The Disciples and the Holy Spirit
Notes
Transcript
The Disciples and the Holy Spirit
The Disciples and the Holy Spirit
INTRO:
end of service*****
boxed lunches
- at the end of our service today we’re going to celebrate Communion or the Lord’s Supper together.
parents, if you have kids in class right now that have trusted in Jesus and been baptized, they’re part of the family of God and we want them to participate in this with you.
so at the end of this message, I’m going to pray and then have Brian come back and sing a song before the Lord’s Supper. That will be your time to go to your child’s class, get them and bring them back so we can celebrate all together
illustration: famous partnerships / people who help each other
Fictional:
Batman & Robin
The Lone Ranger & Tonto
Riggs & Murtaugh (from the Lethal Weapon movies)
and actual historical people:
Bonnie & Clyde
Michael Jordan & Scottie Pippen
Brian & Brooke Williams
Sometimes in life the objective is too much for one person to handle on their own.
jesus, getting ready for his departure, has told the disciples what they’re to do when he’s gone:
die to self
obey all of his commands
love people who hate them
and tell everyone in the world about Jesus
if they were texting Jesus they’d be sending the “big eye” emoji guy
if we jump ahead to after his death and resurrection to one of the last conversations Jesus had with his disciples before his ascension back to heaven, he told them to go wait in a room and stay there UNTIL the helper, the Holy Spirit comes.
why? because he knew they couldn’t do this job without help!
they’d just mess things up on their own.
i mean, a few weeks earlier they couldn’t even stay awake long enough to pray before Jesus was arrested
The word we see today in our passage for the Holy Spirit is helper, it also carries the meaning of intercessor and advocate
we don’t have time today to do a full class on the doctrine of the Holy Spirit… but before we dive into our passage today, let me say just a few things that the Bible says about the Holy Spirit...
Doctrine of the Holy Spirit -
he is God… as much God as God the Father and God the Son
he is eternal like they are eternal
he is omniscient (knowing all things)
he is powerful, having power that only God has
he was at work in creation
and he is at work in salvation
he is a person, not some kind of force, and that person is God… just as fully and in the same way as God the Father and God the Son
so… turn with me to John 16.... starting in verse 5...
BODY:
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. 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. 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.
12 “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. 14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15 All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
LET US PRAY...
Jesus is getting ready to go to the cross. this entire conversation that we’ve been studying this month has been to prepare his disciples for life after his death, resurrection and ascension
the disciples are wondering why he’s leaving. they’re sad… Jesus knows that sorrow has filled their hearts
so this part of the conversation is meant to be an encouragement for them
whether they understood where Jesus was going or not, what is certain is that they are grieving over his leaving
but what they must hold on to, is that it is for their good that Jesus leaves
Jesus knows the future… he can see around the corner which is why he says it’s for their good.
Jesus isn’t disciplining them but this is kind of like when a parent disciplines their kid and says, “I’m doing this for your own good!”
the parent can see around the corner.... they know that if they let the kid get away with whatever it was, it will lead to more bad behavior in the future
unless Jesus departs, the Helper will not come to them, but Jesus promises that when he does leave, he will send the Helper
today we will focus on the work of the Holy Spirit when he comes outlined here in this passage
we find 3 specific things that Jesus tells the disciples the Holy Spirit will do...
The Work of the Holy Spirit
Convicts the world (vs. 8-11)
continues where Jesus left off convicting the world of 3 things
of its sin
He convicts the world of its sin because they do not believe in Jesus. This convicting work is gracious! It is designed to bring the world to recognize their sin and their need for a savior, and turn to Jesus
john 3:16
clearly, the incarnation, life, death and resurrection of Jesus, the son of God, was for the purpose of saving sinful humans.
and now the holy spirit continues in that purpose by pointing out or showing us our sin.
he exposes our sin,
he shines light on our sin.
he causes us to feel shame about our sin SO THAT we will understand our need to be saved from our sin.
Illustration: before salvation....
AND after salvation - sin is now forgiven but part of our salvation is sanctification, cleaning us, making us more like God and that doesn’t happen overnight
the holy spirit convicts the world of its sin
secondly, the holy spirit convicts the world…
of its righteousness
isn’t righteousness a good thing? why would the holy spirit point out and make us feel shame about our righteousness?
because the righteousness of the world is not good at all..... not when held up to the righteousness of God
isaiah 64:6 .....
“We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment.”
---- even our good deeds are filthy rags -------
3. the world’s righteousness is empty righteousness
4. one of Jesus’s most prominent roles was to show the emptiness of the world’s righteousness, and to shine his light on the darkness of the world, letting it be seen for what it really is
5. the people who thought they were the most righteous were the ones Jesus had the most arguments with. God knows our hearts… he knows our motives
6. and the holy spirit is here to convict the world of that fake, empty righteousness
7. for Christians, one of the ways our empty righteousness shows itself is when we start comparing ourselves to others. we think we’re righteous because we’re not as bad as someone else. at least I don’t do this or i don’t do that....
8. or when we do good, righteous acts… but with the wrong motive.. we give so people know we gave… we help so people will know we helped… we post something online so people will think we’re spiritual
9. the Holy Spirit will convict us of this and help us to live with humility
10. the holy spirit will convict the world of its sin and its empty righteousness… he will also convict the world of its judgment
iii. of its judgment
in John 7, Jesus encouraged the world to ‘stop judging by mere appearances
Jesus’s judgment is right and true… the world’s judgment is wrong, and morally perverse
the world calls what is good evil and what is evil good (the bible warns us about this)
20 Woe to those who call evil good
and good evil,
who put darkness for light
and light for darkness,
who put bitter for sweet
and sweet for bitter!
it’s happening all around us these days
the Holy Spirit is here to convict the world of this incorrect judgment which comes from Satan. He is the prince of this world and all false judgment is related to him who has always been a liar and cannot speak truth because lying is his nature.
and john 8 says that if we echo the values of Satan, then we are not the Lord’s children, but Satan’s.
that the lord’s children, full of the holy spirit, will have true and right judgment
we said last week, if we uphold the scriptures and judge correctly, we will be opposed by the world. but better to uphold the scriptures and be opposed by the world than to deny the scriptures, be accepted by the world, but be opposed to God
the holy spirit convicts the world. the second thing we see today is that the holy spirit guides the disciples.... look at verse 13
2. Guides the disciples (vs. 13)
into all truth
Jesus is the truth
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
c. now the Spirit of truth leads the disciples into all truth… that is the revelation of Jesus Christ.
d. this isn’t talking about special guidance into going to a certain college or taking the right job or marrying the perfect person… this is guidance into understanding God as he has revealed himself and obeying that revelation.
e. what does this look like for us?
f. the main way God has chosen to reveal himself to us is through his written word… the Bible. The holy Spirit helps us to understand the bible correctly.
Application: read the Word… the more you read the Word, the better you will understand it… because the Holy Spirit is working to help you!
“Those who hear God’s voice best are those who know His Word most.” - Louie Giglio
if you want to hear from God… if you want the holy spirit who lives in your heart to be active in your life.... read the Word!
finally..... the Holy Spirit....
3. Glorifies Jesus (vs. 14-15)
by declaring only what is his
The Holy Spirit does NOT have his own agenda
the three persons of the ONE triune God work together in unity.
always be leery of someone who says, “God told me...” and then follows that up with anything that is in contrast to God’s written word.
The Holy Spirit lives in us… and I believe does communicate with us, and one thing i know for certain, if he speaks to us… whatever He says, will match up with God’s written Word and it will glorify Jesus, the living Word.
and the more we listen and obey him, the more our own life will glorify Jesus
CLOSING:
the Holy Spirit convicts the world, guides the disciples, and glorifies Jesus
he is our helper
he is also our seal… our proof that we belong to the King
13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,
if the holy spirit does not dwell in your heart, you are not saved.... you do not yet belong to the King.
is it possible today that the holy spirit has been working in your heart, convicting you of your sin in order that you might see your need for a savior and turn to Jesus?
all you have to do is open the door to your heart and let him in. accept the invitation to die to yourself and live for God.
have faith that Jesus’s death on the cross was enough to pay the debt of your sin and allow you to receive abundant, eternal life.
[invitation prayer]
****parents go get your kids for lord’s supper during song*****
LORD’S SUPPER:
these passages we’ve studied over the past 4 weeks come from the night that Jesus instituted communion or the Lord’s Supper. He and His disciples were in that upper room to celebrate Passover. something normally done with your family but Jesus chose to spend this passover with the disciples… I think… saying that they were his family.
today… as a family… we will now celebrate the Lord’s Supper.
Participating in the Lord’s supper is reserved for those who have chosen to follow Christ, those who are part of God’s family.
For those of us here today that have not yet made that decision to follow Christ, be baptized and join God’s family… the Church, I would ask you, “what is it that keeps you from making that decision?”
If that’s you, you certainly don’t have to leave or anything like that, but we invite you to watch during this very special time.
The Scriptures encourage us to “look” in a number of directions as we share in the Lord’s Supper.
First, we are to look back with gratitude to Jesus and his death at the cross
24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
Next, we are to look around at the body of believers with whom we share the Supper. It is something we do as we come together.
It is significant that we share this meal as a community. Sharing the one bread together is a sign of our fundamental unity.
17 Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.
Paul tells us to look inward, to examine ourselves...
28 Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.
You see, it is possible to come to the Table without repenting of sin (especially those sins impacting relationships within the church), and so to participate “unworthily.”
so.... looking inwardly, we examine ourselves, repent of our sins, because we know that if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins—and cleanse us from all unrighteousness
We also look up to heaven, where the risen and ascended Christ intercedes for us as our great High Priest
14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Finally, we look forward to the day when Jesus will return
26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
The celebration of the Supper serves as a proclamation of Jesus’ death which anticipates his return.
so now… take out your “covid-free, pre-packaged elements”
if you’re having a hard time opening the bread on top, just find a teenager close by and they’ll figure it out for you!
23 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
PRAY