THE HOLY SPIRIT: WORKING BEHIND THE SCENES Lesson 2 for January 14, 2017

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. 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.

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.

“While the wind is itself invisible, it produces effects that are seen and felt. 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. No one sees the hand that lifts the burden, or beholds the light descend from the courts above. The blessing comes when by faith the soul surrenders itself to God. Then that power which no human eye can see creates a new being in the image of God.” 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) “You send forth Your Spirit, they are created; and You renew the face of the earth.” (Psalm 104:30) 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. 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) Gifts he received Wisdom Understanding Knowledge Creative skills Skills Inventing designs Shaping gold, silver and bronze Mounting stones Working with wood All manner of workmanship 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).

GLORIFYING JESUS How does the Holy Spirit glorify 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). GLORIFYING JESUS

WORKING FOR JESUS (I) 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) “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) “Those who become new creatures in Christ Jesus will bring forth the fruits of the Spirit, ‘love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance.’ Galatians 5:22, 23. They will no longer fashion themselves according to the former lusts, but by the faith of the Son of God they will follow in His steps, reflect His character, and purify themselves even as He is pure. The things they once hated they now love, and the things they once loved they hate.”