Working Notes
by
Sylvia Dooling
This lesson is full of wonderful material!
As the author reminds us in the *Scripture Focus* section, ‘The Holy Spirit
is already in the world; it (sic) doesn’t magically enter into the world
when the disciples receive the Spirit on the day of Pentecost.” The only
problem with that sentence, of course, is that the Holy Spirit is not an
‘it.” Like the other two persons of the Trinity, the Spirit is personal.
As I read about the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, I thought that
the following list from the New Geneva Study Bible might be helpful. It not
only helps us understand the Holy Spirit’s activity in the world since the
beginning, but also provides specific information about his work in the
church.
The Work of the Holy Spirit
***************************
*In the beginning*
*Active and present at creation, hovering over the unordered conditions
(Gen. 1:2)
*In the Old Testament
*
*The origin of supernatural abilities (Gen. 41:38)
*The giver of artistic skill (Ex. 31:2-5)
*The source of power and strength (Judg. 3:9-10)
*The inspiration of prophecy (I Sam. 19:20,23)
*The equipper of God’s messenger (Mic. 3:8)
*In salvation*
* **Regenerates the believer (Titus 3:5)
*Indwells the believer (Rom. 8:9-11)
*Sanctifies the believer (2 Thess. 2:13)
*In the New Testament*
*Declares the truth about Christ (John 16:13,14)
*Endows with power for gospel proclamation (Acts 1:8)
*Pours out God’s love in the heart (Rom. 5:5)
*Makes intercession (Rom. 8:26)
*Imparts gifts for ministry (I Cor. 12:4-11)
*Enables the fruit of holy living (Gal. 5:22,23)
*Strengthens the inner being (Eph. 3:16)
*
In the written Word*
*Inspired the writing of Scripture (2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Pet. 1:21)
This brings this year’s study of the liturgical calendar to an end. I
encourage those of you who have appreciated this study to write to the
editor. It is important to encourage _Horizons_ to provide Bible studies for
women that consistently uphold our scriptural and confessional standards as
Presbyterian women.