THE PERSON AND MINISTRY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

SATURDAY MARCH 6, 2021.

SUBJECT: THE PERSON AND MINISTRY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT!

Memory verse: “But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, he shall testify of Me.” (John 15 vs 26.) 

READ: John 16 vs 12 - 15:

16:12: I have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.

16:13: However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak of His own authority, but whatever He hears, He will speak: and He will tell you things to come.

16:14: He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine, and declare it to you.

16:15: All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of mine and declare it to you.

INTIMATION:

The Holy Spirit is a person, hence His Personality is emphasized as  “He” is used of Him in the masculine. He is unseen just like God the Father, omnipresent, and omnipotent. When you become a Christian, you gain all the privileges and responsibilities of a child in God’s family. One of these outstanding privileges is being led by the Spirit (See Galatians 4 vs 5 - 6). We may not always feel as though we belong to God, but the Holy Spirit is our witness. His inward presence reminds us of who we are and encourages us with God’s love (Romans 5 vs 5). He is a very gentle Person, and allows us to take our choices in all things. A leading of the Spirit engenders perfection in walking in consonance with God’s commandments, and is assured of exploits in your life’s endeavors.

The subject of the Holy Spirit in the New Testament is considered in line with His Divine attributes. These attributes include: 

(1) His distinct Personality in the Godhead—the Third Person in the Godhead; God the Father, God the Son—Jesus Christ, and God the Holy Spirit (Ghost). The Three Personalities are united as One—the Godhead, and work together. The unity, and working together are in various ways demonstrated in the Bible. For instance, in creation the Spirit was hovering all over the surface of the deep (Genesis 1 vs 2) and was active in accomplishing all that God the Father called into being. In the baptism of Jesus Christ; God the Son was in the water, God the Holy Spirit descended upon Him as a dove, and God the Father spoke with a voice from heaven, saying, “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3 vs 13 - 17.) The Holy Spirit was with the Lord Jesus in His Birth (Luke 1 vs 35), His life (Matthew 4 vs 1; Luke 1 vs 1, 14, & 18), His baptism (Matthew 3 vs 16; John 1 vs 32 - 33), His Death and Resurrection (Romans 4 vs 24; 8 vs 11). 

(2) The Holy Spirit is very active in His operations in the world. He is in the church, haven been sent at Pentecost by the Father and the Son—Jesus Christ (Acts 2). He is the Enabler of the personalities involved in the production of Holy Scripture. Jesus said the Holy Spirit would tell His disciples “things to come”; the nature of their mission, the opposition they would face, and the final outcome of their efforts. They did not fully understand these promises until the Holy Spirit came after Jesus’ death and resurrection. Then the Holy Spirit revealed truths to the disciples that they wrote down in the books that now form the “New Testament.”

(3) Most importantly is His operations in the individual believer. The Holy Spirit is the “Spirit of truth.” The truth into which the Holy Spirit guides us is the truth about Christ. The Spirit also helps us through patient practice to discern right from wrong. The Holy Spirit is the agent of change in people when they believe the gospel. When we tell others about Christ, we must depend on the Holy Spirit to open their eyes and convince them that they need salvation. God’s power—not our cleverness or persuasion—changes people. Without the work of the Holy Spirit, our words are meaningless. The Holy Spirit not only convicts people of sin but also assured them of the truth of the gospel. 

The Holy Spirit is a powerful person on the side of the believer, working for, and with him or her. He will never leave him, though the world at large cannot receive Him, but He lives with the believer, and in the believer. He teaches the believer; He reminds him or her of Jesus’ words (John 14 vs 26; 15 vs 26); He convinces us of sin, shows us God’s righteousness, and announces God’s judgement on evil (John 16 vs 8); He guides the believer into truth and gives him or her insight into future events (John 16 vs 13); He brings glory to Christ (John 16 vs 14). 

The Holy Spirit has been active among people from the beginning of time, but after Pentecost (Acts 2) He came to live in all believers. Many people are unaware of the Holy Spirit’s activities, but to those who hear Christ’s words and understand the Spirit’s power, the Spirit gives a whole new way to look at life. Jesus uses two names for the Holy Spirit—“Helper” and “Spirit of truth.” The Word “Helper” conveys the helping, encouraging, and strengthening work of the Spirit. “Spirit of truth” points to the teaching, illuminating, and reminding work of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit ministers to both the head and the heart, and both dimensions are important. 

Jesus promised the disciples that the Holy Spirit would help them remember what He had been teaching them. This promise ensures the validity of the New Testament. The disciples were eyewitnesses of Jesus’ life and teachings, and the Holy Spirit helped them remember without taking away their individual perspectives. We can be confident that the Gospels are accurate records of what Jesus taught and did. The Holy Spirit can help us in the same way. As we study the Bible, we can trust Him to plant truth in our mind, convince us of God’s will, and remind us when we stray from it. 

In witnessing for Christ, the Holy Spirit would give us the appropriate words in our time of need. As His followers, our testimony might not make us look impressive, but it would still point out God’s work in the world through Jesus’ life. We need to pray for opportunities to witness for Christ, and then trust Him to help us with our words. This promise of Spirit’s help, however, does not compensate for lack of preparation. Scripture teaches that we are to make carefully prepared, thoughtful statements (Colossians 4 vs 6). We need to study God’s Word. Then God will bring His truths to mind when we most need them, helping us present them in the most effective way. 

Prayer: Abba Father, thank You so much for the gift of the Holy Spirit. I call Him my ‘Senior Partner’ because He is my Helper, Encourager, Empowerer, Advocate, Intercessor, Comforter, Counselor, Standby, and Strengthener. Endue me with spirit of grace, that I will never miss the leading of the Holy Spirit in my life, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!