This week, as we continue our 6-week study on the person of the Holy Spirit, we will be looking at the teaching ministry of the Holy Spirit.
‘When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me.’ (John 14:26)
Jesus is ‘the truth’ (John 14:6) - Only through the ministry of the Spirit can we see Jesus for who He is. We may have a form of academic belief, but saving faith is only possible as the Spirit teaches us. As Jesus says of Peter’s confession of Christ,
‘Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.’ (Matthew 16:16-18)
Jesus speaks of Peter’s faith as the gift of the Father, but it is of course true that this is also the work of the Holy Spirit. It’s on this type of confession - confession that is the gift of God - that God will build His church. The Church is built as each person is gifted (taught) about Jesus by the Spirit, as Jesus goes on to say,
‘No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day. It is written in the Prophets: ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard the Father and learned from him comes to me.’ (John 6:44-45)
Paul says something similar in 1 Corinthians,
‘Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.’ (1 Corinthians 12:3)
Jonathan Edwards, during revival in the 18th Century commented on how the Spirit always promotes truth, and the truth of Christ in particular,
'The Spirit’s true work can be distinguished from that which is false because we know that He always,
Causes a greater esteem for Christ
Operates against the interest of Satan’s kingdom ‘which lies in encouraging and establishing sin’
Promotes great regard for the truth and the divinity of the Holy Scriptures
Brings men to the light of truth
Excites love to God and man, making the attributes of God, manifested in Christ, ‘delightful objects of contemplation’.’
When the Holy Spirit is at work in a person or community, the work of Christ in the gospel is dear to them like never before. They Sing and talk about the riches of grace. It’s the Holy Spirit who reminds us of all the good things that we have in Christ,
“All this I have spoken while still with you. 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 14:25-26)
RESPONSE
The Holy Spirit wants to pour his oil into us so that we pour our oil of worship out on Christ,
“Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.” (Luke 7:44-47)
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