The Comforter has Come!

The Comforter has Come!

John 16:5-16

Introduction: You’ve probably heard of the 80/20 rule, as it applies to churches: 80 percent of the work that gets done in churches is done by 20 percent of the people. That may or may not be accurate, but isn’t it true that in the church there is often a core of individuals that are dedicated to the Lord and to the mission of the church, who work tirelessly and selflessly behind the scenes, that carry the brunt of the service of the church, yet often go unnoticed?  Since we live across the parking lot we have a pretty good idea of what goes on in this building, but even so, much, probably most, of the work that is done is largely unnoticed.  The walks get shoveled, the church gets cleaned, the babies are cared for, that meal was delivered to someone in need, the infirm were visited, the wall got painted, the window got repaired, who did it? The truth is, most of these people like it that way. They do what they do because they love God, and they love God’s people.  There is another person among us that has gone largely unnoticed in the church that really should be recognized.  He is at every meeting, He is in every hospital room, He appears at every work day and is at every prayer meeting.  He’s in the board meetings, in the nursery, in the office, and in the janitor’s closet. In fact He has His hand in everything that matters now and everything that will matter 100 years from now. Who is He?  The so-called third person of the Trinity, God, the Holy Spirit.   Jesus in this context tells his disciples, “It’s to your advantage that I go away…” How could that be? What could be better than God walking among us? How about God living in us, 24/7/365?  A few years ago our mission publishing house in Brazil hosted a Bible Conference. The title was somewhat provocative:  “O Espirito Santo: O Deus Esquecido,” “The HS: the Forgotten God.” Are we guilty of forgetting about the Holy Spirit of God?

The Big Idea: The Holy Spirit is God, present with us and in us, to guide us on the path toward knowing God intimately, loving Him passionately, and serving Him joyfully.

I. God’s Plan: He will Provide Help in Our Need: The Promise of the “Comforter” (5-7).  Jesus promises the presence of the Holy Spirit. "But now I go away 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 depart, I will send Him to you.”

                Jesus is reaffirming here what the reader of John already knows: God had a plan, and the hour was approaching for Jesus to depart, through his death and resurrection. But that would not be the end of the story – it would be a new beginning!  Recall what we read in John 7:37-39  “On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.  ³⁸ "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water."  ³⁹ But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.” The “glorification” of Jesus had to happen before the Spirit would be sent. That is a reference in John to his being “lifted up,” crucified, and resurrected. Jesus, the glorious Son, at the right hand of the Father, would send the Comforter, the Helper, the Holy Spirit, who would be with us and in us.

      It is interesting how the New Testament writers complement each other without any contradiction (this is one more evidence of the inspiration of the Bible). They simply point to different aspects of divine truth that their audiences needed to hear.

   - Luke emphasized the dawning of a New Age and the baptism of the Holy Spirit.  We read the words of John the Baptist as he speaks of his own ministry in light of the coming One: Luke 3:16  "I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” It is a “New Beginning” as the church is born on the day of Pentecost and called to carry out its mission empowered by the Spirit (Acts 1:8; 2:1-21; cf. 11:15).

   - Paul talked about the work of the Spirit in us and through us. So we are sealed by the Spirit, baptized in the Spirit, and filled with the Spirit. He keeps us and transforms us and the evidence is the fruit of the Spirit.  He also gives us spiritual gifts so that we can work together to carry out His mission.

   - John emphasizes the unity of God, and the presence of the Spirit as the presence of God. As surely as Jesus was present with His disciples, God the Holy Spirit was sent by Him from the Father and is present with us and in us.

Jesus was saying His departure was not cause for mourning. It was part of God’s plan. And the best is yet to come! I read this week a post on Facebook that described a touching scene, a daughter saying goodbye, perhaps for the last time, to her mother. Their farewell was one that had been passed down in their family, “I love you, I wish you enough.” They meant that there would be enough sorrows to keep them thankful, enough joys to give them hope. So they would say, “I wish you enough.” Jesus is preparing to leave his disciples, and He has promised them, and us, enough!  Weeping my last for a night, but joy comes in the morning! The abiding presence of another comforter, forever. The Holy Spirit is God, present with us and in us, to guide us on the path toward knowing God intimately, loving Him passionately, and serving Him joyfully.

II. God’s Spirit will expose unbelief and lead believers: The Convicting Work of the Spirit (8-11). Jn 16:8-11 "And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:  ⁹ "of sin, because they do not believe in Me;  ¹⁰ of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more;  ¹¹ of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.”

 The root meaning of the term “convict” is to expose, to bring to light. It’s the same word Jesus used in John 8:46   "Which of you convicts Me of sin?” We see it also in John 3:20 "For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.” Only righteousness could be exposed in Jesus. But the world hated Him because his very presence shed light on sin.  We saw in the previous context the truth that the world is in rebellion against God, and so it hates Jesus.  He was a light shining in darkness, but men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. Light exposes what is hidden, it brings to light the true character of a person and his/her conduct. He was soon to depart, but the Spirit of God would take over. There are two sides to this conviction, we can see both illustrated in the book of Acts…

In Acts 2:36-37  we read “God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.  ³⁷ Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, ‘Men and brethren, what shall we do?’" We might call this positive conviction, it leads to repentence and faith.  

In Acts 7:54 we see a different side of conviction,  “…When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth.” (see vv. 51-54). We all know the result. They stone him! Their unbelief was exposed.

 He would convict the world “…concerning sin …because they have not believed in me…” The response to Jesus exposes the heart of humans.  The principle choice confronting sinful humans is simply this: what will you do with Jesus? Jesus said, “Unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins” (John 8:24).  Either we choose to ignore him, or reject him, or, we recognize our need, turn from our sin, and turn in faith to the One who died so that we could live. Anything else is unbelief, and our sinful hearts are exposed by our rejection of Him. John 3:18  says "He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

He will also convict the world “…concerning righteousness…”  Jesus was about to leave them, but they would not be left alone. He would send the Helper, the comforter. Whereas Jesus “exposed” righteousness before through His presence and example, the Holy Spirit would now have a transformational influence on the followers of Christ.  Of course our only righteousness comes from Him.  Paul said that we, now, are the Temple of God, and the Spirit of God dwells in us. One result is, that Holy Presence changes us, it brings forth “Fruit,” love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, self-control.  People will see a difference, they will know that we have experienced something real, something supernatural, when they see Jesus in us.

He will also convict “…concerning judgment… because the ruler of this world is judged…”  Do remember back in John 12, after the triumphal entry into Jerusalem at the beginning of the week, we read:  "Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.  ³² "And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself." (John 12:31-32). Satan’s power was broken, he is already judged and his sentence will be executed at the appointed time. Warren Wiersbe says, “Satan is the prince of this world, but he is a defeated prince!” In the meantime Jesus is building His church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. This church age is the age of the Spirit, present and powerful working out God’s plan in history. And by grace we are a part of that!  The Holy Spirit is God, present with us and in us, to guide us on the path toward knowing God intimately, loving Him passionately, and serving Him joyfully.

III. The Spirit Reveals the Word to the Glory of God (12-15). John 16:12-15 says "I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.  ¹³ "However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.  ¹⁴ "He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.  ¹⁵ "All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you."

                Two things I want to point out here: first the Holy Spirit, the Comforter and Helper, glorifies JESUS, not Himself.  Father, Son, and Spirit, one divine essence, three persons, perfect in unity.

                Secondly, Jesus, the living Word, would no longer walk among them. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, would now bring God’s revelation to them. 2 Tim 3:16  says  “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God (God-breathed), and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness…” 2 Peter 1:21 says “…holy men of God spoke as they were moved (carried along)  by the Holy Spirit.”  

What is God saying to me in this passage? The Holy Spirit is God, present with us and in us, to guide us on the path toward knowing God intimately, loving Him passionately, and serving Him joyfully. We should affirm His presence and His work. We should recognize our dependence on Him.

What would God have me to do in response to this passage?  It’s been said that people wake up in different ways. Some say, “Good morning Lord!” Others mumble, “Good Lord, its morning!” Will you choose to live conscious of the presence of God in your life? Some years ago I came across a prayer in a devotional book (unfortunately I don’t recall the name of the book or the author). I often recite it as part of my morning devotional time: Come heavenly Spirit, breathe upon me here. Heart, mind, and soul, in thy pure love ensphere. Breathe now the fragrance of thy love divine, and my whole nature permeate with thine. Live in my living, think through all my thoughts. Will through my will until only thine is wrought. Move through each impulse, temper each desire, cleanse all my motives in thy heavenly fire. May it be our prayer that the Spirit of God would fill us, control us, empower us, mold us, and use us. Amen.