We begin to get the idea that this is an important concept. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is present, there is freedom. Jesus can now speak freely and frankly, preparing His disciples for what lies ahead. They have only told Him that they understand, and because of this, they wont need to question Him further. We will not be those through whom the gospel was defined and by whom the New Testament Scriptures were written. Apparently he thought Jesus would physically manifest Himself and the Father. 30 Even from among your own group men will arise, teaching perversions of the truth to draw the disciples away after them. The apostle Paul said that Christ in us is the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27), and Christ promised His Spirit would reside in us (John 14:17). They will enjoy a fullness of understanding which will swallow up their present confusion in joyful comprehension. D. A. Carson, The Farewell Discourse and Final Prayer of Jesus: An Exposition of John 14-17 (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1980), p. 162. Other philosophies and the religions of the day were little better. Since the UK is now no longer a member of the EU, you may be charged an import tax on this item by the customs authorities in your country of residence, which is beyond our control. John 14:21 says, "He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him." Throughout the Old Testament He is referred to as the Spirit of the Lord or Spirit of God. I confess, we turned on the air conditioning and lit a fire in the fireplace, just to try it out.) When you receive Jesus Christ for salvation, you receive the Holy Spirit also. 29 I know that after I am gone fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. In the Old Testament, we see different aspects of the work of the Holy Spirit. 2023 Grace to You. The more you saturate your mind with what you learn about Him from the Bible, the more He controls your thoughts. Bob is a pastor/teacher and elder at Community Bible Chapel in Richardson, Texas, and has contributed many of his Bible study series for use by the Foundation. It is unfortunate that the translators of the King James Version used the term Ghost instead of Spirit. However, He does not allow their pretense to stand, unchallenged. Bob was born and raised in a Christian home i More, 9. Far from it, their lot was often a very hard one indeed. And so He says to them (loosely paraphrased): I know you really dont understand, and the level of your present belief is far from impressive. The possession of the Holy Spirit by the believer was not permanent in every case. 3, p. 554. 76 Leon Morris, Reflections on the Gospel of John (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1988), vol. WebThe work of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament differed somewhat from His work in the New Testament. Our joy is in the Lord, in His salvation, and His working in the lives of others (Acts 15:3; Romans 15:13; 1 Thessalonians 2:19-20; 1 John 1:4; 3 John 4). When they petition the Father in the name of the Son, they will not merely receive the answer to their prayers through the Son. My wife and I, like many of you, have faced important decisions and major crossroads throughout our life together. The Holy Spirit resides within every person who believes in Jesus Christ as God and Savior, the Bible way ( Jn. In the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit was given selectively and temporarily to indwell certainly individuals for special ministries. They fall into the category of things that have been accomplished on our behalf without effort on our part. The Spirit came and dwelt within the disciples, teaching them all about Christ, as John 14:26 says He would. He teaches us by convicting us of sin, affirming truth in our hearts, and opening our understanding to the depth of God's revealed truth. They need only to teach, and not to be taught. We need only to trust in Him who is in control of the past, the present, and the future. Quite clearly Jesus means his followers to take prayer with much greater seriousness than we often do. Leon Morris, Reflections on the Gospel of John (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1988), vol. WebThe Holy Spirit's ministry in the Old Testament differs from his ministry in the New Testament not so much in kind as in degree. The Cross And Unjust Suffering (1 Peter 2:19-25), 5. 81 The verb for ask in this text means ask for something rather than ask a question: the thought has moved on from 16:23a. As we prayed and asked God for guidance, he has faithfully led us through the power and ministry of the Holy Spirit. To convict is to reprove, or to show someones error. This passage teaches us that those things which are most perplexing, and even most distressing, are often the things which God transforms into His richest blessings. They will, however, be constantly asking Him to provide for their every need. Is this what prompts the questions to flit around the group? An unbeliever cannot get saved unless they are first convicted by the Holy Spirit. He promises to reveal truth to them through the Spirit. Why do the Scriptures contain many prophecies which we do not understand at the time? He has already promised this, but here He indicates a substantial change. 8 Be careful not to allow anyone to captivate you through an empty, deceitful philosophy that is according to human traditions and the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. with His presence and power. The Greek word translated "another" may provide a helpful clue in understanding Jesus' meaning in John 14. Therefore, let us heed the Lords words in our text, knowing that they are as important to us as they were to those men, so many years ago. They want His approval, and at the same time, they want Him to think they understand everything He is saying so that He wont be frustrated by their confusion. This will be even further basis for praising Him. 31 Therefore be alert, remembering that night and day for three years I did not stop warning each one of you with tears. Much of what our Lord has said of His return is unclear to us, just as much of what He said to them of His departure was unclear. In that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. This will turn their sorrow into everlasting joy, a joy that no one will ever be able take away from them. The Holy Spirit would, in fact, work miraculously within the apostles to produce the inspired writings of the New Testamentbrand new revelation providing instruction for this new church age. Lest we suppose we are dealing only with matters of history, let me remind you that in many ways, our circumstances today are very similar to those of the disciples so many years ago. No wonder Paul is so emphatic about the sufficiency and centrality of Christ: 1 For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you, and for those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not met me face to face. Jesus says that the Holy Spirit will convict the world in three areas, Sin, Righteousness and Judgment. 4 I say this so that no one will deceive you through arguments that sound reasonable. 11 For if what was fading away came with glory, how much more has what remains come in glory. They were confused and greatly distraught by Jesus words. They might have been feeling invincible. The most brilliant scholars and students of Scripture that I know are still the best students, ever seeking to understand His Word better, and willing to listen to the insights of other students of Scripture. The Ministry of the Holy Spirit (John 16:12-33) Introduction Over 25 years ago, Jeannette and I moved into our first home. Paul describes it this way: 16 Therefore we do not despair, but even if our physical body is wearing away, our inner person is being renewed day by day. I confess, we turned on the air conditioning and lit a fire in the fireplace, just to try it out.) from) our Lord; it is the teaching concerning our Lord. Through Him we are "heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ" (Romans 8:17). Through the power of the Holy Spirit, believers are saved, filled, sealed, and sanctified. Jeannette and I now looked upon that discussion and our delay in an entirely different light. We can understand what completely confused the disciples. I would suggest it may be because we are looking for joy in all the wrong places. But beyond that, He promised, "I will come to you." The Cross And Separation From The World (1 Peter 4:1-6), 7. The disciples were concerned because Jesus was going away, where they could not follow. 20 Above all, you do well if you recognize this: no prophecy of scripture ever comes about by the prophets own imagination, 21 for no prophecy was ever borne of human impulse; rather, men carried along by the Holy Spirit spoke from God (2 Peter 1:16-21). Unless otherwise identified, all Scripture quotations are from the New American Standard Bible, 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1973, 1975, 1977, and 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, and are used by permission. Through the ministry of the Holy Spirit, our Lord will continue to dwell among them, in a more intimate and permanent way. (2) The picture of the disciples weeping and mourning while the world rejoices (16:20) fits only the period during which Jesus is in the grave. Every Christian is packed with powerthe Holy Spirit. 7:38-39 ). We must always, daily, come back to the cross. Now, however, in anticipation of that completed work, they are invited to ask the Father for thingsto ask in Jesus name. Carson, The Farewell Discourse and Final Prayer of Jesus: An Exposition of John 14-17, pp. 5:3; Col. 1:24; etc.). Jesus will have an intercessory ministry on our behalf, but His work on the cross will bring about a personal, intimate relationship between the Father and all who trust in His Son. 23 At that time you will ask79 me nothing. In context, Jesus is speaking to His eleven disciples, but the scope of His promises is broader than that. The disciples had no idea what was about to happen. First, the Holy Spirit does many things in the lives of believers. Have you trusted in Jesus Christ as the Holy One of God, who died on the cross of Calvary for your sins? We are the benefactors of much that Jesus has foretold here, and which has subsequently come to pass. When the academic minds of Jesus' day came to their conclusion about who He was, their pronouncement was that He was from the devil (Matthew 12:24). In Gift and Giver, leading New Testament scholar Craig Keener takes a probing look at the various evangelical understandings of the role of the Holy Spirit in the church. But it is not merely the teaching of (i.e. His next words beautifully culminate the message of comfort: "that He may be with you forever" (John 14:16). To convict is to reprove, or to show someones error. To what period of time was Jesus referring by the expression, a little while? After our Lords resurrection and the coming of the Holy Spirit, the disciples will no longer need to question our Lord about the meaning of His words and the events which are taking place. The Holy Spirit ministers through spiritual gifts, ministries and operations (workings). That could be His way of saying, "I am sending you One of exactly the same essence as Me." Those who would turn us from the cross of Christ are false teachers, who should be avoided (see 1 Corinthians 1; Colossians 1 & 2). We are one with God and Christ. The house was exactly what we had hoped for. Why is it, then, that we find so many joyless Christians? The Greek text suggests a permanent, uninterrupted residencesomething that never happened in Old Testament times. Ask and you will receive it, so that your joy may be complete. 83 Some dispute the interpretation that Jesus is speaking of the disciples sorrow and their joy as being related to our Lords imminent death and resurrection. Here at Grace to You Europe we take our data protection responsibilities very seriously and, as you would expect, have undertaken a significant programme of work to ensure that we are ready for this important legislative change. 22 So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you. The house was exactly what we had hoped for. Please contact the publisher to obtain copies of this resource. This is the office of the Holy Spirit as Judge. Jesus has much more to say to them, but this is not the time to do so. There is a realization and acknowledgement of diversities rather than uniformity regarding various New Testament theologies and rationales and forms of the Holy Spirit ministry. Those who know it all do not need to learn any more, they think. Thaddaeus might not have been satisfied with that answer; it sounds exactly like verse 21, which sounds exactly like verse 15. Jesus answered, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him" (v. 23). (It even had a fireplace. Christians should therefore seek to be filled with the Spirit on a continual basis. That's why sin is so out of place in the believer's life. 73 Are Jesus and his eleven disciples still making their way along narrow streets and paths toward the Kidron Valley? They have not repeated any of the content of Jesus latest words. You see, while we had been planning a gathering for our friends, these same friends had been planning a celebration for us. She would catch my eye and I knew exactly what she was trying to communicate: Come on; lets get going. Jesus promises to reveal all truth to the apostles. WebThe ministry of the Holy Spirit has not changed from the Old Testament. His dying on the cross would not be the end of His existence. 5:41; 16:25). He indwells believers and seals them until the day of redemptionthis indicates that the Holy Spirits presence in the believer is irreversible. A further observation should be noted. 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