Abide: Stand Firm and Remember

Main Point of the Text: Jesus informed the disciples of the Counselor's ministry to them so that they would not stumble from the faith but would remember him and his teachings during times of persecution.

Main Point of the Sermon: We rely on the Holy Spirit to stand firm in our faith and remember Jesus in the face of opposition.

Introduction

Read John 15:26-16:15

John 15:26–16:15 (CSB)

26 “When the Counselor comes, the one I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father—he will testify about me. 27 You also will testify, because you have been with me from the beginning.

1 “I have told you these things to keep you from stumbling. 2 They will ban you from the synagogues. In fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering service to God. 3 They will do these things because they haven’t known the Father or me. 4 But I have told you these things so that when their time comes you will remember I told them to you. I didn’t tell you these things from the beginning, because I was with you. 5 But now I am going away to him who sent me, and not one of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ 6 Yet, because I have spoken these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. 7 Nevertheless, I am telling you the truth. It is for your benefit that I go away, because if I don’t go away the Counselor will not come to you. If I go, I will send him to you. 8 When he comes, he will convict the world about sin, righteousness, and judgment: 9 About sin, because they do not believe in me; 10 about righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will no longer see me; 11 and about judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.

12 “I still have many things to tell you, but you can’t 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, but he will speak whatever he hears. He will also declare to you what is to come. 14 He will glorify me, because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you. 15 Everything the Father has is mine. This is why I told you that he takes from what is mine and will declare it to you.

Prayer

In a 2018 article from Better by Today, explains why exercising in a group setting produces a healthier and more committed individual. It noted that many participants take on the work out habits of others in the group and overweight people tend to lose more weight if they spend time with their fit friends. The article shared one study that found that 95% of people who started a weight loss journey with friends completed it compared to 76% that went at it alone. It goes on to say that working out in community increases commitment, motivation, endurance, and a host of other healthy benefits.

The fitness companies have figured this out. Whether you are joining a new gym or depending on the latest fitness app, you will notice that most of them have some sort of community component. There are either group classes offered or an online community with which one can interact.

It seems that when you face adversity in your health goals, the healthiest thing one can do is to rely on others to overcome adversity.

In today’s passage we see something similar, but it doesn’t have to deal with fitness. Jesus informed the disciples of the Counselor's ministry to them so that they would not stumble from the faith but would remember him and his teachings during times of persecution. In other words they needed someone to help them overcome adversity.

The main point of the message today is that we need the Holy Spirit to help us stand firm in our faith and remember Jesus in the face of opposition

Body

Why do we need the ministry of the Counselor? (16:1-6)

Explanation

Jesus tells the disciples about the Counselor so that they would not fall away from the faith when persecution came their way.

Counselor is another name of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is known as Helper, Advocate, Comforter, and Spirit of Truth. It is the Spirit of God that dwells in His people to transform us into the image of Christ and empower us to live according to God’s will.

The Counselor, or Holy Spirit, is one member of the Trinity. As Wayne Grudem puts it, “The doctrine of the trinity is that God eternally exists as three person — Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Each person is fully God and there is one God. Jesus reveals this relationship as he says he will send the Counselor and the Spirit of Truth comes from God.

We need the Counselor because the Counselor is God and we need God! We need God because we are weak! We need God because we are prone to leave Him! We need God because the world hates us because of Him.

Review last week’s sermon

Stumbling does not mean a small misstep in the disciple’s faith. Jesus is warning them not to fall away from the faith completely as a result of persecution. The same verb is used in John 6 as Jesus is teaching after the feeding of the five thousand.

Application

We need to cry out for God! We need to see our need for God! We need God to keep us from falling away from Him in times of persecution!

What is the ministry of the Counselor?

The Counselor testifies about Jesus to us and the world. (15:26-27)

Explanation

Jesus says he is sending the Counselor from the Father to the disciples to testify about him.

One of the Holy Spirit’s roles is to testify or bear witness about Jesus to the world including us. To be able to testify means to have direct knowledge about whom or what one is testifying. Since the Holy Spirit was sent by Jesus, came from God, and is God, it is fair to say that His testimony about Jesus will be accurate.

Jesus says the disciples will, also, testify because they have been with him since the beginning. This affirms the need to have direct knowledge in order to testify or bear witness. It, also, shows the mission of the disciples to continue proclaiming the good news of the gospel.

The Holy Spirit is sent by Jesus and comes from the Father to give the disciples and the world accurate knowledge of Jesus. The disciples need this testimony from the Holy Spirit to stand firm in their faith and remember Jesus in the face of persecution.

Application

Since Jesus isn’t walking with us today, we must rely on the Holy Spirit’s testimony to remember Jesus and stand firm the face of opposition. We need to listen to the Holy Spirit testify about Jesus.

The Holy Spirit is with us to remind us of who Jesus is so that we might stand firm in the face of persecution. Since we have the Holy Spirit testifying to us, we must testify to others without fear of persecution.

Illustration

Hugh Lattimer once preached before King Henry VIII. Henry was greatly displeased by the boldness in the sermon and ordered Lattimer to preach again on the following Sunday and apologize for the offence he had given. The next Sunday, after reading his text, he thus began his sermon: "Hugh Lattimer, dost thou know before whom thou are this day to speak? To the high and mighty monarch, the king's most excellent majesty, who can take away thy life, if thou offendest. Therefore, take heed that thou speakest not a word that may displease. But then consider well, Hugh, dost thou not know from whence thou comest--upon Whose message thou are sent? Even by the great and mighty God, Who is all-present and Who beholdeth all thy ways and Who is able to cast thy soul into hell! Therefore, take care that thou deliverest thy message faithfully." He then preached the same sermon he had preached the preceeding Sunday--and with considerably more energy.

Let’s listen to the Counselor’s testimony about Jesus and boldly proclaim our testimony about Jesus!

The Holy Spirit convicts the world of its need for Jesus (16:7-11)

Explanation

The Holy Spirit’s arrival is beneficial to the disciples because it exposes the world’s need for Jesus. Specifically, it exposes the world’s disobedience to God, the standard by which we are measured, and the final decision concerning our eternity.

Convict here means to expose or reveal. The Holy Spirit exposes sin, righteousness, and judgment. Convict, also, brings the idea of repentance. The Holy Spirit not only exposes one’s sin, but, also, one’s need for repentance.

The world’s sin is not a result of some act they committed rather it is a result of not believing in Christ and possibly pursuing other gods.

Righteousness is the standard to which the world is to conform. The Holy Spirit not only exposes disobedience, but it, also, exposes what one must be in order to be found not guilty.

Judgement is the final verdict in the case, and the Holy Spirit exposes the judgment of the world to be guilty. The bigger picture is that the ruler of the world is found guilty, and although he might believe he is winning, the death and resurrection of Christ tells us differently.

Application

Christians, we should remember our need for the gospel and what awaits the world. When opposition is strong, it will be easy for us to give up and go home, but we must remember what awaits the world in the days to come. Falling away is not a viable option for our souls.

Non-Christians, if you find yourselves feeling guilty or getting angry as you hear the gospel, I would encourage you to explore that. Why are you angry? Why do you feel guilty? The gospel says it is because we are all guilty and need a Savior.

The Holy Spirit guides us in all truth and to Christ’s glory (16:12-15)

Explanation

The Holy Spirit will guide the disciples to live according to the truth that is from God. The Holy Spirit will guide the disciples to the ultimate goal which is the glory of Jesus.

Jesus still had things to tell them, but he withheld until the Spirit arrived because he believed they could not bear any more.

The title “Spirit of Truth” is to show that the Holy Spirit stands in opposition to the spirit of the world. The ruler of the world is a liar and communicates lies to the disciples. The Spirit of Truth is here to guide them to the truth about who they are and who God is.

This truth is directly from God. He hears it from God and declares it to the disciples. Ultimately, the Spirit will guide the disciples by the truth to the glory of Jesus.

Application

We need to trust and rely on the Holy Spirit to navigate this world to lead us to the ultimate goal which is God’s glory. Is there something in your life that you are finding difficult to navigate? Trust the Holy Spirit to guide you. Pray, listen, and wait for Him to speak. He has the truth from God ready to speak to us so that we might bring God glory.

Illustration

Para-olympics guide for visually impaired runners. In the face of adversity, the Holy Spirit guides us in the truth to the glory of Christ.

Conclusion

So, what do we do with the ministry of the Holy Spirit?

Jesus told us this to keep us from falling away. So, we stand firm in our faith through the power of the Holy Spirit! We commit to not falling away no matter the persecution that comes our way or the adversity we might face. We stand firm and refuse to move off the truth.

Jesus told us this so that when the time comes we will remember. We remember where we came from. We remember where we were headed. We remember who rescued us. We remember the grace and mercy poured out on us, and we stand firm.

We trust the Holy Spirit to help us stand firm in our faith and remember our hero Jesus. Do you trust in the Holy Spirit? Are you listening for the Spirit to speak to you? Are you allowing the Holy Spirit to testify to you and through you? Do you trust him to guide you? If you are a Christian, God is with you today. Trust Him.