The Carlisle independent., 1917-05-24
INTERNATIONAL SlINL(AyS([NlOL
 LESSON tBy F. o. SELLERS. Acting Director cf the Sunday School Course of the Moody Bible fnstitute) Copyright. 1917. Western Newspaper Union.)
LESSON FOR MAY 27
THE HOLY SPIRIT AND HIS WORK
 -PENTEcosTAL LEssoN).

This lesson follows chapter 15 :1-4. new and deeper intimacy into which the disciples were about to enter, and which involved participation in per secutions (v. 20). However, as a gar rison and helper when this persecution should come, the believers are to have in their lives the Holy Spirit.
 |. The Believer and the Spirit tvv. 26-2O. The "Iaraclete" (helper) was to proceed frorn the Father, but Jesus was to send him. He is called the Spirit of Truth" because it is his work to reveal the truth, and it is through his teachings only that any one may know the truth. Jesus is the truth (ch. 14:6), and the Spirit of Truth is to enable believers to testify concerning Jesus. It qualities them for such testimony. The disciples also had the added qualification of expe- rience for 'ye have been with me from the beginning" The disciples were eye witnesses of what he did and what he was, and heard and knew all that he claimed for himself and what his life proved itself to be.
 II. The Believer and Persecution G6:1-6). This section has not been se- lected by the committee, but as a part of the lesson we cannot overlook it. In it the Master enumerates speciti- cally things that were to come to the disciples and that they might "remem- Der" He also mentions the fact that these things gre to come after he has gone away. AS n relief from sorrow (v @. the Master goes on to show the relation of the Spirit to the world.
 III. The Holy Spirit in the World (vv. 7-11). It was profitable for the disciples that Jesus should go. that an other Divine friend was to take his place. This Is the best section in all the Bible to teach the personality of the Holy Spirit. The personal pro- nouns in this section are very signii- cant, there being seven in the thir- teenth verse alone. The word Com. forter" here used means that and much more. It is the same word translated
 
 one who is called upon to stand be side another as a helper, counselor, guide and friend. Jesus had been this to his disciples thus far, but he was going away, and another Friend was coming, who should not only be with them, but should dwell in them (Ch. IA :16 ID. The Comforter has come,
 .1- l.s Il Ir is the one who convicts the world "of sin, of righteousness and of iudg- ment." Of sin, not because they have broken the moral code, but because they do not accept Jesus Christ as the Messiah (Hebrews 10:2S. See ch. 8 3:1S-2O). In the second place, he is to convict the world of righteousness. The Holy Spirit has no other channel through which he can get at the world except through those who are already saved. He shows the world its error about righteousness; also that Jesus IS the only righteous one, and righteous ness is only possible to us in him (Phil. 3:9 R. VI. Because he has lived the right life, having fulfilled all righteousness. and gone on high, he therefore convicts men, but the Spirit does his work through the agency of the word. Man needs to know first of all that he is sinner; second. that Jesus 'the righteousness of God" has provided for us, and it is the Holy Spirit who alone can show these two things to men. In the third place, he convicts the world of judgment be- cause "the prince of this world is judged" This judgment is past (see John 2:3D. for Jesus has conquered Satan. Certainly this is truth that needs to be emphasized in this day. The judgment of sin and punishment for sin, due to unbelief or rejection of Jesus Christ, is seldom preached in our day.
 IV.-The Spirit and Truth tvv. 12-15). There was much more that the Master might say to the disci- pies, but they were not ready to bear it (v. 12). He, however, looks for ward to the day when the Spirit shall come, and they will be ready to re- ceive these things. The Spirit will  guide them into truth, all truth, for he shall not speak of himself Che will not bear witness unto or speak from" himself) but the things that he will speak of will be concerning Jesus. The real evidence of the presence of the Holy Spirit in believer or in con- gregation is the degree of exaltation given to Jesus Christ.
 There is a progressive intimacy in John. Jesus first calls those who are at his side, servants (Ch. 13 :13). He next calls them friends (Ch. 15 :15), and lastly he calls them brethren (Ch. 20:1O. This is the law of Christian experience.
 Sunday school teachers should cer tainly take advantage of this lessos to bring out the work of the Spirfs (Yv. 8. 9. 1O); the gifts of the Spiris q Cor. 12); and the fruits of the Spirit Gal. 5 :22, 23). Let us be sure that our scholars know what it means to have a definite, intimate, personal