John 16:7-15 (The Ministry of the Holy Spirit, Part 2)

 

Intro: Have you ever had this thought – I wish I lived during the time of the apostles.

A)I wish that I was there to hear Jesus teach the sermon on the MT.

 

B) If I could have seen him / heard him / touched him I would be a stronger believer.

1) I have felt that way at times!

 

C) But Jesus says something here in JN 16:7 that completely contradicts that mentality.

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.

 

D) Why an advantage? Jesus limited by time and space in His physical body – couldn’t be with Peter in Galilee and John in Jerusalem at the same time.

1) He would have to Choose. – But now – In them – by His Spirit.

 

You look at the Disciples so often before this when Jesus gave a teaching afterwards

A)They didn’t get it they were in the dark. They were at a loss.

 

B)That all Changed after they received the Spirit- they were invigorated – strengthened & encouraged

1) Jesus was now in them – not just principles to remember but His spirit – impressing upon their hearts.

Someone asked me a very good question a weak or so ago.

A)What was the difference between the relationship to the OT saints and the NT saints?

 

B) Good question: We read of the HS coming upon people in the OT at various times for empowering for certain circumstances.

 

1) Numbers 11:25 The 70 elders – came upon them

     like He was upon Moses.

 

2) Numbers 24:2 Balaam – Prophesied.

3) Judges 3:10 Othniel Judged

4) Judges 6:34 Gideon

5) Judges 14:6 Samson

6) 1 Samuel 10:10 Saul – Prophesying

7) 1 Samuel 16:13 David.

 

C) See the OT believers had the HS with them. – Just like the disciples did when Jesus was with them.

 

D) But the Difference between them and us – is no where do you read of the HS being in them.

1) Indwelling them – Abiding with them day by day.

 

E) He would come upon them to empower them for certain service – but He wasn’t in them

1) See that is one of the blessings of the NC .

Jesus established a NC for those who would trust in his work on the cross

Here is how the Lord described that NC –

 

B) This is the primary difference between the OC and the NC – Old was external – outward performance

1) The NC – New heart – and place my Spirit in you

 

C) Doing a work on the inside – We now have a new relationship to the Spirit of God –

1) He indwells the believer. No longer with us – but now in us.

 

D) Guide, teach, comfort, instruct, point us to Jesus and to empower us to be witnesses.

 

Charity Harris is our girl’s basketball coach here at CCV – She asked me this week – help out some

A)Here is what is challenging about coaching. I can instruct – talk until blue in the face –

 

B) Lay out a game plan. But I can’t infuse! – I can’t get into the players head and make decisions

1) I can’t get into their body and make plays

 

C) But this is the difference in the Ministry of the HS in the NC vs OC – He is now in us.

1) Not just instruction in our minds – but stirring now our hearts – moving on our hearts

 

D) Empowering our wills and our bodies – to walk with Christ – follow Christ – serve Christ

1) The key for us is learning to listen to those promptings

 

Jesus here in John 14-16 is giving us insight into that abiding indwelling ministry of the HS

A)He has said some hard things – tough instruction. but each time He says them.

 

B) He follows it up by reminding them – I am sending the Helper to you – Parakeets – and this is what He is going to do

1) Teach you – John 14:26

2) Bring to your remembrance John 14:26

3) Bring peace and Stability to you John 14:27

4) He will testify of me- John 15:26

5) He will bear witness – John 15:27

6) He will guide you into all truth- John 16:13

7) He will speak in the authority of Jesus John 16:13

8) He will glorify Jesus – John 16:14

9) He will take the things of Christ and reveal them to us. John 16:14,15

 

C) That is the ministry of the HS that we have talked about thus far.

Today we want to focus on v.8-11 where the Lord goes on to point out – an important ministry the HS would have in the lives of believers.

8 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:  9 of sin, because they do not believe in Me;  10 of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more;  11 of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. 

 

A)Now I believe that these verses are often misunderstood. –

 

B) They are commonly quoted, and most of us read it as though the Holy Spirit is going to come into the world and work directly upon the hearts of unbelievers,

 

C)those who are not Christians, and convict them, or convince them, of these three things: sin, righteousness, and judgment.

 

D) Now I do believe that the Bible teaches us that the spirit of God does – convict – does speak to men’s hearts directly- 

1) but I don’t think that is what this verse is implying.

 

Now one of my favorite modern day commentators is Ray Stedman-

He pointed out something here I had never seen before.

He points out that there is are two key words missing in v.8 – brings context – watch this

 

Read v.7 again emphasizing these words

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. 

 

12 "I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.  13 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.  14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.  15 All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you. 

 

It is clear the emphasis here is on the HS coming TO THEM. 

A) In light of that Stedman suggest that v. 8 then should be read in this way.

 

8 And when He has come TO YOU, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:  9 of sin, because they do not believe in Me;  10 of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more;  11 of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. 

 

B) In other words the ministry of the HS being talked about here is not something that He does independently 1) But He is working directly through the Church. He is working directly through the Lord’s people.

C) See the HS doesn’t float around like some ghost impressing upon the hearts of unbelievers they need Jesus.

 

D) He is almost always seen working in conjunction with a vessel with a person.

1) The Holy Spirit works through the people in whom He lives.

 

E) Example: When the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost, He empowered Peter to preach; and the preaching of the Word brought conviction to those who heard.

 

That I believe is what this passage is teaching us here

A)Jesus is teaching the disciples that when the HS comes He is going to be working in them to accomplish a greater impact

 

B)Another one of my favorite modern day commentators supports this idea  Warren Wiersbe

 

“It is important to note that the Spirit comes to the church and not to the world. This means that He works in and through the church. The Holy Spirit does not minister in a vacuum. Just as the Son of God had to have a body in order to do His work on earth, so the Spirit of God needs a body to accomplish His ministries; and that body is the church. Our bodies are His tools and temples, and He wants to use us to glorify Christ and to witness to a lost world.”

.

So the point that Jesus is making is how the HS was going to be working thru them – in order to accomplish 3 important things

A)Thru the Church He intends to have a 3 fold affect upon the world.

 

B) Convict the world of sin, of righteousness and of Judgment.

 

C)There are three things the world ought to see when it looks at the church – looks at individual believers.

 1) Marks we are walking in the Spirit.

 

 

First thing it should see when it looks at us is the Life of Jesus.

A)It ought to be convicted of sin, but there is one specific sin He is referring to: "because they believe not on me. "

 

B)That right there is the greatest sin in the World.

Not murder / rape/ child abuse / genocide/ -

1) Listen U might not like this. – I don’t always – but a person can be forgiven of all of those things

 

C) But there is one sin they will not be forgiven – That is the sin of not believing in Jesus –

1) that is the sin that sends a person to Hell

2) Believe = to cling to trust in and rely upon.

 

See the HS is seeking to work in the Church in individual believers in such a way

A)that when the world looks at us – get to know us – clear to them – they are missing Jesus.

 

B)The key word here is convict  (John 16:8). It is a legal word that means “to bring to light, to expose, convince.”

 

C)Our belief and reliance upon Jesus is to be so apparent so strong – that when the world looks at us

1) I am missing something.

 

What is the church for?

A)It is to bring Jesus consistently before the world.

 

B) It is interesting to note that the greatest spiritual awakening in our day – called the Jesus movement

1) That is the way it should be – About Jesus

 

C) Look at the Church today – last 15yrs look at what the Church is doing – Brochures for Seminars –

1) there are a lot of Church movements

 

In the 80’s popular – Seeker sensitive movement – Lighten up – Make the seeker comfortable

A)Late 90’s into today. – Purpose Driven Church movement - 

 

B) New Emerging Church movements

2) Video Church movements

 

C) These are movements – They will tell you how to do it – Stats on how affective it is.

1) So much out there about the Church and what it has to offer Society – groups for everything

 

D) But what is interesting to me – you look at the early Church – that was not their mentality.

 

They never talked about the church. The early Christians never wasted their time in that. 

A)They talked about the Lord. The church doesn't save anybody.

 

B)That was the first Jesus movement – that is what we need now

1)Jesus forgives / heals / restores /

 

C) Holy Spirit wants to manifest Jesus so clearly to the world in us – They are convicted – Missing it.

 

Now in order for that to happen – we have to be Salt and Light.   Salt tasted – Light seen

A)Problem for some of us – Bring an unsaved friend – giant question mark – who is that.

 

B) Here is what happens – get saved – your unsaved friends either – get saved or bail!

 

C)How many of you had that happen.

1)For most of us the Lord allows us to go thru a period of incubation – { separated – that is good

D)But once we get stronger – He then wants to use us – work thru us – shine in us –

1) Convince the World of their need of Him

 

 How does that happen – Make friends – seek out reach out

A)Most powerful form of evangelism is relational

 

B)There are some great brothers and sisters in our Church who love to go street witnessing

1) That is great – builds you up – but it is not the most effective form of evangelism and discipleship

 

C) Our Mission is to make Disciples –

 

Here is what is interesting: In the 10 yrs that I have been pastor here – consistently always those who have gone street witnessing

A)You know I have not met one person who has come to Christ – thru that – who attends Church here

 

B) Not one person who was led to Christ – by someone street witnessing – discipled Plugged in

1). People praying a prayer to receive Christ

 

C)But the flip side of that is this – I have met countless – way too many to count – people who were led to Christ or brought here by co- worker

1) Neighbor, a relative, someone who became friends with them –

D) Came got saved – got plugged in – and now are walking with the Lord – serving the Lord

 

How does that happen? It happens when a Christian is willing to get out of comfort zone –

A)Get focus off of ourselves and everything we have going on. Our lives are busy

 

B) We start to realize why we are here. We are here to be Salt and light – we are here to reach out

1) So we make friends, rub shoulders, invest time

 

C) Get to know someone - And as we begin to live before them – they get to know us.

1) They see our relationship with Christ – They see He is center

2) Talk about Jesus – Best friend – Courson act like they are already saved.

 

D) They realize and are convicted and convinced – I don’t have that.

 

If we did this: We might see another Jesus movement and there would be a need for all these church movements

A)What the world needs to see is Christians actively living out their relationship with Christ.

 

2nd Thing the world is convinced of flows right out of that relationship. – Righteousness

A)Now notice it doesn’t say that the HS convicts the world of unrighteousness

 

B) Not convincing them of what is wrong – but – of righteousness

 

C) Which I think further supports what Jesus is saying here applies to the HS working thru Believers

1) Jesus said – I go to my Father and they don’t see me anymore – but they will see me in you.

 

D) My righteousness is to be displayed in your lives

 

That is why as believers – We do what we do as unto the Lord

A)Jobs – hardest most faithful loyal workers – that is righteousness being displayed

 

B) Business practices we are honest – ethical –

1) The world loves to preach situational ethics – So your morals and ethics are based on the situation

 

C) So there are times when – it is ok to cut corners

1) There are times when it is ok to lie –

2) There are times that might warrant doing a have hearted effort

 

D) You really need to get home – for one reason or another

The Bible doesn’t teach situational ethics – it says whatever you do in word or in deed do all in the name of the Lord

A) In the Psalm 29:2 we are encouraged to Worship the Lord in the Beauty of Holiness

 

B) Implied in that verse is that there is a beauty in Holiness – Beauty in holy living

 

C) The world sees that – Righteousness in our conduct in our speech –

1) Friendships and is to be convicted by that

 

 

In Ephesians Paul talks about not grieving the HS

A)List there in Ch. 4 the things that are grievous to him  Beg in v.25

 

B) Lying, Anger, stealing, corrupt speech, cutting talk – doesn’t edify

1) Bitterness, Malice, - evil speaking – or gossip

 

C) Now the world sees all of that in each other so when they don’t see it in us – they are convicted of righteousness

 

3rd Of Judgment

A)The third thing the world is to see as it looks at the church is judgment, "because the ruler of this world is judged."

 

Two Systems –

A)System of this world is live for the moment – live for yourself.

 

B) But the unbeliever falling that system is painfully aware – it doesn’t work –

1) Not satisfied! –

 

C) But the system of Jesus is radically different

 

D) See the Lord is seeking thru His Spirit – ministering the Lord’s will and word to us

1) Live not for the moment but for eternity

 

E) Die to self in order to bless others – build up others

 

Again when we are walking in the Spirit and treating others in that way – the World looks on – convinced

A)Something going on here – something different

 

B) I have way more than they do – but they are much more content – more satisfied –

 

C) They are judged – convicted –  Missing it

 

Jesus wants his disciples to realize that says here that Satan is already judged –

Col 2:15

15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.

 

A)Sometimes we can have this defeatist attitude

1) Life is uphill battle –

 

B) Guys we are on the winning side –

1) More than conquerors

 

Our Lord is the King – we know how this thing ends Satan is defeated –

A) Satan has lost – only a matter of time – before his time – is gone

 

C) His system doesn’t work -  It is flawed – it doesn’t produce satisfaction –

 

When Believers allow the Lord to live thru them by the HS

A)Living for eternity -  Living not to please self – but the Lord and others

 

B) It communicates judgment to the world

 

Judged in a good way!