"The Power Of The Christian In The World Of Today”

“The Power of the Christian in the World of Today”

John Ch 16

INTRODUCTION: No one will ever forget the September morning in 2001 that changed the mindset of many Americans toward terrorism. Almost everyone who was alive at that moment can give testimony to exactly what they were doing when they heard the first reports that planes had hit the twin towers in New York.

Not since the assassination of JFK had America stood so still for so long. My father can still tell you where he was and what he was doing when he heard that his president had been shot and killed. Likewise I remember what I was doing when I first heard about the terrorist attack.

Still today we are faced with nightly reports of mass executions, beheadings, murders of women and children and loss of life around the world.

Many of these self proclaimed ‘Holy Warriors’ feel like they are in some way doing their god a favor by killing innocent people – that they are ridding the world of different religions; namely Christians and Jews.

This is exactly what Jesus said would happen in John 16:2

They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming

that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service.

Of course these prophecies related first to the Apostles who, as many of you know, were martyred for their faith in Christ; Church tradition says that all but John were murdered for their belief, and he was excommunicated

Today many are killed because certain groups feel like they are doing their god a service; in some way their god will show favor to the murder of innocent people

***But Jesus doesn’t just stop with the prophecy of martyrdom that will befall some – He goes further in His lesson to explain the power that would be given to every believer to overcome the powers of darkness, sin, Satan and yes, even persecution.

We have a weapon to defend against the fear of any persecution at home or overseas – it is not the nuclear warhead, the machine gun or the most sophisticated fighter plane – It is the gift of God Himself given to us in the person of the Holy Spirit

Not much is said about today concerning the Holy Spirit:

In some circles He is a mysterious force that is only made evident in extremely emotional situations

While others see Him as a mere ‘guiding light’ that keeps us from unintentionally falling into harms way

Still others hardly recognize the work of the Holy Spirit at all; to this group He is just an impersonal force – the work of God

But none of these give us an accurate representation to the work of the Holy Spirit

After Jesus gives us this pronouncement of persecution in the beginning of John 16, He goes on to tell us that, though He is going away, He is leaving us a ‘comforter’ a ‘helper’ a ‘friend to walk beside us’ like Jesus did when He was here

John16:7

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

Then Jesus goes on to tell us what the job of the Holy Spirit is

John 16:8

And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

I. The job of the Holy Spirit is to convict us of sin

a. V.9 “Of sin, because they believe not on me;”

b. One of Christianity’s main theological flaws is that we often teach that people go to hell for not believing in Jesus

i. No one will see hell just because they do not believe in Jesus

ii. Hell is the penalty for breaking God’s law

iii. Jesus is the only pardon from the penalty – there is a difference

iv. ILLUSTRATION: “The Law of Gravity” A person who jumps from an airplane without a parachute doesn’t die because they didn’t take the parachute. They die because they broke the law of gravity. Had they had the parachute they would have escaped the judgment of the law of gravity.

c. The first work of the Holy Spirit is showing us our sin, and then guiding us to Jesus who is the only Savior

i. The Holy Spirit uses our conscience to show us our need of the Savior

ii. God’s law is written on our hearts – we know that it is wrong to lie, to steal, to lust and to use God’s name in vain

iii. Romans 3:20 “…for by the law is the knowledge of sin”

iv. The Holy Spirit uses that law to convince you of your need of Jesus