The Need for the Holy Spirit in the Ministry of the Word (Part 3)

A few weeks ago, I began a brief series on the role of the Holy Spirit in the ministry of the Word. You can read Part 1 and Part 2 here.

We have learned in those blog posts that the enemy is prowling around seeking to destroy men (I Peter 5:8), and we must have a healthy fear of him because we are mortal (II Corinthians 10:3a).

Why else do we need the Spirit’s working in our proclamation of the Word of God?

Because Our Enemies Are More Powerful Than Us (II Corinthians 10:3b).

Paul says we aren’t fighting a normal Enemy. It’s not a fleshly enemy. The atheist is not our enemy. Other political parties are not our enemy. The abortion doctor is not our true enemy. The murderer on death row is not the biggest threat to us. Our enemies make up a system of wickedness. It is a non-fleshly enemy that we fight.

William Gurnall – the Puritan who wrote a classic work on spiritual armor called The Christian in Complete Armour – warns us that the Devil is very subtle. He writes,

“The serpent is subtle above other creatures; and an old serpent is subtle above other creatures; and an old serpent, above other serpents. If Satan is too crafty for man in his perfection (referring to Adam and Eve before the fall), how much more dangerous to us now in our maimed condition (our fallen state) – for we have never recovered from that first crack Adam’s fall gave to our understanding. And as we have lost knowledge, so Satan has gained more and more experience. Granted, he lost his heavenly wisdom as soon as he became the devil, but ever since, he has increased his craft.”

Martin Luther is a thought-provoking example of this healthy fear. Luther was battling forces of darkness we cannot possibly imagine as he confronted a corrupt church and defended the biblical Gospel, but Luther knew he could not face these battles alone. He knew he was powerless in his own flesh. At times, Luther struggled with intense depression as he sensed the Devil himself tormenting him and tempting him. On one occasion, he said,

“When I go to bed, the Devil is always waiting for me. When he begins to plague me, I give him this answer: ‘Devil, I must sleep. That’s God’s command, ‘Work by day. Sleep by night. So go away.’ If that doesn’t work and he brings out a catalog of sins, I say, ‘Yes old fellow, I know all about it. And I know some more you have overlooked. Here are a few extra. Put them down.’”

Luther warns that we should NOT try to argue with the Enemy, because he has thousands of years of experience and has successfully tempted men like Noah, David, and Abraham. Luther said the Devil knows our weak spots better than we do ourselves.

The Devil and his evil ideology are more daunting than we know. The Devil is a better theologian that we want to accept.

We must be alert (Eph 6:18). Be aware that our enemies don’t sleep, and they don’t rest. Remind yourself of what the enemy is capable of. Look around the world and notice where the enemy is advancing or gaining ground.

A way to stay alert is to have a healthy fear of your enemy. Know what you are up against.

Without the Spirit’s intervention, we should be very afraid – to face enemies with thousands of years of experience in how to tempt us away from pleasing God when we only have 40, 50, 60 or 70 years of experience walking with Christ is a daunting prospect.

We may be careless or apathetic with our soul, but believe me, our spiritual enemies won’t be! If Satan attacked His own creator – Jesus – why wouldn’t he attack us?

The 3^rd reason we need the Holy Spirit is … well … tune in next Wednesday and you will see.

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The Christian in Complete Armour, Vol. 1, pg. 82

Here I Stand, pgs. 375-376