9.15 The ministry of the Holy Spirit works in our hearts
Yesterday we shared about the ministry of life in the New Covenant. Today, we would like to share that the ministry of life that is in our hearts.
Under the Old Covenant, the Ten Commandments was engraved on stones. It was EXTERNAL and could not change the heart of the sinner. It ministered condemnation. It was glorious but the ministry of the Holy Spirit is more glorious.
(2 Corinthians 3:7-9)
But if the ministry of death, WRITTEN AND ENGRAVED ON STONES, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance, which glory was passing away, how will the MINISTRY OF THE SPIRIT not be MORE GLORIOUS? For if the MINISTRY OF CONDEMNATION had glory, the MINISTRY OF RIGHTEOUSNESS exceeds much more in glory.
The ministry of the Spirit is the ministry of righteousness, not condemnation. He lives in us to convict our hearts of righteousness. While the law was unable, the Holy Spirit can touch our hearts. Under the New Covenant, the Holy Spirit works in our HEARTS.
Paul wrote his epistles to the believers. But he says that you are an Epistles of Christ, known and read by all men. This letter is written by the Spirit of God – not on tablets of stone but in your heart. It means that the Holy Spirit will reveal Christ through you – through his ministry in your heart.
(2 Corinthians 3:3)
…clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart.
It is such a powerful contrast. The Old is written on stones, while the New is written in the heart. The Old cannot change the heart but the New changes the heart. This had been prophesied earlier by the prophet Ezekial.
(Ezek 36:26)
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
Today, this is the key to the Christian life in the New Covenant. We no longer look at the ministry of death. We no longer live under the external law. We draw on the ministry of life. We serve in the newness of the Spirit. We experience Him in our hearts – His presence, His leading, His fruit and His power.
Under the Old Covenant, the Ten Commandments was engraved on stones. It was EXTERNAL and could not change the heart of the sinner. It ministered condemnation. It was glorious but the ministry of the Holy Spirit is more glorious.
(2 Corinthians 3:7-9)
But if the ministry of death, WRITTEN AND ENGRAVED ON STONES, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance, which glory was passing away, how will the MINISTRY OF THE SPIRIT not be MORE GLORIOUS? For if the MINISTRY OF CONDEMNATION had glory, the MINISTRY OF RIGHTEOUSNESS exceeds much more in glory.
The ministry of the Spirit is the ministry of righteousness, not condemnation. He lives in us to convict our hearts of righteousness. While the law was unable, the Holy Spirit can touch our hearts. Under the New Covenant, the Holy Spirit works in our HEARTS.
Paul wrote his epistles to the believers. But he says that you are an Epistles of Christ, known and read by all men. This letter is written by the Spirit of God – not on tablets of stone but in your heart. It means that the Holy Spirit will reveal Christ through you – through his ministry in your heart.
(2 Corinthians 3:3)
…clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart.
It is such a powerful contrast. The Old is written on stones, while the New is written in the heart. The Old cannot change the heart but the New changes the heart. This had been prophesied earlier by the prophet Ezekial.
(Ezek 36:26)
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
Today, this is the key to the Christian life in the New Covenant. We no longer look at the ministry of death. We no longer live under the external law. We draw on the ministry of life. We serve in the newness of the Spirit. We experience Him in our hearts – His presence, His leading, His fruit and His power.
posted by Joshua Lye @ 12:35 AM
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