Unlocking the Power of the Holy Spirit

Just as Jesus made God’s presence known in a visible and tangible way (“No one has ever seen God. The One and Only Son — the One who is at the Father’s side — He has revealed Him.” (John 1:18, HCSB), the Holy Spirit will make God’s presence known. He, the Holy Spirit is not simply a power or a force, but a person just as God the Father and Jesus the Son are persons, will be with believers ‘forever’ (John 14:16, 17, 16:7).

As Jesus walked, talked, and performed miracles these men and women grew nearer to God through the presence of Jesus. In the same way (i.e. ‘another Comforter/Paraclete), the Holy Spirit will make the presence of Jesus the Son and God the Father real.

2. The Spirit reveals truth

As the power of Rome grew pressure was also growing to acknowledge that Augustus, who had been emperor when Jesus was born, was truly a god.

. As trade routes expanded, particularly between North Africa and southern Europe Jerusalem was growing into a major stop on the route. People brought with them their own religious customs and practices offering a smorgasbord of possible truths.

Jesus Himself claimed to be truth: “Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6, HCSB)

a). He convicts the world about sin

b). He convicts the world about righteousness

“So a second time they summoned the man who had been blind and told him, “Give glory to God. We know that this man is a sinner!” He answered, “Whether or not He’s a sinner, I don’t know. One thing I do know: I was blind, and now I can see!” Then they asked him, “What did He do to you? How did He open your eyes?” “I already told you,” he said, “and you didn’t listen. Why do you want to hear it again? You don’t want to become His disciples too, do you?”” (John 9:24–27, HCSB)

c). He convicts the world about judgment

3. The Spirit makes much of Jesus

““When the Counselor comes, the One I will send to you from the Father —the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father—He will testify about Me.” (John 15:26, HCSB)

“He will glorify Me, because He will take from what is Mine and declare it to you.” (John 16:14, HCSB)

How then do we evaluate if someone else has received the Spirit?

“My Father is glorified by this: that you produce much fruit and prove to be My disciples.” (John 15:8, HCSB)

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the One who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Dear friends, I urge you as strangers and temporary residents to abstain from fleshly desires that war against you. Conduct yourselves honorably among the Gentiles, so that in a case where they speak against you as those who do what is evil, they will, by observing your good works, glorify God on the day of visitation.” (1 Peter 2:9–12, HCSB)

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