Sermon – The Comforting Work of the Holy Spirit
Joh 16:5-15 “But now I am going away to the one who sent me, and not one of you is asking where I am going. 6 Instead, you grieve because of what I’ve told you. But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate won’t come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you. 8 And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment. 9 The world’s sin is that it refuses to believe in me. 10 Righteousness is available because I go to the Father, and you will see me no more. 11 Judgment will come because the ruler of this world has already been judged. 12 “There is so much more I want to tell you, but you can’t bear it now. 13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. 14 He will bring me glory by telling you whatever he receives from me. 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine; this is why I said, ‘The Spirit will tell you whatever he receives from me.’
Introduction: Of all the gifts Jesus could have given His disciples, He introduces the work of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is Jesus’ parting gift of comfort, counsel, and give clarity in the work of the ministry. Jesus bodily presence was limited, the Holy Spirit would be unlimited. The Holy Spirit would be among them in every place, teaching them, reaching them with constant insight and clarity. The presence of the Holy Spirit would be more valuable to the disciples than the bodily presence of Jesus had been. The Holy Spirit, God’s Comforter would guide all saints, in all assemblies, at the same time, giving instructions, prompting prayers and inspiring praises to God, and applying God’s word with power to millions of hearts at the same time. 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 ending, Jesus spoke 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 disciples would not be left comfortless. The Holy Spirit would be the constant companion, sent along side them, to aid and assist them in all their endeavors.
Jesus had delayed this conversation because the disciples were not ready to hear it. With the coming persecution, Jesus informs them in plain language that they might be aware and prepared for the days ahead. Unexpected attack has a way of paralyzing us or causing us to faint. Jesus warns them of the coming persecution, being criticized and put out of the temple and local synagogues. He warns that some of them might 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 before, they were not ready. 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:
1.The Indwelling Holy Spirit Will Comfort the Believers!
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.”
You will never be alone and isolated; the Holy Spirit will be with you. Secondly, the Holy Spirit within you knows best how to comfort and keep you. He understands His work and His assignment.
2.The Indwelling Holy Spirit Will Teach Believers!
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 Indwelling Holy Spirit will teach you. Jesus shared so many spiritual truths with the disciples. They were willing followers, but sometimes slow to believe and at other times they fail to understand all they heard. The Holy Spirit would patiently instruct them, bring forgotten things to mind and reveal to them God new directions and show you things to come! Jesus promises to send them a continuous progressive revelation, pushing them towards spiritual maturity. More than comforting and teaching, the Holy Spirit would empowered them for effective ministry.
3.The Indwelling Holy Spirit will Empower Believers for effective ministry!
Joh 14:12-14 “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. 13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
The Holy Spirit will provide all the validation believers need for successful ministry. The Holy Spirit will testify of Jesus to believers, empowering believers to testify to the world. The Holy Spirit’s coming proved to all that Jesus was who He said He was, went to where he said he would go and did what he said he would do. As believers embark on doing the same work and greater works empowered by the Holy Spirit, their ministry will be effective.
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 works. We share what God has done in Christ for us and generally, the Holy Spirit makes it personal.
John 16:8-11 “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.” As believers (1) we must depend on the Holy Spirit to save, heal, and deliver. We must depend on 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. The world can only be convicted by the influence of the Holy Spirit. Our shouting will not do it, our emotionalism won’t do, only the Holy Spirit.
(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 alone must convince men that Jesus the Christ, the Righteousness of God is the only way to get right with Father God. The Holy Spirit not only convicts them of righteousness, but He also 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.
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. Their lives are dominated by fear, prejudice, and isolation. They have a form of godliness, ceremony, and ritual, 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!
