As we progress in our topic, communion with God, which would include communion with Christ, but also include communion with the Holy Spirit. Today we want to take up the topic, how is it that the Holy Spirit works in our life? I want you to open your Bibles to 1 Corinthians 12 and verse 10. We'll read two verses. Actually, we'll read verses 11 and 12. But one and the same spirit, here's our word, works. Works. The spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually, just as he wills. For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. And with context, we see that this working of the Holy Spirit has to do with the distribution of spiritual gifts. And from this we can learn an overriding principle or lesson that the Holy Spirit works effectually in the life of the believer. That's a fundamental statement. I can state it a little bit differently. for our purposes, the work of the Holy Spirit can be described as effectual. Now, having seen that the Holy Spirit works effectually in the life of the believer, I want us to consider ways in which the believer can and should hold communion with the Holy Spirit. John 14, verse 26, please turn there. Because here we have a description of one of the works of the Holy Spirit. in the life of the believer. John 14, 26. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you. So here we have two specific issues. Teach and bring to remembrance. Our Savior is promising the apostles that the Holy Spirit would do something. What is it He will bring to their minds? How? by an immediate efficacy, what will he bring to their minds? The things that he had spoken, that by his inspiration, they might be enabled to write, preach, for the good and for the benefit of the church. Boy, that's worth thinking about, isn't it? We should give much thought to that and much thankfulness to our God. We can say this, Christ promises that the Holy Spirit will do this work. That they might infallibly give out what the Holy Spirit had given them. Turn with me to 2 Peter 1 and verse 21. 2 Peter 1 and verse 21. For no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God. I, as you know, write to a prisoner in North Carolina and have done so for about 35, 36 years. And I've mentioned before that he really has appreciated and come to love Matthew Henry's commentary over the years. Well, I think I've told you that we've developed a little system. And he likes to copy into his tablet a certain section of the commentary. And then he usually adds his comment. And then he wants me to add a comment and then send it back to him, which is working, I think, quite nicely. The Lord seems to be using it to encourage him. But the last, I guess, several, weeks or more. I have been, I would say, amazed at the depth of insight that the Lord has given this man, apart from any formal training other than Matthew-Henry, which is hard to beat. But he draws the right conclusions and writes them down. What do you learn from that? And then I can add or whatever. Where does he get that? The Spirit of God works in ways to illumine people's minds and hearts. And it's just wonderful and encouraging to see that taking place. That is a ministry unique I believe, to the Holy Spirit, helping him and opening his eyes, spiritual eyes, to see these truths and a good, sound application of them. I always encourage him and say, I appreciated your comment or your application, because it is quite helpful. The context of John 14 that we were looking at has to do with a word of comfort to the disciples. And I'm going to read a bit lengthy commentary from John Owen. I don't really apologize, I just think it is in order and helpful. And I think sometimes Owen, many times, can say things quite forcefully. So I'm not going to rush through it. I'm going to try to read it at a good pace. But I want you to listen and see if you can gather some help. He had been speaking to them things suited for their consolation and giving them precious promises of the supplies they should have from Him in this life. Of the love of the Father, of the glory He was providing for them, the sense and comfort were of His unspeakable I am a joy arising from them, full of glory. But, saith he, I know how unable you are to make use of these things of your own consolation. And then, carefully listen. The Spirit, therefore, shall recover them upon your minds. in their full strength and vigor for that end for which I speak them," close quote, of Christ. And this is one cause why it was expedient for believers that Christ's bodily absence should be supplied by the presence of the Spirit. That really hits the nail on the head in terms of the ministry of the Holy Spirit. what he does. Owen continues, while Christ was with them, how little efficacy on their hearts had any of the heavenly promises he gave them. When the Spirit came, how full of joy did he make all things to them. that which was his peculiar work, which belonged to him by virtue of his office, that he also might be glorified, was reserved for him." And now I've written this part of the quote in bold caps. And this is his work to the end of the world. to bring the promises of Christ to our minds and hearts, to give us the comfort of them, the joy and the sweetness of them, much beyond that which the disciples found in them. When Christ in person spake to them, their gracious influence being then restrained, that as was said, the dispensation of the Spirit might be glorified. And I thought, how vitally important that we have an awareness of the work of the Holy Spirit. in connection with the already-inspired Word of God, but as it were, the author himself. I can't go and sit and talk to John Owen or Matthew Henry. They're gone. We have their works. we have the Holy Spirit in connection with the inspired Word of God. I believe there are times even in our own personal devotions, or perhaps right in the act of hearing some really, really wonderful God-centered preaching, I believe the Holy Spirit can and does make specific application of those truths to our hearts. I'm not talking about anything wild and emotional and all of that, but I'm talking about it's like the light turns on. And we grasp the application of a certain truth. And I believe that the Holy Spirit carries that ministry on with us. Now, for instance, turn with me to John 14. Verse 27. Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful. Now, when we read that, We can read it and we can say amen and we should. But is there a dimension beyond that which the Holy Spirit can take and apply to your heart and to your life? Maybe in a given situation. Maybe even a time when your heart is troubled. And it can bring a sense of peace that only could be from that source. The comforter being sent to bring what Christ said to remembrance. But the result of it is what? Peace. Peace and freedom from a troubled heart. Who can do that? Who does it? It's the Holy Spirit at work in our minds and in our hearts. Listen to these words. Whatever peace, relief, comfort, joy, support, that we have at any time received from any work, promise, or thing done by Christ, it all belongs to the dispensation of the Comforter. Making it a reality in a given situation. What a great blessing, what a great privilege that is. And may I just add, that's real communion. This inner change that can take place in your heart and life. The Holy Spirit, in many ways, making truths a deep reality to it. Listen carefully to this statement. It is vain. for the believer to attempt to achieve peace and comfort from the word of God without the ministry of the Holy Spirit. It is God's inspired work. And that sets it apart from any and all other devotional writings, whatever. They're good. I enjoy them. I read them. But do we ever get beyond that in our own personal times with the Lord and our fellowship with God, with Christ? Yes, and with the Holy Spirit. Our Savior, Jesus Christ, leaving the efficacy even of those promises, which in person he gave to the apostles in their great distress, As to their consolation unto the Holy Spirit, we may see the immediate spring of all spiritual comfort we have in this world and the fellowship which we have with the Holy Spirit from therein. Well, that's full of meaning. And it's words that we should grasp and apply to our hearts for our spiritual good. Well, certainly we can take that home and give it some really serious thought and even some prayer time. to reap the benefit for our own personal life. There's another thing that the Holy Spirit does that we need to be aware of. We can call it a work of the Holy Spirit. Here it is, to glorify Christ. to glorify Christ. Turn with me to John 16 and verse 14. John 16, 14. He shall glorify me, for he shall take of mine and shall disclose it to you. The work of the Holy Spirit is to glorify Christ. And we certainly could see how far that, not capital S spirit, but lowercase spirit, So you know what I'm talking about. We see how far that spirit is from being the comforter who sets himself up in the place of Christ or seeks to bring honor to someone or to something else other than Christ. Quite a significant statement of a warning. Again, a quote from our brother John Owen. Please listen. As the comforter, he reveals to the souls of sinners the good things of the covenant of grace, which the Father has provided and the Son purchased. He shows to us, listen to this list, mercy, grace, forgiveness, righteousness, and acceptation with God. Where do we learn about such things? Who teaches us? The Holy Spirit, through God's Word. These things let us know that these are the things of Christ which he, Christ, has procured. Shows them to us, listen to this, for our comfort and establishment. These things I say, he effectually declares, to the souls of believers and makes them know them for their own good. Know them as originally the things of the Father, prepared from eternity in his love and goodwill, as purchased for them by Christ and laid up in store in the covenant of grace for their use. Where do you find that out? Where does that come to you? It's the work of the Holy Spirit, illuminating, giving you that enlightenment. Finally, he makes this statement. Then is Christ magnified and glorified in their hearts. Then they know what a Savior and Redeemer Christ is. Taking you to new levels of understanding. Here's a, I think, a penetrating sentence or statement. Please listen carefully. A soul does never glorify or honor Christ upon a discovery or sense of the eternal redemption He has purchased for them, but that it is a peculiar effect of the Holy Ghost and our Comforter. What kind of truths are we dealing with? We're dealing with redemption purchased by our Lord Jesus Christ. How can we grasp that and its far-reaching implications in our life and what it should mean to us daily, except the Holy Spirit gives us some understanding, because it's a spiritual truth. And turn with me just to help you underscore this. 1 Corinthians 12, 3. And I hope this will help underscore this truth that we're looking at. 1 Corinthians 12, 3. No man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. That sums it up better than anyone else I believe could do it. Well, let's cover one more point for our purposes. The third work of the Holy Spirit is that he sheds abroad in our hearts the love of God. The love of God. Scriptural proof of that, Romans 5 and verse 5. And hope does not disappoint. Why? Because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts. How? Through the Holy Spirit, which was given us. The love of God. The love of God is either of what could be considered ordination or of acceptation. The love of his purpose to do us good or the love of acceptation for our good. I believe both are included. Now, this can be said in terms of a question, could be asked in terms of a question. How can these be shed abroad in our hearts? Let me add to that, not in themselves, but in a sense of them. That's important. An awareness of the that same word is used earlier when we read shed abroad that that's the same word used concerning the comforter being given to us. I'm asking you to turn to a lot of scriptures, but that's okay. Titus 3, and look at verses 5 to 6. He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to his mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom he, two little words, poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Lord. So it can be said that the Holy Spirit, God sheds the Holy Spirit abundantly, pours him on us so he sheds abroad or pours out what? The love of God in our hearts. I was just thinking of the truth that if God has ever wants to love you, he will love you for all eternity. And isn't it true that we go through situations that are extremely difficult? But isn't it true that we need that awareness of God's affectually in my heart and life. The Comforter gives a sweet and plentiful evidence and persuasion of the love of God to us, such as the soul is taken delight with. This is His work, and He does it In the right time, in the right way, he can bring a sense of his love to your heart. That's communion, real communion, real fellowship. Do we know that kind of fellowship? Well, we're going to close there. May God use his word to bless us and to encourage us in our walk with him day by day. All of us face demands sometimes that are made upon us that are far beyond our abilities. But it gives us the opportunity to experience the effectiveness of God's presence through his word, through his Holy Spirit, finishing those truths to us. Our gracious God, we pray now that you will take these words, write them upon our hearts for our good and for your glory. Bless now as we anticipate entering into our time of worship. In the next hour, we ask in Christ's name, amen.