Browse Bible Study Resources

Daily Devotions

John

John 
Day 
Day 238

John 16 : 1 - 15 "CHRIST AT THE CENTER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT'S MINISTRY"

Day 238 – John 16

CHRIST AT THE CENTER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT’S MINISTRY

Many believers are divided on the issue of how to understand the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Some believe that the Holy Spirit being sovereign can do whatever He wants to do. How true is this statement in the light of what Jesus taught?


“He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine
and declare it to you.
All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said
that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.”
John 16:14-15

It is of utmost importance that we understand the import of this declaration that Jesus made.

1. “He will glorify Me…”

The focus of the Holy Spirit’s ministry is plainly and clearly stated! He will not glorify Himself. He will not draw attention to Himself. His ministry is to glorify Jesus! Just as the Son loved the Father and sought only His glory, so the Spirit of God would not glorify Himself, but the Son. When He does that, the Father is also glorified!

2. He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine…”

What did Jesus mean by this statement? Let us consider the following important texts that would shed light on this statement.

“For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment
to the Son, that all should honour the Son just as they honor
the Father. He who does not honour the Son does not honour
the Father…

For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son
to have life in Himself,
and has given Him authority to execute judgment also,
because He is the Son of Man…”
John 5:22-23, 26-27

a) Jesus has the power to judge.
b) Jesus has the right to receive all honour.
c) Jesus has the power to give life.
d) Jesus has fullness of authority.

CLEAR EXAMPLES OF HOW THE SPIRIT OF GOD FUNCTIONS

1. The Empowering of the Holy Spirit

Jesus had every authority to make this statement to His Disciples.

“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit
has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me…”
Acts 1:8

The Book of Acts details how the Disciples were indeed empowered by the Spirit of God. They bore witness for Jesus in the most fruitful manner (Acts 2 – Peter was empowered by the Spirit of God to preach a mighty message that saw three thousand moved to receive Jesus as Saviour! That was empowering indeed!).

Not only were the Apostles empowered! Those who had great faith in the Lord were similarly endowed with wondrous powers. Consider this description of a man called Stephen who was chosen to assist the Apostles in the administration of the Church.

“And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders
and signs among the people.”
Acts 6:8

2. Judgment by the Holy Spirit

As the Church grew, unsavoury characters crept in and tried to deceive the leaders. Peter, the acknowledged leading Apostle, confronted the culprits, Ananias and Sapphira, and both were judged by the Spirit of the Lord and slain. Peter’s word of reprimand to Ananias was worth noting carefully.

“Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart
to lie to the Holy Spirit…

Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down
and breathed his last.”
Acts 5:3, 5

Was the death of Ananias a mere coincidence? Did he perhaps die of shock that his terrible misdeed was discovered? The death of Sapphira soon after, confirmed that their sentence was meted out by none other than the Spirit of God Himself. Sapphira and Ananias had dreamed up this scheme to deceive Peter. However the Spirit of God could not be deceived! He had the power of life and death in His hands. He was indeed the Helper of great power sent by the Father and the Son!

“Then Peter said to her, ‘How is it that you have agreed
together to test the Spirit of the Lord?
Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband
are at the door, and they will carry you out.’
Then immediately she fell down at his feet and
breathed her last.”
Acts 5:9-10