The Holy Spirit Ministers
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The role, and reality of the Holy Spirit - and our response (RR track slide)
ILLUST - Danger of not heeding warning signs
OR…the benefits of heeding them
Driving through railroad crossing arms
READ: John 16:1-15
The Ministry of the Holy Spirit
The Ministry of the Holy Spirit
Your thoughts? (Responses)
Inspiration of Scripture
Spiritual gifts
Guide in prayer
Pump you up when you hear a great song?
Jesus’ disciples are on verge of separation anxiety - They are fixated on the bodily presence of Jesus
In their comfort zone
Jesus promised the Helper - they needed some clarification
Truth is, the Holy Spirit ministers in the middle of a world hostile to Jesus- their world was about to get really hostile
The church is to minister in this same world
WHY EXPLAIN THIS TO THEM?
The hatred of the world can lead to slipping away from the LORD
The world makes for outcasts of believers
The world acts out of ignorance
THREE AREAS OF FOCUS OF THE SPIRIT
Realizing Jesus’ desire for believers is a prosperous spiritual life
1) Ministry To the World
1) Ministry To the World
Conviction - sin, righteousness, judgment
1 - Conviction of sin
To convict = judicial, legal term - pronouncement of guilt, fixed, definite
Court scene - prosecutor, presents the case
Holy Spirit presents the case to every person in the world
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
There is no defense, no excuse
The Spirit convicts of unbelief, rejection of Jesus (not just indifference), and His message
2 - Conviction of Righteousness
Awareness of God’s standard
Salvation comes from awareness that one cannot save self - divine intervention, a mediator needed
For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
3 - Judgment
God judges actions based on the standard and lack of conformity to it
Compare human sin to Jesus’ righteousness - it is clear
Judgment is correct
The world needs Jesus - this world has been judged already
The ruler of this world has been judged; that ruler will be sentenced to eternity in Lake of Fire, along with those who reject the Savior
Satan’s temporary victories wiped out by death/resurrection of Christ
?? Blasphemy of HS (unpardonable sin?) = rejection of Jesus; Matt 12 and Mark 3
2) Ministry To Disciples
2) Ministry To Disciples
Much-needed direction, truth, guidance
Head knowledge must convert to the heart and soul
The disciples knew a lot, but just a small portion of the fullness of Christ
H.S. would lead them further
And Jesus, the man, must depart, in order for H.S. to come
Relationship to God has always been by faith - Jesus needs to depart so He isn’t just “there” for people to see and prove
ASIDE: Jesus leaves them twice
Crucifixion - sin HAD to be atoned for
Ascension - allows for belief, justification by faith
But He sends the Helper to indwell and guide them
Think about faith
Every believer is justified by faith (Abraham, etc.)
Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
Easier to believe when Jesus is right there, in person
God desires faith, trust, hope, confident expectation
Then again, people saw Him, and still rejected
Jesus did not leave disciples, or us, helpless
And we ended up receiving the very WORD (Bible)
Every time you open this Word, the Holy Spirit works in you
Guides you to navigate this hostile world
ILLUST: Mt. Everest - guides are CRUCIAL to survival
The H.S. is crucial to our survival, spiritually, in this hostile world
3) Ministry To Jesus
3) Ministry To Jesus
The Trinity, in short (Trinity slide)
Father sent Son, who points glory to Father
Son sends Spirit, who points glory to Son
The primary ministry of the H.S. is to bear witness to the ministry of Jesus
V. 13 - What the Spirit hears - God’s will, and the message of Jesus
Repent and follow
Spirit hears and knows we need help - so He offers it
Spirit interprets the Word, guides us to follow
Spirit’s primary role is to make Jesus, Yahweh, a reality to the world
FOR US - Only those in whom the H.S. dwells
WHY EXPLAIN THIS TO US?
The hatred of the world can lead to slipping away from the LORD
The world makes for outcasts of believers
The world acts out of ignorance
Role of the church
To present truth, vehicle for H.S.
“Sin” must be mentioned and discussed
(Can’t convict without a charge)
Allow people to come as sinners, leave as saints, born again, we welcome sinners here
And let the WORD/H.S. challenge them to change and grow
Believers -formerly convicted, then repented
Under the direction of the Word, H.S. -inspired
Proclaimers of the truth - absolute truth
Guidance - being “led” or “filled”
The biggest way the H.S. guides us in truth?
Not some audible voice from Heaven
Not “signs,” “feelings,” or even “visions”
The biggest way - the VERY WORD OF GOD WHICH THE HOLY SPIRIT INSPIRED!
All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;
Sensing the HS today (or quenching)
Wrong vs right - not just your “conscience”
Opportunity to witness
That person you meet, and you just know you need to talk about Jesus - that’s the H.S.
That choice you have to make, and you wrestle with morality or opportunity to sin - That’s the H.S.
TV, music, friends, etc.
That lost person you know, who asks you questions - that’s the H.S.
That song that pops into your head, reminding you of Yahweh’s greatness - that’s the H.S.
The chills you get when someone you know gets saved from your witness
The surrendered believer is sensitive to this
A major challenge in the church today is quenching the Spirit, and adopting the world’s ways
And.…Too many who wear the label “Christian” are either ignoring the H.S. or have never been indwelled to begin with
Navigating the world on their own - eternally dangerous!
For US:
Convicted of sin, righteousness, judgment
Given guidance, direction, truth
And now having opportunity to minister for Jesus
Doxological - glorifying God, glorifying Christ
(slide with word)
Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
This is why Yahweh saves us
Father, Son Spirit, Then…Spirit indwells believers
Yahweh has you right where He wants you to reflect that glory
Listen to the H.S. heed the warning not to slip into the world
Open your eyes to the opportunities
And trust that He is right there with you, inside you - ALWAYS
“Lord, haste the day, when the faith shall be sight”
Until then, let’s point people to Jesus, in a way that helps them want a close, eternal relationship with Him!
