Lessons from the Garden: The Holy Spirit at Work

Bible Passage: John 15:26-16:15

Summary: In John 15:26-16:15, Jesus articulates the indispensable role of the Holy Spirit in the believer's life as a source of strength and guidance. He explains the Spirit's missions of truth-telling and empowerment, stressing that through the Spirit, believers will experience an enriched relationship with God and the boldness to proclaim the Gospel amidst opposition.

Application: This sermon aims to encourage Christians to cultivate an active relationship with the Holy Spirit. By understanding the Spirit's role in their lives, they can overcome insecurities and become vibrant witnesses for Christ, leading to a more profound and effective ministry.

Teaching: The primary teaching will focus on the transformative power of the Holy Spirit in affirming believers' identities and helping them navigate challenges in the world while remaining rooted in the truth of Christ's teachings. Emphasis will be placed on how the Spirit equips us for witness and service.

How this passage could point to Christ: This passage emphasizes that the Holy Spirit is an extension of Christ's presence and work, acting as a bridge for believers to engage in God's mission. By seeing the Spirit as a continuation of Christ’s ministry, it highlights that God’s truth and love remain active in the world today.

Big Idea: Through the active work of the Holy Spirit, believers we are empowered to engage with the world meaningfully and to spread the Gospel courageously, fulfilling God's divine purpose in their lives.

Recommended Study: I suggest examining commentaries and theological discussions related to the doctrines of the Holy Spirit, particularly focusing on John 14-16. Utilize your Logos library to analyze key Greek terms used in this passage like 'parakletos' (Helper) and the implications of 'conviction' used by the Spirit. Additionally, consider studying the historical context of the early church's reliance on the Spirit for mission to draw parallels to contemporary issues that challenge today's Christians.

Good morning,

It’s great to see everyone again after the power issues last week. This morning we are in the Garden with Jesus and his disciples on the night of his betrayal and the eve of His crucifixion. We have been talking about the emotions of this moment for Christ. These final truths he is trying to get across to the men around Him. Today we see the third mention of a helper, an advocate and we will see the power of His work and the honor it is to have Him in us.

Our Big idea: Through the active work of the Holy Spirit, believers we are empowered to engage with the world meaningfully and to spread the Gospel courageously, fulfilling God's divine purpose in their lives.

John 15:26–16:15 NIV

“When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me. And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning. “All this I have told you so that you will not fall away. They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, the time is coming when anyone who kills you will think they are offering a service to God. They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me. I have told you this, so that when their time comes you will remember that I warned you about them. I did not tell you this from the beginning because I was with you, but now I am going to him who sent me. None of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ Rather, you are filled with grief because I have said these things. But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: about sin, because people do not believe in me; about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned. “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the 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. He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.”

1. Spirit's Strength: Bearing Witness

John 15:26–27 NIV

“When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me. And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning.

Jesus again, for the third time promising an Advocate or helper.

His purpose is to testify about Christ

Our Purpose is to testify about him

It’s an honor

We are always bearing witness for something

We talk about things we love

Sports, family, spouses, food

How awesome it is that we have the Spirit’s strength, the strength to endure the persecution

Remember last week we talked about persecution, it is inevitable, it doesnt sound fun, the comfort is the strength and prescence of the Spirit

Jesus is trying to get this across to his disciples as they have some tough times coming in a few hours.

Where do we get our strength?

Ourselves=failure

Christ=victory

You could emphasize how the Holy Spirit’s role as a witness of Christ empowers believers to testify about Jesus boldly. Encourage your congregation to rely on the Spirit's guidance in moments of sharing their faith, recognizing that the Spirit equips them to speak truthfully and courageously about Christ. Highlight that the Spirit is the ultimate source of strength and confidence when facing opposition or doubt.

2. Spirit's Conviction: Revealing Truth

John 16:1–11 NIV

“All this I have told you so that you will not fall away. They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, the time is coming when anyone who kills you will think they are offering a service to God. They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me. I have told you this, so that when their time comes you will remember that I warned you about them. I did not tell you this from the beginning because I was with you, but now I am going to him who sent me. None of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ Rather, you are filled with grief because I have said these things. But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: about sin, because people do not believe in me; about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.

Again Christ is preparing his disciples for the coming difficulties, and letting us know how the world will view and receive us.

It is the Spirit who convicts and shows us the truth.

It is through Him that we can bring change, we are powerless He is powerful

Conviction and truth can be hard

We should face it every day

When we read the word

The World is in the wrong about sin righteousness and judgement

We are to share the truth

We are not to love the “world” but we have to love the people

You are here today because Jesus loves you

Many because someone else loved us and brought us here

Let’s do that for everyone

Embrace the convictions, understand the differences and live for Him

Perhaps point out that while the world might present challenges and hostility, the Holy Spirit acts as a convicting presence, bringing clarity and truth. Suggest that believers can trust in the Spirit's work to bring conviction to the world concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment, even when they feel powerless to effect change themselves.

3. Spirit's Guidance: Glorifying Christ

John 16:12–15 NIV

“I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the 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. He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.”

Our main purpose in creation

Glorifying Christ

Jesus tells his friends He wants to say so much more, but they cant handle it

The Holy Spirit completes the story, the mission, redemption

The Spirit speaks from God

The Spirit glorifies Christ, so should we.

Make disciples, love others, show Christ

He loves you

Maybe highlight the Spirit’s ongoing role in revealing and glorifying Christ, helping believers grow in understanding and live out God's mission. Encourage your audience to seek a deeper relationship with the Spirit, which leads to a fuller revelation of Christ’s teachings and purposes, equipping them for every good work.