Sermon Narrative:

The Direct Operation of the Holy Spirit

Today, we are examining a common belief held by many in the religious world—that the Holy Spirit operates directly and miraculously on the hearts of sinners apart from His revealed Word. This belief, often associated with doctrines like Calvinism, teaches that the Spirit must perform a miraculous operation before a person can respond properly to the Gospel and be saved. Many believe that this operation is completely separate from and independent of God's Word, involving unseen, feelings, visions, or special signs that influence the individual.

The critical question we must ask ourselves is: Does the Bible teach that the Holy Spirit operates in this separate, miraculous way today? Or, more simply, what does Scripture say about His work in salvation and sanctification? Our goal is to establish an understanding grounded purely on God's Word, not tradition or popular teaching.

First, we recognize that Christ possesses all authority (Matthew 28:18). That authority manifests through His Word—divine, inspired, and sufficient for all faith and practice. Colossians 3:16-17 emphasizes that the Word of Christ should dwell richly in us, guiding our worship and daily conduct. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 makes this even clearer: All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, equipping us completely for every good work. If the Holy Spirit operated separately from this Word—by giving miraculous knowledge—then Scripture would be inadequate. But the Bible affirms that God’s Word is sufficient.

This brings us to the power of the Gospel. In Romans 1:16, Paul states that the gospel is the power of God unto salvation. The Spirit uses this gospel to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:8)—not through an external, miraculous influence but through the divine message He inspired. The Holy Spirit convicts people by the Gospel as it is preached and heard. The example of Pentecost in Acts 2 demonstrates this perfectly: the Spirit compelled the listeners to recognize their sin and ask what they must do—all because they heard the inspired message.

In every biblical instance of conversion—such as those in Acts 8, Acts 10, and Acts 19—the pattern is the same. People believed the message they heard, repented, confessed, and were baptized—not because the Spirit mysteriously influenced their hearts apart from the preached Word, but because the Spirit worked through the preaching of divine truth. These examples demonstrate that the Spirit’s work was always connected to the divine Word, and His role was to confirm that message by divine signs during that initial period.

The idea that the Spirit operates directly—by giving special insights or miraculous influence—does not align with the biblical pattern. The Scriptures claim to be all we need (2 Timothy 3:16-17, James 1:21). The Holy Spirit uses the full revelation of God’s Word to convict, convert, and sanctify believers today. Miraculous signs described in the first-century church were temporary—serving as divine scaffolding—until God's Word was fully revealed and completed.

Think of it this way: when constructing a building, scaffolding is necessary during construction but removed once the structure is finished. Similarly, miraculous signs and gifts served as scaffolding for the early church. Once the full and inspired Scriptures were available, these signs ceased because God’s Word alone is sufficient.

In Summary
The Bible does not teach that the Holy Spirit operates independently or miraculously on the hearts of individuals today. Instead, His work is through His inspired Word. The signs, miracles, and divine influences were temporary tools during the early church, not for this age. Today, we trust in the full, inspired, complete Word of God—the sufficient and final revelation needed for salvation, guidance, and sanctification.

The early church needed miracles because the Bible was not yet complete. During that time, divine signs confirmed the message, authenticated the apostles, and helped new believers understand God's truth. For example, in Acts 2, the miraculous gift of speaking in tongues allowed a diverse multitude to hear and understand the gospel—something only possible through divine power.

But when the full Scripture was revealed, the need for signs and miracles disappeared. The Bible states explicitly in 1 Corinthians 13:8-10 that miraculous gifts cease when “that which is perfect” comes—meaning, when the entire inspired New Testament is complete and accessible, the signs are no longer necessary.

Today, the Holy Spirit works through the divine Word which is fully revealed and sufficient. He guides, convicts, sanctifies, and empowers believers through the Scriptures that He inspired. We do not need to seek signs, visions, or miraculous influence to experience His work because He has given us everything we need for salvation and spiritual growth.

In conclusion, the idea of a perpetual direct, miraculous operation of the Spirit on individuals apart from His inspired Word is not supported by Scripture. Instead, the Holy Spirit’s ongoing work is through the teachings of the Bible. When we obey the Gospel, study the Scriptures, and live according to God's Word, we are responding to His divine work. This gives us confidence that the full, inspired Word is the ultimate and sufficient guide—the very instrument through which the Spirit continues to operate in our hearts today.

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