the Scriptures include offerings, anointings, fuel for burning lamps in the house of God, purification, tithes, cosmetics, medicine, and for food. We want to briefly notice these eight things from the Scriptures this morning.

1) Oil used in the offerings. We want to notice just two of these this morning:

1. Oil used in the meat offerings ( Leviticus 2:1; 7:10-12).

Meat offerings were “freewill” offerings made of various grains and oil, and not the flesh of animals. The meat offerings expressed thanksgiving to God. They also showed our total dependence upon the Lord for all things. They were a form of praise and worship to God for His manifold blessings and provisions.

These offerings were prepared with much oil. Beloved, our thanksgiving and praise to God for all His provisions, and all our worship, need to be prepared and offered up with the oil of the Holy Spirit. We cannot return praise and worship to God for His provisions, especially the provision of His Son Jesus for our salvation, without the oil of the Holy Spirit. All our thanksgiving and praise will be dry and dead without the oil of the Holy Spirit to make it a living sacrifice to God.

There were also meat offerings that were offered along with the daily sacrifice (Exodus 29:38-40).

These daily sacrifices were performed every morning and evening of every day, and typified our daily cleansing and forgiveness of sin, through the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus on the cross.

Beloved, without the oil of the Holy Spirit mingled with our offerings of prayer for cleansing and the forgiveness of sins, God will not accept our offerings. We need the oil of the Holy Spirit for our daily cleansing and forgiveness of our sins.

2. Consecration offerings (for priests Exodus 29:2,23; for the Levites Numbers 8:6-8).

Both the priests and all the Levites had to make offerings for their consecration to the Lord’s service. Beloved, the Lord’s pastors and all of His children need to offer the offerings of consecration to the Lord’s service. But our consecration and dedication must be with the oil of the Holy Spirit, otherwise we will never be able to fulfill our course of service to the Lord. May the Holy Spirit of God be pleased to consecrate every one of us to faithful, life long service to the Lord.

NOTE: We want to note here that oil was not used in sin offerings, probably because oil was symbolic of joy. The sufferings of Christ for our sins was not joyous, although it brought great joy. Our offerings for our wicked sins are not joyous, but with heaviness and remorse, yet they bring restored fellowship with the Lord and the joy of His salvation (Psalm 51).

2) Oil used in anointings.

Prophets, priests, and kings were anointed with anointing oil. We will see more about anointings this evening. But we will just say for now, that all offices in the service of the Lord must be anointed with the oil of the Holy Spirit to be effectual.

3) Oil used in burning of lamps in the house of God (Exodus 27:20-21).

The lamps were to burn continually, day and night, in the holy place of the tabernacle and the temple.

This continual light typifies the abiding presence of God in the House of God. The oil typifies the Holy Spirit, who provides the people of God with the power of God to serve God.

Beloved, we need the oil of the Holy Spirit in our church. We need His continual presence and His light in our church, if we are going to shine in the dark world for lost sinners to see.

4) Purification (as a kind of soap- Esther 2:12).

Oils were used in Bible times to make soap and other ointments that were used in washing and purification of the body. Oils of different kinds are still used today in soap, especially as a moisturizing agent to soften the skin, and keep it form drying and cracking in dry weather.

The oil of the Holy Spirit is used in the purification and sanctification of the soul, along with the water of the Word of God. It is the anointing oil of the Holy Spirit, that purifies the soul and keeps it pure. It is the anointing of the Holy Spirit that keeps our hearts soft, and protects and preserves them from drying and cracking from the dry heat of trials and persecutions that believers go through in this world.

5) Tithes of oil (Deuteronomy 12:17).

Among all the various substances that God’s people were to tithe was their oil. All giving should be done with the joy of the Holy Spirit, which oil often typifies. Paul told us that we are to be joyful givers to the work of God. It certainly should be a joy for us to give back to the Lord for all that He has given us, both in material blessings, and above all, in spiritual provision in salvation.

6) Cosmetics (2 Samuel 14:2, Ruth 3:3, 2 Samuel 12:20, Psalm 104:15, Amos 6:6).

These and several other passages show the use of oil in the Scriptures for cosmetic purposes. It cause the face to shine and when mixed with fragrance, it was like the smell of perfume.

It is the oil of the Holy Spirit that glorifies and beautifies the life of the believer, and makes our lives shine to the glory of God. It makes Christ and the Gospel look good to the lost and dying world.

It is also the oil of the Holy Spirit that makes us a sweet smelling savour in the nostrils of God. The oil of the Holy Spirit makes our works, and worship, and praise, and prayer acceptable and pleasing to God.

7) Medicine (Isaiah 1:6, Luke 10:34).

Oil was used for many different medicinal applications, by both the Jews as well as the heathen. Oil, along with wine and other medicinal substances, was widely used for healing and curing of various wounds, diseases, and illnesses of the body.

Isaiah 1 pictures natural man in an incurable condition. His wounds have not been bound or treated with oil.

Luke 10:34 describes the “good Samaritan” pouring oil and wine into the wounds of that injured man, who had been robbed and beaten and left for dead. This is another good illustration of the natural condition of mankind who is dead in sins.

Beloved it is the oil the Holy Spirit, with the wine of the blood of Christ, that is poured into the sin wounds of lost, dead sinners, and heals them of all their souls diseases. It is the oil of the Holy Spirit that mollifies the wounds, and prepares the soul to receive the healing power of Jesus’ blood.

It is also the continual supply of the oil of the Holy Spirit and the blood of Jesus that heals all of our spiritual diseases that infect God’s people as we sojourn in this world.

8) Food and food preparation (1 Kings 17:12, 15).

Most all meals in Bible times were prepared with oil, much the same way they are today. Oil adds taste and texture to food, and makes the preparation of many types of food possible. You ladies know what it would be like to cook without oil of any kind. Even I know that most recipes call for some kind of oil in the food and on the pots and pans to keep the food from sticking. It was the same back in Bible times.

Beloved, as we said earlier, we need the oil of the Holy Spirit in the preparation of the milk and meat of the Word of God, in order for it to be nourishing and profitable to our souls. We also need the oil of the Holy Spirit to receive the Word down into our hearts and souls. Without the oil of the Spirit, the Word would be dry and dead, and would do us no good.

Conclusion:

I hope that we can begin to see from this message, the importance of the oil of the Holy Spirit in our lives as believers, and in our church, and in our ministry of the Lord’s work in our community.

Do you have the oil of the Holy Spirit this morning? (Explain the gospel).

The Wind, the Water, and the Oil

(Part 6- The Oil)

Introduction:

This evening we want to see the anointing of the oil of the Holy Spirit in the Scriptures.

1. The anointing of Jesus with the Holy Spirit.

We want to consider three verses of Scripture on this subject.

Psalm 45:7

We see in Hebrews 1:9 that this verse was fulfilled in Christ. Jesus was anointed with the oil of gladness above his fellows or His companions. That is, God anointed Jesus with a greater manifestation of the Holy Spirit than all men who were ever before Him, or who were with Him during His public ministry, or who would ever come after Him.

Jesus was the anointed of God. The very name Christ means anointed. Jesus was anointed Prophet, Priest, and King. We don’t have time to teach on the offices of Christ this evening, but truly He was and is God’s anointed servant that He sent into the world.

In this verse we also see the righteousness of Jesus Christ.

Jesus loves righteousness. He loved doing right in God’s eyes while He was on the earth. He loved obeying the commandments of God, and fulfilling them to the last “jot and tittle.” He loved doing the Father’s work, and fulfilling His perfect will.

May God give His people a love for righteousness. May He give us a love for doing right and obeying His commandments, and doing His will in our lives. May we desire to do right because it is the right thing to do, and not for anything that we might receive from the Lord in return.

And in this verse we also see the holiness of Jesus Christ.

Beloved, Jesus hates wickedness. He hates sin. Don’t ever think that Jesus smiles upon sin. Don’t ever think that Jesus winks at our sins. Don’t ever think that Jesus accepts or overlooks our sins as His Children.

He puts up with, and tolerates our sins because He is longsuffering toward us. Thank God He is longsuffering toward us, but never presume that He consents to our sins. No, beloved, He hates sin in us as much or more than He hates sin in the wicked of the world.

If you are lost in your sins, don’t think that Jesus will overlook your sins.

Jesus hated sin so much that He suffered the wrath of God, and eternal separation from God on the cross to pay the penalty and punishment for our sins. Never think that Jesus will just overlook your sins. He “suffered more than any man” to pay the just payment for the penalty of sin.

If you are a lost sinner, repent of your sins, and believe that Jesus died for your sins, was buried, and rose again the third day for you, and you will receive forgiveness of all your sins, and the free gift of eternal life.

Thus we can see from Psalm 45:7 that righteousness and holiness accompany the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Never think that a person who is unrighteous and unholy in the way they live, has the anointing of the Holy Spirit on their lives; regardless of what they may profess to have or to be!

John 3:34.

Jesus received the Spirit of God without measure. There was no limit to the manifestation of the Holy Spirit in the body and life of Jesus.

There was no limitation do to His flesh, or because of sin, or a sinful nature. Beloved, Jesus knew no sin, and was separate from sin, and He had no sinful nature as we have.

Therefore, the Spirit of God, and the power and demonstration of the Holy Spirit of God, were without measure, or without limitation in the life of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Acts 10:38

God anointed Jesus with the Holy Spirit for the work of the ministry that He sent Him to do.

Beloved, if the Son of God had to be anointed with the oil of the Holy Spirit to do the works of God in the world, how much more do sinners saved by grace need the anointing of the Spirit to do His work in the world?

Jesus did many mighty works, so many that the world could not contain all the books that should be written about them (John 21:25). But He told His disciples that they would do more and even greater works than He did! So then, if we are going to do the great works of God in the world as His disciples, then we also will need the anointing of the Holy Spirit.

2. The anointing of the Lord’s house, which is His Church.

Genesis 28:16-18

This act of pouring oil on the stone, has profound simplicity. I believe that by anointing the rock, Jacob showed the profound truth of the power and presence of the Holy Spirit in the House of God. He said “Surely, the Lord is in this place.”

Therefore, he called it the House of God, and anointed the stone signifying God’s presence in His House. This was over four hundred year before the first earthly House of God would be built in by Moses, which was the tabernacle in the wilderness.

But God anointed that tabernacle in the wilderness with the oil of His Holy Spirit, and later the temple, and finally He anointed His Church, which is the House of God in the New Testament dispensation. This took place on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4).

Beloved the whole church was anointed with the oil of the Holy Spirit. Every member of the Lord’s Churches has the anointing of the Holy Spirit.

1 Corinthians 12:13, 18

Verse 13 is not teaching Holy Spirit Baptism as many think today. Rather, it is speaking about how the Holy Spirit of God leads new converts to the Lord’s local New Testament Churches where they are Scripturally baptized in water, to serve the Lord as members of His Church.

Every new convert that comes into fellowship with one of the Lord’s true churches, partakes of the same anointing of the Holy Spirit that the church received on the day of Pentecost. New members of the Lord’s Churches are not baptized anew with the Holy Spirit, but they partake of the original baptism of the Spirit upon the first church at Jerusalem.

The original Baptism of the Holy Spirit was passed down from that first church to all true churches today, through church succession. This was done by means of proper church organization with proper church authority. Therefore, true churches today have the same baptism of the Holy Spirit as the first church at Jerusalem.

The anointing of the Holy Spirit serves several purposes in the Lord’s Church, but it especially empowers us to do the work of the Lord in the world.

Acts 1:5, 8

The anointing of the Spirit empowers His Church to preach the Gospel, and causes the Gospel message to go forth in power and demonstration of the Spirit in the hearts of lost sinners.

It is the Holy Spirit that speaks to lost sinners through us. And beloved, when He speaks to sinners, they shall hear and believe!

Don’t think that only the pastor has the anointing of the Holy Spirit to testify the Gospel to lost sinners, as the priesthood of the church advocates wrongly teach. Don’t think that the Holy Spirit will only speak through the pastor. No, every member of the church has the anointing of the Spirit, and He can and will speak through you, as you testify and witness for the Lord.

In fact, all believers, whether they are members of a true church or not, have the Holy Spirit and therefore can witness for the Lord. Members of true churches have a special anointing that those believers outside the Lord’s Churches do not have, but all believers have the Holy Spirit that accompanies salvation.

3. The anointing of His ministers for service.

Exodus 29:5 – 7

There is a special anointing of the Holy Spirit upon those who hold special offices in the Lord’s service.

We see this in the case of Aaron, who was the priest of God. We also see this special anointing in the Scriptures upon God’s prophets and kings. Jesus was God’s anointed Prophet, Priest, and King. In fact, all other anointed prophets, priests, and kings, were types of Jesus Christ the true Prophet, Priest, and King.

The Lord’s pastors and deacons are also anointed with a special anointing for the work of the ministry in the Lord’s Churches. This special anointing is symbolized by the laying on of the hands of the presbytery (1 Timothy 4:14).

There is a special unction (or anointing) for God’s pastors. With this anointing comes special gifts of understanding, and ability to rightly divide the Word, and to preach the Word of God. There is also the special gift of discernment that the Lord gives pastors. The Lord reveals many things to pastors about situations and circumstances that arise in the church, because it is the pastors duty to watch out for and protect the church, over which the Holy Spirit has made him overseer. There are also the many gifts and skills that pastors need to do all the many works required in the ministry.

If the pastor does not have this special anointing, he will not be able to do all the many works of God that he is required to do in the church.

4. Eight special benefits that accompany the anointing of the Holy Spirit.

Finally, we want to see eight special benefits that accompany the anointing of the Holy Spirit. These special benefits are for all members of the Lord’s true churches to partake of.

1) Assurance of security (1 John 4:13; 1 Thessalonians 1:5).

2) Joy of the Holy Spirit (which is our strength) (1 Thessalonians 1:6-7).

3) Christian fellowship and unity (Psalm 133:1 – 2; Ephesians 4:3).

4) Understanding the Word of God (1 John 2:20, 27; 1 Cor. 2:13).

5) Protection against error and false prophets (1 John 2:20, 27).

7) The ability to serve and worship the Lord (Acts 4:31; 5:32; 6:3; 7:54-56; 9:31; 11:24; 13:2-4; 20:28-30; Jude 1:20).

8) The providential protection, preservation, and provisions of God (Psalm 23:5).

Conclusion:

I hope this series of messages on the Holy Spirit, has helped all of us to better understand the work of the Holy Spirit through the illustrations of the wind, the water, and the oil.

Have you received the Holy Spirit?

There were some professed disciples in Acts 19:1-4, who never so much as heard of the Holy Spirit. Beloved, there are many that profess Christ, who have not the Holy Spirit.

How can you know if you have the Holy Spirit in you this evening?

Have you ever seen yourself as a sinner? Have you ever repented of your sins? Have you ever come to Jesus by faith, believing that He died for your sins, was buried, and rose again for you.

Have you been led by the Holy Spirit to be Scripturally baptized into the Lord’s Church, and put your life and your light on the candle stick of His Church. Baptism and church membership have nothing to do with salvation, but if you are saved you should want to follow the leadership of the Holy Spirit, and submit to Scriptural baptism and membership in the Lord’s Church.

These are some ways that you can know that you have the Holy Spirit inside of you, by trusting in Jesus and obeying His commandments according to His Word.

Of course, as we have said before, there is the witness of the Holy Spirit within every true believer, which causes us to cry “Abba, Father”. Do you have the witness of the Spirit in your heart and soul tonight?

If not, we beseech you by the mercies of God to repent and believe in Jesus this very hour, and submit to Scriptural baptism and church membership.