SUNDAY- 6^TH WEEK OF EASTER –A

 

I Reading: Acts 8:5-8.14-17: They laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

II Reading: 1Peter 3:15-18: In the body he was put to death, in the spirit he was raised to life.

Gospel: John 14:15-21: I shall ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate.

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 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, who He is (Jn 16:7-15 where Jesus reveals the work of the Holy Spirit). (cf. Rom 8:1-17 where the power of the Holy Spirit is revealed).

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

2. He is the Counsellor, 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

          2) To help the believer to remember

Thought: The purpose of the Holy spirit in the believer’s life is twofold.

1) To teach all things. Both the words and the life of Christ, both the Truth and the Life, both the Word and how to live the Word, both the theory and the practice, both the principles and the conduct, both the morality and the behaviour.

2) To help remember: to help remember all that has been taught in the Word of God, to help especially in the moments of trial when the truth is needed. In a moment of trial the Holy Spirit either infuses the believer with the strength to endure or flashes across his mind the way to escape (1Cor 10:13, 2:13; Lk 12:12; Jn 14:26, 16:13; 1Jn 2:27).

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