The Holy Spirit's Work

Prelude

What does the Holy Spirit do for us? Purpose: Let’s learn some of the Holy Spirit’s work among us. Plan: Let’s look at John 15:26-16:15.

He will Testify

John 15:26-27 “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. And you also will bear witness, because you have been with Me from the beginning.

Helper, Advocate, Comforter are all appropriate translations. The Paraclete means broadly anyone who advises, counsels, or helps. He is the Spirit of Truth. The Nicene Creed quotes this verse, that He “proceeds from the Father.”

To testify means to bear witness. The Holy Spirit witnesses not about Himself but Jesus. Preaching that glorifies a preacher, a saint, a denomination, a political view, a nation, but not Jesus is not led by the Spirit. Shouting and other antics often cover up lack of content. If Jesus is not the content of preaching, it is not Spirit-led, because He will testify of Jesus. What was Jesus preparing the disciples for?

John 16:1-6 “These things I have spoken to you, that you should not be made to stumble. 2 They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service. 3 And these things they will do to you because they have not known the Father nor Me. 4 But these things I have told you, that when the time comes, you may remember that I told you of them. “And these things I did not say to you at the beginning, because I was with you. 5 “But now I go away to Him who sent Me, and none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’ 6 But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart.”

What was to happen after Jesus ascended to heaven?

He will Help

John 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.

This is why the western version of the Nicene Creed adds the filioque, “and the Son.” “We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son.” Why is this appropriate? Because we read here that Jesus sends the Holy Spirit to us. Eastern Christians would argue that though Jesus sends Him, He still proceeds from the Father. Rather than split hairs, let’s just leave it at that. Why is the Holy Spirit sent? To help, comfort, and advocate for us. What else does the Holy Spirit come to do?

He will Convict

John 16:8 “And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:”

What is meant here by sin, righteousness and judgment?

1) Sin of Unbelief

John 16:9 “of sin, because they do not believe in Me;”

Sin as defined here, is not moral failure, but a lack of faith. Because Jesus ascended to heaven, who now has the job of convicting the world of righteousness by faith?

2) Righteousness

John 16:10 “of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more;”

Christians are righteous by faith (Romans 3:22; 4:5, 9, 13; 9:30; 10:6; Galatians 5:5; Philippians 3:9; Hebrews 11:7). We walk by faith not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). We believe even not having seen Jesus as Thomas did (John 20:29). What does the Holy Spirit help us understand about those who rule this unjust world of war and crime?

3) Judgment on this World’s Ruler

John 16:11 “of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.”

Though injustice still holds sway in this world, judgment has already been made, justice is coming. The ruler of this world, whether human or demonic, has been condemned. What else will the Spirit do?

He will Guide

John 16:12-13 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 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.”

He will guide. He will speak. He will tell. There are many ideas blamed on the Holy Spirit. How can we discern between real truth coming from heaven and false doctrines or ideas of mere humans?

He will Glorify

John 16:14-15 “He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.”