The Holy Spirit in the World

I. JESUS PROMISED TO SEND THE HOLY SPIRIT

A. When Jesus ministered here on earth, He was restricted to being in one place at a time.

The Holy Spirit can be everywhere at once because He is not limited by a body (John 16:7). B. Since the Word was to go out to all parts of the earth, Jesus could minister to the Church

more effectively by the Holy Spirit.

II. THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WITHIN THE WORLD

A. Jesus said that the Holy Spirit would reprove the world of sin because people do not believe in Him (John 16:8-9). The only sin that condemns a man is the continual rejection of Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour (John 3:17-18). This sin is also the unpardonable sin of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit because the Holy Spirit convicts us of sin.

B. The Holy Spirit reproves the world of righteousness because Jesus ascended into heaven (John 16:8-10). When God received Jesus up into heaven, He was setting the standard of righteousness a man would have to meet to be acceptable to God.

C. The Holy Spirit reproves the world of judgment because the prince of this world (Satan) is judged (John 16:8-11).

1. When Jesus went to the cross and died in our place, Satan lost his power over us to force us to do those things that are contrary to God's righteousness (Colossians 2:14-15).

a. Our old nature, which was subject to sin and to Satan, was put to death at the cross of Christ (Romans 6:6).

b. What does it mean when we sin? It means that we have not appropriated what God has made available to us through the power of Christ and the Holy Spirit. We need to consciously yield to the power of the Spirit and to that victory of Christ over Satan.

c. Any power that Satan exerts in our lives today is usurped because he has no authority over us and no right to try to control us. If we demand in the name of Jesus Christ that Satan go, then he must.

d. When we pray to ask God for His help in removing Satan from our lives, we should be very specific, because Satan is so stubborn that he won't want to relinquish any foothold that he does not have to. Also, once he is driven out, he will launch a counter-attack to win the area back, so remember to hold onto what you take through the power of the Holy Spirit by continual prayer.