THE TRUTH ABOUT CHRISTIAN WORSHIP

 

Chapter 13

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The Portrait of the Holy Spirit (Part IV)

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Text

Luke 24:44-49 Then He said to them, “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.” And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures. Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And you are witnesses of these things. Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.”

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​​​​Memory Verse

Luke 24:49  “Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.”

 

Introduction

The Christian faith is a kingdom, and no kingdom runs without power. The one who brings both the starting power and the daily power of Christ’s kingdom is the Holy Spirit.

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The power that keeps believers going in Jesus’s kingdom comes from Him. That is why He is indispensable in everything we do as Christians.

 

Objective
To understand how the Holy Spirit is identified through His functions.

 

Presentation

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1. He is the Holy Spirit of Promise
His coming fulfils prophecy. He brings grace and power to bless believers (Joel 2:28; Eze. 36:27).

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Joel 2:28 And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions.

 

Eze. 36:27 I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.

 

Jesus called Him “the Promise of the Father” (Luke 24:49), which we receive by faith (Gal. 3:14). Everything God promised for our empowerment and renewal is released through the Spirit.

 

2. He is the Spirit of Truth
He is the true interpreter of Jesus - His life and His word. Just as the Word became flesh to reveal the Father, the Spirit now makes Jesus real in us so that He is glorified through changed lives.

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“He will guide you into all the truth.” (John 16:13)

 

3. He is the Spirit of Grace and Life
God preserves our physical lives by His grace through His Spirit. He also anoints us for sanctification, gives patience in trials, and empowers us for service (Heb.10:29; Zech. 12:10).

 

Preserving both natural and spiritual life is the Spirit’s work (Rom. 8:2).

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Rom. 8:2 The law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.

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4. He is the Spirit of Adoption
He puts in us the deep assurance that we are God’s children and share in His nature (Rom. 8:15).

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He is the regenerating Spirit. This was not emphasized in the Old Testament, except as a future promise for when the Messiah would come (Jer. 31:34; 1 Pet.1:10-12).

 

The Israelites desperately needed Him. Moses even wished that all of God’s people were prophets and had the Spirit (Num. 11:29).

 

In the Old Testament the Spirit raised up workers and speakers:

• Joseph, for administration (Gen. 41:38-40).

• Bezalel, for craftsmanship (Ex. 35:30-31).

• Samson, for deliverance (Judges 13:24-25).

 

He also raised prophets by resting on them, taking hold of them, filling them, moving them, and speaking through them (Eze. 8:1-3; Isa. 6:1-6; Rev. 1:10; Acts 22:7).

 

Conclusion
The mission of raising children for God - living proof that Christ’s teaching is real - rests with the Holy Spirit. He releases grace and truth to believers so that we can obey.

 

A life lived in the flesh without the Spirit’s leading is sinful and dead. The more familiar we become with loving material wealth, the less familiar we become with loving Christ, whom the Spirit preaches.

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​​Evaluation Questions & Answers

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1. Give two descriptions of God’s Spirit from this lesson and why He is described that way.

   • Spirit of Promise – Because His coming fulfils prophecy and He brings the grace and power God promised to believers (Luke 24:49; Joel 2:28).

   • Spirit of Truth – Because He interprets Jesus and His word to us, guiding us into all truth (John 16:13).

2. Mention two workers the Holy Spirit raised for God in the Old Testament.

   • Joseph, for administration in Egypt (Gen. 41:38-40).

   • Bezalel, for skilled craftsmanship in building the tabernacle (Ex. 35:30-31).

   • Samson is another example, for deliverance (Judges 13:24-25).

3. Why was an outpouring of the Spirit needed for the people?

   • Because without the Spirit, the people kept falling into idolatry and sin. Moses lamented that the Lord had not put His Spirit upon them (Num. 11:29). The Spirit was needed to raise leaders, workers, and prophets, and to create a people who could obey God from the heart.

4. As Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to glorify Him, who was sent to glorify the Father initially?

   • Jesus Christ. He said, “I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.” (John 17:4)

   • Jesus came to reveal and glorify the Father, and now the Spirit comes to glorify Jesus.

5. Only those who live in the Spirit can glorify God. Are you one of them? How can you show it?

   • Yes, if you have received Christ, you have the Spirit (Rom. 8:9). You show it by walking in step with the Spirit - producing the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Gal. 5:22-23). A life that reflects Jesus glorifies God.

6. God still desires to speak to your generation. Can He use you? How are you sure?

   • Yes. If you are willing and submitted to the Spirit, God can use you. You are sure because the Spirit who raised prophets and workers in the Old Testament is the same Spirit in you today. “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses.” (Acts 1:8)

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Prayer

Father, thank You for sending Your Spirit to live in us. Make us sensitive to His leading so we live lives that glorify You. Use us to speak to our generation and to raise others for Your kingdom. Amen.

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