The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-05-25
LESSON FOR NAY q
gfEiE HOLY SPIRIT. AND His WORK
tPENTEcosr EEssoN).

This lesson follows chapter 6:1-4.
lThe emphasis Jesus placed upon the
new and deeper intimacy into which
lthe disciples wereabout to enter, and
which involved participation in per-
isecutlons ". 10Y. However as a gar
rlson and helper when this persecution
should come, the believers are to have
ia their lives the Holy Spirit.
1. The Believer and the Spirit wv.
2627). The 'paraclete" (helper) was
10 proceed from the Father, but Jesus
WAS to send him. He is called the
Esprit Of Truth" because 1t Is his
work to reveal the truth, and It ~
through his teachings only that any
one may know the truth. Jesus is the
truth (ch. 1870, and the Spirit Of
Truth is to enable believers to testify
concerning Jesus. 1t qualities them for
such testimony. The disciples also
had the added qualification Of expe-
fience for I'VE 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.
n. The Believer and Persecution
It1e:1.e). This section has not been Sc
slected by the committee, but as part
lof the lesson we cannot overlook It
In 1t the Master enumerates specih-
lcaIly things that we're to come to the
disciples and that they might "remem-
her" He also mentions the fact that
these things are to come after he has
gone away. AS a relief from sorrow
l(v. 81, the Master goes on to show the
relation Of the Spirit to the world.
M. The Holy Spirit In the World
NV. 7-11). It was profitable for the
disciples that Jesus Should go, that an
other Divine friend was to take his
tplhce. This is the best section ia all
the Bible to teach the personality Of
1.-THE Holy Spirit The personal pro-
nouns in this section are very signif-
cant, there being seven in the thir-
lteenth verse alone. The word "Com-
Ifoftern here used means that and much
more. It Is the same word translated
I.'advocate." In John 2:1, it means
one who is called upon to stand be-
side another as 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.
(14i1e, 10. The Comforter has come,
land without him we can do nothing. BE
lis the one who convLcts the world
.'of sin, Of righteousness and Of judy
ment." OF sin, not because they have
broken the moral code, but because
they do not accept Jesus Christ as the
Messiah (Hebrews 1923. See oh.
8!1s-20). In the second place, he Is
to convict the world of righteousness.
The Holy Spirit has no other channel
through which he Gun get at the world
except through those who are already
saved. He, shows the world its error
pbout righteousness; also that Jesus is
tile only righteous one, and righteous
ness is only possible to us in him
i(phil. $50 R. W. 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 a sinner; second, that
Jesus "the Righteousness Of Cod" has
provided for us, and 1t is the Holy
Spirit who alone can show these two
things to men. In the third place, he
convlcts the world Of Judgment be-
cause 1.-THE prince Of this world is
Judged" This judgment is past (see
John 12:31), for Jesus has conquered
Satan. Certainly this is a truth that
needs to be emphasized in this day.
The Judgment of sin and punishment
tor sin, due to unbellef or rejection of
Jesus Christ, is seldom preached in
bur day.
IV.-The Spirit and Truth wv.
1915. There was much more that
Che Master might say to the disci-
pies, but they were not ready to bear
It ". 12). He, however, looks for
ward to the day when the Spirit shall
come, and they will be ready to re-
seive 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
zeal evidence Of the presence of the
holy Spirit In believer or in con-
Sregation is the degree Of exaltation
given to Jesus Christ
There Is a progressive intimacy In
gohn. Jesus first calls those who are
ut his side, servants (Ch. IS :1S). BE
aext calls them friends (Ch. 1919,
and lastly he calls them brethren
sCh. 2O:17). This Is the law of
Christian experience.
Sunday school teachers should GER
salnly take advantage Of this lesson
20 bring out the work Of the Spirit
wv. 8, 8, 10Y; the gifts of the Spirit
Il Cor. 12); and the fruits Of the
Spirit (Gal. 30, 2s), Let us be sure
that our scholars know what 1t means
10 have q definite, intimate, personal
relation with the all powerful one.