Work Of The Spirit

We have been promised a wild week, this final week before Holy Week, with our travel leader, travel guide and travel companion. Today, we are wild with the excitement of anticipation, participation and communion, as nothing with our Lord is ever dull, boring and mundane, the same old same. We are wild with hope and expectation, as we leave, empty, nullify, and turn, from all that will hinder us from, the bounty prepared for us in this week.  As long as we have been born of the Spirit, we are free to be of the Spirit. This is what Jesus explained, and made abundantly clear to Nicodemus and to us also. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. John 3: 6. KJV . It is in the freedom of our Spiritual birth, that we, like the wind, will be taken wherever the Spirit wills.

In today’s travel, we shall ponder, as we are reminded of some of what Jesus has said about the work of the Holy Spirit, when He comes. We know that He is already here, because Jesus has ascended, back to heaven. This is what Jesus has clearly stated. For I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. John 16: 7. God, the Holy Spirit, is with us. Now we take firm hold of what Jesus has told His disciples and us also.

Holy Spirit Counsels

If to counsel means to instruct, to teach, then our Holy Spirit is indeed our given Counselor. But the Counselor, 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: 26

Holy Spirit Convicts 

If to convict means to indict, charge or find guilty, then our Holy Spirit definitely does convict. When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment. John 16: 8 

Holy Spirit Conveys 

If to convey means to carry, to transport something, then the Holy Spirit faithfully conveys power to us. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you. Acts 1: 8a. Not only that but He conveys truth, as He brings to us all truth about Jesus. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. John 16: 13.

Holy Spirit Comforts 

If to comfort means to change one’s dour state, to bring hope, peace and cheer to grieving hearts and downcast spirits, the Holy Spirit is undeniably our Comforter. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever; Even the Spirit of truth. John 14: 16 – 17a. KJV. Jesus also made this promise. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. John 14: 18 KJV

Having viewed some of the works of the Spirit, one thing we are sure of is that the Spirit has played and continues to play both pivotal and operational roles in our salvation. Just as both flesh and Spirit had to work together in the birth of our Lord Jesus, Immanuel, so too with the complete work of our salvation. Here lies the working of flesh and Spirit, to produce God’s will. In the birth of Jesus, we see how the angel of the Lord explains it all to Mary. The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Luke 1: 35b. Indeed Spirit, the Holy Spirit, worked with flesh, Mary, to bring this miracle of birth.

In this well-known, in fact, extremely familiar verse of Scripture, embedded and far from human eyesight lies, not just a miracle of birth, but much more. Before us is the unfathomable, unreplicable and inimitable work of Almighty Sovereign God, which no human can even attempt to replicate. God is, the One, unchallengeable Creator of all things for by Him everything was created. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. Colossians 1: 16. God is One and He alone is Spirit, for He is God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – One God. God is Creator and He is also Spirit, the Invisible One. God is Spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth. John 4: 24.

So what is this divine mystery? Just what is there, embedded in this most familiar text, which we are being given privilege to take hold of?

We continue tomorrow with un-waning and unwavering spirit.