The Spirit's Special Programme (3/6)

The Spirit's Special Programme is to exercise restraint in this world on behalf of the church:

1. The Holy Spirit restrains evil men who resist the preaching of the gospel.

• Acts 4 v 17: Threats from man
• Acts 4 v 23-30: The believer's prayer for boldness
• Acts 4 v 31: The Holy Spirit acting

2. The Holy Spirit restrains evil in the world by opening new regions for the expansion of the church.

• The Holy Spirit gives the power to evangelise (Acts 1 v 8)
• The Spirit works to evangelise both:
• The Jewish world (Romans 11)
• The Gentile world (Acts 10 v 44 & Acts 13 v 1-2)

3. The Holy Spirit restrains evil in the world by forming one body of believers made up of both Jew and Gentile (the church).

• John 16 v 12
• Ephesians 2 v 13 - 16
• Ephesians 3 v 1 - 6