Joh 16:7-15 “But what I am saying is true: my going is for your good: for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8 And he, when he comes, will make the world conscious of sin, and of righteousness, and of being judged: 9 Of sin, because they have not faith in me; 10 Of righteousness, because I go to the Father and you will see me no more; 11 Of being judged, because the ruler of this world has been judged. 12 I have still much to say to you, but you are not strong enough for it now. 13 However, when he, the Spirit of true knowledge, has come, he will be your guide into all true knowledge: for his words will not come from himself, but whatever has come to his hearing, that he will say: and he will make clear to you the things to come. 14 He will give me glory, because he will take of what is mine, and make it clear to you. 15 Everything which the Father has is mine: that is why I say, He will take of what is mine and will make it clear to you.”(BBE)
Introduction: Of all the gifts Jesus could have given His disciples, He chose to send them a gift of comfort, counsel, and clarity. If Jesus bodily presence were here in one place, we could not all reach him, and for this reason the presence of the Holy Spirit is more valuable than the bodily presence of the Redeemer would be. The Comforter can be in all the assemblies of the saints at the same time and can teach at one moment all the disciples of the Lord; he can prompt prayers and inspire praises in myriads of souls at once and apply the word with power to millions of hearts at the same instant. The glory of the church is the abiding power of the Holy Ghost, comforting the church and convincing the world.
As Jesus’ earthly ministry was nearing its end, Jesus spoke more often and more in depth about the work and ministry of the Holy Spirit. Knowing the Holy Spirit as a comforter would be crucial in their survival. These sad disciples would not be comfortless. The Holy Spirit would be the constant companion, sent along side them, to aid and assist them in all their endeavors. Jesus begins to warn the disciples about the coming persecution. He has delayed this conversation because were not ready to hear it. Now Jesus informs them that they might be fore armed and not caught by surprise. Unexpected attack has a way of paralyzing us or causing us to faint. So he warns them, expect to be criticized and put out of the temple and local synagogues. He further explains that some may suffer death for His sake. Then Jesus reveals the true reason for the world’s hatred, they have not known the Father nor me. That is still the reason for the hatred of the world today.
Jesus had not elaborated on these things while he was physically with them. He was constantly praying for them, guiding them, and protecting them. Now he is going away, and their hearts were filled with sorrow. The disciples like many of us when we are overcome with bad news or disappointment. Even though Jesus was sharing some good news, the fail to hear it. The good news is that Jesus’ earthly ministry was complete. He could now return to the Father. Phase II of project Redemption and Reconciliation could begin. The Holy Spirit would take center stage providing comfort, counsel, and clarity to every believer. He would lead them and teach them, revealing even the deep things of God.
Let review what Jesus said about the ministry of the Holy Spirit:
The Holy Spirit will be in you and comfort you!
John7:37, 38 “In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. 38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.”
Joh 14:16-18 “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. 18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.”
The Holy Spirit will instruct you, bring things to mind and show you things to come!
John 14:26 “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”
The Holy Spirit will empower You for effective ministry!
John 15:26, 27 “But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: 27 And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.”
The Holy Spirit will provide all the validation you need.
He will testify of me to you and You will testify of me to the world. His coming will prove to all that I was who I said I was, went to where I said I would go and did what I said I would do.
John 16:7-15 “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. 8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 Of sin, because they believe not on me; 10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; 11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. 12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. 13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. 14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. 15 All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.”
Our effectiveness as believers depends on our witness, what we have experienced, seen, and heard. We can witness effective because we know him and have received him. Jesus knew the importance of the Holy Spirit. We witness, but the Holy Spirit Convicts. We share what God has done in Christ for us and generally, the Holy Spirit makes it personal.
(1) The Holy Convicts men of the sin of unbelief. Unbelief is the bottom line of all sin. It keeps people from believing that they need a savior. The first step in repentance is the realization of sin.
(2) The Holy Convicts men of Righteousness. If men realize they are sinner, then the Holy Spirit convincing them of how to get right with God. The Holy Spirit along must convince men that Jesus the Christ, the Righteousness of God is the only way to the Father. The Holy Spirit not only convicts them of righteousness, He provides the faith for them to believe. Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
(3) The Holy Spirit Convicts men that Satan, the prince of the world is judged, his power has been broken and mankind’s deliverance has come. The Holy Spirit convict men that the justice of God has been satisfied, the debt has been paid and salvation and pardon are freely offered.
(4) The Holy Spirit is now active and operating in the Church. He is offering regeneration, Justification, and sanctification; He indwell the believer, baptizes every believer into the body of Christ and seals them unto the day of redemption. Besides that, he empowers every believer for service and distributes to each one his or her own Spiritual Gifts. (Acts 1:8; Eph 1:13,14; Eph 5:18; 1Co 12:1-13)
In the closing chapters of John, Jesus continual reference to the Holy Spirit gives us some indication of how important His ministry is to the Church. His disciples clearly understood that the success of their ministry and the empowerment they needed would be provided by the Holy Spirit. Although they were already preaching, healing the sick and sharing the good news, Jesus said, wait until you are endued with power from above.” Jesus wanted His disciples to have the same type of relationship with the Holy Spirit as they had experienced with Him. For the Holy Spirit would act on His behalf, speak for Him and take everything of His and show it unto them. It would be impossible for the disciples to do His work without the ministry of the Holy Spirit.
This wonderful Gift of Comfort, Counsel and Clarity is available to every believer today. It is the missing ingredients in the lives of many powerless Christians now. They lives are dominated by fear, prejudice and isolation. They have a form of godliness, ceremony and practice, but deny the transforming power of the Holy Spirit. Every believer needs the power of the God to do God’s work. The transformation of the world will require more than good organization, programs and structures. It will take more than a form of religion, it will take the power of the Holy Spirit. It will takes the Holy Spirit to break down the walls that divide us. Eph 2:14, 15 says, “For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;”
How can the walls of division separate us when the Spirit of Truth has comes? How can believer live in fear when He is with us? How can we believe Satan’s lies when the Spirit of Truth has comes? The only requirement for receiving this wonderful gift is to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and accept Him as Savior. When you are truly saved and desire to receive Him, He is available. In Acts 2:38, Peter said believe on the Lord and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. It is for you and for your children and for those who are far off. In other words, this gift is for every generation. Why? Every generation will need Him!
Luke 11:13 If “ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?”
We do not make mistakes and give our children deadly things when they ask for good things, neither will the Lord refuse us, or send us the counterfeits of blessings. We shall obtain real blessings, and that which is the essence of all benedictions, the life of grace, and the soul of holiness, namely, the Holy Spirit. We may ask for him, and we may expect to receive him in answer to our petition. This wonderful Gift of Comfort, Counsel and Clarity is available to every believer. If we repent of our sins, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, you shall be saved. If you hunger and thirst after righteousness, you shall be filled. The Holy Spirit will fill you and empower you for service. You receive Him with an active and yielded faith. Surrender to Him and bless the world. God promised that we would not comfortless. Jesus sent His Church the perfect gift. Receive Him Today! Do it now!
