John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.

16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

16:12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.

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.

14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

Romans 8:5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.

13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

MEMORY VERSE: For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. —Romans 8: 13, 14

CENTRAL THOUGHT: Jesus gave His disciples the promise that after He had gone back to Heaven, His Father would send the Holy Spirit to live in them and to comfort, guide, and strengthen them in the way of righteousness. Today, that same promise is for all who will seek Him and follow His teachings.

WORD DEFINITIONS

John 14:16, “Comforter”: This was the Holy Spirit Who Christ was promising would come to His disciples after He had gone to Heaven, and would give comfort, strength, guidance, and counsel to them. 17, “dwelleth with you”: Is near and surrounding you. “shall be in you”: Will come and live in your inner-most being.

16:12, “ye cannot bear them now”: This means that His disciples were not able to understand and comprehend many things He desired to tell them. But when the Holy Spirit of truth was come, He would help them to understand.

Ver. 13, “whatsoever he shall hear”: What the Heavenly Father will speak through the Holy Spirit.

Ver. 14, “receive of mine”: Receive what Christ speaks and pass it on to them.

Romans 8:5, “after the flesh”: living to the appetites and desires of this physical body.

Ver. 6, “carnally minded”: ruled by fleshly desires. “spiritually minded”: Instructed and enlightened by the Holy Spirit.

Ver. 7, “enmity”: Opposed to and not in harmony with.

Ver. 9, “none of his”: Not under Holy Spirit guidance.

Ver. 10, “the body is dead”: Not living to the desires of the flesh. “the Spirit is life”: The Holy Spirit has full control. “because of righteousness”: By reason of the righteous way the Holy Spirit helps one to live.

Ver. 11, “quicken your mortal bodies”: Enable you to keep your bodily appetites in control of God’s will.

Ver. 12, “debtors, not to the flesh”: Do not have to let the flesh control.

Ver. 13, “mortify the deeds of the body”: Put to death all lustful desires and bring all into subjection to God’s will.

Ver. 15, “adoption”: Being truly Sons of God. “Abba”: Greek: “Father—also used as the term of tender endearment by a beloved child in an affectionate relationship with his father; Daddy, Papa”

Ver. 16, “beareth witness”: Makes us to truly know.

Ver. 17, “joint-heirs with Christ”: Sharing with Christ’s blessings.

 LESSON BACKGROUND

The first part of our lesson from the gospel of John is part of the final session Jesus had with His disciples before He was arrested in the garden of Gethsemane. In this discourse that He closed with the prayer recorded in chapter 17 of John, Jesus foretells the coming of the Holy Spirit. Jesus knew what He was going to meet up with and suffer that very night. He had been with these men for about three years, and was now facing the price He was to pay for the salvation of mankind; yes, His horrible death on the cross. These disciples went through deep waters of trouble the next few days, with their Master being crucified and buried in the tomb, but Jesus was pointing them to the bright future of His resurrection from the dead and the blessed coming of the Holy Spirit. Luke 24:49 quotes Christ as saying, “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 was pointing them to look beyond the present distress to the glorious future. Thank the Lord, we today can look to Him in consecration and earnest prayer, and experience the great infilling of the Holy Spirit and the blessedness, as Paul brings out in our lesson from Romans 8. The Holy Spirit can come and fill our hearts with power and inspiration to guide us through life and open up the real truth to our hearts and minds.

We have Paul’s wonderful words concerning the Holy Spirit in our text from Romans 8. Through the indwelling Holy Spirit, we can triumph over the flesh and live victorious, spiritual lives in the perfect will of God.

—Bro. Leslie Busbee

QUESTIONS:

1. What blessings did Jesus say the Holy Spirit would bring?
2. Where was Jesus going after His death and resurrection?
3. What guidance does the Holy Spirit give to us today?
4. What kind of mind does the Holy Spirit help us to have?
5. What does the Holy Spirit help us to do with this mortal flesh?

COMMENTS AND APPLICATION

John, chapter 4, has the account of Jesus meeting the woman of Samaria who had come to draw water at Jacob’s well. Jesus asked the woman to give Him a drink. The woman was surprised Jesus asked her that, for she did not think the Jews had any dealings with the Samaritans. Jesus stated if she knew the gift of God, and Who He was, she would ask of Him, and He would give her living water. When she questioned Him about this living water, Jesus answered, “But whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: but whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.”

When the woman perceived that Jesus was a prophet, she made mention of where her people worshipped, and where Jesus did. Jesus then spoke of the true worshippers worshiping the Father in spirit and in truth. He stated: “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” What a great truth our Saviour spoke that day! It goes right with today’s lesson on the Holy Spirit and what a blessing it is to have Him in our hearts. The Holy Spirit is that living water Jesus declared He could give to that woman! Oh, what a blessing to the soul of man to drink of that living water and experience the sweet and powerful presence of the Holy Spirit in one’s heart and life! Our Saviour brought us this blessing through His death, resurrection and ascension!

—Bro. Leslie Busbee

REFLECTIONS

I am so thankful the Lord came to this earth in human form, taught us and gave us an example, willingly laid down His life for a sacrifice, arose, ascended, and sent the Comforter to fill the hearts and lives of His children.  It is also a comfort to know that Christ is the Head of the church and that He sets the members in the body as it pleases Him.  We need to concern ourselves with  being intent on following the Holy Spirit’s lead and faithfully fulfilling our calling.  I am reminded of a statement Bro. James Bell gave in a message years ago:  “Teach people their rights and you start a riot; teach people their responsibility and you have revival.”

Truly the harvest is great, but the laborers are few.  The Lord is still looking and calling for men and women to stand in the gap.  There are many gaps that need to be filled.  When there are gaps in the wall, it leaves an access for the enemy to come through and cause damage to souls.  It is also important to remember that the Holy Spirit is not mistaken when He lays His hand on an individual.

Lord, help us to live surrendered lives, not hiding behind our excuses; hearing Your voice and filling the places of responsibility as You would lead us.   Here am I, Lord, send me.

–Bro. Bob Wilson