Bible Study - Essentials (6) - The Work of the Holy Spirit - John 15:26-26: 16:7-15 = April 11, 2021

Bible Study – Essentials (6) – The Work of the Holy Spirit – April 11, 2021

This is lesson six (6) in our series entitled, “Essentials of Christianity.”

Our focus scripture is John 15:26-27; 16:7-15.

The Holy Spirit magnifies the work of JESUS.

The Holy Spirit assures every Spirit-born believer that they are a Child of GOD and teaches, enlightens and comforts them as they walk with GOD through faith in JESUS.

Who wants you to stifle the HOLY SPIRIT? You guessed it, Satan! Satan will even offer a counterfeit. But the counterfeit enslaves and produces bad fruit.  

First Corinthians 6:19-20 - ¹⁹ Don’t you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, ²⁰ for you were bought at a price (The price was the sinless life of JESUS.) So, glorify God with your body. ^[a]

Let’s read John 15:26-27:

²⁶ “When the Counselor comes, the one I (JESUS) will send to you from the Father —the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father—he will testify about me. ²⁷ You also will testify, because you have been with me from the beginning.

JESUS will send the “Counselor” or the “Spirit of Truth” which comes from The FATHER to earth to indwell the human body to confirm the Spiritual birth of all who ask JESUS to forgive them for their sins and ask JESUS to come into their lives. The “Holy Spirit” is also known as the “Comforter” or One Who comes along our side and walks with us as Spirit born Christians walk through life.

We read in Romans 8:15-16:

¹⁵ For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear. Instead, you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba,^[i] Father!” ¹⁶ The Spirit himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children, 

The Holy Spirit assures and confirms our relationship to GOD through faith in JESUS. Spiritual birth means that GOD is our FATHER and we will never be Spiritually unborn.

Let’s read John 16:7-15:

⁷ Nevertheless, I am telling you the truth. It is for your benefit that I go away, because if I don’t go away the Counselor will not come to you. If I go, I will send him to you. ⁸ When he comes, he will convict the world about sin, righteousness, and judgment: ⁹ About sin, because they do not believe in me; ¹⁰ about righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will no longer see me; ¹¹ and about judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.

JESUS made it clear that HE had to leave or else the Holy Spirit Would NOT COME. JESUS had HIS Glorified body which was totally under HIS control but HE could not physically duplicate Himself. However, according to GOD’S plan, The Holy Spirit came upon the Virgin Mary and she conceived. The result was JESUS, 100% human, yet 100% GOD. The Holy Spirit joins with the human spirit and yields a Spirit born person. This Spirit-born person resides in the human body until it is released moments before the death of the human body.

In 1 Peter 1:23 - You have been regenerated (born again), not from a mortal origin (seed, sperm), but from one that is immortal by the ever living and lasting Word of God. (Amplified)

In 1 John 3:9 - No one born (begotten) of God [deliberately, knowingly, and habitually] practices sin, for God’s nature abides in him [His principle of life, the divine sperm, remains permanently within him]; and he cannot practice sinning because he is born (begotten) of God. (Amplified)

Once we are conceived and physically born, no matter what we do, good or bad, our parents will always be our parents. We can change our name, move to the other side of the world, be famous or rotten, yet our parents will forever be our parents. The same is true when we are Spiritually born into GOD’S Family.

For a person to be Spiritually born the barrier of sin must be removed. JESUS removed the sin barrier when He gave HIS sinless life upon the cross by the shedding of HIS blood. Sin blinds and blocks a person from seeing his or her need for salvation. The consequence of sin is eternal death. Once a person’s spiritual eyes are opened to sin when compared to the righteousness of GOD, the person sees the need to become righteous before approaching the Holy GOD.

JESUS wanted those who placed their faith in HIM to be made righteous the instant they received HIM as their Savior.

Let’s read again verses:

⁸ When he (The Holy Spirit) comes, he will convict the world about sin, righteousness, and judgment: ⁹ About sin, because they do not believe in me; ¹⁰ about righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will no longer see me; ¹¹ and about judgment, because the ruler of this world (Satan) has been judged.

Notice that the Holy Spirit is a person and should not be referred to as an it. The Holy Spirit goes deep within each person and raises issues such as sin, righteousness and judgement to bring about conviction to lead a person to a saving knowledge of JESUS.

Scripture reference is 2 Corinthians 5:21:

 ²¹ He (GOD) made the one who did not know sin (JESUS) to be sin^[e] for us (Those who place their faith in JESUS), so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.  

Those who have confessed their sins to JESUS and asked HIM to come into their lives have passed from death to life as written in John 5:24 and spoken by JESUS:

²⁴ “Truly I tell you, anyone who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not come under judgment but has passed from death to life.

Read that line in bold print.

Do you want to be sure you go to Heaven? Then confess your sins and ask JESUS to forgive you for your sins and for HIM to come into your life, believing that HE gave HIS sinless life for you.

The Holy Spirit penetrates deep into our minds. HE goes to the “eyes of our hearts” to appeal to each person regarding sin, righteousness and judgment. JESUS is the answer for each of these issues to convict. However, it is up to each person to either accept or reject JESUS as his or her Savior. Have you made this choice? If not, why not? Eternity is but a heartbeat away. Do not delay. This life is for a certain number of years but eternity is forever.

Let’s read John 16:12-15:

¹² “I still have many things to tell you, but you can’t bear them now. ¹³ When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth. For he will not speak on his own, but he will speak whatever he hears. He will also declare to you what is to come. ¹⁴ He will glorify me, because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you. ¹⁵ Everything the Father has is mine. This is why I told you that he takes from what is mine and will declare it to you.

As you recall, JESUS was upon earth 40 days after HIS resurrection. Now that The FATHER’S plan had been fulfilled, JESUS had to put the scriptures and events into perspective for HIS disciples        . JESUS makes it clear that HIS disciples must have the Holy Spirit to guide them to be able to understand Spiritual truth. So, do we. That is why we need the Holy Spirit.

In last week’s lesson, we read that JESUS breathed upon them and they received the Holy Spirit. This was for them while JESUS was upon earth. GOD sent the Holy Spirit to earth on the Day of Pentecost, WHO is teaching Christians today.  Let’s continue to explore!

Let’s read Acts 1:3-8:

³ After he had suffered (JESUS), he also presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.

The Holy Spirit Promised

⁴ While he was^[a] with them, he commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for the Father’s promise. “Which,” he said, “you have heard me speak about; ⁵ for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit in a few days.”

⁶ So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, are you restoring the kingdom to Israel at this time?”

Again, the disciples were looking for an earthly kingdom.

⁷ He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. ⁸ But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

JESUS ascended into Heaven ----

ACTS 1:12-14:

¹² Then they returned to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, which is near Jerusalem—a Sabbath day’s journey away. ¹³ When they arrived, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying: Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James. ¹⁴ They all were continually united in prayer,^[b] along with the women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.

WOW! The physical half-brothers of JESUS, who did not believe in HIM before the crucifixion. (John7:5: ⁵ For not even his brothers believed in him.)

But now since the resurrection, HIS brothers were now praying and waiting for the coming of the Holy Spirit!

Acts 2:1-6:

2 When the day of Pentecost had arrived, they were all together in one place. ² Suddenly a sound like that of a violent rushing wind came from heaven, and it filled the whole house where they were staying. ³ They saw tongues like flames of fire that separated and rested on each one of them. ⁴ Then they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues,^[a] as the Spirit enabled them.

When the Holy Spirit first came there was a noticeable sound which got the attention of those in Jerusalem. Then there was a visual. They saw what appeared to be like “flames of fire,” which separated and rested on each one. If JESUS had not returned to heaven so the FATHER could send the HOLY SPIRIT, the HOLY SPIRIT would have been confined. The HOLY SPIRIT appearing like “flames of fire,” reveals the cleansing nature of the HOLY SPIRIT because “fire” cleanses.

The HOLY SPIRIT came from Heaven and was sent by GOD to be available to all who the HOLY SPIRIT rested upon and was received. The same is true today. The HOLY SPIRIT comes into all who receive JESUS as their Savior. Often, we squelch the working of the HOLY SPIRIT in our lives. We look at the issues of the world through our human eyes rather than through the eyes of GOD. All things are possible if we have the faith in HIM the size of a mustard seed.

When we receive JESUS as our SAVIOR, the HOLY SPIRIT comes upon us and when HE does, HE gifts us with Spiritual Gifts to serve HIM and to minister to the Spiritual body for the “common good.” This was the beginning of the spread of evangelism of the world.

⁵ Now there were Jews staying in Jerusalem, devout people from every nation under heaven. ⁶ When this sound occurred, a crowd came together and was confused because each one heard them speaking in his own language.

Pentecost is 50 days after the Passover. JESUS ascended into Heaven after 40 days upon earth. Those waiting and praying for the coming of the Holy Spirit waited 10 days in Jerusalem.

The HOLY SPIRIT is the same today as the HOLY SPIRIT was at Pentecost.

As recorded in 2 Corinthians 1:20-22:

²⁰ For every one of God’s promises is “Yes” in him. Therefore, through him we also say “Amen” to the glory of God. ²¹ Now it is God who strengthens us together with you in Christ, and who has anointed us. ²² He has also put his seal on us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a down payment.

Ephesians 1:13:

¹³ In him you also were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed.

Ephesians 4:30:³⁰ And don’t grieve God’s Holy Spirit. You were sealed by him^[a] for the day of redemption.

All Spirit born Christians have the HOLY SPIRIT and are gifted with at least one Spiritual Gift, which is salvation. It is vital that we, as Spirit-born Christians, seek the fulness of JESUS and not the gifts. When we seek JESUS, the gifts will be added. Do not fear the Gifts because, JESUS said it best as recorded in Luke 11:11 - ¹¹ What father among you, if his son^[a] asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead of a fish? ¹² Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? ¹³ If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?”

Matthew 6:33 - ³³ But seek first the kingdom of God^[a] and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.

Blessings!!!