THE MOST HOLY TRINITY SUNDAY-C

I Reading: Proverbs 8:22-31: Before the earth came into being, Wisdom was born.

II Reading: Romans 5:1-5: To God, through Christ, in the love poured out by the Spirit.

Gospel: John 16:12-15: Everything the Father has is mine; all the Spirit tells you will be taken from what is mine.

The Work of the Holy Spirit, Jn 16:7-15

We are celebrating today the Feast of the Most Holy Trinity that there is only one God but three persons; the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. All these three persons are equally wise, equally powerful and equally good, and yet distinct from one another, finally that they are not to be taken as three Gods; but there is only one God. They work as an undivided unity, eg. God said, ‘let us’(The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit from the very beginning of creation ) make the man(collective noun= adam=mankind) in our own image, in the likeness of ourselves..(Gen 1:26-27). The Spirit-led ancient people to gradually learn about God. Jesus came into the world to clearly manifest God’s wisdom, power and love. To help us discover the love of the Three Divine Persons for us, Jesus provided us with the best teacher he could give: the Holy Spirit, Himself one of the three Divine persons. Hence the Father created us, the Son redeemed us and the Holy Spirit makes us holy. This has been put in another way: the Father is the power of God, the Son is God’s wisdom and the Holy Spirit is God’s love. Paul teaches us that we must accept the training imparted by the Spirit with courage and with love (Rom 5:5). This is the deepest mystery in our Christian faith.

The clearest revelation of the Holy Spirit is given by our Lord Jesus himself. He had already revealed who the person of the Holy Spirit is (Jn 14:15-26). Now He reveals the work of the Holy Spirit.

1. He helps believers (v.7)

a. His help: for the believer’s good

b. His name: The Counselor, Comforter, the Helper

2. He convicts and convinces the world (v.8-11)

a. He convicts: Of sin, righteousness and judgment

b. He convinces

  1) Of sin: Because they believe not on Jesus

  2) Of righteousness: Because Jesus’ righteousness is proven-He is ascended as Lord

  3) Of judgment: Because Jesus condemned Satan

3. He guides believers (v12-13)

a. Through speaking the truth

b. Through leading into all truth

c. Through showing things to come

4. He glorifies Jesus: He shows the things of Jesus to believers (v.14-15)

Thought: Christ is declaring that there is perfect unity in the Godhead (Jn 10:37-38, 14:10, 17:22).

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 PENTECOST SUNDAY-C

I Reading: Acts 2:1-11: They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak.

II Reading: Romans 8:8-17: Everyone moved by the Spirit is a son of God.

Gospel: John 14:15-16.23-26: The Holy Spirit will teach you everything.

The Holy Spirit: Who He is, 14:15-26

There are three great Scriptures that deal with the doctrine of the Holy Spirit at length.

1. The Identity of the Holy Spirit or who He is (Jn 14:15-26)

2. The work of the Holy Spirit (Jn 16:7-15)

3. The Power of the Holy Spirit (Rom 8:1-17)

The birth of the Church.

Who is the Holy Spirit? He is known as the Advocate, Counsellor, Comforter, Helper, the Spirit of Truth, the Personal Presence of Christ, the manifestation of Christ within the believers, the abiding presence of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit the Teacher.

1.    On his resurrection day: Jesus presented his apostles with the gift of the Holy Spirit.

a)   The first fruit the Spirit brings to a person is FORGIVENESS: Jesus said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. For those whose sins you forgive, they are forgiven. For those whose sins you retain, they are retained (Jn 20:23)

b)   The Spirit brings PEACE & JOY to the heart of a person (Gal 5:22)

2.    The Holy Spirit brought to the Apostles the LIGHT & the STRENGTH they needed to preach the Gospel.

3.    The Spirit is at WORK at all times both in individuals and in the church (Mt 28:20-I am with you always till the end of time). (Jn 3:8-Jesus said to Nicodemus-the wind blows..from where it comes and goes..nobody knows. SPIRIT=Ruah in Hebrew=Breath. In OT-God breathed into the nostrils of Adam and got life. In NT-Jesus breathed on the disciples and got new life, peace and joy.

4.    The Holy Spirit displays absolutely FREEDOM and POWER: According to Luke Gospel, the Spirit came like a WIND. The Spirit descended upon the disciples and Mary like FIRE in the form of a tongue. Fire destroys sin, transforms and purifies god or mind and gives warmth and love and light. The same way the Spirit does. Eg. Jn 3:8

5.    The Spirit brings UNITY to the Christian family. The Spirit gives the gifts of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Gal 5:22).

All men and women must be filled with the gifts of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit renews the lives of the people and the face of the earth.

 

The greatest help the believers are to receive is the very presence of God Himself in the person of the Holy Spirit. It is this that Jesus now reveals. He reveals the Holy Spirit, His identity, and who He is (Jn 16:7-15 where Jesus reveals the work of the Holy Spirit and the power of the Holy Spirit in Rom 8:1-17).

1. Fact: If a person loves Jesus, he will keep His commandments (v.15)

2. He is the Counselor, the Comforter, the other Helper (v.16)

3. He is the Spirit of truth (v.17)

a. The world cannot accept Him

b. The believer does receive Him and know Him

4. He is the personal presence of Christ (v.18-20)

a. A spiritual presence not a physical one

b. A living and eternal presence

c. A living union between God, Christ and the believer

5. He is the very special manifestation of Christ within the believer (v.21-22)

a. The special presence is conditional: Must obey and love Christ

b. The special presence is questioned

6. He is the abiding presence of the Trinity (v.23-24)

a. Is conditional: Must love and obey Jesus

b. Is the love and presence of God and Christ

c. Is not given to those who do not love and obey Christ

d. Is assured by God Himself

7. He is the Holy Spirit, the Teacher (v.25-26)

a. The facts

  1) He is promised

  2) He is given by the Father in the name of Jesus

b. His purpose

  1) To teach the believer all things: both the words and life of Christ, both the truth and the life, both the  Word and how to live the Word, both the theory and practice, both the principles and conduct, both the morality and behavior.

  2) To help the believer to remember all that has been taught in the Word of God, to help especially in the moments of trail when the truth is needed (1Cor 10:13, 2:13; Lk 12:12; Jn 14:26, 16:13; 1Jn 2:27).

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