WHY THE HOLY SPIRIT CAME (Pentecost) 

1.  The Spirit Came at Pentecost (John 14:15-18; Acts 2:1-4) 

     A. Loving Obedience Required (John 14:15) 

     B. The Comforter Promised (John 14:16-18) 

     C. The Promise Fulfilled (Acts 2:1-4) 

2.  The Spirit Helps Believers (John 14:26; 16:12-14; Romans 8:26-27) 

     A. The Spirit Teaches (John 14:26) 

     B. The Spirit Guides (John 16:12-14) 

     C. The Spirit Intercedes (Romans 8:26-27) 

3.  The Spirit Convinces the World (John 15:26-27; 16:7-11) 

     A. The Spirit of Truth (John 15:26-27) 

     B. The Convincer (John 16:7-11) 

Central Truth:  The Holy Spirit enables us to live for Christ and make the Gospel known to the world. 

Focus:  Understand God’s purpose in sending the Holy Spirit and rely on the Spirit’s help for Christian living and witness. 

Evangelism Emphasis:  Through the convincing work of the Holy Spirit, the unsaved are brought to Christ. 

Text:  “When the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me” (John 15:26). 

INTRODUCTION 

The Holy Spirit is not a mere force or influence, but God himself. Speaking theologically, we identify the Holy Spirit as the “third” person of the Trinity. However, the Scripture places Him on the same level as the Father and the Son (2 Cor. 13:14; Matt. 28:19; 1 Cor. 12:4-6). As the One who carries to completion the saving work of the Father and Son, the Spirit is called by such names as “the Spirit of God,” “the Holy Spirit of God,” “the Spirit of adoption,” “the Spirit of the Son,” and “the Spirit of Christ.” 

The Holy Spirit is a person, just as God the Father and Christ the Son are persons. In the Bible the Holy Spirit is represented as One who thinks (Rom. 8:27), feels (15:30), wills (1 Cor. 12:11), teaches (John 14:26), guides (Acts 8:29), and intercedes (Rom. 8:26-27). The Spirit shows love and affection (15:30) and bears witness that we are children of God (8:16). These are activities of a person, not a mere force or influence. 

As well as performing works as a person, the Holy Spirit is affected as a person by the acts of others. Ananias and Sapphira lied to the Spirit (Acts 5:3, 9). He can be blasphemed (Matt. 12:31-32) and grieved (Eph. 4:30). The Apostle Peter called the Holy Spirit “God” (Acts 5:3-4). He is God, personally present in believers. Believers are “the temple of God”—“the temple of the Holy Spirit” (1 Cor. 3:17; 6:19). The Holy Spirit also has divine attributes. He is omnipresent (Ps. 139:7-10), omnipotent (Zech. 4:6; Rom. 15:18-19), eternal (Heb. 9:14), and Co-Creator of the world (Gen. 1:2; Ps. 104:30). The Holy Spirit is divine because God is divine, and He is personal because God is personal. He lives in perfect unity with the Father and the Son, but He is also a distinct person, as is each of them. 

This world has never been without the Holy Spirit. Jesus promised His disciples the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8), but the Spirit was a powerful presence in the lives of God’s people before New Testament times. As the Old Testament reveals, the Holy Spirit worked in Creation and in the lives of God’s people long before the days of the New Testament.—French L. Arrington 

1. THE SPIRIT CAME AT PENTECOST 

A. Loving Obedience Required (John 14:15) 

15 If ye love me, keep my commandments. 

Jesus is teaching His disciples on their final Passover together. He says they will prove their love for Him by doing His will. “My commandments” includes all of Jesus’ moral teachings while on earth. Those teachings include not committing adultery in their heart (Matt. 5:28); loving their enemy (v. 44); giving and praying in private (6:4-6); forgiving others (v. 12); not loving money (v. 24); not judging others (7:1); walking the narrow path (vv. 13-14); bearing good fruit (v. 17); and much more. 

Jesus does not expect us to live an obedient life through our own ability. We are to depend on His Spirit, as the following verses reveal. 

People of Excellence 

People of excellence are those who see through the clutching greed of our times—people who have declared their undivided allegiance to Christ’s message, people who have humbled themselves to Christ’s sovereign authority.—Charles Swindoll 

B. The Comforter Promised (John 14:16-18) 

16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. 18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.  

Four times in His farewell discourse, Jesus referred to the Holy Spirit as the Comforter. The Greek word for “Comforter” is parakletos. It refers to an advocate who stands by as an intercessor, a helper, and a counselor. So, we rightly conclude that Comforter suggests the idea of “strengthening in weakness.” Jesus declared, “I will not leave you comfortless” (v. 18). We also correctly infer that “comfort in sorrow” is included in the meaning. 

However, the thought of sorrow was not prominent in the mind of Jesus as He used the word Comforter in His Upper Room discourse. Three times He identified the Comforter as “the Spirit of truth,” who was to lead the disciples into all truth (v. 17; 15:26; 16:13). Once He is described as helping the disciples remember Jesus’ teachings (14:26); and the Holy Spirit will convict the human heart of sin, righteousness, and judgment (16:8). As Jesus used the word Comforter, it becomes clear that the idea of consolation and comfort is secondary to that of strength and help. 

The word Spirit (14:17) comes from the Latin word spiritus, which is synonymous with the Greek word pneuma. Both literally signify “breath” or “wind.” The Holy Spirit is called the “breath of God” with reference to His mode of subsistence, proceeding from God as the breath from the mouth. Observe the characteristic action of Jesus in John 20:22. 

The Holy Spirit is not called Spirit merely because of the spirituality of His essence, for this is likewise true of the Father and Son. Neither is He called Holy in reference to the exclusive holiness of His nature, for He is no more holy than either of the other persons of the Trinity. But this term has reference to God’s official character—He is the author of all holiness. 

The Holy Spirit is called the “Spirit of truth.” It is His special office to apply the truth to the hearts of Christians. He is to guide us into all truth and to sanctify us by the truth. 

The Holy Spirit cannot be known and received by the world (14:17). His operations are foolishness to unbelievers. However, the Holy Spirit is said to “dwell” in believers. We know the feelings of conviction, faith, hope, and reverence He creates and the fruit He produces. 

When Jesus referred to the Holy Spirit as the Comforter, He knew the disciples would need this kind of assistance. He himself had been a Paraclete to them. They had leaned on Him in every perplexity and trial. Now He was going away, and these words concerning another Comforter would be welcome. They were not to be deserted, for the Holy Spirit was to come to them. 

• What did Jesus pray for (v. 16)? 
• What did Jesus reveal about the Holy Spirit (v. 17)? 

C. The Promise Fulfilled (Acts 2:1-4) 

1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. 

The Day of Pentecost came fifty days after the Passover. It was one of three Jewish festivals to which every male Jew living within twenty miles of Jerusalem was legally bound to come—the Passover, Pentecost, and the Feast of Tabernacles. It commemorated the giving of the Law to Moses on Mount Sinai. 

As people gathered in Jerusalem from around the world, about 120 believers were gathered in the Upper Room awaiting the coming of the Holy Spirit. They spent time in prayer and personal preparation so they could receive the Spirit. These followers of the Lord were assembled in one place for one purpose. They were in “one accord” (v. 1); that is, the occasion was marked by unity. The expression indicates they were knit together with a bond stronger than death. This kind of unity is desperately needed in the Church today. 

After ten days of waiting, the Spirit came “suddenly” upon the believers (v. 2). When God acts, He often acts suddenly. This is true of the conversion experience. The moment someone repents and believes, they are saved. 

Waiting in the Upper Room, the believers heard a sound as of the blowing of a violent wind. Living in that area, they had witnessed many storms at sea and thus had heard the blowing of violent wind many times. What they heard was the same sound, but this sound came not from a stormy sky. They were sure of one thing—it came “from heaven.” It was a symbol of the Spirit; it indicated His power—mighty, mysterious, and heavenly, but unseen. The suddenness and strength of the sound struck the believers with awe, and completed their preparation for the heavenly gift. 

The followers of the Lord in the Upper Room not only heard a sound as of a rushing mighty wind; they also saw what appeared to be “like flames or tongues of fire” that separated and “settled on each of them” (v. 3 NLT). 

In the Word, fire is frequently used as a symbol of the divine presence. It also represents fervor and enthusiasm. Touched by fire from Heaven, one cannot remain cold and indifferent. Fire is a beautiful symbol of the Spirit’s burning energy that is abundantly available to believers. 

The Pentecostal fire came in the shape of tongues. The tongue is the instrument God uses to proclaim the Gospel. Witnessing for Christ is directly linked with the coming of the Spirit. Jesus said, “Ye shall be witnesses unto me” (Acts 1:8). Witneses tell what they know. Christians keep the faith but do not keep it to themselves. 

The tongues of fire came to rest upon each person present in the Upper Room. They did not come to the apostles alone, but to every believer present. This is encouraging to believers at all levels of life. These believers received an inward experience. To be “filled” with the Spirit is to be brought completely under His control. This is essentially what happened to these believers. The power of the Spirit flooded their souls. Thereafter He manifested Himself in their lives on numerous occasions. 

These devoted disciples also received an outward manifestation: they spoke “with other tongues.” The speakers did not understand what they were saying; their words were beyond their conscious control. Luke is careful to point out that the Spirit initiated their speech. 

• Explain the two uses of the word “one” in verse 1. 

With God’s Fire, We Are . . . 

—Bright and shining lights 

—Flaming oracles of God 

—An Elijah on Mount Carmel 

—Moses on top of a mountain 

—Joshua conquering Jericho 

—Peter on the Day of Pentecost.—John D. Nichols 

2. THE SPIRIT HELPS BELIEVERS 

A. The Spirit Teaches (John 14:26) 

26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. 

The disciples did not have the power and wisdom to be proper witnesses without the Holy Spirit. Of course, they remembered experiences from the life and ministry of Jesus. As eyewitnesses they could have painted word pictures of His death, His resurrection, and His ascension. They could have done this with conviction and enthusiasm. Clearly, the disciples were bound to one another in one fellowship through their love for Christ and His love for them. But Jesus knew these virtues would not be sufficient for the task ahead. Therefore, He promised them “power from on high” (Luke 24:49)—an infilling of God’s wisdom, strength, courage, and vision. Their new Spirit baptism would serve to comfort, teach, and challenge them in their life and witness. 

If we allow the Holy Spirit to bring the words of Jesus to our remembrance, we will understand they are the only infallible text of real orthodoxy, the only unerring touchstone of truth, the only immaculate code of laws, the only faultless system of morals, and the only unchanging ground of hope. 

The Great Revealer 

The Holy Spirit is called “the Spirit of truth” because He is the great revealer of truth. He takes the things of Christ and makes them known to believers.

—French Arrington 

B. The Spirit Guides (John 16:12-14) 

12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. 13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. 14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. 

The disciples’ need for the Holy Spirit is seen in the fact that they could not understand the many things Jesus had yet to say to them. But Jesus assured them the Holy Spirit would guide them into all truth concerning Himself and the doctrines He taught. The ministry of the Holy Spirit is Christ-centered. It is characteristic of Him not to speak of Himself but of Christ. 

The statement “He will disclose to you what is to come” (v. 13 Amp.) undoubtedly refers to the finished New Testament—the establishing of the Church to include both Gentiles and Jews and the proclaiming of the Gospel message everywhere. 

Verse 14 reminds us rivalry does not exist within the Godhead. Each person in the Trinity delights in serving the others. Christ’s passion was to manifest and glorify the excellence of the Father (8:54; 17:4-5). 

The primary concern of the Holy Spirit is to glorify Christ and to see Him enthroned as Lord in our hearts. He does not add anything to the personal glories of the ascended Christ but glorifies Christ in our experience with Him. The Spirit reveals and explains Christ. What light is to the earth, the Holy Spirit is to Christ. 

• Why didn’t Jesus reveal certain things to the disciples (v. 12)? 
• List ministries of the Holy Spirit (vv. 13-14). 

C. The Spirit Intercedes (Romans 8:26-27) 

26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. 

In this chapter, Paul deals with three kinds of groanings. First, he pictures the creation growning and travailing in pain (v. 22). Then, he says believers groan inwardly, awaiting our full adoption as His children—the redemption of our bodies (v. 23). Now, he writes of the Spirit making intercession for us with groans that words cannot utter. 

As God, through the Holy Spirit, will take care of the future needs represented by the groanings of creation and His children, so He will take care of our present needs. He comes to our aid in our weaknesses and understands our present limitations. 

We need the help of the Holy Spirit in prayer because we don’t know how we ought to pray (v. 26). We cannot foresee the future. God knows the past, the present, and the future. Our knowledge of the past and the present is limited, and our knowledge of the future is practically nil. But God knows it all. The help of the Spirit is, then, essential to effective and Christ-honoring prayer. 

Also, we need the help of the Spirit in prayer because in any given situation we do not know what is best for us. We may think we do, but in reality only God knows best. So, the only really perfect prayer we can offer is the prayer Jesus prayed: “Not my will, but thine, be done” (Luke 22:42). We cannot go wrong with this prayer. 

Then, we can bring to God an inarticulate sigh which the Spirit will translate to God for us (Rom. 8:26). He will plead our case with inexpressible yearnings, with groans that are too deep for words. His assistance is invaluable. God, who knows the needs of the human heart, understands what the Spirit’s meaning is, even when the expressions are inarticulate. He knows the unspoken desire of the Spirit, who always puts our prayer in the context of God’s constructive purpose for our life. 

The Spirit pleads our case before God and He always intercedes in a manner that is in harmony with God’s will (v. 27). As believers, we need to avail ourselves of this help from the Spirit of God. By leaning upon Him, we can be guided in the path of righteousness and receive a clearer and stronger assurance of God’s presence. He assists us in our prayers and places within us high and holy aspirations. 

Divine Advocates 

We have an Advocate with the Father in heaven in the Person of the Lord Jesus (1 John 2:1), and we have One within our hearts as well who can lay bare before the eyes of God the deepest needs of our souls.—John Phillips 

3. THE SPIRIT CONVINCES THE WORLD 

A. The Spirit of Truth (John 15:26-27) 

26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: 27 And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning. 

The context of these verses is set in verse 18 at the beginning of this section of teaching. Christ said the world hated Him and would also hate the disciples. In light of this hatred, Christ instructs them so they will not “stumble” (16:1 NKJV). The climax of the description of hatred is found in 15:25, when Christ says the world hated Him “without a cause.” Christians feel this attack as well and need a secure foundation to stand on. In verse 26, Jesus says despite the unjustified and brutal attack of the world, there is such a foundation, the Holy Spirit, whom Jesus will send to them. 

“Spirit of truth” describes a vital work of the Holy Spirit in establishing us when the world opposes us. When our stand for Christ is attacked unjustifiably, the Holy Spirit will work to establish us. Despite the false claims of the world against us, there is stability. The Holy Spirit establishes truth in our life. 

Christ locates the source and the authority of the work of truth by the Holy Spirit. The source is “the Father.” The work of the Spirit in establishing truth in our life is to “testify of [Christ]” (v. 26). Our responsibility then is to be witnesses for Christ through the Spirit’s power (v. 27). 

• Describe the relationship between Jesus and the Holy Spirit (v. 26). 

Help Is on the Way 

In essence, Jesus said, “I’ll not let you down. I’ll not leave you without help. I will come to you. So don’t give up . . . and don’t lose heart. Help is on the way. I will send Him to you.”—Ray H. Hughes Sr. 



B. The Convincer (John 16:7-11) 

7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. 8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 Of sin, because they believe not on me; 10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; 11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. 

The disciples were “filled with grief” (John 16:6 NIV) because Jesus said He would soon be leaving them. The departure of Jesus was a disappointment of their greatest hopes. They had placed all their hopes concerning the Messiah in Jesus. They had expected Jesus to restore the kingdom of Israel. His telling them that instead of sitting on the throne of His father David He was going to die brought to them a paralyzing fear. 

Understanding the attitude of the disciples, Jesus reassured them by saying, “Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you” (v. 7 NIV). He went on to point out that the coming of the Holy Spirit would be a greater blessing to them than His personal presence had been. 

From these words of Jesus, it can be seen that under certain conditions absence is better than presence. For the disciples it was worthwhile to lose Jesus’ physical presence if they might find for themselves the way into that spiritual world in which they had seen Him moving. Jesus wanted them to learn to walk in the Spirit—to walk by faith and not by sight. 

To “reprove” (v. 8) is to convince one of error or sinfulness. This is the work of the Holy Spirit in relation to our condition before God. In The Holy Spirit in the Gospels, J. R. Smith says of the Holy Spirit, “He so presents the truth to men that they ought to believe. . . . The end sought in conviction is conversion. The truth is made plain, not that men may be condemned, but that they might be saved.” 

Jesus said the Holy Spirit would “convict the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment” (v. 8 NKJV). Sin is the basis of all the world’s ills; but apart from the work of the Holy Spirit, the world does not recognize this. While the world is aware of human defects such as injustice, cruelty, pride, and greed, these are surface manifestations of a greater fundamental evil in the character of humankind. But the world does not understand this. 

The Holy Spirit, working in people’s hearts as the Word of God is presented, convinces individuals of their sin and of their need for a Savior (v. 9). The Holy Spirit also convinces the world of the righteousness found in Christ (v. 10). Jesus Christ, the Son of God, took upon Himself human flesh and in the flesh condemned sin. He was exposed to the same temptations, corruption, and weaknesses as we are, yet He did not sin. This was what the world needed to see. But the world was not willing to receive the heaven-sent Light that penetrated its darkness. 

Instead of accepting Christ as the Son of God, religious leaders banded together and agreed Jesus was blaspheming God when He declared He was life and the pattern of holiness. They condemned Him to death on this pretext. He was crucified, but He arose, ascended to the Father, and sent the Holy Spirit into the world to convince sinners that He is the Son of God. So it was actually “the prince of this world” (v. 11)—Satan—who was condemned through Christ’s suffering. And it is still the Holy Spirit who is convincing all who will listen that Jesus is the Savior. 

• What was to the disciples’ advantage, and why (v. 7)? 

GOD’S SPIRIT AT WORK 

The ministry of the Holy Spirit is not to magnify Himself but to give prominence to Christ. So efficient has He been in discharging His trust that His own existence has been questioned. But He is real! 

In the person of the Holy Spirit, God himself has been empowering, teaching, guiding interceding on behalf of, and comforting Christians for almost two thousand years. His Spirit will continue ministering in all those ways and more until the return of Jesus Christ. 

Daily Devotions 

M. Anointed by the Spirit (1 Samuel 16:10-13)

T. Led by the Spirit (Ezekiel 3:10-14) 

W. Born of the Spirit (John 3:1-8) 

T. Ministry of the Spirit (John 16:5-15) 

F. Witness of the Spirit (Romans 8:12-17) 

S. Filled With the Spirit (Ephesians 5:15-22) 

Adopted from the Evangelical Sunday School Lesson Commentary 2021-2022.