Meet the Holy Spirit

John 16:5-15

Have you ever needed to meet someone new and were not looking forward to it, then you find out that you have a mutual friend.

That makes everything easier.

Jesus in this passage is our mutual friend introducing to us the Holy Spirit.

John 13-17 are Jesus’ final remarks and teachings for His disciples.

He only has a few moments left, and He is using them to impart truth to them.

It is during this time that He introduces the Holy Spirit.

The disciples have been told that He would soon have to die.

It is a solemn time, and the disciples needed someone to comfort, to guide and counsel them.

Jesus was physically with the disciples, but he could not be with them everywhere they went.

It was expedient for Jesus to go so that the Holy Spirit could come and be with them everywhere they went.

I’ve often thought how amazing it would be if we could be face to face with Jesus.

But really we are even more blessed that we have the Holy Spirit with us everywhere we go.

I. The Ministry of the Spirit

John 16:7-14

Notice that Jesus said it is expedient that He go away.

It is Advantageous - creating favorable circumstances that increase the chances of success.

Why would Jesus ever think it was better if someone else come?

He cannot be everywhere and with everyone.

A. Conviction

8-11

reprove - convict, to prove one in the wrong and thus to shame him.

Sin - Show what is wrong

God gave the Law to show the need for a savior, to show that man was a sinner.

Man is not able to keep the whole Law.

Romans 3:20 KJV

20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

When Christ came, he was the perfect example of a keeper of the Law, He never sinned.

John 13:15 KJV

15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.

Righteousness - show what is right

Judgement - there is coming a day!

God makes a better Holy Spirit than we do!

School Camp - God brought conviction about things the preacher never preached about.

But the Holy Spirit’s job is to not only convict, but also to...

B. Teaching

12-13

Jesus knew he was running out of time, He had a lot to teach them still, but He didn’t have time.

Not only that, they couldn’t understand what they needed to until they had experienced what they needed to experience

I would be a much better husband at 30 than I would have at 22.

The Holy Spirit has come to guide us into all truth!

Does not speak of Himself, Often called the gentleman of the Godhead.

But rather what Jesus wants to continue teaching His disciples

He would show them the things to come

Not only prophesy, but also the Word of God which He would inspire.

2 Timothy 3:16 KJV

16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

1 Corinthians 2:10–13 KJV

10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

C. Glorifying

14

The third ministry of the Spirit that Jesus mentions in this passage is that of Glorifying.

to glorify means to honor, to lift up in excellence

As mentioned before, the Holy Spirit does not bring praise to himself.

He directs all praise to Jesus.

His job is to point people to Christ!

Charismatic movement undoes what the Holy Spirit is trying to do, by placing the praise and emphasis on the Holy Spirit.

My mother never wants attention, she is fine with letting others get the attention. Lifted up my dad in his children's eyes.

Causes us to worship and glorify Jesus and Jesus glorifies the Father

John 17:1 KJV

1 These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:

II. The Moving of the Spirit

Acts 2 tells the account of the coming of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus had ascended to heaven, and now the disciples are gathered in one place in one accord.

a sound came from heaven like a sound of a rushing mighty wind

On each of their heads there appeared what is visibly described as tongues of fire.

And the Bible says they were filled with the Holy Spirit and spake in unknown tongues.

This was a sign of the Holy Spirit’s coming, they spake in languages that they previously did not know, but others heard in their native tongue.

People around the area, when word began to spread that something was happening, began to gather and were confused because they heard their own native tongue.

People began to say they must be drunk!

But Peter stands up and begins to preach.

It is hear that I want to show you the Three Movings of the Holy Spirit.

When the Holy Spirit works in our lives He moves us to accomplish God’s Will.

Let’s read about this in beginning in verse 14

14-21

A. To Preach God’s Words

14-18

One of the first things that is done after Peter is filled with the Holy Spirit is to preach the Gospel!

Peter begins to quote form the Prophet Joel that the Holy Spirit will come and His servants will prophesy.

Prophesy is often misunderstood.

This misunderstanding can lead to all sorts of disturbances, including false theology.

I heard about a pastor who had been talking to a Lutheran minister and his family once they told him that the Lord had convinced them that the Baptist Church was more aligned with Scripture. The Baptist Pastor invited them to come and try his church one Sunday and see how the Lord leaded them. One Sunday this Lutheran family came in late and saw the pews were full so they stood in the back. The pastor saw them while the choir was singing, and once the choir was through he leaned over the choir rail and asked one of the young men to get three chairs for their Lutheran friends. The boy didn’t understand what he said, and the Pastor said a bit louder, “Three chairs for the Lutherans.” So the young man dutifully stepped up to the choir rail and loudly proclaimed to the congregation, “Three cheers for the Lutherans!”

Misunderstanding the word prophesy can cause a disturbance in the church as well!

The word literally means to tell forth divine revelation.

Before we had the Bible, God would speak through His prophets to give his message to His people.

Hebrews 1:1 KJV

1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,

Today we hold the Word of God in our hands, but the job of the prophet is still the same, to proclaim the truth!

This is one of the main movings of the Holy Spirit.

Not just the Pastor!

But in witnessing - the Holy Spirit moves you to say what you need to say

In family conflicts - The Holy Spirit helps us, if we remain Spirit filled.

The Holy Spirit reminds us of and uses the Word of God to meet all of life’s struggles.

B. To Save Souls

21

As mentioned above the Holy Spirit moves the heart of men to speak to others about their need for salvation!

But that is the preaching the truth side

The Holy Spirit also moves in the heart of the hearer.

I often pray that God will have his Spirit move in the hearts of men to prepare them when I go door knocking.

Multiple times I have knocked on a door and talked to them to find out that they had been thinking about where they would spend eternity,

sometimes had even prayed to find out how they can know they would go to Heaven.

Peter continues to preach an amazing sermon before all these people gathered, and then we see in verse 37 that they were pricked in their heart.

This was the work of the Holy Spirit.

Notice in verses 41-44 that many were saved and baptised that day.

So the Holy Spirit Moves men to preach God’s Words

he moves lost men to be saved

and then thirdly we see that He moves people

C. To Add to the Church

46-47

God adds to the church whom He determines fits together in order accomplish His work!

Ephesians 4:16 KJV

16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

They continued daily in the temple, in fellowship, in eating together, in rejoicing, praising God.

And the result was that more would be saved - those who heard the gospel from Peter on Pentecost were already saved.

Verse 27 speaks of the continued growth of the church, due to the Holy Spirit filled saints that witnessed and lived lives worth of being called a Christian.

If God has brought you here to Mills Memorial Baptist Church it is so that you will get busy for His kingdom!

God put Adam and Eve in the garden and told them to work!

God put Christians in His church and told them to work!

They say 20% of the church does 95% of the work in the church.

to that 80% I say, “Get Busy!!!”

In the Greek Islands, one can seek out the home of Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine. In the area, one can also find an olive tree, supposedly dating from his time. If this is so, this tree would then be some 2400 years old. The trunk of this tree is very large but completely hollow. The tree is little more than thick bark. There are a few long, straggling branches, but they are supported by sturdy wooden poles every few feet. It has an occasional leaf here and there and might produce a few olives each year. In the fields around, however, are olive groves in many directions. The strong, healthy, young trees with narrow trunks are covered with a thick canopy of leaves, under which masses of olives can be found each year. The tree of Hippocrates can still be called an olive by nature, in that it still shows the essential unique characteristics, but it has long since ceased to fulfill an olive's function. Tourists file up to inspect this ancient relic, having some link to a dim history, but the job of the olive tree passed long ago to many successions of replanted trees. Do you know any church people like the tree of Hippocrates? The form is there, but the function is not. They have stopped reproducing and are satisfied just being big, or having a noble history.

to the 20% on the verge of burn out I say, “Get to the feet of Jesus!”

Just Jesus told Martha when she complained that Mary wasn’t helping, we need to realize that the most important thing is for us to personally spend time with Jesus!

This will prevent burnout every time!