Do We Agree | Holy Spirit | Session 1

On your journey of discipleship, have you encountered turbulence when navigating conversations around Biblical Truth?

Does it sometimes feel like everyone in the conversation is yelling their interpretations so loud that no one is being heard?

There are spectrums of belief around many core Christian tenants, and everyone is at a different place on their journey.

Our vision for this Do We Agree Platform is to have doctrinal and theological conversations that lead people to the truth of Christ.

Overview and The Foundation of Truth

I have discovered that one of the greatest joys of a person’s discipleship journey is their introduction and lifelong fellowship with the Holy Spirit. Much of this introduction only opens more conversations for you on your discipleship journey, and I want you to have a strong biblical-based guide to help you facilitate your self-feeding.

My responsibility:

In our pursuit of the Holy Spirit, we don’t disengage our minds but rather renew our minds. Walking by faith is not about ignoring facts or emptying our minds of facts but rather renewing our mind to what God’s facts are in His word.

1. Open my heart and mind to what God’s Word says about this topic of the Holy Spirit. (person, fruit, gifts)

2. Determine to walk in love towards the family of God. (especially those I disagree with)

3. Allow each body member grace in pursuit of their journey in Christ.

4. Confront differences with love and grace rather than letting our differences divide us. (Unity in diversity, not conformity.)

Big Ideas:

· Overview and Foundation of Truth

· Sufficiency of Scripture

· Spectrum of Truth

“One of the most striking developments in twentieth century church history has been the growth of Pentecostalism. This movement appeared as a few small sects in the 1910s and 1920s, but by the 1950s, it had grown to become the “third force” in Christianity. Since then, this Pentecostal, or charismatic, movement has emerged as the largest branch of Protestantism, even perhaps the largest active branch of Christianity, with estimates ranging to over 700 million adherents worldwide.”

(The Twentieth Century Pentecostal/Charismatic Renewal in the Holy Spirit, with Its Goal of World Evangelization,” International Bulletin of Missionary Research 12, no. 3 (July 1988), p. 119)

R.C Sproul in his book The Mystery of the holy Spirit said: “One of the most spectacular movments ever to sweep through the Christian church is the Charasmatic Movement. From the outbreak of speaking in tongues in the Azuza Street Mission in Los Angeles in the early part of the twentieth century to the growth of the Pentecostal and Assemblies of God churches to spread into Roman Catholic church and mainline Protestant churches in the early 1960’s, the charismatic revival has sparked zealous devotion among its adherents and fueled deep theological discussion. No church historian can ignore the the impact of charismatics on the modern church.”

“It should be obvious to anyone who observes the modern Charasmatic Movement that the gifts of healing, prophesy, and speaking in tongues practiced by todays Pentecostals are nothing like the apostolic gifts described in Acts and 1 Corinthians.”-John MacArthur

“The apostolic office and the miraculous gifts that constitute “signs of an apostle” (2 Cor. 12:12) have ceased. That is self-evident.”-John MacArthur (according to who?)

“The peculiar manifestations that have dominated that movement in recent decades (holy laughter, drunkenness in the Spirit, spiritual birthing, fire tunnels, animal noises, people being slain in the Spirit, and other peculiar charismatic practices) bear no resemblance whatsoever to the work of the Holy Spirit as described in the New Testament.“ -John MacArthur (Ill add more later)

“Paul deals with miraculous gifts only in 1 Corinthians, where his main purpose is to correct some paleo-charismatics in that church who were abusing their spiritual gifts for self-aggrandizing purposes, and disrupting order in the church in a way that actually foreshadowed modern charismatic chaos.” -John MacArthur (bad interpretation of 1 cor)

Cessastionist: The apostolic “sign” and “revelatory” gifts ceased with the last apostle's death.

Continuationist: All the gifts of the spirit are in operation in the body of Christ today and were never meant to cease at any point in our history. (there is a future time they will cease but we will explore that more later)

As God reveals more of Himself to you through the Holy Spirit, His specific Kingdom purpose for your life, and what gifts He has given you, there is a sacred responsibility to allow Him to be the one who enables you in them. This is a journey that includes discovery and obedience. I pray this season increases the hunger and desire for more of what God has for you.

For many years I have had people ask for a book or books that they could get written from a biblically balanced charismatic perspective. Surprisingly, I only had a few I felt I could recommend to believers. Most books seem to lead to far on one side or the other and don’t present a balanced approach. One of the sad things I have come to realize in my time around charismatic church circles is the lack of doctrinal authority and teaching. So many times, things are taught as downloads from God and then they go to the Bible to try and affirm their already held belief. Any serious student of the bible understands this is a very unhealthy hermeneutic. Most of the learning I have is directly from scripture or has been by pulling nuggets of truth from many different sources and Christian traditions.

For example, many well studied teachers will hold to a cessationist point of view. They interpret scripture and church history to say that God poured out certain gifts and power for certain periods and then it ceased. Within the cessationist camp there is a wide spectrum of what this all looks like including some who openly deny some key biblical truths that lead them into error and heretic hunting. “Despite the relatively large size of the charismatic/Pentecostal constituency, with a small, but growing number of exceptions, there has been very little scholarly effort to trace and evaluate the cessationist position from a perspective of systematic theology including its historical and biblical aspects.” (On the Cessation of the Charismata: The Protestant Polemic on Post-biblical Miracles (Word & Spirit Monograph Series Book 1)

The other side of the pendulum is what I call the hypercharismatics. These are ones who live in experiential extremes and many times get into extra biblical revelation, biblical error, and even heresy. I want to present a balanced approach interpreted from the bible and church history to show the beauty of the person of the Holy Spirit and then how He empowers and gifts the Body of Christ for kingdom advancement and God’s glory.

This study is not exhaustive and is only the highlights of my study on these topics but for your discipleship growth. I will do my best to document and point to other resources for further study as well as give credit to others who have taught in great length on this topic.

A disclaimer here: My heart and passion is Christ. Sometimes all of this time and effort that is spent on projects like this can take away from my life mission to know Christ and make Him known. Sometimes I get frustrated that projects like this can get in the way of fulfilling my life mission. However, I understand they are a necessary part of church leadership and governance. If we are not building on the right foundation we are going to implode at some point in the future and lose traction on our mission. So, I do feel study, research, debate, and teaching on topics like this are vital for the health of the church overall.

I get a bit passionate on this topic because I feel like the person of the holy spirit and the authority of God's word are being misinterpreted and, at times, outright attacked with the militant cessation the hyper charismatic messages.

We are all in the family of God if we stand on the foundational doctrines of the church.

Many critics of continuing theology use extreme examples and hyperbole to try to prove this as inauthentic because they don’t have the authority of scripture in their belief system. (would they like us to do the same in comparing them with Westborough Baptist) Many use arguments against charismatics that others could use against them and their own movements. (ex.Tom Book-False teachers, catholics, etc.)

Too many “heretic hunters” think it’s their Christian duty to go on witch hunts and police the global church. To defend the faith with a quarrelsome spirit is to promote strife and goes against key scriptural truths.

My study from a whole host of leaders from many different backgrounds has yielded some clear black and white answers. While other study has left me further searching on some topics. And some additional study has opened my eyes to see that there are areas of this topic that the Bible does not clearly give an answer on and that it is up to each local expression, network, and organization to prayerfully decide what God is leading them in. There are dozens of solid biblically based leadership and governmental forms in the local church. As long as the foundational doctrines are the foundation and Kingdom fruit is being produced the form can look different depending on each local church.

I learned years ago that in the church world, everyone has passions and callings given them by God. If we start to allow our individual callings to take away from the great commission and overall Kingdom, then we all lose. If we allow our individual passion to override or condemn another’s passion, we all lose. If we think that our camp, tribe, network, denomination or gathering has all the answers and is doing it all right and don’t need the others, we lose. If we think what we are doing for God is more important than what someone else is doing, we lose. If we stop reaching across the aisle to those who think differently than us, we lose. Christ is building His church. We are called to do our individual roles and let Christ be the head. We are called to celebrate with the other body parts what God is using them in.

Sufficiency of Scripture

If you were to pick up the Bible and read for the first time with no bias defense or opinion, what would you walk away with. Many denominations and theology’s today are a defense or response to interpretive differences or error. Many people label/judge movements off of the extremes instead of looking for the gospel truth in the center.

Most cessationist appeal to tradition and historical lack of experience and not the sola scriptura. The irony is that is their exact accusation against continuationists. (experience and not doctrine)

As a Christ follower, you need to settle within yourself that the Bible is God’s revealed Word to us. The Bible should be the loudest voice in forming your worldview and the foundation of truth your life is built upon. The Bible should be enough for us to walk out our intimate abiding fellowship with Christ faithfully.

If you change your thinking on this topic, I don't want it to be because you have seen a miracle or heard God speak to you in some supernatural way. Not because you have a dream, vision, trance, or something you could identify as supernatural beyond your conversion experience. This shift in thinking should come as the result of a patient, exhaustive, intense study of the Scriptures that discusses this topic.

Sola scriptura

“The Reformation principle of sola Scriptura has to do with the sufficiency of Scripture as our supreme authority in all spiritual matters. Sola Scriptura simply means that all truth necessary for our salvation and spiritual life is taught either explicitly or implicitly in Scripture. It is not a claim that all truth of every kind is found in Scripture. The most ardent defender of sola Scriptura will concede, for example, that Scripture has little or nothing to say about DNA structures, microbiology, the rules of Chinese grammar, or rocket science. This or that “scientific truth,” for example, may or may not be actually true, whether or not it can be supported by Scripture—but Scripture is a “more sure Word,” standing above all other truth in its authority and certainty. It is “more sure,” according to the apostle Peter, than the data we gather firsthand through our senses (2 Peter 1:19). Therefore, Scripture is the highest and supreme authority on any matter on which it speaks.” (John MacArthur)

2 Peter 1:19 (NKJV)

And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts;

God’s Word, The Scriptures

The Scriptures. The Bible (both Old and New Testaments) is the inspired Word of God, without error in the original writings, the product of holy men of old who spoke and wrote as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. We believe the Scriptures are the complete revelation of God’s will for the salvation of mankind, and the final authority for all Christian faith and life. (Matthew 5:18; John 10:35; 17:17; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 1 Thess. 2:13 2 Peter 1:20-21).

For more study on the origins of the Scripture, refer to The New Evidence That Demands a Verdict by Josh McDowell and The Case for Faith or The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel.

The Bible is for us, but not about us. The Bible is not a list of principles to live by; it reveals a relationship with Jesus. The Bible must be read around the central figure of God. The Bible is the main way that God speaks to us and directs us. As the Holy Spirit becomes a major part of your life, He will always point back to and align with the Bible. We do not want the bible to be a lifeless book that sits on your shelf at home but rather a living document.

The Bible. The word “Bible” comes from the Greek word biblion which simply means “book.”

The Scriptures. This word is the word we use in our translation of the Greek wordgraphai, which can also be translated as “writings.”

Testament/Covenant. This word is derived from the Latin word testamentum, which was used in early Latin translations of both the Greek and Hebrew words for a “will” or “covenant.”

2 Timothy 3:16, 17

2 Timothy 3:16 NKJV

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,

2 Timothy 3:17 NKJV

that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Peter 1:20, 21

2 Peter 1:20 NKJV

knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation,

2 Peter 1:21 NKJV

for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.

knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.

1 Thessalonians 2:13

1 Thessalonians 2:13 NKJV

For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.

For this reason, we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.

I am a continuationist because of Sola Scriptura.

Continuationists are often accused of being emotionally driven, building theology off of experience and not the bible, and we are dangerous. Many times, people take extreme charismatic practices and try to paint those as normative to invalidate the movement. We want to deny those things and show that we are charismatic because we are Sola Scriptura. (How would a Baptist feel if I lumped them in with Westborough Baptist and accused them of being heretical?)

What about emotionalism? Emotionalism means that someone has whipped up our emotions through some form of manipulation. What I want to see happen is God express His love to us through the power of the Holy Spirit and His gifts and if it causes emotions, we be ok with that. Church history is full of examples of powerful moves of God where people would experience His presence and get emotional. Many would publicly confess sin, cry, laugh, get on their knees, etc. Emotion or lack thereof is not a litmus test for our desired doctrinal outcomes.

“When I was a seminary professor, we argued that none of the contemporary “faith healers” healed like Jesus healed (if they were healing at all). This proved to us that God no longer gave the gift of healing. Our reasoning was faulty. Nowhere else in life would we take the stellar example in any category and use it as the qualification for membership in that category. No one has ever loved like Jesus or taught like Jesus. Should we conclude that God is no longer giving the gift of teaching or that our experience of love is an illusion? Jesus was the only person who was given the Holy Spirit without limit (John 3:34). He was the only person who had or ever will have the character to bear that kind of power without being corrupted by it. Even though none of us will ever do anything as well as he did, Jesus is to be our model in all things. He said to his disciples, “As I have loved you, so you must love one another” (John 13:34). Paul said, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1).” Jack Deere

Spectrum of Truth (IMAGE)

Spectrum- a broad range of varied but related ideas or objects, the individual features of which tend to overlap so as to form a continuous series or sequence.

Every doctrine, theology, or Christian tradition exists within a spectrum of truth. There are many overlapping truths that form the whole truth. We must be cautious to explore truth without bias so as to see the full scope of the spectrum and not just one range. Anything outside the safe range is an error that can lead to full-blown heresy. Even within Orthodoxy, there is a wide spectrum of biblical understanding.

Biblical truth- Inerrant divinely accurate eternal truth that was, is, and always will be.

Doctrine-(didaskalia | did-as-kal-ee’) Teaching, instruction, learning, authority.

Theology- the study of the nature of God and religious beliefs.

Theology is defined simply as the study of the nature of God and religious beliefs. This is a wonderful definition of the life of a believer as they grow in discipleship. Whereas doctrine is settled and does not take into account your experience, theology is all about your journey with Christ. Theology is very much the process of learning to know God and His nature. Theology should strengthen doctrine over time. We desire everyone at Catalyst have an intimate abiding relationship with God that is founded in strong doctrine, one that is lived out in fellowship, learning and growing in Christ. This is theology.

Doctrine never changes, but our personal theology develops as we mature in Christ. While circumstance, experience and history are a part of our theology and learning about God, we must be careful not to rationalize our view of God based on our circumstances. We must be careful not to try to make doctrine align with our life experiences. Experience is a huge teacher and I believe it is a vital part of our spiritual maturity. However, doctrine is doctrine. Doctrine should not change merely because our circumstance or experience changed. Doctrine should not change because culture changes.

Interpretive differences-Within orthodoxy, there are many varying interpretations and understandings of the same biblical topics. If you and I were both on the same mountain but on different sides, we would have very different perspectives of the same mountain.

I like to use terms like primary and secondary, closed-hand and open-hand to define doctrine versus theology. Primary, closed-handed issues are what we would describe as doctrine. Doctrine is settled and we don’t change that. Doctrine is to be accepted, learned and digested as you grow in your walk with Christ. Secondary and open-handed issues are what we would describe as theology.

Outside the Spectrum

Error-a deviation from accuracy or correctness; a mistake as in an action or speech. Belief in something not true. The holding of mistaken opinions.

Heresy-dissension, opinion or disagreement with orthodox or accepted doctrine of a church or religious system. (damnable beliefs and practices)

Traditions-

1. The handing down of statements and beliefs, legends, customs, and information from generation to generation, especially by word of mouth or practice.

2. A long-established or inherited way of thinking or acting; a continuing pattern of cultural beliefs or practices.

God is Trinity

The Godhead, The Trinity (this is vital to the conversation because many have replaced the Holy Spirits role with the bible and neglect a lot of clear biblical truths about Him and His ministry to us and in the church)

The Godhead. We believe that God is a complex unity and exists eternally in three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and that these, being one God, are equal in deity, power, and glory. We believe that God not only created the world but also now upholds, sustains, governs, and providentially directs all that exists and that he will bring all things to their proper consummation in Christ Jesus to the glory of his name. We believe that God has exhaustive foreknowledge of all future events, including the free choices of all moral agents, both angelic and human, that he hears and answers prayer, and that he saves from sin and death all who come to him through Jesus Christ (Isaiah 40:1-48:22; Psalm 104:1-35; Psalm 139:1-24; Matthew 10:29-31; 28:19; Acts 17:24-28; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Ephesians 1:9-12; 4:4-6; Colossians 1:16-17; Hebrews 1:1-3; Revelation 1:4-6).

We believe that Jesus Christ is God incarnate, fully God and fully man, that he was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, and offered himself as a substitutionary sacrifice for sinners. By the blood of his cross he satisfied the wrath of God, obtained for us eternal redemption, the forgiveness of sins, spiritual adoption as sons and daughters, life everlasting, and defeated the powers of darkness. He was raised bodily on the third day and ascended to the right hand of the Father, there to make intercession for the saints (Isaiah 53:1-12; Matthew 1:18-25; John 1:1-18; Romans 8:34; 1 Corinthians 15:1- 28; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 3:10-14; Ephesians 1:7; Philippians 2:6-11; Colossians 1:15-23; 2:15; Hebrews 7:25; 9:13-15; 10:19; 1 Peter 2:21-25; 1 John 2:1-2; 3:8).

We believe that the Holy Spirit is fully God, equal with the Father and Son. The primary ministry of the Holy Spirit is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit also convicts unbelievers of their need for Christ and imparts spiritual life through regeneration (the new birth). The Spirit indwells, sanctifies, leads, illumines, and graciously empowers for godly living and service all who come to faith in Christ. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ baptizes believers in the Holy Spirit, in whom also we are sealed for the day of redemption. Subsequent to conversion the Spirit desires to fill, empower, and anoint believers for ministry and witness (Matthew 3:11; John 1:12-13; 3:1-15; 15:26-27; 16:7-15; Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 12:12-13; 2 Corinthians 1:21-22; Ephesians 1:13-14; 5:18).

There are no adequate examples that our finite minds could analyze to understand the Trinity. One description calls it a “beautiful mystery.” (Common used poor examples: water, ice, and vapor or son, father, husband.)

Isaiah 46:5

Isaiah 46:5 NKJV

“To whom will you liken Me, and make Me equal And compare Me, that we should be alike?

To whom will you liken Me, and make Me equal and compare Me, that we should be alike?

Video

“The Trinity is a mystery that cannot be comprehended by human reason but is understood by faith and is best confessed in the words of the Athanasian Creed which states that we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity; neither confounding the Persons: nor dividing the Substance. That we are compelled by the Christian faith to confess that each distinct person is God and Lord and that the deity of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit is one equal in glory, coequal in majesty.” -Athanasian Creed

There are many people that have come to the conclusion (as it pertains to God) that if they cannot have the physical evidence or proof that He exists, they won’t believe.

Hebrews 11:6

Hebrews 11:6 NKJV

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is rewarding of those who diligently seek Him.

Your belief in or non-belief in God does not change the Truth that He exists.

A General Definition of God. The eternal, independent, and self-existent Being: the Being whose purposes and actions spring from himself, without foreign motive or influence: he who is absolute in dominion; the most pure, the most simple, and most spiritual of all essences; infinitely benevolent, true, and holy: the cause of all being, the upholder of all things; infinitely happy, because infinitely perfect; and eternally self-sufficient, needing nothing that he has made: inconceivable in his mode of existence, and indescribable in his essence; known fully only to himself, because an infinite mind can be fully apprehended only by itself. In a word, a Being who, from his infinite wisdom, cannot err or be deceived; and who, from his infinite goodness, can do nothing but what is eternally just, right, and kind.

God: Elohim. The original word Elohim, God, is the plural form of la El, and has long been supposed, by the most eminently learned men, to imply a plurality of Persons in the Divine nature. As this plurality appears in so many parts of the sacred writings to be confined to three Persons, hence the doctrine of the TRINITY, which has formed a part of the creed of all those who have been deemed sound in the faith, from the earliest ages of Christianity. Nor are Christians singular, in receiving this doctrine, and in deriving it from the first words of divine revelation. An eminent Jewish rabbi, Simeon ben Joachi, in his comment on the sixth section of Leviticus, has these remarkable words, “Come and see the mystery of the word Elohim; there are three degrees, and each degree by itself alone, and yet notwithstanding they are all one, and joined together in one, and are not divided from each other.” He must be strangely prejudiced indeed who cannot see that the doctrine of a Trinity, and of a Trinity in unity, is expressed in the above words. The verb arb bara, he created, being joined in the singular number with this plural noun, has been considered as pointing out, the unity of the Divine Persons in this work of creation. In the ever-blessed Trinity, from the infinite and indivisible unity of the persons, there can be but one will, one purpose, and one infinite and uncontrollable energy.

“Let those who have any doubt whether Elohim, when meaning the true God, Jehovah, be plural or not, consult the following passages, where they will find it joined with adjectives, verbs, and pronouns plural.”

Genesis 1: In the Beginning (God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit)

Genesis 1:26

Genesis 1:26 NKJV

Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

Then God said, “Let Us make man in our image, according to ourlikeness;”

Luke 3:21, 22

Luke 3:21 NKJV

When all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also was baptized; and while He prayed, the heaven was opened.

Luke 3:22 NKJV

And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven which said, “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.”

When all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also was baptized; and while He prayed, the heaven was opened. And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven which said, “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.”

1 Thessalonians 5:23

1 Thessalonians 5:23 NKJV

Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

God created us in His image and used a plural word to describe the Godhead. Man is also a triune being as we see over and over in Scripture. We are spirit beings which is the real us. We have a soul, which is made up of our mind, will and emotions. Our spirit and soul are different, but closely related. We are housed in a physical body. When the body dies, the spirit and soul are no longer present.

Genesis 3:22

Genesis 3:22 NKJV

Then the Lord God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, to know good and evil. And now, lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever”—

Then the LORD God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, to know good and evil. And now, lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever”

Isaiah 6:8

…Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: “Whom shall I send, And who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.”

Video Connal and Donnal

John 16:1-15

“These things I have spoken to you, that you should not be made to stumble. 2 They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service. 3 And these things they will do to you because they have not known the Father nor Me. 4 But these things I have told you, that when the time comes, you may remember that I told you of them. “And these things I did not say to you at the beginning, because I was with you. 5 “But now I go away to Him who sent Me, and none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’ 6 But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. 7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. 8 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 of sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10 of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; 11 of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. 12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear themnow. 13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. 15 All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.

Take Away:

1. Take some time to prayerfully ask what it is you desire from this study.

2. Do you have an unbiased mind going into this study and can you rightfully divide the Word of Truth to hear what God wants to share?

3. What are some questions you have about the Holy Spirit, His ministry, or gifts that you would like to have addressed in this study?

4. Take some time this week to read through the Bible about some of the verses we have discussed and examine for yourself.