The Dermott news., 1917-05-24
LESSON FOR MAY 27
THE HOLY SPIRIT AND HIS WORK
 -PENTEcOSTA LESSON.

This lesson follows chapter 15 IA.
 The emphasis Jesus placed upon the
 new and deeper intimacy into which
 the disciples were about to enter, and
 which involved n participation in per.
 secutions (v. 20). However, as 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.
 26-27). The "Iaraelete" (helper) was
 to proceed from 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 1t Is
 through his teachings only that any one may know the truth. Jesus is the
 truth (ch. II :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 eNpe-
 rience for 'ys 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 1 Q6:1-6). This section has not been se- ! lected by the committee. but as Il part ! of the lesson we cannot overlook It. 1 In 1t the Master enumerateS Specifi- l cally things that were to come to the 1 disciples and that they might 'remem- ! ,l,
 these things gre to come after he has gone away. AS Il relief from sorrow 1 (v. G1. the Master goes on to show the
 relation of the Spirit to the world.
 III. The Holy Spirit in the World ! (vv. T-1D. II was profitable for the 1 disciples that Jesus should go, that an- 1 other Divine friend WAS to take his 1 place. This is the best section in all | the Bible to teach the personality of 1 the Holy Spirit. The personal pro nouns in this section are very sienih- 1 cant. there being seven in the thir- i teenth verse alone. The word Com. ! forter" here used means that and much 1 more. Ii k the same word trlnSlated i "advacate." In I John 2:l. IL means i one who is called upon to stand be. 1 side another as helper counselor ! guide and friend. Jesus had been this | to his disciples thus far. hut he was ' going away. and another Friend was ! coming. who should not only be with 1 them. hut should dwell In them tCh. l14.1G, ID. The Comforter has como ! and without him We can do nothing. He | Is the one who convictS the world
 "nf sin, of righteousness and of tudg | mcnt." Of sin. not because they have | broken the moral code. hut because ! they do not accept Jesus Christ as the 1 Messiah UIehrews lo:2S. See ch, i 3:lS-am. 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
 excent 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 | (Phll. 80 R. VI. Because he hss l lived the right life. having fulfilled all ! righteousness, and gone on high, he l therefore convicts men. but the Spirit | does his work through the agency or | the word. Man needs to know first | of all that he is sinner second, that | Jesus "the righteousness of God. has | nrovided for us. and 1t 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 tho prince of this world Is | judged" This judgment Is past (see ! John 2:31). for Jesus has conquered 1 Satan. Certainly this Is truth that ! needs to he emphasized in this day, ' The judgment of sin and punishment 1 for sin. due to unhclief or rejection of 1 Jesus Christ, is seldom preached in our day.
 IV.-The Spirit and Truth tvv. l la15) There was much more that ! the Master might say to the disci- ! pleS. but they were not ready to bear i it (v. l2). He. however, looks for ward to the day when the Spirit shall
 come. and they will be ready to re- 1 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 ar speak from"
 hlmself) hut 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 n con.
 gregation is the degree of exaltation
 given 10 Jesus Christ.
 The-e Is progressive Intimacy ip
 John. Jesus first calls those who are
 at hls side. servants tCh. 13 :13). He
 next calls them friends (Ch. 15:15).
 and lastly he calls them brethren | (Ch. :11). 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 Spirr
 tvv. s. 9, lo): the gifts of the Spiri. | q Cor. 12): and the fruits of the |