I.
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BACKGROUND INFORMATION.
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A.
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THE HOLY SPIRIT. (#'s 10-17, Ryrie, pp. 11-22, 45-51.)
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1.
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"COMFORTER" = parakletos, meaning, called alongside.
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2.
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See Ps.69, key vs.20, for insight, as Christ speaks of one being cut off from the world, comfortless.
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3.
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Designated as such only in John:
14:16 - "ANOTHER COMFORTER" = allos paracletos, meaning,
"other,
not the same, but as the first."
14:26 - identified directly as the Holy Spirit (Ghost).
15:26 - clearly sent by Christ from the Father.
16:7 - will come only after Christ's departure.
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4.
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In O.T. as Holy Spirit in Ps.51:11; Isa.63:10,11.
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5.
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In N.T. as Holy Spirit in Lk.11:13; Ep.1:13; 4:30; I Th.4:8.
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6.
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In N.T. as Holy Ghost over 95 times.
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7.
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In O.T. as Spirit = ruach in Hebrew.
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8.
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In N.T. as Spirit = pneuma in Greek.
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9.
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Used as Spirit in O.T. & N.T. in their Hebrew & Greek form over 100 times, e.g., Joel 2:28 & Jn.1:32.
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10.
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His character is masculine in gender, not sexual; referred to as "HE" & "HIM",
never "IT", only "WHICH" in 15:26 grammatically neuter to identify pneuma,
but should be correctly translated "WHO", as in 14:26.
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11.
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HE FULFILLS THE REQUIREMENTS FOR PERSONALITY, thereby "He" clearly is a "PERSON",
not an "IT":
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I Co.1:10-11
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a.
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Has INTELLECT. (Possesses a mind - Ro.8:27)
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Ep.4:30
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b.
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Has EMOTIONS. (Can love - Ro.15:30)
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I Co.12:4-6
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c.
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Has A WILL. (In distributing gifts, I Co.12:11.)
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12.
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HE RECEIVES THE ASCRIPTIONS OF PERSONALITY:
a.
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Obeyed - Acts 10:19
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b.
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Lied to - Acts 5:3
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c.
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Resisted - Acts 7:51
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d.
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Grieved - Ep.4:30
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e.
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Reverenced - Ps.51:11
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fb.
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Blasphemed - Mt.12:31
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g.
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Outraged - He.10:29
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13.
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HE PERFORMS THE ACTIONS OF PERSONALITY:
a.
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Teaches - Jn.14:26
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b.
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Witnesses - Ro.8:16
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c.
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Guides - Ro.8:14
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d.
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Convinces - Jn.16:7-8
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e.
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Restrains - Ge.6:3
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f.
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Commands - Acts 8:29
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g.
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Miracles - Acts 8:39
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h.
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Calls - Acts 13:2
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i.
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Sends - Acts 13:4
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j.
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Intercedes - Ro.8:26
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14.
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HE POSSESSES THE ATTRIBUTES OF DIVINITY:
a.
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Omnipresence. (All present) - Ps.139:7
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b.
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Omnipotent. (All powerful) - Job 33:4
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c.
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Omniscience. (All knowing) - I Co.2:11-12
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15.
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HE PERFORMS THE ACTIONS OF DIVINITY:
a.
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Creating - Ge.1:2
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b.
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Inspiring - II Pe.1:21
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c.
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Begetting - Lk.1:35
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d.
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Convicting - Jn.16:8
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e.
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Regenerating - Jn.3:6
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f.
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Sanctifying - II Th.2:13
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g.
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Interceding - Ro.8:26
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h.
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Comforting - Jn.14:16
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Ro.8:4,9
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16.
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The Spirit of God, Spirit of Christ, and Spirit are one and the same.
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17.
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His relation to Jesus:
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Lk.1:35
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a.
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The Agent of His Birth.
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Lk.4:18
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b.
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He was Anointed by the Spirit.
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Lk.4:1
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c.
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He was Filled with the Spirit.
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Jn.6:27
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d.
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He was Sealed by the Spirit.
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Lk.4:1
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e.
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He was Led by the Spirit.
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Lk.10:21
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f.
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He Rejoiced in the Spirit.
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Mt.12:28
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g.
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He was Empowered by the Spirit.
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He.9:14
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h.
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He was Sustained in death by the Spirit.
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Ro.8:11
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i.
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He was Raised from death by the Spirit.
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TRUTH:
IF JESUS HAD TO DEPEND UPON THE POWER OF THE SPIRIT FOR HIS DAILY LIFE, HOW MUCH THE MORE US?
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18.
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John 15:26 is rich in truth. Study it. Jesus will now reveal to these cleansed ones the life and
work of the Holy Spirit, as He will come to abide in them, enabling them to carry on Jesus' mission on
Earth in His physical absence.
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B.
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CONTEXTUAL EVENTS.
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1.
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The time is still before midnight, Thursday, 15th Nisan. Jesus and the eleven are likely enroute
from the upper room (14:31) to Gethsemane
(18:1).
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I Jn.4:16
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2.
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He has shared His most intimate moments with them (13:5 and following),
charged them repeatedly with a new commandment (13:34; 14:15; 15:12;
15:7), informed them of His earthly departure (13:33),
assured them of His return for them (14:3), promised them comfort, power,
and guidance in the interim (14:16,26), and revealed and explained to
them the key to a fruitful, successful, and prayerful life (abiding in Him,
-- 14:10-11; 15:1-16). He now turns to contrast Heavenly Love to worldly love.
They should not mourn the loss of the love of this world, for it pales in comparison to that which is
genuine and eternal, which proceeds from the essence of the Father.
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15:14,19
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3.
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They have been CHOSEN and CALLED OUT of this world (separated from it by
their identification with Him), yet to remain in the world as a conduit of His love to many others.
(17:14-16,18)
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17:15
16:20
17:1,4
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4.
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Since He will pray the Father for them to remain, He must warn them of the enemy they will face (the world),
that when their trials come, they will not stumble, but stand firm upon the Rock of their salvation as a witness
to the world for Him, causing others to see their faith, know of His reality, and come also to Him for their own.
(
16:27,
Acts 16:28,30)
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12:32
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5.
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Consequently, there must appear to the world and to those who remain enslaved in the sin and darkness of
this world, a clear distinction in the disciples' lives to that of their previous existence. They cannot
be carnal chameleons, but distinctly different, obediently loving, and faithfully firm at all costs.
The world must see the Power behind their distinct lives to be drawn to the Cross of their Savior.
It was Frank Scott who observed, "A Christianity that can endure the world, and with which the
world is pleased, must have, in some measure, lost its True Power" (Scott, p. 439).
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TRUTH:
WHERE FAITHFULNESS FAILS, POWER WANES, AND SOULS SLIP AIMLESSLY PAST OUR LIVES OVER THE BRINK OF DESTRUCTION,
FOREVER LOST INTO THE ETERNAL FLAMES OF HELL.
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6.
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It is essential for the disciple to see his or her own life as a necessary magnet, drawing aimless souls
from darkness and eternal danger to secure them into that Anchor for all human souls.
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Acts 2:4
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7.
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Jesus has demonstrated this in His life and will begin to teach them of this magnetic power that will
energize them at Pentecost.
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