The Holy Spirit

Reading: John chapter 16 verses 1-11.

Ill:

• In 1992 a lighthouse was built in Santo Domingo,

• The capital of the Dominican Republic.

• The lighthouse was built to commemorate the;

• 500th anniversary of the arrival of Christopher Columbus.

• Santo Domingo is one of the poorest areas in the world.

• And to construct this huge structure;

• 150,000 people were evicted from their homes in a shantytown to make room for it.

• The lighthouse also cause another ongoing problem;

• The intensity of its light means that electricity is rationed throughout much of the city.

• In other words:

• The light that brings security for some brings discomfort for others.

• Jesus is the light that brings revelation and security;

• But as his disciples are about to find out;

• He also brings discomfort and suffering for himself and for others.

In chapter 16 of John’s gospel we are breaking into a section of teaching:

• This section actually starts in chapter 15 verse 18;

• And concludes in chapter 16 verse 15.

• The apostle John ties together two key themes:

• The opposition of the world against the his people – the Church,

• The ministry of the Holy Spirit to and through his people.

Verse 6:

• We are told that the disciples were:

• N.I.V.: “Filled with grief”. K.J.B.: “Sorrow had filled their hearts”

• The expression used here is very emphatical;

• “The disciples hearts were so full of concern, that they were ready to burst”.

• Ill: Balloon filled with air, as far as you can take it before it pops.

Question: What caused their grief and sorrow?

Answer: There are two reasons why were full of grief and sorrow:

(1). The disciples will suffer (vs 2-4).

“They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, the hour is coming when those who kill you will think they are offering a service to God. 3They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me. 4I have told you this, so that when their hour comes you will remember that I warned you about them. I did not tell you this from the beginning because I was with you”.

• Jesus told his disciples that the hatred he experienced while here on earth;

• Will now be vented on them!

• 7 times we are told in John’s gospel;

• We are told that they persecuted or they plotted or tried to kill Jesus;

• (5:16, 7:19, 7:25, 8:37, 8:59, 9:22, 11:8).

• Jesus now tells his disciples that the hatred he has experienced;

• Will now be vented on them!

(a).

• Jesus tells his disciples the form this persecution will take:

• Verse 2: “They will be put out of the synagogue.”

(b).

• Jesus tells his disciples the severity of the persecution:

• Verse 2: “They will kill you thinking that this is actually service to God”.

(c).

• Jesus tells his disciples will do this:

• Verse 2: It will be the people from the synagogues.

(d).

• Jesus tells his disciples the reason for the persecution:

• Verse 3: They do it because they do not know Jesus or his Father in heaven.

(e).

• Jesus then gives his disciples a warning:

• Verse 4: “I did not tell you at first, because I was with you”.

So the first piece if information to depress the disciples is that persecution is coming:

• Question: Did persecution take place?

• Answer: Yes.

• Just read the book of Acts (the history book of the early Church);

• Or even a good Bible encyclopaedia that contains Church history! Ill: Foxes book of martyrs

Ill:

Do you know what became of the twelve disciples?

• John died of extreme old age in Ephesus.

• Judas Iscariot, after betraying his Lord, hanged himself.

• Peter was crucified, head downward, during the persecution of Nero.

• Andrew died on a cross at Patrae, in Achaia, a Grecian Colony.

• James, the younger brother of Jesus, was thrown from a pinnacle of the Temple,

• And then beaten to death with a club.

• Bartholomew was flayed alive in Albanapolis, Armenia.

• James, the elder son of Zebedee, was beheaded at Jerusalem.

• Thomas, was run through the body with a lance at Coromandel, in the east Indies.

• Philip was hanged against a pillar at Heropolis (Abyssinia).

• Thaddeus was shot to death with arrows.

• Simon died on a cross in Persia (now Iran).

Note:

• That really happened in the first century, it has happened throughout history;

• And it still happens today!

Ill:

• Thursday evening as I was preparing;

• I got this news from Premier Christian News (& also an email from YWAM).