The Holy Spirit (15)
By Abraham Eli
This study was first taught on August 21, 2012
Topic: Now That the Holy Spirit is in You (2.1): You Have a Trustworthy Companion (1)
(use the audio to study)
Background
We began last week, to see that after the Holy Spirit comes into us, and becomes a ‘well springing up to everlasting life’, certain things begin to happen within us, which then flow unto those around and about us. We noted that one of the things that happen to us is the permanent companionship of the Holy Spirit, Whom the Lord Jesus referred to as “another Comforter”; Him, Jesus, being a Comforter or Advocate Himself (1 John 2:1).
As “another Comforter”, the Holy Spirit continued from where the Lord Jesus stopped His earthly ministry in the lives of His disciples at the time, and still continues in that ministry in the lives of those who become disciples as a result of receiving and believing the gospel message of salvation. Hence, the Holy Spirit as “another Comforter” becomes the believer in Christ’s Close Confidant, Advocate, Teacher/Reminder, Testifier/Witness, Encourager, Counsellor, Helper, and Standby, Who will never leave him nor forsake him, since He will remain with him until the Rapture or until the believer goes to be with the Lord, as the case may be. Thus, the Holy Spirit gives the believer direction as to where he should locate or relocate to for optimal witnessing about Christ and the harvesting of souls; enables him to effectively witness about Christ to others (convincing and convicting them of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment); and, even orchestrates circumstances (good and seemingly bad) that will produce such effective witness and bountiful harvest of souls. The Holy Spirit is also, to the believer in Christ, a protection in the storms of life; warns him of impending danger; raises people through whom He will intercede on behalf of believers in danger; and, encourages and stands by them in times of trouble and persecution. And because He is a permanent feature in the life of a believer, He is also a confidence booster for the believer when tough times, and, trials and tribulations, arise in his life, so that he can boldly say, “The Lord is my helper” and, “I will not fear what man shall do unto me.”
The challenge for today’s disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ, in whom the Holy Spirit resides is; are we responding to the Holy Spirit’s leading? If “Yes”, why then is our witness about Christ, our harvesting of souls, and, our discipleship programmes grossly ineffective? Is it possible that we are not receiving clear directions on what to do and where to go, which would ultimately lead us to effective witnessing with conviction of sinners, and, the harvesting and discipling of souls? Again, if the Holy Spirit is in us, why do we fret so much when we are confronted with the storms of life, and when we are in danger? Why is it that many of today’s Christians are unable to grasp the truth about God’s presence in them by the Holy Spirit?
Scripture Text(s)
John 14:16-17
Tonight, we shall continue from where we left off last week, as we look at the second functional title which the Lord used in describing the Holy Spirit in our scripture text—“the Spirit of truth”. We pray that the questions raised from last week’s study will be answered, as we study tonight, in Jesus' name, Amen.
It is one thing to have someone you call a companion, but it is quite a different thing to be able to confide in him or trust him. The second title which the Lord used to describe the Holy Spirit,—“Spirit of truth”—,speaks of the Holy Spirit’s nature, among others. Thus, the Holy Spirit as “another Comforter” was presented by the Lord to His disciples at the time as a Companion Who they could depend on absolutely, after His departure from the earth. This is the same assurance the Lord is giving to all those who come to Him for salvation today: The Holy Spirit will be with us and in us, and we can, and are to depend on Him absolutely!
1 Corinthians 2:10-11; Numbers 23:19; 1 Samuel 2:27-36; Hebrews 11:8; Genesis 12:1-4, 6-7, 10ff; Genesis 15:1-5; 16:1ff; 17:1ff; 18:1-15; 20:1ff; 21:1-2; Hebrews 11:11-12; Romans 4:17-21; Genesis 21:9ff; 22:1-18; John 21:15-17; Hebrews 11:17-19; 6:17-20.
Conclusion
The Lord Jesus Christ gives to His disciples an assurance of the veracity of the guidance and leadership of the Holy Spirit, by letting them know that He, the Holy Spirit, is the “Spirit of truth”. This means that the Holy Spirit is the embodiment of truth itself! Indeed, truth is His nature, and this means that He cannot ever, ever, tell a lie; neither can He ever, ever, deceive; nor can He ever, ever, mislead!
Many of us tend to compare the Holy Spirit, Who is God, with man, and that is where we make major gaffs in our dealings with Him. The Holy Spirit cannot lie. He does not change His mind and refuse to do what He has promised, neither does He say something or make a promise, and is unable or unwilling to keep it. The example we have seen tonight of Abraham’s travail or journey in faith, reveals that although Abraham started with God by viewing Him as a man, yet he got to a point in his life where what God said was all that mattered; not how he felt, neither what he thought. All that mattered was what God asked him to do, and in the end Abraham inherited the promise for generations yet unborn. Abraham’s walk with God was a first-hand personal experience, not a second-hand testimony from someone else! This is what made it possible for him to yield to God when it mattered the most; having matured in his walk with God over the years.
What an assurance we have received in having the Holy Spirit as our Guide! Whatsoever He tells us is trustworthy, and every word He utters can be depended upon absolutely. To say that we have faith in God through Jesus Christ, and yet be unsure about the leading of the Holy Spirit is a misnomer. If indeed, we believe in God and in His Christ, then we must yield absolutely to the Holy Spirit and His every instruction, for in them, we have an anchor, and that anchor keeps us safe in the troubled waters of the world system. That anchor is our confidence or faith in the direction in which the Holy Spirit is leading us, which ultimately will bring us to the place of effective witnessing for Christ, and reaping a bountiful harvest of souls for discipleship.
Our trust in the Holy Spirit must, like our father Abraham’s, be a first-hand personal experience, as we walk with Him on a daily basis; making our mistakes, but getting up again and going at it, until we arrive at the place where our faith in God, the Father, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit, is absolutely spot on!
Back to all Bible Study Outline List