BEING THANKFUL FOR THE HOLY SPIRIT
John 14:15-27
INTRODUCTION: This morning, I want to teach about a topic feared by most Baptists and most conservatives; the ministry of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is a pendulum issue. By this I mean that we tend to think issue in extremes. Just as a pendulum swings to both ends of its path, so we tend to sway to one side or the other. I would like to share with you, from God’s Word, why we should be thankful for the Holy Spirit in our lives. My goal is not only to teach on the Holy Spirit, but to also move us from the fear of discussion to an acceptance of this wonderful gift of Jesus. It is possible to be a Baptist, and still get excited about the Holy Spirit!
1. BEING THANKFUL FOR THE PRESENCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
a. The Holy Spirit is a presence like Christ
i. Two Greek words for “ another”
1. One means another of a different kind
a. Let me show it to you in a couple of passages
1 Timothy 6:3 If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching,
2 Corinthians 6:14 Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?
b. This is not the kind of “another” Jesus is talking about
2. The second word for “another’ means
a. Another of the same kind
b. The Holy Spirit is a presence of Comfort
i. Holy Spirit is our Comforter or our Parakletos.
ii. This is a compound word meaning – “Para” (alongside of) and “Kletos” (to call)
iii. So the Holy Spirit is the one Christ called alongside us to help us.
iv. Here is how the word was used in the culture of the time
1. The "parakletos" was the one called alongside to assist, help, defend, or intercede on the behalf of another or to give counsel.
2. The advocate counseled, coached, and championed the cause of another in court.
3. He was a helper, supporter, and a witness giving favorable testimony.
c. The Presence of the Holy Spirit us unacceptable by the world
i. The Holy Spirit speaks a different message – a message of love
ii. The Holy Spirit reverses our thinking – it is all about God and his glory
iii. The Holy Spirit has a different starting point – our need for salvation that we cannot fulfill by ourselves
ONE OF THE REASONS WE SHOULD BE THANKFUL FOR THE HOLY SPIRIT IS BECAUSE GOD GAVE HIM TO US TO BE ON OUR SIDE, IN OUR CORNER, AND WATCHING OUR BACK!
2. BEING THANKFUL FOR THE PROMISE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
a. The promise of the Holy Spirit is that Christ’s life is ours!
b. The promise of the Holy Spirit is that we are not left as orphans
i. The word means without parents, bereaved, without a father,
ii. Since Jesus referred to us as “little children”, so we are comforted to know that the Holy Spirit does not leave us
c. The promise of the Holy Spirit is that Christ is committed to us.
i. Because Christ lives, we will live.
ii. The resurrection is a commitment to us that we will also live.
iii. This is not a future commitment, but a present day – every day commitment, and the Holy Spirit is the pledge of that commitment!
d. The promise of the Holy Spirit is the Christ is comprehendible to us by the Holy Spirit.
1 Corinthians 2:10-16 but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11 For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. 13 This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.
14 The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man's judgment: 16 "For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ.
ONE OF THE REASONS WE SHOULD BE THANKFUL FOR THE HOLY SPIRIT IS THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT IS OUR ASSURANCE OF CHRIST’S CONTINUED INVOLVEMENT IN OUR LIVES, AND OUR ABILITY TO UNDERSTAND ALL THAT HE HAS ACCOMPLISHED FOR US!
3. BEING THANKFUL FOR THE MINISTRY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
a. The ministry of the Holy Spirit is to reprove us
John 16:8-9 When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me;
i. The Spirit convicts us of sin
ii. The Spirit is the vehicle whereby the gospel we share has the desired effect
DO WE TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO LET THE HOLY SPIRIT WORK THROUGH US?
b. The Ministry of the Holy Spirit is to regenerate us
John 3:5-6 Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.
i. The Spirit is the vehicle whereby the power of the gospel becomes alive in the life of a believer
ii. Spiritual birth is a ministry of the Spirit of God!
ARE WE ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN COMMUNICATING THE GOSPEL, OR LEAVING IT TO SOMEONE ELSE TO DO?
c. The Ministry of the Holy Spirit is to restrain evil
2 Thessalonians 2:6-7 And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. 7 For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way.
i. We have an active evil in the world.
ii. The ministry of the spirit restrains that evil so that you and I can have an opportunity to share the gospel
ARE WE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THIS LIMITED OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE THE GOSPEL WITH OUR FRIENDS, NEIGHBORS, AND FAMILY?
d. The Ministry of the Holy Spirit is to remind us of Christ
John 15:26 "When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me.
i. He reminds us through illumination
ii. He reminds us by conviction
iii. He reminds us through confession and restoration
WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU ALLOWED THE HOLY SPIRIT TO REMIND US OF THE PERSON, AND WORK OF CHRIST?
