Sunday, December 4


           Joh 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 shew you things to come. 

           Are you acquainted with the Holy Spirit?  He is a person.  He is not an "it."  Neither is He to be relegated to just an Influence.  He is called "He." He is a Guide.  He speaks of Some One other than Himself.  Jesus said that He would tell things then yet to come.  He like the Father and the Son is eternal.  He proceeds from the Father.  See John 15:26 "But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:"
           What is meant in our text by the thought "When He is come?'  It is not talking about His coming to indwell believers.  According to the text at the time of our Lord's speaking it was yet future.  It was something special.  Five times at least we are told of His coming to be the medium in which the church would be baptized.  Note Matt. 3:11 "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:"   Here is a prophecy that Jesus would baptize the church with the Holy Spirit and Fire.  See Mark 1:8 "I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost."  Here again it is said that Jesus would baptize the church with the Holy Ghost.  Note Luke 3:16 "John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:"  Here it is the same as in Matt. 3:11.  Look carefully at John 1:33 "And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost."   John Is here stating his recognition of Jesus as the Messiah because of the Holy Spirit descending on Him.  He repeats the promise that Jesus would baptize the church with Holy Ghost. One more time in Acts 1:5 "For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence."  Here Jesus speaking to His assembled church, promised again that they would be baptized with the Holy Ghost.
            What was the reason for the "coming" Holy Spirit?  He would empower the waiting church.  In Luke 24:49 "And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high."  Jesus commanded His waiting church to stay in Jerusalem until they were endued with power.  In Acts 1:4, 8 please notice.
Acts 1:4  "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."  Note the church is assembled.  They were to stay in Jerusalem and wait for the promise of the Father.  Then notice Acts 1:8  "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."  See that the assembled church was promised power to carry out the Great Commission in all the earth.
       This is the coming of the Holy Spirit mentioned in verse 13.



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