Lesson 2 for January 14, 2017

Adapted from www.fustero.es

www.gmahktanjungpinang.org

The hidden work of the Holy Spirit: His mysterious work. His creative work. His work in illustrating the plan

of salvation. Hidden behind Jesus.

Glorifying Jesus. Working for Jesus.

The work of the Holy Spirit goes unnoticed in the Bible because the focus is on the work of the Father and the Son.That’s because the Holy Spirit willingly and gracefully accepts a supporting, helping, sustaining, and equipping behind-the-scenes role.

HIS MYSTERIOUS WORK“Also He said to me, ‘Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of

man, and say to the breath, “Thus says the Lord God: ‘Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they

may live.’”’” (Ezekiel 37:9)When talking with Nicodemus, Jesus compared the work of the Spirit with the wind (John 3:5-8).

“It blows where He wishes”. No one can control Him. He does His will efficiently in a totally mysterious way.“You hear His sound”. Although we can’t see Him, His work is tangible. We can see the effect of His work in people.When He blows in us (dry bones), we receive new spiritual life.We need humbleness to accept that mysterious work in our lives even if we can’t fully understand it.

E.G.W. (The Desire of Ages, cp. 17, p. 173)

HIS WORK IN CREATION“The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over

the face of the waters.” (Genesis 1:2)

He was hovering over the waters as the eagle moves over her chicks to protect them (Deuteronomy 32:11). The Holy Spirit was present in Creation.

“You send forth Your Spirit, they are created; and You

renew the face of the earth.”(Psalm 104:30)

The Spirit was a secondary actor as he supported the work of the Father (Genesis 1:1) and the Son (Colossians 1:16; Hebrews 1:2)He was present when man was created (“let us make”) and He is a main actor in renewing life on earth.

HIS WORK IN THE SANCTUARY“See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri,

the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship.” (Exodus 31:2-3)When God wanted to explain the plan of Salvation with the sanctuary, He chose the Spirit for a very important role, although it was behind the scenes again.The Holy Spirit gave special gifts to Bezalel to do all the workmanship that was needed with skillfulness and beauty (Exodus 31:4-5).

Gifts he received• Wisdom• Understandi

ng• Knowledge• Creative

skills

Skills• Inventing

designs• Shaping gold,

silver and bronze

• Mounting stones

• Working with wood

• All manner of workmanship

GLORIFYING JESUS

“But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me… He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.” (John 15:26; 16:14)

How does the Holy Spirit glorify Jesus?The Spirit hides behind Jesus. His work is to attract us to Christ and His redeeming work.The Spirit is working whenever Jesus is exalted.If someone emphasizes the work of the Holy Spirit but belittles the person and work of Jesus, then the Holy Spirit is not actually in him.We most attract everyone to Jesus like the Spirit does, not to

ourselves (and not even to the Holy Spirit).

He made His incarnation

possible (Lk. 1:35)

He anointed Him for His mission

(Lk. 3:22)

He supported Him in

temptations (Lk. 4:1, 14)

He supported Him in His

redeeming work (Heb. 9:14)

He made His resurrection

possible (1P. 3:18)

WORKING FOR JESUS (I)

“how much more shall the blood of Christ, who

through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without

spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead

works to serve the living God?” (Hebrews 9:14)

The Holy Spirit played

an active role in the life

of Jesus.

He teaches us about Jesus by

using the Scriptures

He leads us to a saving relationship

with Jesus

He reproduces the character of Jesus

in us

He empowers us so we can live a life like

Jesus’

WORKING FOR JESUS (II)

““But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God

dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not

His.” (Romans 8:9)

The Holy Spirit is

still working for Jesus in the life of each

one of us.

E.G.W. (Steps to Christ, cp. 7, p. 58)