"Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you." 2 Timothy 1:13-14
The good deposit of the gospel of grace is so glorious, weighty and eternal, that it can only be guarded by the power of the Holy Spirit.
New City Catechism
Q. 36: What do we believe about the Holy Spirit?
That he is God, coeternal with the Father and the Son, and that God grants him irrevocably to all who believe.
Q. 37: How does the Holy Spirit help us?
The Holy Spirit convicts us of our sin, comforts us, guides us, gives us spiritual gifts and the desire to obey God; and he enables us to pray and to understand God’s Word.
The Holy Spirit:
1. Empowers
2. Produces fruit (Galatians 5:22-23)
3. Illumines/enlightens by convicting of sin, bringing the comfort of the Good Shepherd to his people, and placing a spotlight on the wonder and glory of Christ (as our eyes are open to the Scripture)
All Christians are baptized in the Spirit when they trust in Christ alone for salvation (1 Corinthians 12:13) and have the anointing of the Holy Spirit placed upon their lives (1 John 2:20).
THERE ARE DEEPER EXPERIENCES OF THE EMPOWERING OF BELIEVERS FOR THE PURPOSE OF KINGDOM ADVANCEMENT THAT OCCUR IN THE LIVES OF THOSE WHO OBEDIENTLY SEEK AFTER CHRIST (Hebrews 11:6, Ephesians 5:18).
As we place ourselves in a posture of obedient trust we can cry out like Bartimaeus of old (Mark 10:46-52), “Lord Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me” or “Come Holy Spirit.”
“For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; 12 or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” Luke 11:10-13
Come Holy Spirit!
1. If we are living as soldiers (with a single focus), as athletes who are in training and as farmers who patiently endure, we can cry out, “Come Holy Spirit” (2 Timothy 2:3-6).
“And they came to Jericho. And as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a great crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the roadside. And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’ And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, ‘Son of David, have mercy on me!’ And Jesus stopped and said, ‘Call him.”’ And they called the blind man, saying to him, ‘Take heart. Get up; he is calling you.’ And throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. And Jesus said to him, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ And the blind man said to him, ‘Rabbi, let me recover my sight.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Go your way; your faith has made you well.’ And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him on the way.” Mark 10:46-52
2. If we are centered on the glory and reality of Christ and keep the gospel central in our lives and our thinking, we can cry out, “Come Holy Spirit” (2 Timothy 2:8-10).
3. If we continually embrace the goodness of the word of God (2 Timothy 2:15) and refuse to participate in unfruitful, destructive teaching that minimizes the glory of Christ (2 Timothy 2:14-17), we can cry out, “Come Holy Spirit.”
4. If we strive to live a life of doctrinal soundness and personal purity as we flee from youthful lusts (2 Timothy 2:22), we can cry out, “Come Holy Spirit” (2 Timothy 2:19-26).
QUESTIONS:
1. How are the pursuit of Christ and the life of waiting upon him like blind Bartimaeus placing himself on the road where Jesus was walking?
2. How do we feed upon the fullness of Christ (2 Timothy 2:1)?
3. Why is the suffering mentioned in 2 Timothy much like the experience of Christians in America today (with the understanding that the more intense and strident persecution would come later)?
4. What are three results of the Holy Spirit working in us?
5. What one example of the four given regarding crying out to the Holy Spirit speaks more profoundly to you?