The Fullness of the Holy Spirit
The Fullness of the Holy Spirit
Among the most important conditions for anyone who works in pastoral ministry is:
The Fullness of the Holy Spirit
Service is not a human work that depends on human strength. Rather, it is a spiritual work that depends on the Holy Spirit who works in the servant. We desire for ministry spiritual persons filled with the Spirit of God, and then the Spirit teaches them all things.
We notice that the twelve holy apostles, although:
A — They learned and were trained at the hands of the Lord Jesus Himself, the greatest Teacher known to humanity and to heaven, with all His spiritual influence.
B — Their discipleship lasted more than three years.
C — They were with Him constantly and devoted full time to discipleship.
D — They saw powerful signs and wonders.
E — And they saw before them an example and ideal providing the practical application of teaching.
F — And they entered into practical training in ministry in which the Lord corrected their mistakes.
Yet despite all this, the Lord Jesus said to them: “Tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high” (Luke 24:49), and “Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me” (Acts 1:8). Thus the apostles remained in seclusion after the Lord’s Resurrection, away from the atmosphere of service, despite the terrible conditions of that time—widespread doubt, loss of faith, and people thinking Christ had not risen.
1 — When the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples, they began their ministry.
And it was a fruitful and successful ministry because it was by the Holy Spirit. In a single sermon after the Holy Spirit descended, the Apostle Peter was able to draw three thousand souls to faith (Acts 2:41).
2 — And it was not only the descent of the Spirit on Pentecost, but also on many other important occasions for ministry.
We hear about one of the apostles that Scripture says: “Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them…” (Acts 4:8). That is, he received something special, a special power from the Spirit for that particular ministry.
3 — And it was not limited to the apostles alone. Even in choosing the seven deacons we read in Acts that the Twelve said to the people:
“Choose you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business” (Acts 6:3).
“So they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost,” and wisdom… and six others with him (Acts 6:5).
Thus being filled with the Holy Spirit is a condition for the deacon also, not only for the Church and the chief priests. Therefore we hear about Stephen that he stood debating members of three synagogues, and it is said of them: “They were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spake” (Acts 6:10).
4 — Being filled with the Holy Spirit is not only a necessary condition for the servant; it is also the means by which he works.
The servant who is full of the Spirit offers a spiritual ministry. But the one not full of the Spirit may fill the world with activity, movement, and service, but his service will not be spiritual.
The spiritual person in his spiritual service can be active, hardworking, full of movement and labor. But the opposite is not necessarily true: the active person may not be spiritual. The spiritual person’s goal is the salvation of the soul.
5 — We observe that the Holy Spirit worked in the early Church in everything:
He was the One who chose the servants. It is said of them:
“As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them…” (Acts 13:2–3). The Holy Spirit then came upon them, and Barnabas and Saul began their ministry.
For this reason Paul said to the elders of Ephesus:
“Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood” (Acts 20:28).
The Holy Spirit is the One who calls to ministry and the One who appoints a person as a servant.
6 — The Holy Spirit was also the One who directed the servants.
In the journeys of St. Paul in Asia, we hear that he wanted to go to several places but the Holy Spirit did not allow him, indeed forbade him, and at last the Spirit guided him to Macedonia through a vision that made the matter clear to him (Acts 16:6–10).
And the Holy Spirit also spoke in their councils.
Thus, in the Council of Jerusalem they issued their decisions with the phrase: “It seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us…” (Acts 15:28).
7 — Therefore the servants in their ministry were merely partners with the Holy Spirit.
The fellowship of the Holy Spirit works in a person for the salvation of his own soul and for the salvation of others. The ordinary individual partners with the Holy Spirit for his own salvation. But the pastor partners with the Holy Spirit for the salvation of others—and for his own as well.
8 — And being filled with the Holy Spirit gave the servants in the Church another capability: the gifts of the Spirit which helped them perform their ministry.
By the Spirit some were given wisdom, others knowledge, others the working of miracles (1 Cor. 12:8–10).
Thus we hear that the Spirit convicted people in their hearts when they heard St. Peter (Acts 2:37).
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