The Epistle to the Ephesians
Lesson 10
The Holy Spirit in Ephesians

Introduction
Nothing makes me happier than to understand and feel the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Some people think of the Holy Spirit as a “spirit” or “spiritual force” that comes from God and moves throughout the world. The Holy Spirit is far greater than a mere force that influences people’s lives.

Other people do not think of the Holy Spirit as a person. They do not believe that He is equal with God the Father or God the Son. To them, He is only something that influences our lives.

Put any such thought away from you. The blessed Holy Spirit regenerates the sinner and gives power to the believer. He is an equal partner of our wonderful three-in-one God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Each member of the three-in-one God possesses all the characteristics of God. Each member has different functions with different responsibilities, but each one is in perfect agreement with the others. For example, the Holy Spirit helps us to pray (Romans 8:26-27; Ephesians 6:18). We pray in the name of Jesus (John 15:16) and we address the Father (Matthew 6:9). I feel strongly that no study of Ephesians would be complete without some meditation upon the ministry of the Holy Spirit.

Importance of this Lesson

• Remember that we are studying the book of Ephesians and our purpose is to present the person and work of the Holy Spirit as found in this epistle. There are many books that present all that the Bible teaches about the Holy Spirit. That of course, is not our purpose.
• The importance of and our main desire in this lesson is that you become better acquainted with the Holy Spirit as you see Him work in Ephesians.
• It is important that He become real in your life as you come to fully realize that He is indeed the wonderful third person of our great three-in-one God.

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The Lesson

I. SEALED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT – Ephesians 1:13-14
“ In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.”

• We find the first mention of the Holy Spirit in Ephesians in Ephesians 1:13 – 14.
• In Ephesians1:13, the Apostle writes, “Ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise.”
• We are sealed “with” the Holy Spirit, not “by” the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit comes into our lives and He himself becomes the seal.
• You will see that He is called “that Holy Spirit of promise.” His presence in us is the guarantee that the promises made in Ephesians 1:9-12 will be fulfilled.

1. What is the meaning of “sealed”?
   1. Authenticity: Whenever a company produces a product it normally prints the company seal on that product. The seal means that it is really made by that company. The seal of the Holy Spirit on our lives means that we are really believers. You cannot pretend that you are a Christian and get into heaven. (No seal – no heaven)
   2. Preservation: When a lady makes jam or jelly, she puts it in a jar and seals it with wax. Why? She does this in order that it will not spoil. She does not do this only to keep it for a few hours, but for use at some future time. It is opened on a special occasion and enjoyed. So it is with the Holy Spirit. He is the seal that protects us “unto the day of redemption” (Ephesians 4:30). In other words, when He saves you, you become a part of the family of God, you are the Lord’s property and you belong to Him forever. The Spirit keeps and protects the property of God. Read Romans 8:14, 26, 27.
   3. Verification or Identification – Ownership: The presence of the Holy Spirit proves who we are and to whom we belong. “Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal. The Lord knoweth them that are His” (2 Timothy 2:19). The apostle Paul makes it clear that “if any man has not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His” (Romans 8:9).
      1. Remember that we must believe before we are sealed (Ephesians 1:13).
      2. There is a difference in the words “until” and “unto”:
         1. Until – implies continuation of an action until another action takes place. We are sealed by the Holy Spirit UNTIL the redemption of the purchased possession (Ephesians 1:14).
         2. Unto – signifies completion, or fulfillment. “Ye are sealed UNTO the day of redemption” (Ephesians 4:30).
   4. Genuineness: The government seal on a silver dollar makes it genuine – the real thing. So the Holy Spirit in us makes us real sons of God and heirs of salvation.

II. THE RIGHT OF ENTRY TO THE FATHER THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT – Ephesians 2:18, “ For through Him (that is Christ), we both (that is Jew and Gentile) have access by one Spirit (the Holy Spirit) unto the Father.”
Note again how the persons of the three-in-one God work together.

1. By Him (Christ) we both (Jew and Gentile) have the right to enter into the Father’s presence. By Christ’s death and because He shed His blood, our sins have been judged and put away (Hebrews 9:14, 26). This makes it possible for us to come to God (Hebrews 4:16; 10:19).
2. “By one Spirit” means by the help of the Holy Spirit. Isn’t it wonderful that when we do not know how to come to God, the Holy Spirit comes to our rescue? Read Romans 8:26-27.
3. “Unto the Father” – Here is the agreement among the persons of the three-in-one God. We pray in the name of Jesus, the Holy Spirit helps us in our prayers as we speak to the Father.

III. THE HOLY SPIRIT HELPS TO BUILD THE CHURCH – Ephesians 2:22
“ In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.”

1. You will recall that in Lesson #7, we studied the Church as we see it in Ephesians. We learned that God sees the Church as a building or temple that He is in the process of building (Ephesians 2:21; 1 Corinthians 3:17; 2 Corinthians 6:16).
2. Our concern here is not the entire ministry of the Holy Spirit. We are limiting our thoughts here to the relationship and ministry of the Spirit to the Church.
3. God calls the Church a temple (Ephesians 2:21). Keep in mind that the builder of a temple, or a great building, must design and build it carefully and free from mistakes. He must place every piece of wood, every brick, and every stone carefully, He must fasten or seal each item. God does the same thing with the church. The Holy Spirit first regenerates us (John 3:5) and then seals us and makes us a part of that glorious body, the Church, “unto the day of redemption” (Ephesians 1:13, 4:30).
4. Notice the phrase “ye are builded together” (Ephesians 2:22). God has now included Jews and Gentiles as part of all the races and nations of the world that may turn to Christ. The Holy Spirit, like God the Father and God the Son, is present everywhere at the same time. He answers anyone, anywhere who asks Christ to save him.
5. Remember that, as an individual Christian, the Bible also calls you a temple of the living God.
   2 Corinthians 6:16 – “For ye are the temple of the living God.”
   1 Corinthians 6:19 – “What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you…?” Therefore, while the Holy Spirit plays a major part in the building and forming of the Church universal, He also is largely responsible for living in and helping the individual Christian.
6. These are some of the things the Spirit does to carry out this great work:
   1. He convicts of sin (John 16:8).
   2. He reproves the world of sin and of righteousness and of judgment (John 16:8). (The word “reprove” in this verse means to correct.)
   3. He regenerates the believer (John 3:5-6).
   4. He guides us into all truth (John 16:13).
   5. He leads us (Romans 8:14).
   6. He will make Christ a reality to us (John 15:26, 16:14).
   7. He enables us to overpower the lusts of the flesh (Galatians 5:16).
   8. He can put a melody in our hearts (Ephesians 5:19).
   9. He assures us of our salvation (Romans 8:16).
   10. He empowers us for service (Acts 1:8).
   11. He sanctifies us (sets us apart for the glory of God) (I Peter 1:2).
       (For your exam, be able to match the reference to the statement of what the Holy Spirit does.)
7. We could add much more here but this should be sufficient to establish the point we make.

IV. THE SPIRIT REVEALS THE GREAT MYSTERY – Ephesians 3:5, “ Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit.”
What a remarkable thing we see here – A great mystery, completely unknown in ages past. Not even the Old Testament prophets knew about it. It is now revealed. And who is the great person who reveals it? The blessed Holy Spirit.

1. To whom did the Holy Spirit reveal this great mystery?
   1. First, to the apostle Paul.
      “ How that by revelation He made known to me the mystery” (Ephesians 3:3).
   2. Then to “His holy apostles and prophets” (Ephesians 3:5).
2. What was the great mystery?
   “ That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel” (Ephesians 3:6).
3. And the question important to our lesson is “Who is the person that revealed this mystery?”
   “ It is now revealed by the Spirit” (Ephesians 3:5).
4. It is of great importance that you always remember the fact that the Holy Spirit takes part in all the plans and purposes of God.

V. THE SPIRIT AND THE INNER MAN – Ephesians 3:16, “ That he would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man.”

1. We must remember that this statement was a part of Paul’s first prayer in Ephesians. We have already studied that prayer. Remember that this prayer emphasized our need to be “rooted and grounded in love in order that we can understand the greatness of Christ’s love and in order that God can fill us with “all the fullness of God” (Ephesians 3:17-19).
2. The Holy Spirit strengthens us in the “inner man.” This is where Christ lives in our hearts by faith. This is where we understand the greatness of Christ’s love and where God fills us with His fullness (Ephesians 3:16-19).
3. Therefore, the important thing is to know just what the “Inner Man” is.
   1. The “inner man” is that “new creation” we possess when we are “in Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
   2. The “inner man” is the “new man” created in righteousness and true holiness.” We must put off or lay aside the “old man” – our old sinful nature – our old way of life – and put on Christ, the new creature, the “new man” (Ephesians 4:21-24; Romans 6:6, Colossians 3:9-10).
4. And who provides the strength and might the inner man needs?
   1. Notice, Paul writes “BY HIS SPIRIT” (Ephesians 3:16).
   2. Never treat the Holy Spirit as only an influence, like a ghost, but rather as a glorious Someone. Seek His blessing in all that you do.

VI. FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT – Ephesians 5:18, “ And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit.”

1. Being filled with the Holy Spirit should be a normal Christian experience.
   “ They were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness” (Acts 4:31).
2. The Holy Spirit lives in every Christian (Romans 8:9). However, many Christians never completely recognized Him for who He is and therefore never yielded to His control.
   1. Remember what Paul wrote in Romans 8:2, “For the law (controlling influence) of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law (controlling influence) of sin and death.”
   2. Remember that Christians are to “walk in the Spirit” (Galatians 5:16). If you do, you will not fulfill the lust of the flesh. The Holy Spirit can not fill you as long as self and selfishness controls you.
3. If you want to learn the truth (John 16:13), if you want to win souls (Acts 1:8), and if you want to live a successful Christian life, this is what you must do: (Memorize these.)
   1. You must realize and confess to God that your life is empty and fruitless.
   2. You must recognize that the Holy Spirit lives in your body. If you are a Christian, He is there (Romans 8:9).
   3. You must completely surrender your will and your life to the control of the Holy Spirit. Read Romans 8:13-14 and Romans 12:1-2. Begin to treat the Holy Spirit like the wonderful and powerful person He is.

VII. PRAYING IN THE SPIRIT – Ephesians 6:18, “ Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.”

1. Praying in the Spirit is simply yielding to the control of the Holy Spirit and letting Him guide you as to how you pray and what you pray for. Read carefully Romans 8:26-27.
2. The Holy Spirit knows exactly where the greatest need is and He will instruct you and guide you as you pray.
3. To pray in the Spirit, the Holy Spirit must fill you (Ephesians 5:18). A complete surrender to the Holy Spirit will make you able to pray “in the Spirit.”
4. In 1 Thessalonians 5:17, the Bible tells us to “pray without ceasing.” Remember that we do not always need to pray out loud. We can, with our hearts, be in contact with God all the time.
5. As we walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5:16) we walk in constant fellowship and communion with God. Our praying then will always be “in the Spirit.”
6. Praying “in the Spirit” requires continual watchfulness and determination. Notice the most important text, Ephesians 6:18.

Examination

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