Holy Spirit

The Promise of another Helper

There is a push in our society that encourages people to think they can accomplish things all on their own. That big tasks of confronting life’s obstacles can be done all by yourself. The truth of the matter is none of us have gotten through life’s trials completely on our own. We benefited from the support of family or friends or both. Whether it was through an encouraging word, or listening ear or other ways we all no doubt have somebody in our lives to thank for being where and who we are today.

The same is true about life as a Christian. We cannot live as Christ has called us to live without help, without an advocate. Christ knew this, time and again throughout the Old Testament the people of God failed to live as God has called them to live. Even today people fail to live as God has called them to live. If people lived as God intended our world would look a lot different. The truth of the matter is that we cannot live as God intends or calls us without help. We cannot reflect the image of Christ to others under our own strength. Christ’s disciples needed help. I need help. We need Help. In the text for today Christ promises the help we need.

Illustrations for Biblical Preaching Sanctification

Sanctification

The story has been told of a do-it-yourselfer who went into a hardware store early one morning and asked for a saw. The salesman took a chain saw from the shelf and commented that it was their “newest model, with the latest in technology, guaranteed to cut ten cords of firewood a day.” The customer thought that sounded pretty good, so he bought it on the spot.

The next day the customer returned, looking somewhat exhausted. “Something must be wrong with this saw,” he moaned. “I worked as hard as I could and only managed to cut three cords of wood. I used to do four with my old-fashioned saw.” Looking confused, the salesman said, “Here, let me try it out back on some wood we keep there.” They went to the woodpile, the salesman pulled the cord, and as the motor went Vvvrooommm, the customer leaped back and exclaimed, “What’s that noise.”

The customer trying to saw wood without the power of the saw to help him is very much like the believer who attempts to live the Christian life without the daily empowerment of the Spirit.

Thanks be to God almighty, that through our Lord Jesus Christ He has made a way for us to live as he has called us to live. That through believing in Jesus Christ, our sins are forgiven and we are made new. That he has given us another advocate, helper which is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. The indwelling Holy Spirit bears witness with our spirit to the redemptive work of Christ within us. I ask you today do you believe in Jesus Christ the only Son of God? Have you been filled with the Holy Spirit that he may sanctify you entirely, and transform your life to reflect the life of Christ?

The Text

To fully understand this text we need to think of it in light of what Christ said to his disciples in . Christ tells his disciples that those who believe in him will do the same and even greater works as he has done because he goes to the Father. The disciples throughout John have seen, the lame walk, sight restored to the blind, and they have witnessed a dead man come walking out of his grave. They have to be thinking how can we accomplish any of that, never mind greater things?

Chapter 14 of John takes place around the table of the last supper. Christ has many conversations with his disciples around the table one of which he tells them that he will be leaving them soon, but he will be returning. The disciples were confused at this conversation. What do you mean you’re going to the father but will be back? The disciples didn’t understand what Christ meant by all this and it is indeed difficult to impossible for our human minds to understand spiritual things.

-Christ is telling his disciples that he is going to the cross,

-pave the way for the Holy Spirit to live within us.

-Because he lives we too can live according to the spirit

-He guides us in all truth

John 16:5–15 NIV84

“Now I am going to him who sent me, yet none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ Because I have said these things, you are filled with grief. But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; and in regard to 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 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 bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. 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.

John 16:5-15

Holy Spirits role to the unbelievers

*Convince the World of their sin

*What is their sin?

*Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved. Romans 10:9-10

Role for Believers

*Presents us perfect before God almighty

*He guides us in all truth, bringing to our remembrance all that Christ taught.

*He is transforming us into the image of Christ, making us Holy

-entire sanctification

Illustrations for Biblical Preaching Church, Unity

For safety reasons, mountain climbers rope themselves together when climbing a mountain. That way, if one climber should slip and fall, he would not fall to his death. He would be held by the others until he could regain his footing.

The church ought to be like that. When one member slips and falls, the others should hold him up until he regains his footing. We are all roped together by the Holy Spirit.

Illustrations for Biblical Preaching Evangelism, Necessity for

Evangelism, Necessity for

A young boy about seven years old went to Disneyland with his family, but in the excitement of going on all the rides, he was separated from them. He was having such a wonderful time that it was quite a while before he realized that he was lost. When he discovered the predicament he was in, he at first figured that he could find his way back to his family. But, after a time, it finally hit him that he didn’t know where he was going or how to get there. He was lost, really lost!

The same is true for unbelievers. They may not know it yet, because they may still be having a wonderful time, but they are lost all the same. Sooner or later it’s going to hit them that they don’t know where they are going or how to get there.

Two things were necessary for the boy to be reunited with his family. First, he had to recognize his condition. Second, someone had to show him where he could find his family. So, too, in evangelism—the Holy Spirit will first convict individuals of their lostness (John 16:8), but we Christians are commissioned to show them the way of salvation.

Conclusion

It is not under our strength, or our power but by the very spirit God that we are reconciled to God our Father. The LORD in his grace and mercy for us provided a way that we can be reconciled to him. Through the shed blood of Christ on the cross the payment for sin has been paid. No longer do we have to live with the judgement and condemnation our sinful world has to offer. We can be made right with God through faith in our LORD Jesus Christ. This is the sin of the world failure to believe in our Lord Jesus Christ. If you believe in our Lord Jesus Christ and he has changed your life can I get an Amen? We accept the grace of almighty God by believing Jesus Christ. Do you believe? Do you hear the Holy Spirit speaking to you this morning? Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you too will be saved.

We are transformed, sanctified, by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Through Christ shed blood we are made perfect before almighty God, through the work of the Holy Spirit within us we are being made holy. We are being transformed to reflect Christ more and more each day. Is the Holy Spirit at work in your life? Does your life display the work of the spirit of God within you?

It doesn’t matter how good of a life you live. It doesn’t matter if you just go to church. Living a good life and going to church on our own doesn’t reconcile us to almighty God. Nothing of our own strength can restore a right relationship with God. It is only through faith, believing in Jesus Christ that we accept God’s grace which is available to all. It is through the work of the Holy Spirit that we are made holy. We cannot do it on our own.