SDA Sabbath School Lesson 3, 3rd Qtr 2014 - The Holy Spirit

[Mimi]

Lesson 3 *July 12-18
Sabbath Afternoon
The Holy Spirit

Read for This Week’s Study:

John 14:16-18; And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
Joh 14:17  Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
Joh 14:18  I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.


John 14:26; But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.


John 15:26; But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

Matt. 12:31-32; Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.
Mat 12:32  And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.

John 16:8; And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

John 3:5-8; Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
Joh 3:6  That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Joh 3:7  Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
Joh 3:8  The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

Luke 11:9-13. And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
Luk 11:10  For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
Luk 11:11  If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?
Luk 11:12  Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?
Luk 11:13  If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

Memory Text: "And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
" (John 14:16, KJV).

Of the three Persons of the Godhead, the Holy Spirit is the least understood. It is ironic that the Person who is closest to us, the Being who produces the new birth in us, who dwells in us and transforms us, is the One we know so little about.

Why? To begin with, the Bible is less explicit regarding the Holy Spirit than it is about the Father and the Son. There are many references to the Spirit in Scripture, but most are metaphoric or symbolic. The Bible gives us ample information about the work of the Spirit, but it says little about His nature.

Another reason arises from the ministry of the Holy Spirit. He is constantly trying to focus our attention on Christ, not on His own Person. In the plan of salvation, the Spirit plays a subordinated role, serving the Father and the Son, although this function does not imply inferiority in essence.

This week, as we listen to what Jesus taught about the Spirit, let us eagerly pray for His transforming presence in our lives.
*Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, July 19.


Sunday July 13
The Representative of Christ

With fear and sadness, the disciples listened as Jesus announced His imminent death. When they were deprived of His presence, who would be their Teacher, Friend, and Counselor? Knowing their desperate need, Christ promised to send His representative to be with them.

What particular name did Christ use for His representative? See John 14:16-18. In what sense was that name so appropriate? See also John 14:26.

Helper, Counselor, and Comforter are various translations of the Greek parakletos, which is made up of the preposition para, "beside," and the adjective kletos, "called." It literally means "one called to the side of," giving the idea of "a person summoned to one’s aid." It may refer to a mediator, an intercessor, a helper, an advisor, or even a legal advocate.

Only John uses the term parakletos in the New Testament. Interestingly, he also applied this word to Jesus Himself (1 John 2:1).

During His earthly ministry, Christ was the disciples’ Counselor, Helper, and Comforter. Therefore, it is quite appropriate for His successor to receive the same name. The Holy Spirit is sent by the Father at the request of the Son, and in the name of the Son (John 14:16, 26). The Spirit continues Christ’s work on this earth.

Through the Holy Spirit the disciples had the presence of Jesus. "I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you" (John 14:18, NKJV), said the Lord. He was not talking about paying them an occasional visit, which wouldn’t be of much comfort to helpless "orphans." Rather, He was announcing a permanent and intimate relationship: "I in you" (John 14:20, NKJV). This was going to be possible only through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

Of course, Christ’s human nature hindered Him from being personally in every place at the same time. The Holy Spirit, on the other hand, is omnipresent (Ps. 139:7). By the Spirit, our Savior is accessible to all, independent of where they are or the physical distance that separates them from Christ.

In what ways have you experienced the reality of the Holy Spirit, even though His nature and how He works in our lives is not easy to understand?

[Mimi]

Monday July 14
The Holy Spirit Is a Person

Ellen G. White wrote that "the nature of the Holy Spirit is a mystery. Men cannot explain it, because the Lord has not revealed it to them. . . . Regarding such mysteries, which are too deep for human understanding, silence is golden." -The Acts of the Apostles, p. 52.

Nevertheless, she also affirmed that "the Holy Spirit is a person, for He beareth witness with our spirits that we are the children of God. . . . He must also be a divine person, else He could not search out the secrets which lie hidden in the mind of God." — Ellen G. White, Evangelism, pp. 616, 617. This statement was based on the Bible (Rom. 8:16 and 1 Cor. 2:10-11). So, although we are limited by our human nature, through the Scriptures we can at least know that the Holy Spirit is a Person and that He is Divine. What Jesus said about the Holy Spirit confirms this conclusion.

What are some of the actions of the Holy Spirit that show us He is a Person? See John 14:26, 15:26, 16:7-14.

Jesus mentioned several activities the Spirit carries out, all of which imply a personality. Who better than a person can teach us and bring to our remembrance all the things that Christ said (John 14:26)? Or who better than a personal being can testify of Jesus (John 15:26), convict the world (John 16: 8 ), guide us into all truth, and also hear and speak (John 16:13)?

Following the teachings of Jesus, the New Testament writers made it clear that the Holy Spirit has the essential characteristics of a person: will (1 Cor. 12:11), intelligence (Acts 15:28, Rom. 8:27), and emotions (Rom. 15:30, Eph. 4:30).

Because the Holy Spirit is a divine Person, we must humbly surrender ourselves to His will and guidance. We will invite Him to dwell in our hearts (Rom. 8:9), to transform our lives (Titus 3:5), and to produce the fruit of the Spirit in our characters (Gal. 5:22-23). On our own, we are helpless; only through His power working in us can we become what we have been promised in Jesus.

The Holy Spirit is a gift; like most gifts, it can be rejected. How can you make sure, day by day, that you are not turning away from what the Holy Spirit seeks to do in your life?



Tuesday July 15
The Holy Spirit Is Divine

When Jesus introduced the Holy Spirit to the disciples, He called Him "another" Helper (John 14:16). The Greek word Jesus used for "another" is allos, which means "another of the same kind," in contrast with heteros, "another of different kind or quality." The same likeness of nature that bonds the Father and the Son is revealed in the relationship between the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Jesus said that the Holy Spirit "will tell you things to come" (John 16:13, NKJV). Only a divine Being can announce the future (Isa. 46:9-10).

The divinity of the Holy Spirit is also attested by His role in the inspiration of the Scriptures, a function that Jesus explicitly acknowledged. He argued that "David himself said by the Holy Spirit" (Mark 12:36, NKJV) what is recorded in Psalm 110:1.

While on this earth, Jesus was constantly under the direction of the Holy Spirit. After being anointed by the Spirit in His baptism (Matt. 3:16-17), He was "led by the Spirit into the wilderness" (Luke 4:1, NKJV). Victorious over the tempter, He "returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee" to carry on His ministry (Luke 4:14, NKJV). The miracles He performed were done through the Holy Spirit (Matt. 12:28). The fact that the Son of God depended on the Spirit is another demonstration of the divine character of the Spirit, for it’s hard to imagine the Son of God dependent upon anything less than the Divine.

Further evidence for the deity of the Spirit lies in His association with the Father and the Son in texts that mention the three Persons as equal. Thus, Jesus commissioned the apostles to baptize the new disciples "in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" (Matt. 28:19, NKJV).

How do the following verses help us to understand the divinity of the Holy Spirit? See Matt. 12:31-32. Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.
Mat 12:32  And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.

The comparison between speaking against the Son of Man, a sin that may be forgiven, and speaking against the Holy Spirit, a sin that cannot be forgiven, shows that the Spirit is not a common being. Blasphemy is a sin committed directly against God. Thus, we conclude that the Holy Spirit is one of the three Persons of the Godhead. Though much has been written about the "unforgivable sin," the immediate context shows people so hardened against the Spirit and His role in salvation that they attribute His work to the devil!

[Mimi]

Wednesday July 16
The Work of the Holy Spirit

We have already mentioned the important role of the Holy Spirit in the life of the incarnated Christ and in the inspiration of Scripture. Let us focus now on what Jesus taught about the Spirit’s work for our salvation.

What indispensable work does the Holy Spirit do in order to prepare us to accept the Savior? See John 16: 8. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

Who takes their medicine unless they acknowledge that they are sick? By the same token, we cannot be saved unless we recognize that we are sinners. Softly but steadily the Holy Spirit convinces us that we have sinned, are guilty, and are under the righteous judgment of God.

Then the Spirit guides us to Christ, testifying about Him (John 15:26), the only One who can save us. Since Jesus is the truth (John 14:6), by taking us to Jesus the Spirit is also taking us "into all truth" (John 16:13). It could not be any other way; after all, the Holy Spirit is called "the Spirit of truth" (John 14:17).

Once we are convicted of sin (which implies repentance from our sins) and are directed to Jesus and His truth, we are ready for the Holy Spirit to do His greatest work.

Why is it so crucial to be "born of the Spirit" ? See John 3:5-8. Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
Joh 3:6  That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Joh 3:7  Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
Joh 3:8  The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

Those who have tried to reform their lives by themselves know how futile their efforts are. It is impossible for us, without divine intervention, to transform our deteriorated sinful lives into a new being. The regeneration of a sinner requires the kind of creative power that only the divine Holy Spirit can provide. We are saved "through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit" (Titus 3:5, NKJV). What the Spirit does is not a modification or improvement of the old life but a transformation of nature, the creation of a new life. The results of such a miracle are clearly visible and constitute an irrefutable argument in favor of the gospel.

The operation of the Holy Spirit is not necessary only at the beginning of our Christian life; we need Him constantly. To foster our spiritual growth, He teaches us and reminds us of all the things that Jesus taught (John 14:26). If we allow Him, He abides with us forever as our Helper, Comforter, and Counselor (John 14:16).

Bad character habits are hard to change, are they not? And even when we stop, unless constantly vigilant, we can be overcome by them again, as well. What should our inherent weaknesses and propensities to sin tell us about our constant need to be surrendered to the Holy Spirit?



Thursday July 17
Filled With the Holy Spirit

No doubt, it is important to know who the Holy Spirit is. But this knowledge would be pointless unless it leads us to completely open our lives to be filled with Him. Jesus made it clear that if we fail to invite the presence of the heavenly Guest to abide in us daily, there is another kind of spirit that is eager to enter into the empty life and produce a spiritual disaster (Matt. 12:43-45). Jesus Himself was "filled with the Holy Spirit" (Luke 4:1, NKJV). "Daily He received a fresh baptism of the Holy Spirit." — Ellen G. White, Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 139.

What does [that] tell us about the way we may receive the Holy Spirit? What do these verses show us regarding the Father’s willingness to give us the Holy Spirit?

At the Last Supper, Jesus promised His disciples that He would send the Holy Spirit. He emphasized the Spirit’s comforting and teaching ministry, which was to meet their need at that time. After Christ’s resurrection, however, the context was different, and the disciples faced new challenges.

What was the focus of Jesus’ promise of the Holy Spirit after His resurrection? See Acts 1:4-8. And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.
Act 1:5  For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
Act 1:6  When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
Act 1:7  And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
Act 1:8  But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Acts 1:5 contains the only record of Jesus talking about being "baptized with the Holy Spirit" (NKJV). John the Baptist had announced this special baptism (Matt. 3:11, John 1:33), but it had to wait until Christ’s ascension. What does baptism with the Spirit mean?

In Acts 1:8, Jesus Himself explained this with a parallel expression. You are "baptized with the Holy Spirit" (Acts 1:5, NKJV) "when the Holy Spirit has come upon you" (Acts 1:8, NKJV). To be baptized is to be totally immersed in something, usually water. It includes the whole person. Baptism with the Holy Spirit means to be totally under the influence of the Spirit, completely "filled with the Spirit" (Eph. 5:18, NKJV). This is not a "once and forever" experience, but is something that needs to be constantly renewed.

If someone asked you, Have you ever been "filled with the Spirit," what would you answer, and why?

[Mimi]

Friday July 18

Further Study: Ellen G. White, "The Power Promised," pp. 19-23, in Testimonies for the Church, vol. 8; "The Gift of the Spirit," pp. 47-56, in The Acts of the Apostles.

"At all times and in all places, in all sorrows and in all afflictions, when the outlook seems dark and the future perplexing, and we feel helpless and alone, the Comforter will be sent in answer to the prayer of faith. Circumstances may separate us from every earthly friend; but no circumstance, no distance, can separate us from the heavenly Comforter. Wherever we are, wherever we may go, He is always at our right hand to support, sustain, uphold, and cheer." — Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, pp. 669, 670.

"The Holy Spirit was the highest of all gifts that He [Jesus] could solicit from His Father for the exaltation of His people. The Spirit was to be given as a regenerating agent, and without this the sacrifice of Christ would have been of no avail. The power of evil had been strengthening for centuries, and the submission of men to this satanic captivity was amazing. Sin could be resisted and overcome only through the mighty agency of the Third Person of the Godhead, who would come with no modified energy, but in the fullness of divine power. It is the Spirit that makes effectual what has been wrought out by the world’s Redeemer." -Page 671.

Discussion Questions:

    Given the human tendency to self-exaltation, what lessons does the humble and subordinate operation of the Holy Spirit teach us?

    In dialogue with Nicodemus, Jesus compared the Spirit to the wind. What spiritual lessons may we learn from that comparison?

    Some people claim that the evidence of being "filled with the Spirit" is to be able to speak in what is commonly referred to as "tongues." How should we respond to this claim?

    We tend to think of the work of the Holy Spirit on an individual, one-to-one basis, which is, of course, correct. At the same time, how can we, as a corporate body, experience the reality of His presence in our church as a whole?

[Al]

John 14:16-18; And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
Joh 14:17  Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
Joh 14:18  I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

Many have been confused by these words of Christ, as it seems to denote that the Comforter was not working during the ministry of Christ or even before. The Holy Spirit has always been at work in the hearts of men but now He takes on a more noticeable role because Christ must leave his followers to be with His Father.

"Before this the Spirit had been in the world; from the very beginning of the work of redemption He had been moving upon men's hearts. But while Christ was on earth, the disciples had desired no other helper. Not until they were deprived of His presence would they feel their need of the Spirit, and then He would come."  {DA 669.1}

What would we do without  the work of the Comforter? In John 14:6 "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." The Comforter is called the "Spirit of truth" and in Psalms 119:151 "Thou art near, O LORD; and all thy commandments are truth."  The heavenly trio is working to bring us back into harmony with God and His law. John 16:13 "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. 

When the Holy Spirit speaks through a person they will echo the words of God and speak of Christ but those who are false teachers will speak of themselves and they will draw people way from beholding Christ. It is easy to get side tracked from being sanctified by the truth by  a discussion of different theories which lead away from the divine source.

I like the definition given for "comforter" in the old 1828 Webster Dictionary
 
"One who administers comfort or consolation; one who strengthens and supports the mind in distress or danger."

The author gives us other definitions such as "helper, and advisor, or even a legal advocate." How do we see the Comforter in these roles in our lives?

 I see the work of the Holy Spirit as the one who brings light into the darkness. "It is the Holy Spirit that convicts of sin. If the sinner responds to the quickening influence of the Spirit, he will be brought to repentance and aroused to the importance of obeying the divine requirements."  {AA 52.2} 

"The Spirit is given as a regenerating agency, to make effectual the salvation wrought by the death of our Redeemer. The Spirit is constantly seeking to draw the attention of men to the great offering that was made on the cross of Calvary, to unfold to the world the love of God, and to open to the convicted soul the precious things of the Scriptures."  {AA 52.4} 

[Al]

The Holy Spirit Is a Person

I was very glad to see this topic in the lesson. I remember sometime back we had a pastor who stated he did not believe the Holy Spirit was a person. He explained that the Spirit was a part of God's personality and gave us the example of a person having a "happy spirit". Therefore, God has a Holy Spirit and yes, this does sound a little mystical as it indeed is. Why it is important to understand the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Godhead?

We attended another church in Montana in the 80's in which the new pastor who came from Walla Walla collage made it very clear that he did not believe the Holy Spirit was a person. I was very surprised when he then told me that everyone Walla Walla believed as he did. This was some years back and this must have been a teaching that was sweeping through the collage at the time I am not sure about all the details but only sharing what he told us. Another leader and I set down with this pastor and read to him from Evanglism page 615 "The Comforter that Christ promised to send after He ascended to heaven, is the Spirit in all the fullness of the Godhead, making manifest the power of divine grace to all who receive and believe in Christ as a personal Saviour. There are three living persons of the heavenly trio; in the name of these three great powers --the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit--those who receive Christ by living faith are baptized, and these powers will co-operate with the obedient subjects of heaven in their efforts to live the new life in Christ.--)  {Ev 615.1}

 What does Satan gain in trying to make the Holy Spirit an essence or by taking away His identity as being the third person of the Godhead?

1Co 2:10  But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
1Co 2:11  For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.

What is this all about and what does it have to do with the personality and work of the Holy Spirit? First we find that Spirit has the ability to "search" and what does He search the "deep things of God". The word "searcheth" is not the same as when we use our Bible search program on our computers. It means to search accurately as to have a thorough knowledge of. David gives us this meaning in Psalms 139:1 "O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me."  The Holy Spirit has a thorough knowledge of God there is a personal communion between the Spirit and the Father. They are one in purpose working for the salvation of humanity.

"The Holy Spirit has a personality, else He could not bear witness to our spirits and with our spirits that we are the children of God. He must also be a divine person, else He could not search out the secrets which lie hidden in the mind of God. "For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God."--Manuscript 20, 1906.

This important to know how dependent we are on the work of the Holy Spirit in leading us to all truth. Eph 2:8-9 "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."

These following scriptures help us to understand the Holy Spirit's work.

 John 14:26 in the New International Translation  "But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you."
 
John 14:26 in the KJV "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you."

The word Advocate is used in the place of Comforter in the NIV which is correct as the original Greek "Comforter" is defined as "intercessor, consoler: advocate"  In what way does the Holy Spirit act as our intercessor? 

I wonder if the word "he" is important to the context as it is left out of the NIV.  "He" (Greek ekeinos, "that one" or He masculine gender) is left out of many translations.

The word "He" is used in "John 14:16-17 "And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;  Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

The Holy Spirit is referred to as "He and Him" and has the ability to teach and as we found He teaches us the deep things of God. These are clues helping us to see that the Holy Spirit has a personality the third person of the Godhead who has the same love as the Father and the Son for our salvation. All heaven is at work to save humanity the only object that can stand in the way is our resistance.

The author on Monday's lesson states that the Holy Spirit can be rejected. I found this text when studying the lesson this week. Isaiah 63:10  "But they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them."

"And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption." Ephesians 4:30 

In Isaiah they vexed the Holy Spirit by rebellion  which is to  "make bitter" or "resist; causatively to provoke" What is a good example of provoking the Spirit of God? In reading Ephesians 4:30  along with verse 31 it says  "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:" 

The remedy - all evil in our heart is to be put away and the longer a person stands against what is right the more they will harden their heart against the pleadings of God.

 But after putting away these evils there is another step that needs to take place  as given in the next verse "And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." Ephesians 4:32  When the Holy Spirit is working in a person's life it will be demonstrated by the fruits they bear.  "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." Galatians 5:22-23 

Lesson: "How can you make sure, day by day, that you are not turning away from what the Holy Spirit seeks to do in your life?"

[Richard Myers]

Amen, Al. We ought not have to explain this, but sadly the error did not stop at Walla Walla many years ago. It has spread throughout the church. It is always amazing when such pointed statements are rejected.

[Al]

Amen, Al. We ought not have to explain this, but sadly the error did not stop at Walla Walla many years ago. It has spread throughout the church. It is always amazing when such pointed statements are rejected.

Richard, I was not aware of how wide spread this teaching was. The pastor we read the statement to from Evangelism did change his viewpoint. Thank God for honest souls. And it never hurts for us to over these topics again.

Just a few years back I had spent some time studying with a anti Trinitarian sorry to say he was very focused on trying to prove he was right that he had forgotten about growing in grace. Satan does not care which road he takes us down just as long as he keeps us from giving glory to God.

[Al]

The Holy Spirit Divine - Tuesday

When Jesus introduced the Holy Spirit to the disciples, He called Him another Helper (John 14:16). The Greek word Jesus used for another is allos, which means another of the same kind, in contrast with heteros, another of different kind or quality. The same likeness of nature that bonds the Father and the Son is revealed in the relationship between the Son and the Holy Spirit.

John 14:16 "And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;"  This  is very important as Christ is referring to Himself as a comforter by  using the word "another" Comforter or "one of the same kind." Christ was saying this will be the same kind of being, with the same kind of disposition with the same kind of outlook and purpose that He has.
 
"Christ determined that when He ascended from this earth He would bestow a gift on those who had believed on Him and those who should believe on Him. What gift could He bestow rich enough to signalize and grace His ascension to the mediatorial throne? It must be worthy of His greatness and His royalty. He determined to give His representative, the third person of the Godhead. This gift could not be excelled. He would give all gifts in one, and therefore the divine Spirit, that converting, enlightening, and sanctifying power, would be His donation. . . . It came with a fullness and power, as if for ages it had been restrained, but was now being poured forth upon the church. . . . " {ML 36.3}
 
Christ had tender regard for his disciples and he did not want to leave them without hope before he ascended to his Father. What a wonderful promise that God has not left us alone but we have the promise of the comforter, advocate, helper and intercessor to guide us in our journey homeward.

The Holy Spirit has the power to tell the future.

"Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come." John 16:13 

Here is another case in which the Holy Spirit for told the future. In Acts 1:16 Peter says that it was the Holy Ghost who spoke to David when he wrote about the Judas betraying Christ. This is recorded in Psalms 41:9 "Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me."  When reading this I could not help but hear the enduring terms used referring to Judas. Christ loved him and washed his feet at the last supper trying to soften his heart.

Another scripture that follows this same thought about the Holy Spirit knowing the future is 1 Peter 1:11 in reading verse 10 this is speaking of the prophets "Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow." "For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." 1 Peter 1:21 All the prophecies and divine inspiration were given by the Holy Spirit.

Another point that is important to me when we talk about the Holy Spirit is how He works in harmony Christ and the Father. Christ when he was on earth he did not work independently. Jesus said " I do nothing of myself ; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things." John 8:28 and again  "Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works." John 14:10 Speaking of the Comforter it is stated "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." John 14:26 the comforter reminds us of the things which Christ taught and all the things Christ taught were of God.


"The Spirit works in us by bringing to mind, vividly and often, the precious truths of the plan of redemption. We should forget these truths, and for us God's rich promises would lose their efficiency, were it not for the Spirit, who takes of the things of God, and shows them to us. . . . The Spirit illumines our darkness, informs our ignorance, and helps us in our manifold necessities. But the mind must be constantly going out after God. If worldliness is allowed to come in, if we have no desire to pray, no desire to commune with Him who is the source of strength and wisdom, the Spirit will not abide with us." {OHC 154.4} 

In the book of Acts there is evidence of the divinity of the Holy Spirit. Remember Peter told Ananias that he had lied to the Holy Spirit see (Acts 5:3) then later Peter said "Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God." Acts 5:4 Lying unto the Holy Spirit is equated as lying to God. 

It was mentioned in the lesson that Christ was dependent on the Spirit and was under the Spirits direction and guidance.  "And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness," Luke 4:1 As the lesson stated this is very hard to comprehend to think that God took on our flesh and as a man was dependent upon the Spirit to lead and guide him. What an amazing sacrifice God made in giving his Son for us.

[colporteur]

 When people try to strain at the Holy Spirit it reveals some kind of problem. I have a friend who has been very zealous about things. I have no problem with that.  However, he got tangled up in determining the Holy Spirit's make up, which led to him thinking the HS was not a person which led to a skewed view of Christ which led him out of the church. Thankfully he is back but there still appears to be some confusion.

There is a great deal we do not know about the HS and will not know in this life. The Holy Spirit is a person. To define the person of the HS leaves us at a loss in many ways and to try to do so can lead down dangerous paths. There is much we do not know about God and are unable to comprehend such as ....what does it mean for Jesus to be the Son of God? He was not born or created yet He came from the Father. There are dimensions of  the Godhead we are not aware of.

[Richard Myers]

Yes, cp, that is right to the point. There are things revealed and things not revealed. We have been given what we need to know, yet some want to go beyond what we have been given. I thank God for the light we have been given to keep us from going down that road that leads beyond what has been given. The issue of the godhead has important aspects, but sadly it has been made a distraction to keep us away from the simplicity of the gospel. Many want to find something new when they have not understood the foundation of our faith.

From today's lesson "the nature of the Holy Spirit is a mystery. Men cannot explain it, because the Lord has not revealed it to them. . . . Regarding such mysteries, which are too deep for human understanding, silence is golden."

This week's lesson is very important. There are two very important lessons to learn about the Holy Spirit. As Al pointed out, and we will study on Thursday, Jesus tells us we must be born of the Spirit. It is the evidence of conversion. His fruits are seen in the life, not one is missing. And He is the teacher, His office is to open to us the truth.

When Jesus came to this earth, His own knew Him not and put Him on the cross. Today, the same happens to the Holy Spirit. By ignoring and or rejecting Him, we do the same to God as the Jews did to Christ. We always pray for the Spirit before we begin to study for two reasons. He guides our mind as to what to say and He opens the minds of those listening to know the truth. Without the Spirit, there would be no hope of understanding spiritual matters.

[Mimi]

The Holy Spirit Divine - Tuesday


"The Spirit works in us by bringing to mind, vividly and often, the precious truths of the plan of redemption. We should forget these truths, and for us God's rich promises would lose their efficiency, were it not for the Spirit, who takes of the things of God, and shows them to us. . . . The Spirit illumines our darkness, informs our ignorance, and helps us in our manifold necessities. But the mind must be constantly going out after God. If worldliness is allowed to come in, if we have no desire to pray, no desire to commune with Him who is the source of strength and wisdom, the Spirit will not abide with us." {OHC 154.4} 

Al, I particularly appreciate your comments on this lesson. And specifically the quote from Our High Calling. Amen and amen.

[Mimi]

When Jesus came to this earth, His own knew Him not and put Him on the cross. Today, the same happens to the Holy Spirit. By ignoring and or rejecting Him, we do the same to God as the Jews did to Christ. We always pray for the Spirit before we begin to study for two reasons. He guides our mind as to what to say and He opens the minds of those listening to know the truth. Without the Spirit, there would be no hope of understanding spiritual matters.

Amen.

[Al]

The Work of the Holy Spirit - Wednesday

Enough cannot be said about the work of the Holy Spirit. We have found the Comforter is our guide, teacher, and helper.  In Genesis 6:3 the Spirit is found striving with man. This striving has to do with pleading, loving and trying to soften the hard hearts of man. Very few listened and responded to this love and they lost their lives in the flood. God works in us the will and to do of his good pleasure through His Spirit and it is for us to respond to or reject this loving call.

 John 16:8  "And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:"  Without conviction of sin we would never realize our need and would never turn our hearts to God. But the Spirit does not stop in bringing conviction of sin is holds up before us the righteousness of God. The Holy Spirit creates in us a desire for holiness and puts love in our hearts to serve God with new purpose and motive.

The publican who smote on his chest and cried out "God be merciful to me a sinner" did not get this way without the Spirit of God working on his heart. Man of himself cannot produce true repentance. "Repentance is as much the gift of Christ as is forgiveness, and it cannot be found in the heart where Jesus has not been at work. We can no more repent without the Spirit of Christ to awaken the conscience than we can be pardoned without Christ. Christ draws the sinner by the exhibition of His love upon the cross, and this softens the heart, impresses the mind, and inspires contrition and repentance in the soul." (RH April 1, 1890).

When you are reading your Bible in the morning or during evening worship and your heart is touched and you are drawn nearer to God, this is the work of the Holy Spirit. The goodness of God is revealed to us through the softening agency of the Spirit of God.

When John the Baptist was preaching he spoke of the Holy Spirit. "John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but there cometh he that is mightier than I, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you in the Holy Spirit and in fire:"

The Holy Spirit and Fire appear to go together. Fire does many things it illuminates, warms, and cleanses. How does Fire represent the work of the Holy Spirit?

"The most powerful preaching of the Word will avail nothing unless the Spirit teaches and enlightens those who hear. Unless the Spirit works with and through the human agent, souls will not be saved or characters transformed by the reading of the Scriptures. The planning and devising that is done in connection with the work should not be of a character to draw attention to self. The Word is a power, a sword in the hand of the human agent. But the Holy Spirit is its efficiency, its vital power in impressing the mind." {YRP 178.3} 

The closing question on Wednesday asks "Why is it so crucial to be "born of the Spirit"?

In Christ's conversation with Nicodemus he talked about the wind "The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh and whither it goeth. So is every one that is born of the Spirit."  How are we to understand this?

When reading Ephesians 2 Paul speaks of those who are dead in trespasses and sins who walk in the course of this world. They live for the flesh and do the desires of the flesh and by nature are children of wrath read verses 1-3. The topic changes direction in verse 4 but God, being rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace have ye been saved)." Ephesians 2:4-5 Being "born again" and "made alive" are one and the same thing. When a person who is living like the world responds to the drawing power of the Holy Spirit, they will see this great love of God. Love awakens love and as the sinners continues to come to Christ they will be brought to see their great need just like the publican.

"The leaven hidden in the flour works invisibly to bring the whole mass under its leavening process; so the leaven of truth works secretly, silently, steadily, to transform the soul. The natural inclinations are softened and subdued. New thoughts, new feelings, new motives, are implanted.
A new standard of character is set up--the life of Christ. The mind is changed; the faculties are roused to action in new lines. Man is not endowed with new faculties, but the faculties he has are sanctified. The conscience is awakened. We are endowed with traits of character that enable us to do service for God."  {COL 98.3}   

"Often the question arises, Why, then, are there so many, claiming to believe God's word, in whom there is not seen a reformation in words, in spirit, and in character? Why are there so many who cannot bear opposition to their purposes and plans, who manifest an unholy temper, and whose words are harsh, overbearing, and passionate? There is seen in their lives the same love of self, the same selfish indulgence, the same temper and hasty speech, that is seen in the life of the worldling. There is the same sensitive pride, the same yielding to natural inclination, the same perversity of character, as if the truth were wholly unknown to them. The reason is that they are not converted. They have not hidden the leaven of truth in the heart. It has not had opportunity to do its work. Their natural and cultivated tendencies to evil have not been submitted to its transforming power. Their lives reveal the absence of the grace of Christ, an unbelief in His power to transform the character.  {COL 99.1} 

What are your thoughts to the question "Why is it so crucial to be "born of the Spirit"?

[Al]

When people try to strain at the Holy Spirit it reveals some kind of problem. I have a friend who has been very zealous about things. I have no problem with that.  However, he got tangled up in determining the Holy Spirit's make up, which led to him thinking the HS was not a person which led to a skewed view of Christ which led him out of the church. Thankfully he is back but there still appears to be some confusion.

There is a great deal we do not know about the HS and will not know in this life. The Holy Spirit is a person. To define the person of the HS leaves us at a loss in many ways and to try to do so can lead down dangerous paths. There is much we do not know about God and are unable to comprehend such as ....what does it mean for Jesus to be the Son of God? He was not born or created yet He came from the Father. There are dimensions of  the Godhead we are not aware of.

Colporteur,

I am curious as to how this man's view on the Holy Spirit skewed his view of Christ? I don't know how long ago this happened but I was trying to figure out how the one affects the other. I think you are correct in that we need to be careful as not to go beyond what is revealed in the Word of God. It does not take much to enter the twilight zone.

[Richard Myers]

Amen, Al. I especially think your comments on repentance are important. That brings up a question about today's lesson. I am confused about what was meant. Let's take a look at it.

Wednesday July 16
The Work of the Holy Spirit

We have already mentioned the important role of the Holy Spirit in the life of the incarnated Christ and in the inspiration of Scripture. Let us focus now on what Jesus taught about the Spirit’s work for our salvation.

What indispensable work does the Holy Spirit do in order to prepare us to accept the Savior? See John 16: 8. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

Who takes their medicine unless they acknowledge that they are sick? By the same token, we cannot be saved unless we recognize that we are sinners. Softly but steadily the Holy Spirit convinces us that we have sinned, are guilty, and are under the righteous judgment of God.

Amen! This is the work of the "school-master", the law of God. It brings conviction of sin. It is the Holy Spirit that reveals this, that the wages of sin is death, and we have sinned. All have sinned.

Then the Spirit guides us to Christ, testifying about Him (John 15:26), the only One who can save us. Since Jesus is the truth (John 14:6), by taking us to Jesus the Spirit is also taking us "into all truth" (John 16:13). It could not be any other way; after all, the Holy Spirit is called "the Spirit of truth" (John 14:17).

Once we are convicted of sin (which implies repentance from our sins) and are directed to Jesus and His truth, we are ready for the Holy Spirit to do His greatest work.

Here I disagree with the lesson. Maybe I misunderstand what is being said. Please correct me if I misunderstand what is being said. "Once we are convicted of sin (which implies repentance from our sins)..."  Conviction of sin is not repentance. Understanding we are guilty does not mean we are repentant. The law brings conviction, Christ brings repentance. Once the sinner sees he is sick, there is no guarantee that he will be healed. He must yield up his own will and turn to Christ for help. It is not the law that saves, but grace. Once Saul saw he was guilty of having broken the law, he was convicted, but was not repentant. His heart was not changed yet. Romans seven describes a convicted man, but one who does not know Christ. "I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?" Romans 7:23,24.

Why is it so crucial to be "born of the Spirit" ? See John 3:5-8. Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

Those who have tried to reform their lives by themselves know how futile their efforts are. It is impossible for us, without divine intervention, to transform our deteriorated sinful lives into a new being. The regeneration of a sinner requires the kind of creative power that only the divine Holy Spirit can provide. We are saved "by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost" (Titus 3:5). What the Spirit does is not a modification or improvement of the old life but a transformation of nature, the creation of a new life. The results of such a miracle are clearly visible and constitute an irrefutable argument in favor of the gospel.

Amen!!  It is a joy to see this truth presented in our Sabbath School lesson! It is the greatest miracle that God can perform. It takes our cooperation. We must come to Jesus just as we are. We must learn of Him. We must drink His blood and eat His flesh. This is conversion.

The operation of the Holy Spirit is not necessary only at the beginning of our Christian life; we need Him constantly. To foster our spiritual growth, He teaches us and reminds us of all the things that Jesus taught (John 14:26). If we allow Him, He abides with us forever as our Helper, Comforter, and Counselor (John 14:16).

Amen!! Again, it is a joy to see this presented in a Seventh-day Adventist Sabbath School lesson!! "We need Him constantly." It is through the Spirit that Christ abides in our hearts. Unless we have His Spirit, we are none of His (Romans 8:9).

Bad character habits are hard to change, are they not? And even when we stop, unless constantly vigilant, we can be overcome by them again, as well. What should our inherent weaknesses and propensities to sin tell us about our constant need to be surrendered to the Holy Spirit?

Just what Jesus said to Nicodemus. "That which is born of the Spirit is Spirit, that which is born of the flesh is flesh." We must be born again......daily. It is a moment by moment experience!

[Richard Myers]

Thursday July 17
Filled With the Holy Spirit

No doubt, it is important to know who the Holy Spirit is. But this knowledge would be pointless unless it leads us to completely open our lives to be filled with Him. Jesus made it clear that if we fail to invite the presence of the heavenly Guest to abide in us daily, there is another kind of spirit that is eager to enter into the empty life and produce a spiritual disaster (Matt. 12:43-45). Jesus Himself was "full of the Holy Ghost" (Luke 4:1). "Daily He received a fresh baptism of the Holy Spirit." — Ellen G. White, Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 139.

What does that tell us about the way we may receive the Holy Spirit?

If it was as easy as just inviting the Spirit to come, then why are so many not converted, especially those who want to be? We need to know how it is that we can receive the Spirit of God. Jesus provides the very best answer when talking with Nicodemus. He told Nicodemus he was not converted, "justified". Jesus would not leave Nicodemus without knowledge of how to be "born again". What did He say to Nicodemus that will help us know how to be converted, born again, filled with the Spirit?

What do these verses show us regarding the Father’s willingness to give us the Holy Spirit?

"If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?  Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?  If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?" Luke 11:11-13.

At the Last Supper, Jesus promised His disciples that He would send the Holy Spirit. He emphasized the Spirit’s comforting and teaching ministry, which was to meet their need at that time. After Christ’s resurrection, however, the context was different, and the disciples faced new challenges.

What was the focus of Jesus’ promise of the Holy Spirit after His resurrection? See Acts 1:4-8. "And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?  And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."

Acts 1:5 contains the only record of Jesus talking about being "baptized with the Holy Ghost." John the Baptist had announced this special baptism (Matt. 3:11, John 1:33), but it had to wait until Christ’s ascension. What does baptism with the Spirit mean?

In Acts 1:8, Jesus Himself explained this with a parallel expression. You are "baptized with the Holy Ghost" (Acts 1:5) "after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you" (Acts 1:8 ). To be baptized is to be totally immersed in something, usually water. It includes the whole person. Baptism with the Holy Spirit means to be totally under the influence of the Spirit, completely "filled with the Spirit" (Eph. 5:18). This is not a "once and forever" experience, but is something that needs to be constantly renewed.

Amen!  The author of the lesson is pointing us to the "conversion" experience. It must happen daily. "I die daily." 1 Cor. 15:31. We must surrender each day to Christ and then the Spirit will be given possession of the heart and mind. Compare what has been said in Thursday's lesson with what Jesus said to Nicodemus about conversion, the new birth. "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again." John 3:5-7.

We do not believe in "once saved always saved," but many speak as if they do. They think that if they were once converted, they are still converted when they sin a known sin. Sin reveals a separation between God and man. We do not sin when the Spirit has possession of the heart. "Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God." 1 John 3:4-9.
When answering the following question, think about the Laodicean condition. Can a Laodicean be filled with the Spirit of God?

If someone asked you, Have you ever been "filled with the Spirit," what would you answer, and why?

[Mimi]

Once we are convicted of sin (which implies repentance from our sins) and are directed to Jesus and His truth, we are ready for the Holy Spirit to do His greatest work.

Here I disagree with the lesson. Maybe I misunderstand what is being said. Please correct me if I misunderstand what is being said. "Once we are convicted of sin (which implies repentance from our sins)..."  Conviction of sin is not repentance. Understanding we are guilty does not mean we are repentant. The law brings conviction, Christ brings repentance. Once the sinner sees he is sick, there is no guarantee that he will be healed. He must yield up his own will and turn to Christ for help. It is not the law that saves, but grace. Once Saul saw he was guilty of having broken the law, he was convicted, but was not repentant. His heart was not changed yet. Romans seven describes a convicted man, but one who does not know Christ. "I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?" Romans 7:23,24.

It seems to be the way he wrote it, implying one would go to the next step and repent. He is right on with everything else, so that seems to be the situation. 

[Richard Myers]

Thank you, Mimi.  It is hard to understand. Do agree that conviction of sin does not imply true repentance?

[Mimi]

Many are convicted living guilt-ridden lives because they refuse to repent. We can be convicted all day long and in rebellion against the promptings of the Holy Spirit lose the gift of eternal life. I get your point.

True repentance is a deliberate "next step" after being convicted of sin in one's life. It reveals the deep longing in the heart to be cleansed of it and to be accepted by the Father.     

It seems to me the author is placing in the best light, and most logical act resulting in conviction - repentance- without actually spelling it out. For us who know it is the next step, sometimes we take that for granted and that is most likely what you are seeing in the author's statement. For a person who wants Jesus but does not know what to do or how to go to Him, he would need to know that after conviction comes repentance.