Study 7: 14th - 20th August

Readings from the Gospel of John

“Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. I would have not known him, except the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, “The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit”. I have seen and testify that this is the Son of God.” (John Chapter 1 verses 32to 34 (New International Version).

Have you ever tried playing golf with just a few clubs? Occasionally golf clubs play such an event where you are only allowed to play with 3 clubs rather than the 14 you are allowed according to the rules. This restriction makes the game much harder. It’s a fun way to play a different game of golf, but you look forward to getting back to using the full set available.
In our reading from John this week we are introduced to the Holy Spirit, who comes to Jesus from God. Jesus will later give the Holy Spirit to his followers. Who is this Holy Spirit? Many in the church are reluctant to speak much about the Holy Spirit, even though we believe in the Holy Spirit along with the Father and the Son as God. The Holy Spirit is a bit of a mystery, but doesn’t need to be.
The giving of the Holy Spirit was a normal occurrence in the time prior to Jesus. The Holy Spirit was given to Kings, Prophets and Priests to equip them for their roles as leaders.

Just like in golf having a full set of clubs is an advantage over a few, so the Holy Spirit is given to Jesus so he is fully equipped for the life he will live.
It is through the Holy Spirit that Jesus is empowered to preach, heal, teach and performs miracles that shows he comes from God. The Holy Spirit is no less than God, who lives in Jesus and reveals to the world that he is God. The Holy Spirit was with Jesus all the time he went throughout the world sharing that God’s way of life is now made known in his life.

One of the promises that Jesus made was that when he leaves he would send the Holy Spirit to his followers.

It is the Holy Spirit that roams the world and does God’s own work in the world, sometimes apart from those who follow God, but mostly through those who do.
Just as Jesus received the Holy Spirit, so do those who follow Jesus. When people today refer to being “born again” (a topic we will discuss in chapter 3) they are referring to people who have received the Holy Spirit, or those born of the Spirit.

There is nothing magical or mysterious about the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit is God coming to us through believing in Jesus helping and equipping us to live for God. The good news is that we do not have to fumble our way in life like playing golf with 3 clubs, but we also can be fully equipped to live for God in the gift of the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit is with us as a helper and comfort, gives us power, produces Godly qualities such as love, joy and peace, assures us of our place as God’s children, helps us to pray and convicts us when we do wrong.
The Holy Spirit is God’s gift. God comes to us through the Holy Spirit by accepting Jesus and all his life stands for. The Holy Spirit will come to you also.

Prayer.
Loving and gracious God, we thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit that comes through Jesus. Help us to lean on your help, and strength and not on ourselves.
Amen.