THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

Lesson: 1 Cor 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
1 Cor 2:10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
1 Cor 2:11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
1 Cor 2:12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
1 Cor 2:13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
1 Cor 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
1 Cor 2:15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
1 Cor 2:16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

Introduction; What is the work of the Holy Spirit? How do we access His work to make Him effective in our lives?
I. CONVICTION. This is man's first encounter with Him and it continues throughout his life.
A. No one can come to God without this.
John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day
B. On the Day of Pentecost, conviction came in response to the message of Peter.
Acts 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
C. Peter had experienced this conviction after his denial of Jesus.
Mat.26:75 And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.
D. In both cases, the conviction came as a result of hearing the Word.
Eph.6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
Heb 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
E. NOTE; The individuals are always passive in this conviction. The Word is presented, the Holy Spirit convicts and they respond.

II. Comfort.
John 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; (Comforter -(paraclete) one who stands beside, an advocate)
He represents God to us, as Jesus represents us to God.
Rom 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
I Jno 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
NOTE. We are passive in this. We respond by being assured, but do NOT have to plead that He fill this office for us!

III. Assurance of Salvation.
Rom.8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
II Cor.1:21, Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God;
22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
Eph.1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
NOTE; In this, we hear the Word and respond, but are passive in the work of the Spirit. We do not even have to ask. He does His appointed task.

IV. Leadership.
Rom.8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
A. This is always in agreement with the Word and NEVER contrary to it.
Psa.119:11, Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
Psa.143:10 Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.
B. For this reason we are admonished to STUDY the Word.
II Tim.2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
C. NOTE: WE study and commit ourselves to His will and HE leads. There is no begging for his leadership, but only submission to it.

V. The Filling of or by the Holy Spirit.
Eph.5:17, Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
A. This is not an emotional high, but a result of understanding and submitting to the will of God as revealed in His Word.
II Tim.1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;
NOTE. We are NOT told to fill ourselves but to BE FILLED. [Passive]. We submit; He fills. It means to be so completely committed to Him that there is no room in our lives for any of the world’s foolishness.

VI. the Teaching Ministry of the Holy Spirit.
John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come.
14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you.
15 All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall show it unto you.
A. Note the negative; for he shall not speak of himself; Any emphasis upon or admonition to seek, or attempt to magnify the Holy Spirit cannot be His work!
B. He enables us to understand spiritual things. {See Lesson texts.]
NOTE; Again, WE study, He gives understanding.!

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