The third person of the Trinity, the comforter, the Helper
John 16:7-14
{7}However, I am telling you the truth: It’s good for you that I’m going away. If I don’t go away, the helper won’t come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. [8] He will come to convict the world of sin, to show the world what has God’s approval, and to convince the world that God judges it. [9] He will convict the world of sin, because people don’t believe in me. [10] He will show the world what has God’s approval, because I’m going to the Father and you won’t see me anymore. [11] He will convince the world that God judges it, because the ruler of this world has been judged. [12] "I have a lot more to tell you, but that would be too much for you now. [13] When the Spirit of Truth comes, he will guide you into the full truth. He won’t speak on his own. He will speak what he hears and will tell you about things to come. [14] He will give me glory, because he will tell you what I say.
About 70 years ago someone wrote, “The Apostles Creed” contains ten articles on the person and work of Christ and only one on the Holy Spirit.” This is also reflected in the thinking of many today about the Holy Spirit. We know we pray in Jesus’ name, do things in Jesus’ name and discuss Him in Sunday School. We know that the Holy Spirit is one of the Trinity. We do not speak much about Him. He has a great job to do in this world and we want to see Him in this light this morning. To many it seems the Holy Spirit is the Cinderella of the trinity. We relate the Father to the acts of the O. T. We give the Son as the active One in the New Testament. Where do we put the Holy Spirit? He is the one in the world now. He helped inspire the Scripture, draws us to salvation, is present in conversion and is present in the church today. As we listen to sermons, liturgy and songs in the church we find little mention of Him. It has been revealed that we do not celebrate the Day of Pentecost (the day the Holy Spirit came and started the church) because it is overshadowed with the activity of Mother’s Day. I hesitate to say this but there are people who say they are Christians who are struggling with their spiritual lives because they have not let the Holy Spirit be their Guide. I have heard it said that there are churches meeting today that could carry on with what they are doing if the Holy Spirit was not present.
I want us to come together in our thinking here with some WHY questions. We have access to more Bibles, study guides and commentaries today than before so why are so many Christians ignorant about what the Bible has to say on major issues in life? We have full access to the Holy Spirit why is it we see so little excitement in the Christian’s life? We have time to read our Bible and pray but so many have become like those in Jesus’ day MT 22:29 Jesus answered, "You’re mistaken because you don’t know the Scriptures or God’s power.” Why is that we have been given many tools in which to help us win others to Christ but are seeing few saved from a life of sin? One district reported that in a year they had 1,223 new converts yet their average attendance for the year increased only by 30. Why is that we have many books and web sites on discipleship but find few truly committed disciples?
WE NEED THE HOLY SPIRIT TO BE ABLE OR ALLOWED TO DO WHAT WE CANNOT DO AND FAIL TO DO. WHAT IS HE TO DO?
1.THE HOLY SPIRIT gives us the mind of Christ. I CO 2:10-12. “God has revealed those things to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches everything, especially the deep things of God. [11] After all, who knows everything about a person except that person’s own spirit? In the same way, no one has known everything about God except God’s Spirit. [12] Now, we didn’t receive the spirit that belongs to the world. Instead, we received the Spirit who comes from God so that we could know the things which God has freely given us.” I wonder then why one of the biggest causes of worry for the Christ is to know what God’s will for them is?
2.THE HOLY SPIRIT gives us spiritual boldness. Acts 4:29 "Lord, pay attention to their threats now, and allow us to speak your word boldly.” Do we have a great urgency to share Jesus with others? Our desire as a church needs to be that people are converted to Christ and that Christians grow in grace.
3. THE HOLY SPIRIT is to conform our character to be more like Christ. Gal. 5:22-25 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.”
There seems to be so little difference today in the social conduct of the Christian from those who still walk in the ways of this world. ‘Drinking wine or alcoholic beverages has become morally accepted in many churches today. The desire to dress your best when going to church to worship the King is not in the thoughts of many. Many allow themselves to watch movies or TV programs that undermine their values of faith. It is Ok or does not disturb us to watch sex acts, killing, selfishness for good, drunkenness and scenes that help us to think it is OK to be disrespectful to authority. It has become acceptable that you be in Church on Sunday if nothing else is of more importance but not to worry if you miss because someone will surely keep the doors open for the times you do make it. The use of profanity among those who say they are Christians is acceptable and people do not even blush at things disgraceful. It has become common for people to lie about their giving to God’s work. When THE HOLY SPIRIT is in charge He puts a stop to loose living because He wants our lives to be conformed to the image of Christ. Christ was not a truth but is the TRUTH.
4. THE HOLY SPIRIT is to call people into Christian service. Acts 13:2-4 “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." 3So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off. 4The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit,”
Why are people content to come to church and warm a pew and not sense God wants them to do service for Him. Those in the church do not give a challenge to get involved in the work because we are afraid if we tell them they have to work they will leave and go find a church in which they can just have fun.
Without the Holy Spirit, the very breath of God, we become just a church full of dead bones. We do not ask Take my mind and transform it, Take my will and conform, take my life and form it to yours. We cannot live for Christ without the Holy Spirit. Mary conceived the Baby Christ by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit was upon Christ in His baptism. The Holy Spirit led Christ to be tempted. The Holy Spirit possessed Christ when He preached. The Holy Spirit controlled Christ when He prayed. The Holy Spirit was present at all the major events in Christ’s life. The Holy Spirit in the presence of Christ in the believer’s life today.
Jesus gave us two things the Holy Spirit will do in the world today in our Scripture.
First He would bring conviction. “Christianity is a demanding and serious religion and when it is delivered as easy and amusing it is another kind of religion altogether.” Neil Postman This is a superficial, shallow religion that does not change a life. It is the conviction of the Holy Spirit that puts unction in the preaching. One has said that even an uninteresting sermon under the Holy Spirit will be worth something of value. The message sticks like syrup to the heart of one who is listening. JN 16:8-11 “When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: 9in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; 10in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; 11and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.”
Convicts of sin—When the Holy Spirit convicts there is no way of escape but to flee to God to repent or be corrected.
Convicts of righteousness—It is by the truth that He makes alive the Word of God in which we overcome our intellectual bias and prejudice. He also shows us the virtues in other Christians to make us want to pattern our lives after. The Holy Spirit uses circumstances to arrange our conversations, routines, frustrations and delays to help us hear the message we need to hear about being holy. He is behind all the events in our lives and we are only His actors as we choose to follow Him. He uses our hunger for God because He knows only God can satisfy our spiritual hunger. We need fellowship with Him. We need Hope. We need someone we can trust. “Trust in the Lord your God only.” IS 26:4
Convicts of judgment—He is the one who proves the world wrong about judgment. He reveals that there is a spiritual world just as real as the physical one we see. He tells the believer that he is not of this world, but is now fit for heaven. So the believe is not content to settle down and live as though this world is his final home. second he brings counsel. jn 16:13,14 “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you.”
we do not have to sit around with WWJD on our bracelets and wonder what that question means? We can know because He gives us counsel. We have a book called the Bible, we have a church called the Wesleyan Church, we have fellow Christians who are believers and we have the Holy Spirit to guide us. He gives us the mind of Christ ! CO 2:16 “we have the mind of Christ.” It is the Holy Spirit that makes the Word of God active and powerful in our lives. the Holy Spirit reveals that God is faithful, that God is refuge, that God will provide for all my needs and we are new creatures because of what God has done in our lives.
In some churches they have stained glass window that tell the Gospel story. To the one inside the church they see the light shining through because they are on the inside. To the one who passes by on the outside those same windows say nothing because there is no light shining through.. Only by being in the church redeemed by the blood of Christ do we see the light that sets us free. On which side of the window you are depends on the work of the Holy Spirit in your life. Would you rather have the person or just a picture?
THE FINAL EXAM-The students in the first of chemistry filed in for the final exam. The teacher had told them before hand that they could bring on a sheet of paper as much information as they could to help them with the exam. Some came with sheets with small writing on them, others had diagrams and formulas, and others had outlines that had labels for everything. One student walked win with a sheet of paper and it appeared to have no writing at all. As they got ready for the exam he placed the sheet of paper on the floor beside his desk. He motioned for someone right outside the door to come in. a graduate student walked over to the sheet of paper and placed his two feet on the paper to help give the freshman all the answers he needed.
So for us to be all we need to be we have the help of the Holy Spirit inside our hearts as we ask Him to come in.
