December 9, 2012
Recap
of 12/2/12 (John 14:16 -17):
Five truths
about the Holy Spirit from John 14:16,17:
1. The Holy Spirit’s spiritual presence would
replace Jesus’ physical presence with His disciples. He would be “another”
Counselor for them. Jesus would be taken
from them in His crucifixion and subsequent ascension but they would not be
left alone.
2. The Holy Spirit presence with a believer is
forever. He is not an occasional helper
but a permanent present. He cannot be
withdrawn from the believer in the church age as He was in the Old Testament.
3. The Holy Spirit is characterized by
truth. He is literally the “Spirit of
the Truth.” This is crucial since He will testify about Jesus (John 15:26 ), and guide the disciples into
truth (John 16:13 ).
4. The Holy Spirit is invisible, though real and
active. The Holy Spirit “cannot be seen
by sight or comprehended by reason.” The
unbeliever has no spiritual life so they cannot know or see Him. The are not “tuned in.”
5. The Holy Spirit would indwell them in the
future. He would not only be “with” them
but He would be “in” them. He would individually indwell believers. This teaching about the Holy Spirit
anticipates the coming of the Spirit on the day of Pentecost (Acts. 2). They
were concerned that Jesus was leaving them, but the Holy Spirit would not only
be with them but would live in them to reproduce the life of Jesus in their
lives.
6. “How are you listening to God’s Spirit? How are you making yourself available to His
guidance and direction in your choices and relationships? Reading
