The Work of the Holy Spirit

Working, Not Working

It is ironic that on this Memorial Day weekend, when some of us have an extra day off from our jobs and some additional time to rest and relax, we should also observe Pentecost, the Day in which we celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit.

That is because the Holy spirit is the One who works in and through the church, the body of baptized believers. He is often called the “helper,” or “the Comforter.”

Unlike we, who are in need of daily rest and yearly vacations, there is a sense that God never sleeps or slumbers (Psalm 121:3-4)

Psalm 121:3–4 ESV

3 He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. 4 Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

God is constantly working, constantly guarding, constantly doing mighty things that we know not of.

Today, I want to talk about the vehicle through which God does that work now that Jesus is at the right hand of the Father, having accomplished the work of redemption. That vehicle, that person, is none other than The Holy Spirit.

The late J.I. Packer said this about the Spirit’s work:

“The Christian’s life in all its aspects- intellectual and ethical, devotional and relational, upsurging in worship and outgoing in witness- is supernatural; only the Spirit can initiate and sustain it. So apart from him, not only will there be no lively believers and no lively congregations, there will be no believers and no congregations at all.” (Francis Chan, Forgotten God, 83).

We in the church, are prone to think that it is up to us to keep the church going. Some think: “If we just had good enough programs,; good enough pastors; and good enough facilities, then our church would run well. Then we would grow. Then giving would increase.” But this is not the case. The church is not a business. There’s is very little we can do to keep the church from falling away.

In this conclusion to the Upper Room Discourse, Jesus promised three things.

Jesus said there would be difficult days ahead.

Jesus said these things to keep the disciples from “stumbling.” The ESV says in John 16:1: “I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away.”

Among the many things that they would be subjected to were the following:

Being put out of the synagogue. This was the place of education and socialization, especially for men in a community. Synagogues were places that the Scripture was read and teaching took place, since the time of the Babylonian exile. Paul and his friends left the synagogue in Corinth after an hostile reception in Acts 18:7. This means that they would be rejected by the community.

They would also be subjected to martyrdom. Jesus warned that this would be done when such perpetrators would think that they would be doing God a favor, when actually, they do not know God.

This is a sober reminder that when you choose to follow Jesus, you will be unpopular. Kirk Cameron, a Christian actor who has been respected and loved by many, was wrongfully accused of being a bigot, when he released a children’s book teaching humility. The headline read: “Kirk Cameron Labeled ‘Bigoted Christian Nationalist’ Before Public Library Reading in Seattle.” We should not be surprised. The world and Christianity clash. And so the disciples must remember these words of Jesus.

Jesus promised a Helper.

And thus, they would need a “helper”, a “comforter.”

John 16:5–6 ESV

5 But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ 6 But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart.

Interesting because it was Thomas who said in John 14:5.

John 14:5 ESV

5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?”

But this was earlier in the evening. By now, sadness had gripped their minds. And then Jesus says something ironic in John 16:7 “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 go, I will send him to you.”

How can it be to their advantage that their long revered leader would go away? Well, there is much irony with God from a human perspective. For by Jesus’ departure, it set the stage for the arrival of the Holy Spirit.

The Spirit would have and has had a significant role in the world.

John 16:8–11 ESV

8 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; 10 concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; 11 concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.

And so the Spirit is also at work in the world, not in a helping, comforting sort of way, but in a convicting, convincing sort of way. Jesus’ authority will be constantly questioned from now until the time He returns. In verses 8-10 the Holy Spirit would come to do a number of things:

To convict the world of sin;

To convict the world of righteousness;

To convict the world of judgment.

God remains the judge of this world. Jesus said: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.” (Matthew 28: 18) Everyone must answer to Jesus Christ in the end (Philippians 2:10-11 and Revelation 1:7).

Just because Jesus cannot be seen, does not mean that His rule is not in effect. It is. And there is no greater evidence of His rule than the human heart and how it plays out in the way people live and regard God.

John Calvin said:

“He will then appear to all in the incomprehensible majesty of his reign in order to judge the living and the dead. He will render to all according to their works, just as each one, by his works, will have shown himself to be faithful or unfaithful.” (John Calvin, Truth for All Time, 75).

In other words, every person, living and dead, will be accountable to Him on that day.

The Spirit has a critical role in the Church.

But in contrast to the work He does in the world, He would prove Himself to be the quintessential helper in John 16:12-13

John 16:12–13 (ESV)

“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.”

The Holy Spirit would be the source and guidance for the church. As one commentator states:

“This refers to the truth about God… The Spirit guided the New Testament writers who prepared the new written revelation that would take its place beside the Old Testament Scriptures. The Spirit will remind the writers of the past, interpret the gospel for the present and reveal things to come.” (New Geneva Study Bible, 1695).

Remember from a previous message that the Holy Spirit is seen as the Executive member of the Trinity. He is the power for the Church and the Equipper of ministry and mission.

The earthly presence of Jesus was temporary in a sense (33 years, three years of service), whereas the Holy Spirit is still active and has been since the Day of Pentecost.

Another commentator states:

“The Holy Spirit leads us to a deeper understanding of God, prompting both repentance for the sins that we commit and assurance of God’s grace and the certainty of our election. We receive this illumination through the ministry of the Word and through prayer, meditation on God and His revelation, and the Struggle to live our lives in a manner consistent with revelation.” (The New Geneva Study Bible p. 1801)

CONCLUSION: But until that time, let us be filled with His power for witness and ministry.

Acts 1:8–9 ESV

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” 9 And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.

Many years ago, Samuel Stevenson wrote the poem, “Where is God’s Power?” Listen to its words as you reflect on the Spirit’s work in your life.

A city full of churches

Great preacher, lettered men,

Grand music, choirs and organs;

If all these fail, what then?

Good workers, eager, earnest,

Who labour hour by hour:

But where, oh where, my brother,

Is God’s Almighty power?

It is the Holy Spirit,

That quickeneth the soul.

God will not take man-worship,

Nor bow to man’s control.

No human innovation,

No sill, or worldly art,

Can give a true repentance,

Or break the sinner’s heart.

Great God, revive us truly!

And keep us every day;

That men may all acknowledge,

We live just as we pray.

The Lord’s hand is not shortened,

He still delights to bless,

If we depart from evil

And all our sins confess.

In just a moment, we will celebrate the Lord’s Supper. If you have confessed your faith in Jesus Christ and have been baptized, you are invited to partake of this meal. If you have not, we ask that you spend this time in reflection and let the elements pass you by.

But first, let us recite our common faith. Church, what do you believe?