The Third Person Of The Trinity, The Comforter, The Helper

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.