Friday: Further Thought – The Holy Spirit Working Behind the Scenes
No question, the work of the Holy Spirit is crucial to our walk with the Lord. Again, we might not be able to see Him work, but we can see the effect of His work in our lives and in the lives of others. If your life has been changed through faith in Jesus, it has been changed only through the work of the Holy Spirit in it. “While the wind is itself invisible, it produces effects that are seen and felt.
Image © Stan Myers from GoodSalt.com
So the work of the Spirit upon the soul will reveal itself in every act of him who has felt its saving power. When the Spirit of God takes possession of the heart, it transforms the life. Sinful thoughts are put away, evil deeds are renounced; love, humility, and peace take the place of anger, envy, and strife. Joy takes the place of sadness, and the countenance reflects the light of heaven.” – Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 173. These are wonderful promises, and an untold number of lives have shown just how real they are. But the work of the Holy Spirit is not instantaneous. We don’t automatically become the kind of people we ought to be. A life of faith and submission to the Lord is a life of struggle, of surrender, and of repentance when we fail. The Holy Spirit is the Divine Agent that works in our lives to make us new creatures in Christ. This is, though, the work of a lifetime. Though our faults and weaknesses should spur us onto a greater surrender to our Lord, we must not let the devil use them to discourage us in our Christian life, which he is always eager to do. When taunted by our sins, we must always remember the death of Jesus on behalf of sinners. It’s precisely because we are what we are, sinners in need of grace, that Jesus died for us and gives us that grace.
Discussion Questions:
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In a world of so many competing thoughts and ideas as they relate to spiritual truths, in last weeks lesson we are given peace and assurance that by the Holy Spirit we will be led into all truth. The real beauty of scripture will be revealed to those who desire the words of life… and they are life to us.
In this week’s lesson as we take a journey from creation and the fall, the wilderness temple to the life of the Redeemer Himself, we see the Holy Spirit in an essential but ever supportive role. Never in a glorified position… always the bridesmaid but never the bride so to say. Yet at the same time we see a beauty and a joy. Just as the movement of trees and leaves bear evidence of the winds passing so too the lives and hearts lifted up bear evidence of the passing of the Holy Spirit.
As parents we organize birthday parties for our kids. Behind the scenes there is a lot to organize – the invitations, cake, food, games, cleaning… does the list end? At the time for the party we stand back and all the attention is given to them. Their joy is our joy.
I do like the point in Wednesday’s lesson which brings out that, even more specific than glorifying Jesus, His work consists in elevating the redemptive work of Jesus.
While it’s true that God is worthy of all praise and glory and honour, it is not something that He seeks or demands. Like our keeping of the commandments it’s a love response.
Throughout the biblical narrative the focus has always been that of redemption and restoration and it is to this end in harmony with the Father and Son that the Holy Spirit strives. “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” Mark 10:45.
Two weeks ago we might have been able to say very little about the working of the Holy Spirit yet in these 2 short weeks our appreciation will have grown immensely. A practical lesson we can take from this week is to be of the same mind. That in all our dealings with others as far as our intentional acts go, we should ever seek to elevate Jesus and as John said – “He must increase, but I must decrease.” John 3:30 – the joy and transformation of the lives we touch should ever be our joy and reward.
Regarding the 2nd discussion question it’s worth noting with your class that we should draw a distinction between putting ourselves at the centre of attention and feeling that our contribution is appreciated.
I certainly learn more about the Holy Spirit. I learn that doing God work is to put aside self, die to self. I have heard this before, but now I learn to relax and let the Holy Spirit do its work.
Thought the Holy Spirit is not visible, like the wind, he is a person none the less. He is very personable also. Do not be afraid to be his friend. He loves it. He is on your side, Just as much as Jesus is. As I said before; "he is more on your side then you are." To be afraid of him or intimidated by him is counter productive. Don't just love him because your afraid not to. Though it is said that to sin against him it can't be forgiven doesn't license you to shun him. To sin against him is to dodge him from fear. Let him and his love for you permeate your friendship. You will have eternity to getting to know him.
The lack of being instantly transformed when surrendering is due to the need of developing right habits, a sound character and persevering faith. These are the conditions of always having a free will. Our fight of faith strengthens that faith which can happen in no other way.
1. First, I believe people do notice the effect of a Godly life, but if lived in the meekness of Jesus, all others will give the glory to God. Those who do not appreciate the holy life will eventually react like Cain against righteous Abel.
2. The Holy Spirit works though the Word of God which testifies of Jesus. By magnifying the Lamb of God, we are able to have a right understanding of our need, of the great Gift in Christ, and see the "goodness of God" displayed fully. Our salvation depends on our right understanding, which comes if we acknowledge the convictions of the Holy Spirit brought through the Word of God to our understanding. We will find what we seek, if seeking with all our heart.
Self-promotion will perish with the “old man” of sin if we genuinely repent. IF taking Christ's Yoke, it will thoroughly transform us into His likeness, who is “meek and lowly of heart”.
The only time the Holy Spirit can work in our life is "NOW." If He cannot work now He cannot work in us at all. The reason I think it seems to take so long for the Spirit to work in our lives is that we have many areas for the Spirit to subdue in us and to train us in the way of Godliness by His Love. .
Maybe it's like eating an elephant one bite at a time. In this case it is one moment at a time or one issue at a time.
To watch and to pray always is good advice. Jesus gave this advice several times in several ways to his disciples and his followers.
Honestly, the Holy Spirit is working in us. Sometimes we don't understand how He work in us because we tend to reject Him.
The illustration of the wind is a great way of expressing how the Holy Spirit works. The phrase, natural takes its course is another great illustration of the effects of the work of the Holy Spirit. There is no question regarding it status when it manifest in our lives. It is visible. Others see the renewed person, we are now an agent of the character of Jesus christ.
My brothers and sisters, by God's grace let us help each other to walk by the Spirit and not by the flesh. In our daily communion with Christ, let us pray for those of us how are weak and blinded by the things of the world. I will use this opportunity to ask God to forgive me of my sins and renew a right spirit in me. Help me Lord to walk by faith and not by sight.
God bless you all
Reminds me of the phrase, God looketh on the heart, man looketh on outward countenance. 1 Samuel 16:7.
If we look to outward countenance's we get ourselves into trouble, such as leaving our church for another. We need to look unto Jesus, sinless is He, Father impute His life unto me. My life a scarlet, my sin and woe. Cover with His life whiter than snow, yes now whiter than snow. Another example of the Holy Spirit working behind the scenes.