THE HOLY SPIRIT'S WORK -THE NEW MAN
THE HOLY SPIRIT’S WORK - THE NEW MAN
Sunday, May 16, 2015, the Year of our Lord
Pastor Carolyn Sissom
Regeneration (being born again) is the work of the Holy Spirit. (John 3:3-6).
Regeneration or the NEW BIRTH is the work of the Holy Spirit transforming the soul into supernatural, life-giving light, holiness, joy, peace, and righteousness. When we are “born-again”, the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit produces an inward and miraculous NEW HEART. He first washes and cleanses our natures. He takes away the heart of stone and gives us a heart of flesh. He writes his laws in our hearts and puts his Spirit in us to enable us to keep those laws. This is what is meant be regeneration.
Col. 3:10: ..."put on the NEW MAN, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created him."
2 Cor. 5:17: “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a NEW CREATURE; old things are passed away; behold, all things have become NEW. All things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ, and has given to us the ministry of reconciliation.”
Gal. 6:15: “For in Christ neither circumcision avails anything, nor un-circumcision, but a NEW CREATURE.”
In this NEW DAY, there is a NEW ORDER of people who have another name, which is a NEW NAME (Rev. 2:17; 3:12). This NEW NAME is a NEW NATURE, even the nature of Christ (Col. 1:27, Gal. 4:6, Lk. 17:20-21). This NEW ORDER of people will become a NEW WINE.
The NEW ORDER is the establishment of the KINGDOM OF GOD on earth as it is in Heaven under a NEW COVENANT which is NEW JERUSALEM.
The supernatural power of regeneration cannot be produced by the outward signs of a moral change of heart----it is “by faith which works by love”.
Regeneration is a creating act of almighty power. A new principle or law is created in us by the Holy Spirit. “By grace we are saved through faith, not of ourselves. It is the gift of God. Not of works, less any man should boast. We are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God has ordained…”
This NEW CREATION is not a new habit formed in us, but a new power and ability. So it is called “the divine nature” of which we are a partaker. We are given a NEW NATURE, even the nature of Christ. This NEW CREATION is a NEW POWER and ability created in us by God and it bears His image.
Eph. 4: 22-24 “That you put off the former conversation of the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind. That you put on the NEW MAN, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”
The Holy Spirit renews our minds. Being renewed in the spirit of our minds means that our minds now have a new, saving, supernatural light to enable us to think and act spiritually. We are renewed in knowledge according to the image of him who created us. (Col. 3:10).
The present world culture and Christian culture needs to be “born-again”. The moral compass of our nation has become degenerate. As Preachers of the gospel, we are anointed to preach a gospel of Holy Ghost and fire. The work of the Holy Spirit in our preaching should regenerate people. We, who are called to preach, must understand the Spirit’s work of regeneration through the preaching of the gospel in order that we may work with God and His Spirit in bringing souls in to the Kingdom.
The new power and ability wrought in us by regeneration is called the NEW MAN.
On my return from D.C., the Lord gave me a dream of the men of the church and those extended men who have received from this ministry. They were in a cluster of 30-40-50 men. They were all wearing a “change of garments”. These were NEW GARMENTS, garments of Godliness. (This dream is not shared to promote Eastgate---but to encourage all of us of the visible touch of the Holy Spirit upon lives through the preaching of the gospel.)
The NEW MAN has a complete change of the whole soul from which all moral action comes. This NEW MAN is placed in opposition to the “old man” (Eph. 4:22, 24). This “old man” is our corrupt human nature which has the power and ability to produce evil thoughts and actions. The NEW MAN has the power and ability to produce Godliness, with spiritual and moral actions. Ro. 6:6: “Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that hereafter we should not serve sin.”
We are called the NEW MAN because we are a ‘NEW CREATION” of God. (Eph. 1:19-23) This NEW MAN is created instantly, in a moment of time. That is why regeneration cannot be mere reformation of life, which is a lifetime work. It is the Holy Spirit of God in us. We cannot do good works acceptable to God until first he works this NEW CREATION in us.
This NEW MAN is created according to the image of God in righteousness and true holiness. The first man, Adam, was created in the image of God before he had done any good thing. The glory and image of God was the power and ability given to Adam to live such a life as would truly show forth God’s righteous and holy character. Adam was given this power and ability before he had ever begun to live for God.
The same must be true with us. First the image of God is created anew in us, which is the “NEW MAN”. As the Holy Spirit works in us the NEW NATURE, we reveal the Glory of God. It will take the power of the Holy Spirit working in our NEW MAN to restore the sanctity of marriage between male and female; morality, the institution of the family, the NEW BIRTH, holiness and purity, which is the sanctified community of NEW JERUSALEM.
As the Word of God is preached, certain things begin to happen in the hearers as the Holy Spirit bears witness of the Word.
The Holy Spirit illuminates, enlightens or “quickens”. “The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening Spirit”. (1 Cor. 15:45) (Quickening means to produce alive, begat or bear living, to cause to live, make alive, give life, spiritual power to arouse and invigorate to restore to life.)
The Holy Spirit’s work of illumination makes the Word clear to the mind (2 Pet. 2:21). The gospel is understood, not only as true, but as God’s way of righteousness. Illumination helps the mind to agree to the truth (Acts 8:31; Jn. 2:23). Illumination brings a momentary joy (Luke 8:13). However, just as the parable of “the seed sown on the rock are they which when they hear, receive the word with joy, and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.” Illumination is not regeneration. When light is shown on God’s saving grace, then the soul sees clearly the salvation of Jesus Christ. So illumination prepares the soul for regeneration.
Next the Holy Spirit brings conviction of sin. This is also brought about by the preaching of the Word by prophecy, the secrets of the heart are made manifest, and the sinner will fall down on his face and worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth. (1 Cor. 14:25). Ah hah – so the gift of prophecy is not magnify your gifts and callings, but to cause the sinner to repent and worship the Lord.
Some neglect this light and conviction or seek to stifle it. Some are overwhelmed by the power and strength of their lusts, the love of sin, and the power of temptations. Some think that being enlightened is quite enough.
All these things which are brought on and to people by the preaching of the Word are the actions of the Holy Sprit working through the preaching and the Word. Those who are enlightened become partakers of the Holy Spirit. (Heb. 6:4).
Mankind can resist the illumination of the Holy Spirit. By grace and mercy the Holy Spirit can remove willful stubbornness and pride. To the rebellious, he leaves them to suffer the righteous rewards of their evil deeds. The Holy Spirit is perfectly free to do what he wants to do. He does what pleases him. However, his works are always good and holy and fully accomplishing the Kingdom purposes. I cry out for mercy.
John tells us that all who received Christ did so because they are born of God.
1:12-13: “As many as received Him, to them He gave power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name. Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor the will of man, but of God.”
The whole Trinity is involved in the work of regeneration. We originate in Father God’s kindness and love, from his will, purpose and counsel. It is a work of his love and grace. We were procured and sealed by the Blood of our Savior, Jesus Christ. The actual washing of regeneration, renewing of our minds and walking in the Spirit is the work of the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:4-6).
The work of regeneration was accomplished under the Old Testament, but to many the work of the Holy Spirit lay “hid in God”(Eph. 3:9) until the time of Jesus Christ.
Nicodemus, a master teacher of Israel, showed his ignorance of it. “How can these things be? How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born? Christ was astonished that a master in Israel did not know this doctrine of regeneration. It was clearly stated in the specific promises of the Old Testament that God would circumcise the hearts of his people, take away their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh.
The teachers of Israel imagined this to be a reformation of people endeavoring to lead a moral life. If that were so, then there would be no need for Jesus’ death on the Cross.
The Lord Jesus far from enlightening Nicodemus on this matter of being born-again---made it more obscure. The New Testament clearly teaches that the Holy Spirit does a secret and mysterious work in the souls of men. If it is only an outward obedience and persuasion to give up evil and do good, then the gospel of the New Testament is utterly unintelligible and meaningless.
The elect of God in ever generation were born-again by the Holy Spirit. “To make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world has been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ.” (Eph. 3:9).
Through the love of Christ, our dreadful wounds in which were dead in trespasses and sins have been opened, healed, and forgotten.
The elect of God were not regenerated in one way in the Old Testament and in a completely different way in the NEW TESTAMENT. All are regenerated by the same Holy Spirit and redeemed by the Blood of the One Savior.
65:16-17: “He who blesses himself in the earth shall bless himself in the God of truth; and he that swears in the earth shall swear by the God of truth; because the former troubles are forgotten, and because they are hid from My eyes. For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.”
The third person of the God-head, the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth. The God of truth literally means “the God of Amen”.
The God who pledges and guarantees His word for all that He has spoken utters the beautiful declaration:
“I create new heavens and a new earth…be glad and rejoice forever in that which I create a rejoicing and her people a joy. I will rejoice in
Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy.”
Our witness to Christ is the result of the power of the Holy Spirit on us and his work in us (Acts 1:8). Often when the Holy Spirit gives a witness to something I am saying, I feel the quickening Spirit moving on me. The Holy Spirit gives witness by miraculous signs and wonders. He enables Christians to bear witness to Christ by preaching, suffering, holiness, testimony, gifts of the Holy Spirit, and fruit of the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit co-witnesses with Christians as we bear witness of Jesus Christ.
We the church can no longer turn a blind eye to an immoral and backslidden nation. We, the preachers of the church should be preaching a fiery gospel unapologetically exposing sin and declaring the salvation of Jesus Christ.
The moral decay of this nation is not our government’s fault or responsibility. We are that NEW MAN born of the Second Adam made a quickening Spirit. It is the elect’s responsibility to carry and reveal the glory of God. We must have the Spirit of Glory fall on us in the midst of this persecution and abuse of our faith. However, until we are willing to stand in garments of righteousness and proclaim the gospel, we will not carry that Spirit of Glory that convicts and regenerates.
Carolyn Sissom, Pastor
Eastgate Ministries Church
Scripture from K.J.V. – I entered into the labors of John Owen (1616-1683). Rev. Owen would not agree with me on my view of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit, but I forgave him that and gleaned from His Gift of Wisdom and the light given to his generation.
Dream given to Henry Johnson 5/17/15:
I remember seeing the men gathered at church. Robert Ibert was standing out. I didn't see Denee or Ursula. You begin to lead praise and worship and it was a new song that you had Robert Steele play. Don't remember the song now, but it was uplifting and very spirited. Then I begin to see the ladies, Sandy and other women, etc.
In The dream I remember Robert Ibert asking me, "do you have my new suit"? He wanted to know what kind was it, wool or Italian made? Told him I wasn't sure. But I remember the suit being silver/gray. It looked like a new suit.
End of dream
Something about this new garment dream you had is really resonating in my spirit.He's changing our garments, equipment weapons to a new and more improved manner
Henry Johnson