The great landowner, Boaz, the kinsman-redeemer who so strikingly typifies Christ, had a man who represented him on the harvest field.
“His servant that was set over the reapers.” Ruth 2:5
This servant controlled the young men who did the work. He was in charge of the operations on the field. He is a type of the Holy Spirit at work.
This servant was intimately acquainted with Ruth’s past history, with her desires and exercises. At the appropriate moment he introduced her to Boaz.
The Holy Spirit knows all the desires and exercises that we have in our souls. He is the one who produced them. He is also the One who introduces us to Christ and then brings us into intimate fellowship with Him.
The Holy Spirit represents Christ in all the activities of the harvest field. He is set over all the servants, directing – energizing and empowering them in their labors.
In essence God’s servants should be under the direct control and guidance of the Holy Spirit.
In Acts 8:29 it was He who bade Philip go and join the chariot of the Ethiopian official.
It was He who caught him away from this service to the land of the Philistines.
In Acts 13:4 it was the Holy Spirit who sent Barnabas and Saul to the island of Cyprus.
He also forbade Paul to preach in the province of Asia.
He would not permit them to go to the great province of Bithynia.
Whether sending or forbidding, the Holy Spirit was in absolute control.
No human agency or organization intervened, or presumed to receive and pass on His commands to the messengers of Christ.
The elders of Ephesus were such because the Holy Spirit had made them overseers.
As the servants of God we have to look to Him for guidance.
He does indeed guide.
We are able to recognize this guidance and obey it by the Holy Spirit, Christ’s true Representative on earth.
Marks of an Assembly controlled by the Holy Spirit
1. We would never need to complain of dull-heavy or unprofitable meetings.
2. We should not need to fear the unhallowed intrusion of the Flesh.
3. There would be no making of mechanical prayer – not talking for talking sake.
4. No hymnbook seized to break a dead silence.
5. Each one would know his place in the Lord’s immediate presence.
6. Each gifted vessel would be filled-fitted and used by the Master’s hand.
7. Each eye would be directed toward the Lord Jesus.
8. Each heart would be occupied with the Lord.
9. If a chapter were read, it would be the very voice of God.
10. If a word were spoken it would fall with power upon every heart.
11. If prayer or worship was offered it would lead every soul into the presence of God.
12. If a hymn was sung, it would lift the spirit up to God, and be like sweeping the strings of the heavenly harp.
13. We would feel ourselves in the very sanctuary of God and enjoy a foretaste of the glories of heaven.
The Holy Spirit should guide in all assembly activities. Acts 13
“Separate onto Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
He raises elders in the church. Acts 20:25
“Over which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers.”
A scriptural and spiritual assembly should seek His guidance in all of its work.
Godly elders under the Spirit’s direction should discern the human instruments to be used in ministering the Word or preaching the Gospel.
Praying in the Spirit means a believer earnestly entreating God as Father – in the name of the Lord Jesus – in the power of an ungrieved Spirit.
The Holy Spirit dwells in individuals. 1 Cor 6 – In local churches 1 Cor 3
A church controlled by the Holy Spirit would be a holy church. Acts 5
It would also be a prosperous church. Acts 11 – Antioch
They preached the Lord Jesus – the hand of the Lord was with them – a great number believed – they gave themselves to the Lord – they gave liberally of their substance.
Our inheritance will be realized in full when the Lord comes.
The Church’s complete blessing awaits His coming.
Every individual believer’s blessing awaits His coming.
The redemption of our bodies awaits His coming.
The full redemption of all Gentiles await the coming of our blessed Savior.
The Holy Spirit is mentioned 12 times in Ephesians.
Four words are used to describe His work towards us.
Baptized – Sealed – Anointed – Filled
These words describe the work He has done and will yet do in the life of the believer.
Baptized – this is the historical word. It describes the work of the Spirit for us.
Sealed – this is the legal word, describing purchase – sealed – security – delivery
Anointed – this is the operational word. It indicates that God has bestowed gifts upon those whom He wants to sue in special ways.
Filled – The experiential word, it is the word that enables us to understand in our minds and experiences in our life the wonder of the prayer in Ch. 3 “That ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.”
Baptized – underlining my relationship to the body
Sealed – my security for time and eternity
Anointed – my equipping for service
Filled – for life and service
Every believer is baptized and sealed whether carnal or spiritual
Anointed and filled are conditional words that depend on a certain response from the believer to the call and claims of Jesus Christ.
The fifth blessing is found in v. 9. The Lordship and Headship of Christ.
Having made known unto us the mystery of His will.
This is the dominant theme in the epistle. The glorious truth concerning Christ and His Church. There is nothing mysterious about this, but it has a sacred secret, previously unknown to O.T. saints, but now revealed to believers in the Word.
Ch 2-3 adds light to the present aspect of the mystery.
In v. 10 Paul gives a more detailed explanation of God’s secret plan.
He is thinking here of the future aspect of the mystery.
The dispensation of the fullness of times is the Millennium when Christ will reign as King of kings and Lord of lords. The last glorious age.
Christ will head up all things in heaven and on earth.
He will be the object of universal worship. Heavenly and earthly.
The sixth blessing according to v. 11 is that we have obtained an inheritance
An inheritance eternal in the heavens. Heirs of God – Joint heirs with Christ. Revelation 21:1-5.
The seventh blessing is that we have been “sealed with the Holy Spirit”. v. 13
The apostle traces have the steps by which sinners are brought into union with Christ.
They heard the Gospel – John 10 – Romans 8
They believed in Christ – “Sealed unto the day of redemption” – Ch. 4:30
They were sealed with the Holy Spirit.
This is the order for conversion today. Explain this.
v. 14 says that the Holy Spirit is the earnest = down payment – pledging that the full amount will be paid.
The Holy Spirit as the seal guarantees that we will be kept safely for our inheritance.” Until the redemption of the purchased possession.
Ownership – Finished transaction – Security
Illustrations of redemption
The first-born in Egypt – the little boy who redeemed his boat. The mother hen who redeemed her chickens.
Sir Grimbold returning from the Crusades was captured – held to ransom.
To pay the ransom and redeem her husband, his beautiful wife gave her lily white right hand.
The Lord paid the price. Gal 3 “Being made a curse for us.”
Note the three aspects of redemption
1. To purchase – Christ bought us with His own blood.
2. To buy out of the market – never to be put on sale again.
3. To loose or free one. Free from the law – judgment of God – guilt of sin.
Note the three aspects of forgiveness of sin
1. Eternal forgiveness – this is God’s forgiveness
2. Restorative forgiveness – this affects our communion with the Father
3. Governmental forgiveness –
All these blessings are ours because of “the riches of His grace.”