The Holy Spirit from Jesus' Baptism through Pentecost.

The following notes mostly follow a line of thought presented in F.F. Bruce's commentary on the Gospel of John, where he emphasized John's teaching on the Holy Spirit as it developed throughout the Gospel, and especially in the Upper Room Discourses. Since the origin of this understanding is provided by Jesus and manifested through the Holy Spirit at Pentecost and the Acts of the Apostles, we are not surprised to see the theme carried consistently through the Acts and Pauline letters. 

Below you will see a summary of the activity and statements about the Holy Spirit in John's Gospel, (following Bruce's outline), and the powerful emergence of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.  These short statements provide a bird's eye view of the Holy Spirit from Jesus' baptism through Pentecost and in consideration of the Fruit of the Spirit in Paul's letter to the Galatians.

BACKGROUND

Jesus baptizes with the Holy Spirit [John 1.32f; Cp. also Acts 2:38]

Only those born of water and the Spirit may enter the kingdom of God [John 3.5-8]

True worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him [John 4.23f]

It is the Spirit who gives life. Jesus' words are spirit and life. [John 6.63]. There is unity and cooperation between the Son and the Spirit.

Spirit will come after Jesus is glorified [John 7.39].  The Spirit seems to delight in seeing Jesus glorified. Conversion glorifies Jesus. Note: Re-birth makes a new creature in a new kingdom. We are meant to worship in spirit and truth. Spirit gives life in the Word. Spirit came in power after Jesus was glorified [Cp Acts 1:8; 2:4]

UPPER ROOM

The disciples will do greater works [John14.12] Cp Day of Pentecost – there were more conversions on Pentecost than when Jesus was humanly present. The greatest work is being instrumental in others coming to Christ.

Disciples know the Spirit because he dwells with them and in them. [John 14.17]

I will come to you. (1) Presently through the ministry of the Holy Spirit, (2) Eternally, through the Resurrection [John 14:18]

You [will] see me. The present tense “implies continuity stretching indefinitely into the future.” [Bruce, p. 303] After the ascension the world no longer sees Jesus, but his followers will see him. Because he lives; we live. [John 14.19]

Love for Jesus includes keeping his word and receiving the Trinity who makes His home in us. [John 14.23]

Jesus breathed on them. Disciples indwelled by the Holy Spirit will have authority to forgive and withhold forgiveness [John 20:22, 23]

Ascension. When the Holy Spirit comes upon you, you will be my witnesses. [Acts 1.8]

Peter to brothers: the Holy Spirit inspired old testament prophecy by the mouth of David. [Acts 1.16]

PENTECOST

Spirit filled them and gave them utterance in multiple languages [Acts 2.4]

Spirit drove people to repentance and conversion [Acts 2:38-41] The Church grew.

UPPER ROOM DISCOURCES

“But the fullest teaching about the Spirit . . . is given in five passages in these upper-room discourses: (I) John 14:15-17; (ii) 14:25 f. ; (iii) 15:26 f. ; (iv) 16:4b-11 ; (v) 16:12-15. In these the Spirit is presented successively as helper, interpreter, witness, prosecutor and revealer.” - F.F. Bruce [The Gospel of John]

1. John 14:15-17 HELPER - Another helper (Jesus is the first). Forever. Who dwells with you.
2. John 14:25 f. INTERPRETER – He will teach and remind you.
3. John 15:26 f. WITNESS – He will bear witness about Jesus.
4. John 16:4b-11 PROSECUTOR – He will expose and convict the world of sin and righteousness.
5. John 16:12-15 REVEALER - Guide you into all truth [13]. Declare (a) things to come, (b) what is mine from the Father [13-15] . Glorify Jesus through the declarations given to the disciples [14].

CONCLUSION

1. Jesus' followers are recipients of these promises.
2. Spirit-filled followers, and a Spirit-led Church will exhibit these traits (fruit) of the Spirit. (See I-V above.)

FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT

Galatians 5:22-23 New International Version (NIV)

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance (patience), kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Do not grieve the Holy Spirit. [Ephesians 4.30]

Quotes and references are from FF Bruce – The Gospel of John on chapter 14 [pg 302-303]

Sobering Warnings to Preachers and Pastors, (and to those who hear them).

This week I happened to be studying both Ezekiel and John 10 and was struck by the importance of the sheep hearing the voice of Jesus well so that they can follow him, and the sobering responsibility of pastors, preachers and watchmen to convey God's messages accurately and completely. The Lord emphasizes this life and death responsibility repeatedly in Ezekiel, and that responsibility continues to be revealed in the New Testament, as the reader will observe below.

You might read the passages below and think, the focus is unbalanced toward the “negative” warnings and you would be correct in the sense that I focused primarily on God's warnings to preachers and those who listen to them. That was done in response to hearing God's repeated warnings to Israel, particularly in Ezekiel, and to my own recognition that I have not listened to this message as much as to the encouraging words offered to pastors and preachers in contemporary books. Sure, we need encouragement, but if we are ordained as pastors and preachers, we had better pay even greater heed to what God has to say to us about our ministries. I am convicted to study my Bible more vigorously and to communicate the Word of God more fully because of the Word of the Lord that I have received this past week. I pray that I may not lose my resolve. With that thought in mind there is a sad reminder of one who began so well, who was so greatly blessed, and then ended his life so poorly: Solomon. Consider all that Solomon accomplished with God's help, but his is how he ended:

4 For when Solomon was old his wives turned away his heart after other gods, and his heart was not wholly true to the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father. 5 For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. 6 So Solomon did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and did not wholly follow the Lord, as David his father had done. 7 Then Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, and for Molech the abomination of the Ammonites, on the mountain east of Jerusalem. 8 And so he did for all his foreign wives, who made offerings and sacrificed to their gods. 9 And the Lord was angry with Solomon, because his heart had turned away from the Lord, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice 10 and had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods. But he did not keep what the Lord commanded. 1 Kings 11:4-9 (ESV)

Having studied and compiled these verses this week, I am also convicted that it is too important not to share with others. So, here are the passages that have been on my mind this week. May the Lord convey them to you and stir you up as He sees fit.

The Sheep follow Jesus

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. John 10.27, 28 (ESV)

Discipline and preaching

But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest preaching to others I myself should be disqualified. 1 Corinthians 9.27 (ESV)

Leaders will give an account

Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you. Hebrews 13.17 (ESV)

Shepherd eagerly as an example

So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: 2 shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; 3 not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. 1 Peter 5:1-4 (ESV)

Prophetic word is from the Lord

19 And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, 20 knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. 21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. 2.1 But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. 2 Peter 1:19-2:1 (ESV)

Speak whether or not they listen

And go to the exiles, to your people, and speak to them and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God,’ whether they hear or refuse to hear.” Ezekiel 3:11 (ESV)

The watchman must warn

“Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. Ezekiel 3:17 (ESV)

Preaching to a rebellious house

2 “Son of man, you dwell in the midst of a rebellious house, who have eyes to see, but see not, who have ears to hear, but hear not, for they are a rebellious house. 3 As for you, son of man, prepare for yourself an exile's baggage, and go into exile by day in their sight. You shall go like an exile from your place to another place in their sight. Perhaps they will understand, though they are a rebellious house. Ezekiel 12:2, 3 (ESV)

The Lord's Sabbath

Moreover, I gave them my Sabbaths, as a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the Lord who sanctifies them. Ezekiel 20:12 (ESV)

Watchman's Warning

6 But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, so that the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any one of them, that person is taken away in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at the watchman's hand. 7 “So you, son of man, I have made a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. Ezekiel 33:6, 7 (ESV)

Listening but not transformed by preaching

30 “As for you, son of man, your people who talk together about you by the walls and at the doors of the houses, say to one another, each to his brother, ‘Come, and hear what the word is that comes from the Lord.’ 31 And they come to you as people come, and they sit before you as my people, and they hear what you say but they will not do it; for with lustful talk in their mouths they act; their heart is set on their gain. 32 And behold, you are to them like one who sings lustful songs with a beautiful voice and plays well on an instrument, for they hear what you say, but they will not do it. Ezekiel 33:30-32 (ESV)

Lazy Glutenous Shepherds

34.1 The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy, and say to them, even to the shepherds, Thus says the Lord God: Ah, shepherds of Israel who have been feeding yourselves! Should not shepherds feed the sheep? 3 You eat the fat, you clothe yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the fat ones, but you do not feed the sheep. 4 The weak you have not strengthened, the sick you have not healed, the injured you have not bound up, the strayed you have not brought back, the lost you have not sought, and with force and harshness you have ruled them. 5 So they were scattered, because there was no shepherd, and they became food for all the wild beasts. 6 My sheep were scattered; they wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill. My sheep were scattered over all the face of the earth, with none to search or seek for them. 7. “Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: 8 As I live, declares the Lord God, surely because my sheep have become a prey, and my sheep have become food for all the wild beasts, since there was no shepherd, and because my shepherds have not searched for my sheep, but the shepherds have fed themselves, and have not fed my sheep, 9 therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: 10 Thus says the Lord God, Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will require my sheep at their hand and put a stop to their feeding the sheep. No longer shall the shepherds feed themselves. I will rescue my sheep from their mouths, that they may not be food for them. Ezekiel 34:1-10 (ESV)

Android Aps for Bible Study

Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of the God.” Matthew 4.4, (quoting Deuteronomy 8.3 in the context of being fed by God with manna, then to cross over into the Promised Land!)  The Bread of Heaven is Jesus feeding us in BOTH Word and Sacrament.  We are starving to death without regularly feeding on the Word of God.

During an overview of Jeremiah and Lamentations for adult Christian Education on Sunday, I mentioned that I am using my phone to listen to the Bible on Bible Gateway, while also having the Blue Letter Bible Ap up to make bookmarks. I thought it might be helpful to list them and how I use them.

There are a number of Bible editions and audio versions available on Bible Gateway. I listen to the New International Version (NIV), read by George W. Sarris, while reading the Holman Study Bible (HCSB) on the Blue Letter Bible. I read the HCSB on my phone because it does not require a download or online connection, and it is a reliable translation of the Bible, similar to ESV and NIV.  The English Standard Bible (ESV) is the physical Bible from which I most often read and preach.

While listening, if a text grabs my attention, I book mark the text on BLB, which is as simple as touching the verse and then touching "Bookmark This Verse".  (You don't have to pause Bible gateway audio to do this - just keep both aps active at the same time.) Afterwards, you can scroll through your bookmarks and read the verses that you marked.  BLB gives you the option to make different categories of Bookmarks. So far, I am just using the general category. But I can see the benefit in dividing them up, if you sue the BLB ap over a long period of time. I also use my bluetooth regularly, so that I can listen while driving or walking. We really have no excuse for not studying our Bibles when it is this easy. Also, if you don't pause the audio very often, you will be amazed at how fast you get through a book of the Bible, and I find that I gain a better sense of the whole flow and theme of the book this way. With my leather Bible, I linger more over specific passages and don't see it as well on the overall context. Both of these methods are valuable.

The links to the websites are included above. The Android Aps are listed by the same names in Google Play on your Android device. If one of you reading this is Apple savvy and knows of similar links for Apple devices, please add those to the comments.

I pray this is a blessing to your Bible study. I’d love to see your comments about what is working best for you.

Fr. Van McCalister

The Great Vigil of Easter

Who are the Hypernikomen?

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. - Romans 8.37

"More than conquerors" = Hypernikomen+

Calling all men to be victorious Hyperniko-men!

What does it mean to be one of the "Hypernikomen"? (Or "hupernikomen" depending how you prefer to transliterate your upsilon.) Hypernikomen  is the Greek word translated into English as "to be more than conquerors", or "to gain surpassing victory"* as in Romans 8:37, "But in all these things, we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us." This is the only place in all of the New Testament where hypernikomen appears. That, combined with its context in Romans chapter 8, make it worthy of serious reflection.

Hypernikomen combines two Greek words "hyper" (huper = above, beyond, more than) and "nikomen" (nikao = to conquer, overcome, prevail, get the victory). 

While the Greek hypernikomen seems to include the word "men" (as in "guys"), that is just an interesting coincidence, and only reflects a particular verb-ending (present active subjunctive, plural) not a gender. However, we're taking advantage of that coincidence to apply the word hypernikomen to men as encouragement to excel as men victorious in Christ. The “plus sign” at the end of “Hypernikomen+” is not part of the Greek but is added here as a symbolic reminder to emphasize that we are ministers of Christ. (Christian clergy traditionally sign their names with a cross at the end to emphasize they are servants of Christ.)

To help us remember the meaning and the application of hypernikomen, let's consider the Greek meaning along with the English words "hyper" and "men", so that we might associate this word with a state of being in Christ, with a faith that is energized and over-the-top. That faith is based on the middle part, the "niko" part, which is victory. But it isn't just a common victory – it is a super victory that we share in the midst of “all these things.” More than that, the subjunctive verb indicates that it is a victory contingent on something or someone else. That someone is Christ. As noted above, hypernikomen refers to everyone who is victorious in Christ, not just men.  But, through the use of this play-on-words, we as men can be reminded to seize this super-abundant victory!

Men who are married would do well to recognize the challenge of being victorious in Christ, in relation to how we lead our families. Consider Ephesians 5.25, "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the Church and gave himself up for her . . ."  Victory for Christian men is courage and discipline through love, humility and self sacrifice. In other words, being like Jesus.

What are all these things in which we are victorious? The answer is found in Romans 8.18 where Paul wrote, “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us” [NIV]. We are frustrated and groaning along with all of creation because of the consequences of sin. [See Romans 3.23] Sin creates bondage, frustration, decay and groaning but God wants to adopt us out of that and provide freedom, which is victory through the love of Jesus. Therefore, we can be hyper-victorious Christian men through the love of Christ! Whatever sin might leads us into failure and subjugation, we know that in all those things we find abundant victory through Christ, because he loves us.

Paul wants to make sure we don't miss the point – he goes on to say, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” [Romans 8.31, NIV] If God went so far as to give up His only Son for our sake, what more could we ask for? There is no limit to what God will do to help us to be victorious over sin! Stop reading for a second and make sure that sinks in: God gave His one and only Son for you and me, so that we can experience victory!

Paul emphasizes further, “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?” [Romans 8.32-35, NIV]. “Who will separate us from the love of Christ” is a leading question with the anticipated answer, “no one will separate me from the love of Christ!” This is why we can confidently answer, “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us,” who loved us to the point of suffering at the whipping post and dying on a cross. [See John 19.1, Luke 23.34]. That same person is saying, “I suffered all of that, so that you might have freedom.” [John 3.16, 10.10].

In fact, Jesus is interceding for you right now. He is hearing the accusations of Satan made against you [Rev. 12.10-12] and he is telling the court, “I've got that covered, because I love that guy and shed my blood for him.” The court replies, “The penalty has been paid.” And the charges are dropped!

Paul concludes this part of his letter by stating emphatically that not even the most powerful forces in heaven or on earth – not even death – can separate us from the love of Christ. That is how we can be conquerors in all things.

So what has you bound up, groaning with frustration and suffering? Turn to Jesus and become one of the Hypernikomen+ and experience victory.

*Interlinear Greek New Testament Bible" by Frederick H. A. Scrivener

Worshipping with the Liturgy

"The Meaning and Symbols of Holy Eucharist" was written as an introduction to ancient liturgical worship.

Worship is not a performance, but the expression of hearts, mouths and actions of human beings directing themselves toward God for His glory.  

 

Here "liturgical worship" refers to a form of worship that frequently uses a prayer book or some other written worship that dates back to the earliest forms of worship in the ancient Christian Church.

As one who grew up in a fundamentalist denomination, the author understands the difficulties in understanding and relating to this form of worship. The book provides historical and scriptural background for liturgical worship, with an emphasis on improving devotions and drawing nearer to Christ.  The topics covered are instructive to those new to liturgical worship as well as those who have worshipped in this way for many years but are not sure of the significance of the many prayers, gestures and movements of the Liturgy. 

  

Here is a partial list of the topics discussed in the book:

Liturgy: The Work of the People

Seasons, Colors and Vestments

Saints and Martyrs

Common Symbols

Introduction to Holy Eucharist

Scriptural and Historical Background

The Real Presence

How to Receive Communion

An Instructed Eucharist

Devotions

Preparation for Holy Communion

Prayers for Private Devotions

Private Prayers offered by the Celebrant

Anglican Identity

Frequently Asked Questions about Anglicanism

The Prayer of Hippolytus

Collects and Preface

Praying the Daily Office

Outline for Morning Prayer Rite II

Glossary of Terms

Bibliography

The book is available on Amazon in paperback and Kindle.

Discipline: preaching in action.

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

1 Corinthians 9.24-27 (ESV)