The Promise of the Holy Spirit

“Your task will not be an easy one. Your enemy is well-trained, well equipped and battle-hardened. He will fight savagely…I have full confidence in your courage, devotion to duty and skill in battle. We will accept nothing less than full Victory! Good Luck! And let us all beseech the blessing of Almighty God upon this great and noble undertaking”

D-Day was not the only battlefield. In fact, according to Scripture, we are in one today.

The pressures are immense, temptations to comprise the Gospel are intense. Jesus did not conceal from His followers the spiritual reality that life in Christ can be hard and filled with challenges.

One evening, in what is called the Last Supper, the eve of Jesus’ death on the Cross, he gave His followers words of reality and comfort as they would face hardships.

Text: John 16:1-4

John 16:1–4 ESV

1 “I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away. 2 They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. 3 And they will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor me. 4 But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you. “I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you.

Big Idea

As Jesus led his disciples from Jerusalem to the Mount of Olives on the eve of his arrest and crucifixion, he promised they would never be alone. The Holy Spirit, the Third Person of the Trinity, would be with them in life.

Transition

During the last several times that I have preached about the Holy Spirit, I focused on His gift of empowerment to boldly proclaim the Good News.

Point 1

The Holy Spirit Helps the Christian

Proposition: The believer needs supernatural help to overcome the challenges of life.

Jesus said: John 15:18-21

John 15:18–21 ESV

18 “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. 21 But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me.

How does the Holy Spirit help the believer?

The Holy Spirit dwells with the believer.

John 14:16-17 “16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.”

You are not alone! (Jesus promises to not leave you as orphans - vs 18)

The Holy Spirit teaches the believer.

John 14:26 “26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.”

As we are faithful in learning about Jesus through His word, the Holy Spirit supernaturally helps us to use Christ’s teachings as we fulfill our ministry purpose.

The Holy Spirit gives the believer peace.

John 14:27 “27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”

Fear of and pressure from the world is confronted by the supernatural peace given by the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit guides the believer.

John 16:13 “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.”

It is not blind faith as we live life God’s way. It is confident faith as the Holy Spirit leads us in life.

Transition: The Holy Spirit dwells with us, teaches us, give us peace, and guides us! But the Holy Spirit’s activity is not just focused on the believer.

Point 2

The Holy Spirit Convicts the World

Proposition: The believer faces a world under conviction for its rejection of God and His authority.

Jesus said: John 16:8-11

John 16:8–11 ESV

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.

Conviction in its refusal to believe in Jesus.

Acts 4:12 “12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.””

There is no other way. To reject Jesus is to reject God and His invitation for fellowship.

Conviction in its failure in the matter of righteousness (condemning as guilty the one God declared righteous).

2 Cor 5:21 “21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

The world has rejected Christ’s sacrifice. In fact, the world has turned sin into a virtue! Wrong is now right!

Conviction in its wrongheaded judgments.

Acts 17:30 “30 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent,”

The judgment of God is a fact—and there will come a point where the door of forgiveness closes.

Transition

Sin will not be ignored for ever. Judgment day is coming. Persecution, threats, insults, and marginalization are a reality (and they have always been a reality). We need to be strong, confident, and faithful. How?

Point 3

The Holy Spirit Glorifies Jesus

Proposition: The believer experiences the refreshing confidence of Christ’s presence.

Jesus said: John 16:14-15

John 16:14–15 ESV

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.

The Apostle Paul gives us this instruction: Phil 3:13-14

Philippians 3:13–14 ESV

13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

We can know now the presence of Christ through prayer, through meditating on Him, through reading the Scripture, through worship, and through obedience to His teachings.

We can also know that one day our faith will become sight—and we shall behold Him!

Revelation 19:11–16 ESV

11 Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. 12 His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. 13 He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. 14 And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. 15 From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.

Conclusion

The Holy Spirit makes life worth living—a life that lives its’ purpose to the glory of God.

Know that you are not alone, but God is with you. The Third Person of the Trinity is active and working in the life of every believer.

Altar Call

To receive Christ’s promise of the Holy Spirit, you need to receive God’s gift of grace (His unmerited favor of you) by faith (by trusting in Him)!

Maybe you feel like you have drifted away from God and His will in your life. Reach out to His unchanging hand, and allow Him to life you up.

Closing Remarks

Faithfulness to Jesus and, when you fail, repentance—this is what is needed to open the door to the presence and blessings of the Holy Spirit.

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