THE COMFORTER HAS COME!
John 15:26-27; 16:13
INTRODUCTION
A. HUMOR: WHEN NOTHING HURTS
1. Renee and Daniel had been married for over 50 years. One morning, Daniel reached over to take Renee’s hand, and she said, "Don't touch me!" "Why not?" replied Daniel. "Because," Renee said, "I'm dead."
2. "What on earth are you talking about?" said Daniel, "We're both lying here and talking to one another."
3. Renee said, "I'm definitely dead. I’m sure of it." "What makes you think you're dead?" asked Daniel. "Because I woke up this morning and nothing hurts!"
B. TEXT
John 15:26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceeds from the Father, he shall testify of me: 27 And you also shall bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning. John 16:13, “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.”
C. THESIS
1. Many people have a gym membership. But few of us know how to use the vast array of equipment there.
2. So gyms have “personal trainers” to help the patrons get the maximum benefit out of using the gym equipment.
3. Christianity too has personal trainers to help Christians get into spiritual shape – to become like the master-pattern – Jesus!
4. Today we’re going to look at who our personal trainer is and how we can work with Him to become the men & women God wants us to be.
I. THE TRUE CHURCH: DEPENDENT ON THE HOLY SPIRIT
A. FOR ITS EXISTENCE
1. Apart from the Spirit, the Church would not exist. The life principle that characterizes the church as a living body is provided solely by the Spirit.
2. It may be said that the Spirit is incarnate in the church just as the second Person of the Godhead became incarnate in the human Jesus.
3. One may rightly consider the Day of Pentecost as a “Birth Event” paralleling that which had taken place in Bethlehem 33 years before.
B. H.S. DIRECTS, ENERGIZES THE CHURCH
1. Insofar as the church is a spiritual entity working toward the evangelization of the world, it is directed, energized, and equipped by the Spirit.
2. It has been said: “The amount of God’s power flowing out into the world is directly proportion to the opportunity given the Holy Spirit to dwell in His Church.” [L. Thomas Holdcroft]
3. Paul spoke of the multitude of converts which as a building fitly framed together “grows into a holy temple in the Lord: in whom you are builded together as a habitation of God through the Spirit” Eph. 2:22-23.
4. The Holy Spirit is the administrator of the church on the earth. “Take heed therefore unto yourselves and to all the flock over which the Holy Ghost has made you overseers” Acts 20:28.
II. HOLY SPIRIT: OUR PERSONAL TRAINER
A. JESUS’ TEACHING MINISTRY CONTINUES IN THE SPIRIT
Acts 1:1 The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,
B. HOLY SPIRIT = SPIRIT OF TRUTH
1. John 14:17 “…the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.”
2. John 15:26 “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.”
3. In naming Him this, Jesus acknowledges that the Holy Spirit possesses all truth, that His Nature = Truth. There is no error in Him. When He speaks to us, He conveys only truth.
4. Since we are ignorant and need to learn, the Holy Spirit will guide us into all truth.
C. HE GUIDES US INTO ALL TRUTH
John 16:13, “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.”
D. HE TEACHES US
1. Luke 12:12, “…for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.”
2. John 14:26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
3. 1 Cor. 2:13 These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
4. 1 John 2:27 But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.
E. HOLY SPIRIT REVEALS THINGS
1. Luke 2:26, “It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah.”
2. Ephesians 3:5, “which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets.”
F. HOW DOES HE TEACH US?
DEFINITION OF “TEACH”
1. show or explain how to do something.
2. to impart knowledge of or skill in.
3. to help (someone) learn by giving lessons.
4. to condition to a certain action or frame of mind.
III. INSTANCES OF H.S.’S GUIDANCE
A. INSTANCES IN THE BOOK OF ACTS
1. Acts 8:29 The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.”
2. Acts 10:19 While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Simon, three men are looking for you.
3. Acts 11:12, “The Spirit told me to have no hesitation about going with them.”
4. Acts 13:2, “While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
5. Acts 15:28. During the Council in Jerusalem in Acts 15, the Holy Spirit said that the Gentiles do not have to keep the Law; “For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us.”
6. Acts 16:6, “Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia.”
7. Acts 16:7, “When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to.”
8. Acts 20:23, “I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me.”
9. Acts 21:11, “Coming over to us, he took Paul’s belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, “The Holy Spirit says, ‘In this way the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.’”
B. HOW GOD WILL BRING REVIVAL
1. Zech. 4:6, “So he said to me, "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the LORD Almighty.”
2. God used two words to describe how He would NOT accomplish His purposes: “Might” and “Power.” These two words are very different.
a. “MIGHT”(Heb. Chayil) means “collective force.” God says “I will not bring revival to the world by…
1). the force of armies or by activities of charities;
2). the achievements of moral society, or by
3). the accomplishments of the scientific and medical communities, or
4). Through the development of some Utopian Society; or
5). Even the evolution of mankind to a higher form.”
b. “POWER”(Heb. Kowach) means “individual force or effort.” God tells Zerubbabel & us He will NOT bring worldwide revival through the efforts of a few brilliant, virtuous, wealthy, or talented individuals. As much as I applaud the Billy Grahams and the Mother Teresas for their ministry, and the Bill Gates & Warren Buffets for their charity – God says His Kingdom will not come through them.
3. Instead, God will manifest Himself and enlarge His kingdom by His Holy Spirit.
CONCLUSION
A. ILLUSTRATION
1. Do you remember when Dr. Christian Bernard performed the first human heart transplant? The medical world basked in the glow of human achievement.
2. Sick and dying people were given hope that in receiving a new heart, their lives would be extended.
3. As great as this is, it pales in comparison to what God has done for us. God has been in the transplant business for a long time – and His patients live forever!
4. After a heart transplant, physical therapists help the patients to gain strength and begin to use their new life to rise to heights they seldom or never had.
5. So it is with a new heart spiritually. The Holy Spirit becomes our teacher, our personal trainer, to instruct us on how to grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ!
6. Are you listening to the Holy Spirit? Are you letting Him direct you in exercises of your spiritual nature?
B. THE CALL
1. How many of you want to start relying more on the Holy Spirit in your daily walk?
2. How many feel like you need to receive the empowering of the Spirit? Raise your hands. Why don’t all of you come forward and let’s join them in prayer for infilling and sensitivity to the Spirit. PRAYER.
