The Work of The Holy Spirit John 16:5-15
Jn.16:5 "Now I am going to him who sent me, yet none of you asks me, 'Where are you going?' 6 Because I have said these things, you are filled with grief. 7 But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counsellor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8 When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; 10 in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; 11 and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.
12 "I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you. 16 "In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me." 17 Some of his disciples said to one another, "What does he mean by saying, 'In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me,' and 'Because I am going to the Father? (NIV)
I. Jesus Reveals The Plan Under the New Covenant, God s plan was to make the indwelling of the Holy Spirit available for all Believers! The New Covenant being the sacrificial death of Jesus! the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! Lk.22:20 In the same way, after the supper he took the saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. Now, Jesus knew He was about to die and leave them: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counsellor will not come to you, but if I go, I will send Him to you. paraklētos Counsellor; An intercessor, consoler: - advocate, comforter helper!
God s plan was that Jesus would be glorified before He sent the Holy Spirit. Jn.7:39 Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified. At Pentecost Peter addressed the crowd. He spoke of the glorious exaltation of the risen Lord Jesus: Act.2:33 "Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear. (NKJV) Challenging question: Is Jesus Glorified in my life? What if we were ALL filled afresh with the Holy Spirit?
II. His Work in The World 8 When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment Of course He also convicts Believers, but differently than the world. To us He is a Comforter to the World a Convictor! God s purpose in convicting the world is not judgement He convicts to draw them to Jesus, to avoid Judgement! 1. In Regard To Sin Vs.9 in regard to sin because men do not believe in me Obviously the unsaved do not believe in Jesus The purpose then is to draw them to Salvation!
2. In Regard To Righteousness. Jesus says, because I am going to the Father Before returning to the Father - the cross, the grave & resurrection lay ahead. Holy Spirit conviction convinces people they are not worthy of heaven they know they are not perfect!!! His desire is that all should know what Jesus really did Rom.4:25 He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification. (NIV) 2Co.5:21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. (NKJV) No one can attain Righteousness outside of Christ!!!
3. In Regard To Judgement. because the prince of this world now stands condemned As Christians we know this to be true, but the worldly don t believe Satan is the prince of this world! But he is!!! So, everyone without Christ also stand condemned!??? Jn.3:17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. (NIV) All those scoffers who believe our God is too stern & judgmental & unloving should read v.16 & 17 Why is it so difficult to understand that God, who hates sin, actually loves sinners - enough for Jesus to die!!!
Before leaving this point of Holy Spirit s work in the world & also as a leading into the next point This Question Must Be Considered by Us All If Holy Spirit is working, convicting people in the world, what does that mean to Believers? What should we do? Simply Be His Disciples! Act.1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. (NIV) A Disciple is a Witness!
III. His Work in The Church 1. Streams of Living Water Jn.7:37 On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." 39 By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified. (NIV) 2. Holy Spirit is Our Guide 13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.
So what is Truth? Holy Spirit is Spirit of truth & will guide us into all truth! Where will he guide us to? Jesus said I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (NIV) 1Co.2:10 The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. Every Christian needs the fulness of the Holy Spirit!!! 3. He Will Lead Us Into The Perfect Will of The Father. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come (Jn.16:13b) The Triune God gives us a perfect example of selfless service. Holy Spirit exalts Jesus & Jesus exalts the Father! What an example for us to serve God & one another!
4. We can live in The Power of The Holy Spirit. Act.1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Peter speaking to Cornelius household: Act.10:38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him. Holy Spirit then demonstrated His Presence - they all spoke in tongues!!! Peter was amazed: For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. (Act.10:46 NIV) So Peter baptised them!!!
Someone: But is this power available for us today? Testimony of Russel Curtis 2 nd July 2018 after Church Renaissance Conference - amazing Holy Spirit Presence Friend, Anthony, called to ask for prayer. He d been asked to go to Ballito to pray for very sick girl Cynthia Dlamini. Evidence of demonic attack (nightmares, hearing voices) Anthony called back - girl had died! Anthony was asked to go at about 2pm but couldn t go until 5pm. Russel instantly knew God said Anthony was not late, but that God was intentionally putting His Power on display Anthony s request: Please pray call Cynthia back pray for the breath of life to enter her They prayed. At the conference the preacher spoke of Greater Works
Jn.14:12 "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. (NKJV) Russel knew this was to be one of the Greater Works When Anthony arrived Cynthia s body was being loaded into the Morgue van she d been dead for two hours! He laid hands on her & prayed she began to breathe! Revival broke out in that area!!! Scores of people - families; individuals - coming to Jesus Are we prepared to believe that God can still do miracles in our community Today?
Jn.16:15 All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you. We really are able to do Greater Works today Let s Pray!