IV. THE HOLY SPIRIT'S TRUE WORK

"Much of the problem, it seems, is that the modern church has lost sight of the Holy Spirit's divine majesty. While charismatics treat Him like an impersonal force of ecstatic energy, evangelicals have generally reduced Him to the caricature of a peaceful dove, often portrayed on Bible covers and bumper stickers – as if the Spirit of the Almighty were a harmless white bird fluttering quietly in a breeze. Anyone who thinks that way needs to repent and reread the Bible." – John Macarthur

While the modern-day Pneumatomachians and Arians deny the person and deity of the Holy Spirit, evangelicals grieved the Spirit by abusing Him through the lack of knowledge on His true work. Some evangelicals and more on charismatic groups are misrepresenting the Third Person of the Trinity as a shaking force (though they do not deny the deity of the Spirit) that can make them slain, dazzle on the ground and roll on the floor. As if, like Dr. Macarthur charismatics 'treat Him as an impersonal force of ecstatic energy' and these are their form of worship to God, credited as a 'work' of the Spirit on them. But worship is not frenzy or just mere emotion and feelings. Yes, we can be emotional, when God breaks us and gave us a contrite heart, but God is also a God of order. Worship is not dazzling on the ground, rolling on the floor or barking like a dog, worship in the Spirit and to God, is worshipping in Spirit and in truth. As A. W. Tozer, wrote on his classical work The Knowledge of the Holy stated: "What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us... Worship is pure or base as the worshipper entertains high or low thoughts of God."

The lack of knowledge about the true work of the Holy Spirit leads to misrepresentation of Him. To lie to Him is to lie to God (Acts 5). To grieve Him is to become an enemy of God (Isaiah 63:10). So, as Dr. Macarthur again stated, "To misrepresent Him is to slander God." We need to understand the true work of the Spirit. To know Him and His true work leads us to proper worship to God and leads to reverence and awe to the Third Person of the Trinity.