John 16: 5-16 (AMP) - 5 “But now I am going to Him who sent Me; and none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’ 6 But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your hearts [and taken complete possession of them]. 7 But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby) will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him (the Holy Spirit) to you [to be in close fellowship with you]. 8 And He, when He comes, will convict the world about [the guilt of] sin [and the need for a Savior], and about righteousness, and about judgment: 9 about sin [and the true nature of it], because they do not believe in Me [and My message]; 10 about righteousness [personal integrity and godly character], because I am going to My Father and you will no longer see Me; 11 about judgment [the certainty of it], because the ruler of this world (Satan) has been judged and condemned.
12 “I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear [to hear] them now. 13 But when He, the Spirit of Truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth [full and complete truth]. For He will not speak on His own initiative, but He will speak whatever He hears [from the Father—the message regarding the Son], and He will disclose to you what is to come [in the future]. 14 He will glorify and honor Me, because He (the Holy Spirit) will take from what is Mine and will disclose it to you. 15 All things that the Father has are Mine. Because of this I said that He [the Spirit] will take from what is Mine and will reveal it to you.”
Acts1: 4 (KJV) – “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.”
Verse 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.”
Evidence of His Abiding
- The Holy Spirit, “abiding in us”, is not dormant – He has a specific, distinct, real, active role in the life of every believer. Peter became bold, Paul became an apostle (Acts); Mary became pregnant supernaturally with Jesus, Elizabeth spoke in a loud voice when Mary visited and Zachariah who had been dumb, prophesied (Luke 1). There is a change in the status quo, things shift deliberately and evidently.
- The Holy Spirit is specific - 2 Kings 4:1-5. The Holy Spirit in the person of the prophet (Old Testament) in this passage, gave the widow specific instructions after she cried to him for help and she obeyed what he instructed.
- Holy Spirit of truth – only says what the Father instructs. Acts 16:6 (KJV) –“Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia…”
- The Holy Spirit forbade Paul and Timothy to speak. He is like a mouth piece, like God is speaking through. Our speaking likewise changes, and say ONLY what He instructs, since our lives are no longer our own.
- Seal, guarantee of our salvation – Ephesians 1: 13-14 (AMP) – “In Him, you also, when you heard the word of truth, the good news of your salvation, and [as a result] believed in Him, were stamped with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit [the One promised by Christ] as owned and protected [by God]. 14 The Spirit is the guarantee [the first installment, the pledge, a foretaste] of our inheritance until the redemption of God’s own [purchased] possession [His believers], to the praise of His glory.”
- The Holy Spirit is for believers, for disciples, for those who have believed. And as we receive Him, He enables us to reach out to unbelievers. May the Lord, find us submitted totally, for the preparation of the bride, the body of Christ, the Church and not just for ourselves. Let many bear this seal and guarantee in the name of Jesus!
- The Holy Spirit causes “supernatural occurrences” – Ephesians 1:19 (AMP) – “and [so that you will begin to know] what the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His [active, spiritual] power is in us who believe.”
- Galatians 5: 16 (TLB) – “I advise you to obey only the Holy Spirit’s instructions. He will tell you where to go and what to do, and then you won’t always be doing the wrong things your evil nature wants you to.”
- Verse 22-23 (TLB) – “But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control; and here there is no conflict with Jewish laws.”
Prayers
- Thank God that He is faithful and never leaves us without help. Our God, the Master strategist, after Jesus left, He sent the Holy Spirit of truth. Thank You Father!
- Baptise us afresh with the Holy Spirit. Lord, reveal the person and ministry of the Holy Spirit again and again to us. He is the seal of the new race, that of the second Adam – He is our help to make us live and serve Jesus. May we never forget that in this daybreak, He is the one that will enable us (the “strengthener”) o labour diligently, because He is God’s spirit of truth.
- Lord, give us ears to hear every instruction of the Holy Spirit – concerning every detail of our lives. Psalm 32:8, the Lord has promised that He will instruct and teach us – Lord, keep us obedient to You and Your ways.
- Acts 16:6, the Holy Spirit forbade Paul from speaking and he obeyed.
- Help us to know that the Holy Spirit is not a “magic wand” – signs and wonders will surely follow, but Lord; keep us focused on the giver, You! Reset our minds in this daybreak; help us to follow Your instructions, no matter how ridiculous or even frivolous. Revelations – this is what the “Spirit” says to the churches…He who has ears, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches! Lord give us ears that hear and obey the instructions that You give through the Holy Spirit.
- The Holy Spirit is called “the Comforter” – He is there when we need comfort, when we need assurance/strength in the days of trouble, because they will surely come. Holy Spirit, help us to know that troubles come because we are in the world, but we glory, because Jesus overcame the world!
- Lord, let the evidence of the Holy Spirit in our lives, the fruits of the Spirit be tangible and evident in our lives henceforth. In our homes, at school, at work, in the market place, on the internet/cyber world, wherever we find ourselves; let the fruit, the evidence of the Holy Spirit in us show forth for Your glory in Jesus mighty name, Amen!
Isaiah 61 (KJV) - The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;
3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.”
