The Work of the Holy Spirit

 Temple Baptist Church - 5-15-2024

John 16:7-15

 

Introduction:

 

A. Once again, let me reiterate that this will not be a Systematic Theology study of Pneumatology. But because of the context found in John 14-16, we find some important things about the Person and Word of the Holy Spirit. The Person is the Holy Spirit and when speaking of the work of the Holy Spirit, the name the Holy Ghost is used.

 

B. Last week, I “scratched the surface” on two things: the Work of the Comforter to the comfortless. The disciples’ hearts were “filled with sorrow.” Two words need to be explained: Comforter and comfortless:

 

1. Comforter (παράκλητος paraklētos par-ak'-lay-tos) in the Greek means to be summoned to the side of or to come to the aid of the comfortless. Our Lord said that it was “expedient” that He went away but would pray the Father to send the Comforter in Christ’s stead. While Christ comforted the disciples for 3 ½ years, the Comforter would abide with them forever.

 

John 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

 

2. Comfortless in the Greek comes from the word Greek word ὀρφανός orphanos or-fan-os' from which we get our English word orphan. Orphans have no families but the child of God has a spiritual family: our Father which is in heaven; our Saviour and Friend who love us; and the Holy Spirit that indwells us. Aren’t you glad that you are not an orphan.

 

John 14:18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

 

Psalms 27:10 When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up.

 

All of our sorrows, come what may! Death, sickness, persecutions, trials and tribulations, personal failure, discouragement, disappointment, defilement, both real and imagined. He will not leave us comfortless: orphaned!

 

C. The Second name given to the Holy Spirit is the “Spirit of truth,” which I will look at in a little more detail tonight.

 

John 14:17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

 

D. Why do people not get saved and why do some saved never grow? The verses that we read to night are the problem.

 

1. There are those who reject Christ CANNOT know the truth. “seeth him not … neither knoweth him”

 

1 Corinthians 2:11-14 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. (14) But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

 

2. Both lost and the carnal saint oft times who reject the Bible CANNOT know the truth! The truth is available in our day.

 

Zechariah 7:11-12 But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear. (12) Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the LORD of hosts hath sent in his spirit by the former prophets: therefore came a great wrath from the LORD of hosts.

 

Acts 7:54-57 When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. (55) But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, (56) And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. (57) Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,

 

E. The Work of the Spirit of Truth:

 

1. Verse 8. John 16:8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

 

a. The Holy Spirit teaches us about Sin. John 16:9 Of sin, because they believe not on me;

 

1) The Truth about Adamic Sin.

 

Romans 5:12a Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin;

 

Psalms 58:3 The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.

 

2) The Truth about Willful Sin. Romans 5:12b and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

 

Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

 

3) The Truth about Recompense for Sin.

 

a) Temporal Recompense. Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

b) Eternal Sense. Revelation 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

 

b. The Holy Spirit teaches us about Righteousness. John 16:10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;

 

1) Lack of Righteousness of the Sinner. Isaiah 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

 

2) Perfect Righteousness of the Saviour. Romans 10:3-4 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. (4) For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

 

3) Imputed Righteousness of the Saint. Romans 4:20-25 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; (21) And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. (22) And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. (23) Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; (24) But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; (25) Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

 

3. The Holy Spirit teaches us about Judgment. John 16:11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.

 

a) The Judgment of Satan and fallen angels. Matthew 25:41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

 

Revelation 20:10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

 

b) The Judgment of Sinners and their works. Revelation 20:11-15 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. (12) And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. (13) And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. (14) And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. (15) And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

 

2. Verse 12-13. John 16:12-13 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. (13) Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

 

a. In Depth Teaching. “he will guide you into all truth”

 

Colossians 1:9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;

 

b. In Inspired Revelation. “and he will shew you things to come.” The canon of Scripture was not Plenary until after the death of the Apostles as they would continue to write under the inspiration of God in their lives. After their death, the canon of Scripture was Plenary, complete.

 

2 Peter 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

 

c. In Prophecy. Eschatology. Things to come. Knowing what the future holds and Who holds the future, we can face tomorrow and all our tomorrows in faith confidence through faith. “I do not know what tomorrow holds, but I know Who holds tomorrow and Who holds my life in His hands!”

 

Romans 8:38-39 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, (39) Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

 

3. Verse 14. John 16:14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

 

a. The Holy Spirit does not speak of or exalt Himself. Be careful around people who constantly speak of the Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost.

 

b. The Holy spirit ALWAYS glorifies the Saviour and not Himself! We certainly honor and love Him, but He only speaks of and directs us to our Lord.