Robert McLaughlin Bible Ministries |
The New Testament analogy of the Old Testament Fish Gate. Part 3.
Friday, April 13, 2012
The Gates and walls found in the book of Nehemiah equals the shadows.
Whereas the mystery doctrine of the Church-Age equals the substance.
O.T. Shadow [Sheep Gate]
N.T. Substance [Salvation]
O.T. Shadow [Fish Gate]
N.T. Substance [Ministry of H.S.]
The next part of the substance of the spiritual life for the Jews and Gentiles has to do with the seven-fold ministry of God the Holy Spirit.
1. The basic difference of the shadow ministry of the Holy Spirit from the Old Testament and the substance of the New Testament is the filling of the Spirit.
The substance of the New is greater that the shadow of the Old because the New Testament believer is given the filling of the Spirit which is the first “power” option in the Christian life.
The second power option is doctrinal orientation to life, but the first power option of the believer is the filling of the Holy Spirit.
2. The filling of the Spirit is the second problem solving device for the execution of the PPOG.
EPH 5:18 “Stop being intoxicated with wine by which is dissipation [a lifestyle of self-absorption to try and solve the problems of life], but keep on being filled with the Holy Spirit.”
On the other hand, there are some negative commands, such as 1TH 5:19 “Do not quench the Spirit;”
You quench the Holy Spirit when you allow the sin nature to control the soul.
You quench the Holy Spirit by allowing stress in the soul producing sins of worry, fear, guilt, anxiety, etc. Or by using defensive mechanisms instead of the problem solving devices.
The recovery of the power of the Holy Spirit is the subject of EPH 4:30 “Furthermore, stop grieving the Holy Spirit of God, by Whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”
Spirituality or the filling of the Holy Spirit links salvation to spiritual maturity.
Satan’s counterfeits include a counterfeit:
a. Gospel, 2CO 4:3-4.
b. Ministers, 2CO 11:13-15.
c. Doctrine, 1TI 4:1.
d. Communion table, 1CO 10:19-21.
e. Spirituality, GAL 3:2-3.
f. Righteousness, MAT 19:16-28.
g. Power and dynamics (miracles, healing, Tongues) 2TH 2:8-10.
h. System of gods, 2TH 2:3-4.
1. Walking in the Spirit, GAL 5:16.
2. Walking in the light, 1JO 1:7.
3. Imitating Christ, EPH 5:1.
4. Epistles of Christ ministered by the Spirit, 2CO 3:3.
5. Partakers of the divine nature, 2PE 1:4.
6. Be filled with the Spirit, EPH 5:18.
7. Worshipping in the Spirit, PHI 3:3.
Iin the Church-Age, the age of the substance in contrast to the Old Testament, the age of the shadow, all believers start the Christian way of life off with the Holy Spirit controlling the soul.
At the moment of salvation every believer is filled and indwelt by the Spirit and placed inside of the PPOG for the first time.
COL 1:13, For He [God the Father] delivered us from the domain of darkness [Satan’s cosmic system], and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son [PPOG],
GAL 5:16-17, But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh [OSN] sets its desire against the Spirit [the indwelling of the Holy Spirit], and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.
This is why we are never commanded to be indwelt by the Spirit but only to be filled with the Spirit or as this passage says “walk in the Spirit”.
The Bible teaches that we are sealed by the Spirit until the day we are redeemed,
EPH 4:30.
JOH 14:16 “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another helper [Holy Spirit], that he may be with you Forever”;
1CO 6:18 Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body.
1CO 6:19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?
A “temple” is a sacred dwelling for the honor and glory of God, where He is to be revered and worshipped, and from which all idols must be excluded.
When we rebound, the Holy Spirit again controls the soul. Carnality is simply loss of the filling of the Holy Spirit.
The filling of the Holy Spirit is recovery through rebound adjustment to the justice of God, PRO 1:23; 1JO 1:9.
PRO 1:23 “Turn at My reproof [rebound], behold, I will pour out my Spirit on you; I will make My words known to you.”
HOS 14:2 Take words with you and return to the Lord. Say to Him, “Take away all iniquity, And receive {us} graciously, That we may present the fruit of our lips.