B 2 B lesson 11 ( Part 1 )

Living a Spirit-filled Life
The Work of the Holy Spirit in the Life of a Believer

Sadly in many churches today the Holy Spirit has become very much the displaced person of the Godhead.

And yet in the New Testament every human HOW that might ever be asked receives the one and the same answer and that is the Holy Spirit.

• How can I be sure of my salvation? (Romans 8:16).
• How can I understand the Bible?  (John 14:26)
• How can I pray more meaningfully? (Romans 8:26-27)
• How can I witness with power? (Acts 1:8)
• How can I live a holy life? (Galatians 5:16)

There are two great emphases concerning the Holy Spirit:
1. The Holy Spirit is a Person (note the teaching of Jesus in John 14-15-16. e.g. John 14:16-17,
     John 14:26, John 16:7-11).
2. The Holy Spirit is a Divine Person (Acts 5:3-5, 1 Cor 2:11)

It is fascinating to read the great Upper Room discourse of Jesus as recorded in John 14-15-16 and note the teaching which Jesus shared with His disciples concerning the Holy Spirit.

• The self-same Spirit who had been given to Him would be given to them as well (John 14:16-18)
• The Holy Spirit would be to them all that He had been to them, and more (John 14:16 and John 14:26)
• The Holy Spirit would be within them, whereas He Himself had only been with them (John 14:17)
• The disciples would gain more in the descent of the Spirit than what they would lose in the departure of Jesus (John 16:7)
• The descent of the Spirit was conditional upon the ascent of Jesus(John 16:7-8)
• The ministry of the Holy Spirit within them would be to glorify Jesus (John 16:14)

...to be continued.