1. The Missing Ingredient
Adapted but mostly copied from the lesson by Mark Copeland
The Missing Ingredient - "THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD“ (The Work Of The Holy Spirit)
INTRODUCTION
In our discussion of the Authority of Jesus Christ, I recently mentioned how most denominational preachers have a diminished view of the Scriptures. Everything from outright rejection of the existence of God, to doubts and reservations about the truth of the Bible can be found in preachers and the schools that train them throughout the US and other countries.
From the reaction to those statements, it seems appropriate to review here, with the help of some work by Mark Copeland, what the Bible reveals about the nature of the Holy Spirit...

2. THE HOLY SPIRIT a. The Holy Spirit is a personal being
b. The Holy Spirit is a divine being -- I.e., He is the third Person in the Godhead
2. At this point, it may be beneficial to review the work of the Holy Spirit...
a. As manifested throughout the history of mankind
b. As demonstrated throughout the revelation of God's redemption of man
-- That we might increase our appreciation for the Holy Spirit
[We begin by noting...]

3. The Holy Spirit In Creation of the Universe, Gen 1.2; Job 26.13a
of Man
First man – Gen
Every man – Job 33.4
I. THE SPIRIT'S WORK IN CREATION
A. INVOLVED IN THE CREATION OF THE UNIVERSE...
1. God used the Spirit in the creation of the world - Gen 1:2; Psa 104:30
2. God used the Spirit in the creation of the heavens - Job 26:13; Ps 33:6
-- Clearly in conjunction with the work of the Son - cf. Jn 1:1-3; Col 1:16
B. INVOLVED IN THE CREATION OF MAN...
1. In the creation of the first man - Gen 1:26-27
2. In the creation of every man (as in the case of Elihu) – Job 33:4
[From the very beginning, the Spirit was at work. His work continued, especially as God began to slowly reveal His plan of redemption for
mankind...]
Gen 1:1-2
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. (NKJVS)
Job 33:4
The Spirit of God has made me, And the breath of the Almighty gives me life (NKJVS)
Job 26:13-14
13 By His Spirit He adorned the heavens…" (NKJVS)
Gen 1:26
26 Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."(NKJVS)

4. The Holy Spirit In Revelation Old Testament
As moved by Spirit - 2 Pet ; 2 Sam 23.2
Of things to come – 1 Pet
1Pe 1:10-11
Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, 11 searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. (NKJVS)
II. THE SPIRIT'S WORK IN REVELATION
A. IN OLD TESTAMENT TIMES...
1. The prophets of old spoke as they were moved by the Spirit - 2Pe 1:20-21; e.g., 2Sa 23:2
2. The Spirit was in them, testifying of things to come - 1 Pe 1:10-11; e.g., Isa 53:4-6
2Pe 1:20-21
20 knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, 21 for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. (NKJVS)
2Sa 23:2
2 "The Spirit of the Lord spoke by me, And His word was on my tongue (NKJVS)

5. The Holy Spirit In Revelation New Testament
Spirit to guide to all truth – Jn
Precisely what He did – 1 Cor ; 1 Tim 4.1 example
1Co 2:10-13 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
B. IN THE NEW TESTAMENT TIMES...
1. The Spirit was to guide the apostles into all the truth – Jn 16:12-13; cf. 14:26
2. This the Spirit did - 1Co 2:10-13; e.g., 1Ti 4:1-3 1Ti 4:1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons,
(NKJVS)
[Thus the Spirit's role in the redemption of man included His work of revealing the will of God. In conjunction with the Spirit's work of
revelation, we also read of...]
Jn 16:13-14
However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. (NKJVS)

6. The Holy Spirit In Confirmation Confirming Jesus as Christ
By miracles He performed – Acts 2.22
Spirit worked to confirm His work – Acts 10.38
Act 2:22 " Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know —
(NKJVS)
Act 10:38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.
(NKJVS)
III. THE SPIRIT'S WORK IN CONFIRMATION
A. CONFIRMING JESUS AS THE CHRIST...
1. Jesus was attested by God through the miracles He performed - Ac 2:22
2. The Spirit worked with Christ to confirm His work - Ac 10:38;
Mat 12:27-28
And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges. 28 But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you. (NKJVS)
Luk 4:18-21
18 "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,Because He has anointed MeTo preach the gospel to the poor;He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,To proclaim liberty to the captivesAnd recovery of sight to the blind,To set at liberty those who are oppressed;19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord."20 Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. 21 And He began to say to them, " Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." (NKJVS)

7. The Holy Spirit In Confirmation Confirming the apostles of Christ
Confirming their message through miraculous gifts of Spirit – Heb 2.3-4
As apostles as they traveled about and proclaimed the gospel -
Heb 2:3-4 how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?
(NKJVS)
B. CONFIRMING THE APOSTLES OF CHRIST...
1. Confirming their message, through gifts given by the Spirit - He 2:3-4
2. As they traveled about proclaiming the gospel of God - e.g., Ro 15:19;
2Co 12:12
Truly the signs of an apostle were accomplished among you with all perseverance, in signs and wonders and mighty deeds. (NKJVS)
[As the Word of God was being revealed and confirmed, it was the Spirit of God at work! But as the Word was being preached, the Spirit was also
at work on those who listened with good and honest hearts...]
Rom 15:19 in mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem and round about to Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.
(NKJVS)

8. The Holy Spirit In Regeneration As the Word was Preached
As the Word was Obeyed
IV. THE SPIRIT'S WORK IN REGENERATION
A. AS THE WORD WAS PREACHED...
1. The Spirit was doing His work of convicting the world - cf. Jn 16:8
2. For example, consider the events on the day of Pentecost
a. The Spirit gave the apostles utterance - Ac 2:4
b. Peter preached Christ to them - Ac 2:22-24,36
c. People in the audience were convicted of their sins – Ac 2:37
d. They were encouraged to repent and be baptized - Ac 2:38-39
e. Those willing to do so, did so gladly - Ac 2:40-41
-- Thus the Spirit convicts the world through His revealed and confirmed Word whenever it is preached; those with good and honest hearts will bear the proper fruit - cf. Lk 8:15
B. AS THE WORD WAS OBEYED...
1. Those who obeyed the Spirit's Word were baptized - cf. Ac 2:38-41
2. In their baptism, they experienced a "washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit' - cf. Tit 3:5-7; 1Co 6:11
-- Thus they were being born again (regenerated) not of water only, but of water and the Spirit - cf. Jn 3:5
[This work of regeneration by the Spirit in response to the preaching of
the Word does not end the work of the Spirit in the life of the
Christian. For we also read in the Bible of...]
V. THE SPIRIT'S WORK IN SANCTIFICATION
A. IN OUR INITIAL SANCTIFICATION...
1. Sanctification involves the idea of being "set apart", "consecrated"
2. Sanctification began in conjunction with our washing and justification - 1Co 6:11
3. This washing, sanctification, and justification occurred "by the Spirit of our God"
-- In obedience to the Word of God, we are "sanctified" by the Spirit - cf. 2Th 2:13
B. IN OUR ONGOING SANCTIFICATION...
1. Sanctification is an ongoing work - cf. He 2:11; 10:14
a. Not in the sense of needing redemption - cf. He 10:10
b. But in the sense of living holy lives - cf. 1Th 4:3-4; 5:23
2. The Spirit plays an important role in living holy lives
a. God strengthens us by His Spirit in our inner man - Ep 3:16; cf. 3:20
b. It is with aid of the Spirit that we put to death the deeds of the body - Ro 8:11-13; cf. Col 3:5-9
-- Thus the need to "walk in the Spirit" and be "led by the Spirit" - cf. Ga 5:16-18
CONCLUSION
1. In this brief survey we have seen the work of the Holy Spirit in regards to...
a. Creation
b. Revelation
c. Confirmation
d. Regeneration
e. Sanctification
2. My purpose has not been to provide an exhaustive survey...
a. The Lord willing, future lessons will expand on some of the themes mentioned in this study
b. My goal is to remind ourselves how blessed we are through the Spirit's work in our lives
3. How important is the work of the Spirit...?
a. Our very being (physical creation) is the result of the Spirit's
work
b. Our eternal destiny (spiritual regeneration) is dependent upon the
Spirit's work
Sadly, many people resist the work of the Spirit in their lives. This
occurs whenever one refuses to obey the Word of God revealed and
confirmed by the Spirit (cf. Ac 7:51-53).
How much better to obey the truth, and be born again by the Spirit
working through that "incorruptible seed", the Word of God! - cf. 1 Pe
1:22-23
Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011

9. The Missing Ingredient
Not only is the power of the Holy Spirit ignored by the natural-minded person…
It is misused and confused by those who claim miraculous powers from Him today…
The facts remain however…
The Spirit of God was active in creating this universe.
He was active in revealing prophecy, especially about Jesus Christ.
He was active in confirming Jesus as the Christ, His words and His works.
He was active in revealing and confirming the Word given to the apostles.
He is active today in those who obey His commandments and receive that down payment until the time of the redemption of the purchased possession.