The Tupelo journal., 1908-05-08
Mission of h
Holy Spirit

Specially Prepared for This Paper

Will pray the ia
ther, and he shall give you another Com
%forter, that he may abide with you for
ever."-John 14:16.
SCRIPTURAL REFERENCES. - The
Holy Trinity: Matt. 2S:19; Luke 1:35; John
20:22; Acts 5:32; 2 Cor. 1874: Eph. 2:1S.
%; l John 5:6-s: Rev. 22:17. Names of the
Holy Spirit: John 15:26: Rom. SO; Gal.
4:6; l Thes. AS; Heb. 9:14; 1929; 1 Pet. /:
ii, IL; Ala; Rev. As. The Holy Spirit in
the Old Testament: Gen. IL; SO; Elk.
S1:1-3; Mum. 27:1S: Judg. 6:34; Neh. 800,
30; Job. 1894; Pisa. 51:11. II; lisa. 32:15;
40:13; 44:3; Eek. lis, "a; Joel 2;2S; Mic.
2:7; Zech. 4;6; 12:10. Sins Against the
Holy Spirit: Matt. 12:3l, 80; Mark 1923, %;
Acts 5:3, 4; 7:51; $3.50; Eph. 4:30; 1 Thes.
big; Heb. 1929. The Holy Spirit and
Prayer: Zech. 1910; Luke 11:13; Acts ABB;
Rom. S:26, "a; Eph. 2:1S; els; Jude 20. The
Teacher and Transformer: Luke 12:12;
John 1888; 14:26; 1913, IA; Acts "a, 80; S:29.
80; Rom. SO, II, IA, IS; l Cor. "a. 9-14;
S:16; 12:4-11; 2 Cor. S:17, 49,; Gal. 5:16-25;
2 Pet. 1:21; Rev. 81. The Comforter:
John 14:16, IT; 1871; Acts 9:31; Rom. 14:17;
BIB, 80; Gal. 6:8; Eph. S14-16; 4:3; 5:1S.
TIME.-Thursday evening, April 6. A.
D. 80.
PLACE.-The upper room in Jerusalem.
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
This lesson, which follows immedi-
ately upon last Sundays, being another
portion of our Lords last discourse
to his disciples, is one of great and
unique Importance. THE promise of
the Holy Spirit" says Maurice, "is
the characteristical one of these pas
chal conversations; it is that which
distinguishes them from our Lords
discourses to the multitude" This
was a promise to the disciples alone,
for the world outside John 14:17
could not receive the Comforter, their
hearts not being prepared for him.
1t was a promise precisely suited to
the need of the disciples, in view of
the coming separation from their Lord.
1t taught them that there was to be
no separation, but that Christ, in his
Holy Spirit, would still be with them.
therefore it is a promise suited to
the need of Christians of all ages
who long for a present guide, comfort
er, and upholder. The Holy Spirit is
Chrlsts successor among men; and
therefore what can be more important
for Christs followers than to know
him., love him, and obey him? Our
Lord disclosed him under five aspects:
I. The Holy Spirit a witness to
Christ Tvs. 26, 27.)
II. The Holy Spirit a comforter in
trial Tvs. ID.
III. The Holy Spirit a Judge of the
world Tvs. SID.
". The Holy Spirit a guide to
truth Tvs. 12-15).
V. The joy and power of the spirits
reign Tvs. 16-24).
Christ foretold what the spirit
would do in the world when he is
come. He was to do three htings:
/. "Reprove' (R. ", "convict'O the
world of Or. ", lin respect off, sin.
BY the world must be understood the
yet unbelieving part of mankind. so
denominated because it was far the
larger part, when these words were
spoken, as it still s."-American Com
mentary. h verb has a double sense,
"of a convincing unto salvation, and a
convicting unto condemnation.'-Al-
ford. The sin of the world is because
they believe not on" Christ ". 81.
1t is a notable proof of Christ's di-
vinity that he, the meek and lowly,
SAOuiu Nv IHlo unUSIlSl III himself
as the only sin worth mentioning.
Yet, indeed, it Is the root of all other
sins whatsoever. 1t Is the reigning
as well as the damning sin of the
world."-George Whitefeld. The es-
sence of sin is living to self. Belief
In Christ is the surrender of self
Alexander Maclaren, d. D.. As belief
of Christ is the beginning of all good
for man, disbelief Of him is the begin
ming of all evil.
2. The Holy Spirit would also con-
Wet the world in respect "of righteous.
ness, because l go to my Father"
The first step in the spirits work is
conviction Of sin; the second is the
exhibition Of righteousness. THE
life of Christ On earth as the pattern
for all mankind being completed, the
spirit makes known to man the ma
ture of that life, and thus shows what
the nature of righteousness is."-
Cambridge Bible.
3. The Holy Spirit would also con-
vict the world In respect "of judgment,
because the prince of this world is
(R. ", hath been") Judged The
prince of this world (see John 70:
81; 1880 is Satan, the ruler OF all
such forces of evil as Judas had now
become. Jesus knew that there was
a personal devil. That settles it.
Deems. However ludricous vulgar
superstitions may have made the no
ton, there is nothing ridiculous, nor
anything which we have the right to
call incredible, in Christ's solemn
declaration that the kingdom of dark.
ness has a king.'-Alexander Mac
laren, d. D.
The judgment that the Holy Spirit
gives is not only a condemnation and
casting out Of Satan, but it is an en-
lightenment Of the righteous. so that
they can form a Just judgment regard
ing the works of the devil.
The spirit will guide us into all
truth" Dear children" said old John
Tauler CA. D. 1340), the Holy Ghost
will not teach us all things in the
sense that we shall be given to know
whether there will be a good harvest
or vintage, whether bread will be dear
or cheap, whether the present war
will come to an end soon. No. dear
children; but he Will teach us all
things which we can need for a
perfect life" And especially. he
will shew o things to come,"-the
revelation given to John; the consti-