Talk Tuesday-The HOLY SPIRIT Series; The Roles of the HOLY SPIRIT, The Promise

Welcome back BGOers! Last week we looked at some of the names of the HOLY SPIRIT in the New Testament. We specifically focused on The HOLY SPIRIT-The Spirit of Truth. This week, we will continue with The HOLY SPIRIT-The Promise.

“37 On the last day, the great day of the festival, Jesus stood and cried out: 'Let anyone who is thirsty come to me! 38 Let anyone who believes in me come and drink! As scripture says, 'From his heart shall flow streams of living water.' 39 He was speaking of the Spirit which those who believed in him were to receive; for there was no Spirit as yet because Jesus had not yet been glorified.” John 7:37-39, NJB

In the Old Testament, the HOLY SPIRIT is often referred to as, 'The Spirit of GOD'. We see the Spirit at work in in the creation narrative (Genesis 1:2) and in the lives of ordinary people empowered by GOD to accomplish His purpose. There are leaders, judges, kings, prophets, prophetesses, and regular citizens given the Spirit to accomplish specific tasks; Joseph (Genesis 41:38), Moses (Numbers 11:17), Joshua (Numbers 27:18), Bezalel (Exodus 35:31), King David (1 Samuel 16:13), and Gideon (Judges 6:34), just to name a few. So, why does John 7:39 say, “there was no Spirit as yet because Jesus had not yet been glorified”?

JESUS promised a special outpouring of the HOLY SPIRIT to those who believe He is the Son of GOD, the promised Messiah. This promise begins in the Old Testament, continues into the New Testament and culminates in the book of Acts on the Day of Pentecost.

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; 2 to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord,” Isaiah 61:1-2, NKJV. In Nazareth on the Sabbath, JESUS went into the synagogue, read these same verses and proclaimed, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing,” Luke 4:21, NKJV.

“28 “And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions. 29 And also on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days,” Joel 2:28-29, NKJV (Joel 3:1-2, NJB).

JESUS is glorified in the crucifixion. He pays the penalty for our sins on the cross, setting us free from the laws of sin and death. He is the Passover Lamb, the Atoning Sacrifice, whose blood purifies and cleanses us. In John 14, when JESUS promises the HOLY SPIRIT, He says, “ I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you,” John 14:18, NIV. Then, right before the Ascension he instructs them on The Promise:

“4 While at table with them, he had told them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for what the Father had promised. 'It is', he had said, 'what you have heard me speak about: 5 John baptised with water but, not many days from now, you are going to be baptised with the Holy Spirit.' 6 Now having met together, they asked him, 'Lord, has the time come for you to restore the kingdom to Israel?' 7 He replied, 'It is not for you to know times or dates that the Father has decided by his own authority, 8 but you will receive the power of the Holy Spirit which will come on you, and then you will be my witnesses not only in Jerusalem but throughout Judaea and Samaria, and indeed to earth's remotest end.' 9 As he said this he was lifted up while they looked on, and a cloud took him from their sight.” Acts 1:4-9, NJB.

Join us next week as we look at the Day of Pentecost!