Daily Devotions
John
John 16 : 1 - 15 "REASONS FOR DETAILED INSTRUCTION CONCERNING THE HOLY SPIRIT"
Day 239 – John 16
REASONS FOR DETAILED INSTRUCTION CONCERNING THE HOLY SPIRIT
Why did Jesus go over and over with His Disciples concerning the doctrine of the Spirit of God? Obviously, there must have been special reasons why Jesus spent so much time teaching His Disciples about the Person of the Holy Spirit. Let us consider the following reasons.
1. Knowledge of the Holy Spirit’s Anointing
The Disciples must get to know the Holy Spirit as well as they had learned about Jesus! Let us recall what John the author recorded concerning the Holy Spirit in the earlier part of his Gospel.
“And John (the Baptiser) bore witness saying,
‘I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove,
and He remained upon Him.
I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water
said to me, “Upon whom you see the Spirit descending,
and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes
with the Holy Spirit.”‘”
John 1:32-33
As Jesus was specially empowered to minister as powerfully as He did, so would the Disciples be endued with power! They would be baptized with the Holy Spirit and power, for ministry! Knowledge like this would bring encouragement to the heart.
2. Understanding of the Work of the Spirit in salvation
The Disciples were being trained by Jesus so that they could be fishers of men. This great work could only be attempted successfully because of the full involvement of the Spirit of God. He is the One who causes a person to be born again. Jesus spoke to Nicodemus that he needed to be born again through the special ministry of the Holy Spirit.
“Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water
and the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God.Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’
The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it,
But cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes.
So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
John 3:5, 7-8
Personal knowledge of the Spirit’s work in salvation was already experienced by the faithful Eleven, though not described in the Gospel of John.
3. The Filling of the Spirit of God
Jesus had already spoken of how a person could be filled with the Spirit of God. He made this statement to the multitudes at the Temple in Jerusalem.
“He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said,
out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.
But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing
in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given,
because Jesus was not yet glorified.”
John 7:38-39
What powerful imagery Jesus used! Imagine a life described as “rivers of living water”. This phrase well describes the life of a person truly filled with the Person and power of the Spirit of God. This would happen to one who was truly Spirit filled. Knowledge of such great promises would thrill the heart and cause the believer to desire to be filled with the Holy Spirit.
A SUMMARY OF THE MINISTRY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Disciples must seek deep knowledge of the Holy Spirit’s ministry. The deeper their knowledge, the greater will be their confidence in Him. Through this deep knowledge would come comfort and power. We need to add the following truths to what we have already discovered about the Person and ministry of the Holy Spirit.
1. Indwelling
The Spirit of God would indwell all believers (John 14:17).
2. Teaching
The Holy Spirit would be their Teacher (John 14:26).
3. Witnessing
He would bear witness of who Jesus is (John 15:26).
4. Convicting hearts
He would convict hearts of sin, righteousness and judgment (John 16:7-11).
5. Guiding
He would guide all believers (John 16:13).
6. Glorifying Christ
He would always seek to glorify Jesus (John 16:14).
DESIRING TO BE FILLED
Are our hearts not moved to desire to be filled with the Holy Spirit? This desire is most natural. Every true child of God desires to be truly Spirit-filled!