The Role of The Holy Spirit

Today we are going to look at the Role of the Holy Spirit. Remember last week Jesus informed the disciples that they would face intense rejection persecution and hatred by the world because they chose to follow him. Last week he was seeking to prepare them for the storms ahead. This week he seeks to provide them with comfort by promising he will not leave them helpless and alone but rather a helper is coming - The Holy Spirit - literally the advocate, and the third person of the Trinity. Yet Jesus introduces him in an interesting way look with me at John 16:5-15.

John 16:5–15 ESV

But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. 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. And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 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. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

Notice Jesus statement in verse 5 none of you asks me where are you going?

Interesting statement

Peter asks that very question earlier at the passover meal that evening in John 13:36

John 13:36 ESV

Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus answered him, “Where I am going you cannot follow me now, but you will follow afterward.”

Then later Thomas states he does not know where Jesus is going John 14:5

John 14:5 ESV

Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?”

Clearly Jesus is drawing a line between these earlier questions but for what reason?

Notice his rebuke following Because I said these things Sorrow has filled your heart

I propose the problem is that rather than being filled with joy that Christ was going to the glory of the father that Christ was going to prepare a home for them in heaven, that Christ was soon to be vindicated by God himself before the world. Rather than being joyful for these things they were filled with Grief and sorrow because he was leaving.

It was a pity party

Jesus point is that his leaving would be better and the disciples cant see it so he explains the role of the Holy Spirit that they might understand and be filled with the Joy of the Lord.

Conviction

John 16:8–11 ESV

And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.

Convicts 3 things

Sin - Convince us that we have done wrong

Convince us that we cant fix it

convince us that Jesus can fix it

Righteousness - Many doubted and still doubt Jesus but His going to the Father was proof that he was vindicated by God. Thus Jesus is the perfect man and our example of what righteousness is He is the standard.

Judgement - Satan was judged the moment Jesus was raised from the dead. By His ressurection Jesus proved He was innocent of Sin and also that he Was God himself in the flesh. Satan knowing these things to be true sought to kill him anyway and thus displays his unrelenting Rebellion against God. Instead of Repenting and seeking God’s forgiveness, Satan knowing who Jesus is Seeks to overcome him and put him to death. It is for this reason Jesus says he is judged, and the penalty for which Satan and his followers are sent to Hell, because they knew who God was and they rejected his authority and sought to overthrow him.

Teaching

John 16:12–13 ESV

“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 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.

Jesus had more to teach but the disciples were not ready,

One role of the Holy Spirit is to finish teaching us all God has to tell us.

The Bible is a big book

Men devoted their lives to understanding it and everyday learned something new.

This is a lifelong process of God teaching us.

He will not speak on his own authority - Jesus said the same thing that the Father told him what to say thus we see the unity of the Trinity that God is not divided against himself He doesn’t have split personality disorder. He is of one purpose and one mind. This is why when someone says God said my first question is does this conflict with what God has already said, especially in His Holy Word. If it conflicts with the Bible God didn’t say it. If it conflicts with what you think God told you in your heart already then one or possibly both of these cannot have come from God because God does not contradict himself. He is of one purpose one mind and he does not change his mind with the changing of the wind like a man does.

Glorify Christ

John 16:14–15 ESV

He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

Third thing the Holy Spirit does is declare the glory of Christ.

He is not adding to the glory of Christ or heaping it on but rather he is declaring the Christ’s inherit glory as both the son of God and the sacrificial lamb. The Holy Spirit always points people to Christ and says look to him he is the source of salvation.

Notice also who he declares the glory of God to - it is to the Christian

Wouldn’t it have been easy if God just told the whole world about Christ. Yet He chooses to tell us the glories of Christ and have us tell the world. Yes the Spirit of God is with us and strengthens us for the task that is why he teaches us but then he tells us we are to share the Gospel the Good news that is the glorious news of Salvation.

The process then looks like this

Christians read and study the Scriptures

The Holy Spirit helps us to understand what we read and apply it properly to our lives. He also points us to Christ and his glorious salvation, always seeking to elevate or glorify Christ in our lives.

We then due to our great love for and the great significance of Christ in our lives we share Him and his love with those around us.

The Holy Spirit then convicts them of their sin and their inability to fix it.

Next He convicts them that sin demands Judgement, that the wages of Sin is death.

Then He points them to Jesus as the only true hope of salvation.

At this point there is a window of opportunity in which they have a choice to either accept Christ as lord and savior or to deny him and the truth. We do not know how long this window of opportunity is open but two things are certain, one cannot be saved before these things occur and the bible says in 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12 that there comes a time when people have refused salvation God no longer seeks to convict them of the truth but rather gives them over to their delusions.

2 Thessalonians 2:9–12 ESV

The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Thus at this point they either reject God and choose the path leading to Judgement or they accept Christ as their Lord and Savior and receive Salvation.

In which case the cycle begins anew with them receiving the Holy Spirit and his guidance and teaching as they themselves read the Bible.

Invitation

My first question is for the Christians here this morning, are you doing your part in this process. Are you spending time in the word are you praying and listening for the Spirits guidances as you read, and are you obedient afterwards. Also are you sharing the good news with others around you? Notice that if we falter in our part it interferes with the process and the Spirit of God is unable to do his work in those peoples lives. Now it is possible that someone else might reach them but it is also just as likely that you were placed there at that time in that persons life to be the mouthpiece of God to allow the Spirit to work in their lives. What a great responsibility God has given us. Will God find you faithful?

My second question is for those that are not Christians. Do you find yourself struggling with Sin, wanting to change but unable to do anything about it. The solution is Jesus Christ, he alone lived a perfect life and he alone has earned the right to tell us how to live. Will you accept him as Lord of your life today and seek to follow his will. Will you accept the gift of salvation and join us on this journey to follow Christ. You too can have the Holy Spirit guiding and teaching you if you will simply admit your sin before the Holy God and your own inablity to fix it. Then accept Jesus sacrifice on the Cross as payment for your sins and make him Lord of your life. You too will be saved from Judgement and have God himself living within you guiding you to righteousness. Will you accept him today?