The Judge is Coming

 Temple Baptist Church - 6-29-2025

Psalm 82

 

Introduction:

 

A.  Psalm 32 is a Psalm written by Asaph.  Asaph was a prominent Levite, a musician, and a seer (prophet) during the time of King David, and he played a key role in the worship and music of the temple.

 

1. Asaph the Chief Musician.  He was appointed by King David to head up the music of worship in the Tabernacle and later in Solomon’s Temple.  (1 Chronicles 6:31-32; 15:16-19; 16:4-7)

 

2.  Asaph was a Psalm writer.  He is credited with having written Psalms 73-83.  These Psalms are ones of reflection or remembrance and strong faith in times of doubt.

 

3.  Asaph was a Seer.  A spiritual prophet with the ability to see into the future concerning the coming of the Messiah and the Nation of Israel.  (2 Chronicles 29:30)

 

B.  Psalm 82 is prophetic of the Coming of the King or kings and the Lord of lords to set up His kingdom at the end of the Tribulation Period, Jacob’s Trouble.  The Judge of all the earth!

 

Genesis 18:25  That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?

 

C.  The Psalm:

 

1.  Verse 1 – Prophetic fulfillment of the Second Coming of the Lord.  “God standeth in the congregation of the mighty”

 

a.  In Revelation, chapter 1, the Bible speaks of the Second Coming when every eye shall see Him. 

 

Revelation 1:7-8  Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.  (8)  I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

 

b.  This is not the Rapture of the Church because then, only the saints of God will see Him when He comes to take us home.  Eschatology. 

 

1)  The Rapture of God’s Church.  All of the saved of the Church Age will be going Home.

 

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:  (17)  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

 

a)  The Judgment Seat of Christ.

 

b)  The Marriage Supper of the Lamb.

 

2)  The Beginning of the Tribulation Period or Jacob’s Trouble.  Seven years of “hell on earth.”

 

a)  The introduction of the Anti-Christ.

 

b)  The Abomination that maketh Desolate in the middle.

 

c)  The Battle of Armageddon.

 

3)  The Visible Second Coming of Christ with all His saints as the King of kings and the Lord of lords

 

4)  The Beginning of the one thousand-year Millennial Reign of Christ.

 

c.  In the Millennium, the Lord Jesus Christ will stand in judgment “among the gods.”  I will deal with that phrase in verses 6-7.  In that day, God will make things right!  Today, they are not right.

 

d.  The Lord’s judgment and justice will be swift and sure.

 

Revelation 19:11, 15  And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war ...  And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

 

2.  Verses 2-5.  The ungodly “gods” of this world indicted.

 

a.  “gods” – Both God and gods are derived from the Hebrew word “Elohim.” 

 

1)  In the New Testament, we also find interchangeable words in the proper translation of such words.  In 2 Corinthians 4:4, we find the phrase “the god of this world.” 

 

2)  The Greek word for “god” is Theos, which is also used when referring to Almighty God himself. But is used in this manner when speaking of magistrates or judges in this verse. A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate. 

 

2 Corinthians 4:4  In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

 

3)  Referring to civil authorities, rulers, or officials responsible for maintaining order, administering justice, or executing government laws. He is not Almighty God, but a magistrate: one given power.

 

4)  Our Lord referenced these verses John 10:34  Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?  “gods” – Theos.

 

b.  Verse 2.  Respect of Persons.  Their Injustice. “How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked? Selah.” 

 

2 Samuel 23:1-3  Now these be the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and the man who was raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said,  (2)  The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and his word was in my tongue.  (3)  The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.

 

a)  In today’s world, we hear the phrase “liberty and justice for all,” but that’s not always the case. In politics, there seems to be a different standard of justice that favors “the poor … fatherless … poor … needy.” 

 

b) Influential people in high offices are free to break laws and walk away when the poor, etc., would be put in jail. 

 

Illustration:  the handling and destruction of classified documents.  When in the military, I would sometimes carry documents from the Army to the Air Force.  This was back in the primitive days, before cell phones or email.  They would have put me in jail and thrown the key away if I mishandled, opened them up to read, or left them unattended in my jeep.  There is one law for the rich and powerful and another for the poor and weak.

 

3.  Verse 3-5.  Admonishment of Judicial Justice. 

 

1)  Verse 3.  Defend the Poor.  “Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy.”  When the Lord Jesus, as Messiah, reigns on this earth, He will defend the poor and the fatherless, the afflicted and the needy. Today, judges are standing in God's place, and they are to do the same thing.

 

I am not sure what they call them today, but the poor who could not afford to pay big money for defense would be appointed “forty-dollar lawyers” by the court.  The poor only had to pay forty dollars, but, unfortunately, often just got what they paid for.  The rich could afford to hire the best of the best.

 

2)  Verse 4.  Deliver the Poor.  “Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked.”  Often, when bail is set for defendants, the same bail amount is given to everyone, both rich and poor.  The rich pay up and walk while the poor try to scrounge around to find the money to get out of jail.  The rich go free and the poor remain in jail too often. 

 

3)  Verse 5.  Delusion and Darkness. 

 

1)  Delusion.  They are blinded to true justice because they do not know God, do not follow His laws, and do not rightly judge within society's laws.  We often here the word “Lawfare” today.  To use the Law unlawfully.  They have no conscience and often get away with Lawfare.

 

1 Timothy 1:8  But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully;

 

2)  Darkness.  These false magistrates are in darkness as the light of right and justice has been turned off in their minds and hears.

 

Matthew 6:23  But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!

 

4.  Verses 6-7.  The Warning.

 

a.  Verse 6.  “I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.”  God has raised up the judges of this world.    It is God who raises up men to do His work on earth and it is God who can and will take them down.  

 

Acts 12:21-23  And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them.  (22)  And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man.  (23)  And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.

 

b.  Verse 7.  “But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes.”   One day, the judges will stand before the Judge and give an account of their judgments on earth.  The fall of a prince is a terrible thing as he is in a place of authority.  Thus, the fall of these “gods” will be.  To whom much is given, much is still required.

 

5.  Verse 8.  A Prayer for Justice on Earth.  “ Arise, O God, judge the earth: for thou shalt inherit all nations.” 

 

a.  One glorious day, the Lord will return and restore justice and equity for all.

 

b.  “Even so, come, Lord Jesus!”  (Revelation 22:20)

Spiritual Warfare

 Temple Baptist Church - 6-29-2025

1 Timothy 1:18-20

 

Introduction:

 

A.  The Apostle Paul left Timothy in Ephesus, a city of great spiritual and moral decadence, to make sure that the church remained doctrinally and morally pure.  (Verse 3) 

 

1.  The believers at Ephesus were “born in the fire,” so to speak, as Ephesus was noted for the great Temple of Diana, the goddess of the Ephesians.  In Acts 19, the religious fervor of idolatrous Ephesians was made evident when—for the space of two hours—thousands chanted “Great is Diana of the Ephesians.”

 

2.  Because of the greatness of idolatry and debauchery, these believers were greatly persecuted for their faith in Christ Jesus. 

 

B.  His charge to Timothy was a doctrinal one, as false teachers continually attacked the doctrines of the faith in the 1^st century A.D. 

 

1.  Paul was getting up in years at this time and committed to young Timothy a trust.  One of the most critical aspects of the pastorate is that of maintaining sound doctrine.  It is a constant battle because of our spiritual surroundings. 

 

2.  In those days, people who were saved did not have a choice of the different denominations, isms, and schisms of our day.  Turn the radio or TV on and hear just about anything and everything spiritually. Instead of marking and avoiding them, many of God’s people watch and listen to them.

 

Matthew 7:15-20  Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.  (16)  Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?  (17)  Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.  (18)  A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.  (19)  Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.  (20)  Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. 

 

3.  False prophets produce fruit that is carnal, worldly, and unholy! Look at the churches of the Bible Belt and observe the changes over the past 50 years.

 

C. We cannot control the religion that surrounds us, but we can maintain our convictions at home and in church.  We are not only to seek and walk in the “Old Path” wherein is the good way, but we are to war for them.  Our fight is not against flesh and blood, though Satan uses people, but against satanic attacks upon all that we believe.

 

D.  By interpretation, the charge is to Timothy, but by application, it is to us who are “alive and remain” unto the coming of the Lord.  When our Lord returns, will He find faith?

 

E.  Let us look at our verses for tonight in light of the application made to today’s church.

 

1.  The Charge (a declaration or mandate)- Verse 18 – We speak much of the Old Paths which our spiritual fathers have taught us. 

 

a.  In 2 Timothy 3:13-17, Paul said, “But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.  (14)  But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;  (15)  And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.  (16)  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:  (17)  That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” 

 

b.  The “mandate” is the Word of Faith which we preach.  As Abraham dug and named the wells in Canaan’s land, Isaac later dug the same wells that the Philistines had stopped up and called them by the same names that Abraham had used.  We are still “digging where our daddies dug!”

 

2.  The Commitment (to deposit as a trust for protection) – Verse 18 – In these verses, Paul writes to Timothy and commits the safekeeping of doctrine to him.

 

a.  My pastors committed the safekeeping of doctrine to me, and God called me to do the same.

 

b. I now entrust its safekeeping to you.  You must continue to allow the Word of God to have “free course” from this pulpit for God’s men to be able to preach effectively!

 

3.  The Criteria  (canon –standards or principles) – Verse 18 – 1 Timothy, an epistle that is pastoral in nature, teaches a young pastor how to oversee and run the house of the Lord.  This is done by “rightly dividing” the word of truth. 

 

a.  This blessed old KJB that I hold in my hand is the embodiment of truth.  Pilate asked the question, “What is truth?” when Truth stood before him. 

 

b.  As Christ Jesus was the Truth, this bible that I hold in my hand tonight is Truth.  As He was pure, this blessed old book is pure and contains the doctrines of our faith that we hold dear.

 

4.  The Conflict  (military service in conflict) – Verse 18 – The Word of God was attacked at its inception into this world and has remained under attack for the past 6,000 years.  It is a planned attack by a wicked angel named Lucifer, and it is a manned attack by those who follow his leadership.  Anyone and everyone who either changes or makes a disparaging remark about the Word of God and those who uphold it is being used by Satan.

 

5.  The Confidence  (moral conviction of religious truth) – Verse 19

The Word of God has always been right; the Word of God is still right; and the Word of God will always be right

 

6.  The Conscience  (spiritual consciousness) – Verse 19 - If we let this charge slip, then our children’s children will never know the reality of faithfulness to the bible and the holiness that follows its teachings.

 

7.  The Consequence (shipwreck) – Verse 20 - The local churches are in bad shape spiritually because they lie in ruins doctrinally.  The families are in poor moral condition because they are spiritually in ruins. The nation is struggling both economically and morally because it is in deep biblical darkness.

Ye Are the Temple of God - Part 1

 Temple Baptist Church - 6-25-2025

1 Corinthians 3:16-17; 6:19-20

 

Introduction: 

 

A.  The context of these verses is in relationship to the Judgment Seat of Christ and needs to be interpreted in that light.

 

          1.  We dealt with the foundation, which is Christ.

 

          2.  We dealt with the Judgment Seat of Christ and our reward or loss of reward.

 

3.  Now we will deal with the importance of the body, the temple of God. - 2 Corinthians 5:10  For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

 

4.  Just how important is our body to the Lord?  There is considerable emphasis in the Bible regarding our bodies and our responsibility toward God.  I find it amazing that God owns our bodies but has placed us as husbandmen, or overseers, of them.  That is a sacred “Trust!”

 

5.  Why does God have so much interest in these old bodies of clay? We will have to leave that to God, but I want us to look at a couple of texts that are, for the most part, not looked at in the right manner.  God emphasizes the importance of our bodies.

 

a)  The bible says that our corruptible, temporal bodies will be changed.  Why did God not simply take us out of this body and create a new one? 

 

1 Corinthians 15:51-54  Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,  (52)  In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.  (53)  For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.  (54)  So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

 

b)  The bodies of the saints who are now with the Lord will get their bodies back at the rapture of the Church, but in an eternal, pure state. 

 

1 Thessalonians 4:15-17  For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.  (16)  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:  (17)  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

 

c)  For now, our bodies look like those of the rest of the world, but when He shall appear, “we shall be like Him;  for we shall see Him as He is.”

 

1 John 3:1-2  Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.  (2)  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

 

d)  Our bodies belong to the Lord and He will not throw away the clay but will make it once again as it was in the beginning, in the image of God and in His likeness.

 

B.  We have seen the three states of man in earlier chapters of 1 Corinthians:

 

1.  The Natural Man – man in his unregenerate state – lost without God - 1 Corinthians 2:14  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.  The Carnal Man – man that is regenerated but living his life under the power of his old sin nature - 1 Corinthians 3:3  For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

 

3.  The Spiritual Man – man that is regenerated and living in the power of the Holy Spirit. He discerns the difference between the things of God and man - Galatians 5:16  This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

 

C.  Our spiritual state has much to do with our physical body, as everything that we do to build upon the foundation of Christ is done within it or with it.

Thank God for Forgiveness

 Temple Baptist Church - 6-22-2025

Psalm 32

 

Introduction:

 

A. King David wrote Psalm 32, which is penitential in nature. There were several times when David failed God and faced the consequences of his sinfulness. In each of these instances, David repented, picked up his life, and moved on. Two of the most notable examples are David’s sin concerning Bathsheba in 2 Samuel 11 and the presumption of numbering the people in 2 Samuel 24.

 

1. David’s sin of numbering the people in 2 Samuel chapter 24 caused the death of seventy thousand men. Though not specified in the Book of Psalms, David’s confession is found in that chapter of the Bible. This failure does not fit the context of Psalm 32.

 

2 Samuel 24:10 And David's heart smote him after that he had numbered the people. And David said unto the LORD, I have sinned greatly in that I have done: and now, I beseech thee, O LORD, take away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly.

 

2. David’s sin with Bathsheba and the murder of Uriah the Hittite and other men who perished with him are possibly the background of Psalm 32. In Psalm 51, we find David’s godly sorrow, repentance, and confession. David confessed, and God forgave the sin, as great as it was; however, the recompense for these egregious acts, adultery and murder, continued.

 

Psalms 51:1-4 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. (2) Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. (3) For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. (4) Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.

 

B. In the prelude of the Psalm, we find the word “Maschil.” The Psalm is didactic or instructional.

 

1. “Maschil” means to give instruction or to understand. The root word for “Maschil” is a primitive word שָׂכַל śâkal saw-kal', meaning to be or make circumspect or intelligent.

 

2. שָׂכַל śâkal saw-kal' is used 63 times in your Bible and four instances in the Book of Daniel, fully explain Maschil: I

 

a) t שָׂכַל śâkal saw-kal' is translated as “they that understand” in Daniel 11:33.

 

b) שָׂכַל śâkal saw-kal' is translated as “them of understanding” in Daniel 11:35.

 

c) שָׂכַל śâkal saw-kal' is translated as “they that be wise” in Daniel 12:3.

 

d) שָׂכַל śâkal saw-kal' is translated as “but the wise” shall understand in Daniel 12:10.

 

C. Psalm 32 is written for the individual about an individual’s failure and restoration. God wants each of us to understand our propensity in the same manner.

 

1. Verses 1-2. God’s mercy and forgiveness to the sinner. Here we find:

 

a. David has sinned.

 

1) Transgression – rebellion or revolt. To overstep a known boundary.

 

2) Sin – an offense, often habitual.

 

3) Iniquity – to pervert, perverse, immoral, wicked, or evil.

 

b. David has confessed.

 

c. God has forgiven.

 

d. It seems to me that it should be over.

 

e. There is mercy and forgiveness of the Lord. Forgiven, covered, imputeth not.

 

2. Verses 3-4. Before David’s forgiveness and restoration. Here we find that David did not get right with the Lord quickly.

 

a. David tried to hide his sin. “When I kept silence” We do not know how long David hid his sins from Israel, but it was long enough for the child to be born so I imagine it was at least a year after conception.

 

2 Samuel 11:25-26 Then David said unto the messenger, Thus shalt thou say unto Joab, Let not this thing displease thee, for the sword devoureth one as well as another: make thy battle more strong against the city, and overthrow it: and encourage thou him. (26) And when the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she mourned for her husband. (27) And when the mourning was past, David sent and fetched her to his house, and she became his wife, and bare him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD.

 

b. David could not live with what he had done. Day and night, God’s hand was upon him in conviction and human sorrow. “thy hand was heavy upon me” In the day, “my bones waxed old,” it wore him down physically. At night, it wore him down spiritually, and he could not rest. “ For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me”

 

Acts 9:5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

 

c. God knew! 2 Samuel 11:27 “But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD.”

 

d. God would not allow David to continue. God allowed David’s sin to finish, then confronted him. (James 1:15) “sin when it is finished.” God confronted David through Nathan.

2 Samuel 12:7 And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul;

 

3. Verses 5-7. David’s restoration.

 

a. David acknowledged his sin. People often tend to rationalize and then minimize their mistakes. “We all sin, don’t we. Everyone is a sinner, right? I have seen others do much worse than me, and things turned out alright. David could never get right with God until he realized just how wrong he had been with God.

 

b. David confessed his sin. A confession is an agreement with the law. It is honesty with God!

 

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

 

c. God is faithful and just! God faithfully forgave David of his sins, though he had to live with the continued results of such sinfulness. The sword never left his house. There are sins with little recompense, while others are lasting ones. David’s sin was so great because of who he was and what he did, so that the payment was paid for the rest of his life. Forgiveness does not always remove the penalty.

 

4. Verses 8-9. David’s Instruction.

 

a. Verse 8. Life’s lessons are, for the most part, experiential. Hard lessons teach great truth to be passed on to the generations to come. If sin did not work out well for us, it will not work out for others. I try to learn two ways from other people’s experiences. What works and what does not!

 

b. Verse 9. Do not be stubborn and require a “bit and bridle”. I have known of some horses who needed a “cutting bit” to cure their headiness. Mules can be extremely stubborn.

 

This reminds me of a story about a man who took his mule to a trainer. The trainer said, “You can come back and pick up the mule in a few days.” The owner replied, “Great! But please don’t hurt my mule.” The trainer assured him, “I won’t hurt your mule.”

 

However, as the owner was leaving and looking in the rearview mirror, he saw the trainer pick up a hammer and hit the mule between the eyes, causing it to drop to the ground. The owner quickly backed up, jumped out of his vehicle, and shouted, “I told you not to hurt my mule!”

 

The trainer calmly responded, “I did not hurt your mule. First, I had to get his attention.”

 

5. Verses 10-11. David’s Conclusion.

 

a. Verse 10. Sin causes sorrow and robs us of joy and peace. But trust in the Lord, and get it right! We will find that where “sin abounds,” grace that “more abounds,” and the “goodness and mercy” that follows.

 

Psalms 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

 

b. Verse 11. Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice. When reconciliation takes place, fellowship is restored. Paul said to forget those things that are behind and press forward.

 

Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.

 

Philippians 3:13-14 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, (14) I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Theology: The Doctrine of The Holy Spirit - Pneumatology - Part 2 - Divine in His Performance

 Temple Baptist Church - 6-22-2025

John 14:15-18; John 16:7-15

 

Introduction:

 

A. Once again, let me reiterate that this will not be a Systematic Theology study of Pneumatology.

 

1. However, in the context of John 14-16, we discover some important aspects about the Person and Work of the Holy Spirit.

 

2. 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 the Person of the Holy Spirit. He is God; He is ALL God! Not your conscience, not an influence, God residing within the believer.

 

C. In John 14:16a, our Lord said, “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter.”

 

1. Not a similar one, but “another,” one just like Jesus Christ, with all power and attributes. This statement is a declaration of the Comforter’s Person.

 

2. Today, God the Father sits on His throne, Jesus Christ sits at His right hand as our High Priest, Intercessor, and Advocate. The Holy Spirit is active on this earth, doing the will of the Father.

D. John 14:16b -18 is a declaration of the Comforter’s Presence and Performance. “That he may abide with you for ever; (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. (18) I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.”

 

1. He will come to you. “He shall give you … I will”

 

2. He will abide with you. “That He may abide with you”

 

3. He will remain with you forever. “for ever”

 

4. He will lead you into all truth. “Even the Spirit of truth”

 

5. He will indwell you. “And shall be in you”

 

6. He will comfort you. “I will not leave you comfortless”

 

7. He will be the Spirit of Christ, working hand-in-hand with Jesus Christ. “I will come to you”

 

E. Now, our text. In verse 7, we find that it was “expedient” for Christ to go away.

 

1. “Expedient” – beneficial, necessary, advantageous, to be better for, the best thing.

 

a) None of this did the disciples understand in their grief and sense of loss, but they fully understood it in Acts, chapter 2, when the Holy Spirit came upon them, empowering them to preach the gospel in other languages boldly.

 

b) Notice I did not say unknown tongues, as the word “unknown” is always an italicized word when speaking of tongues in the Bible. Italicized words are those that were inserted, not translated, into a text for clarification by the translators. They can confuse.

 

c) It is good to learn to also read a text omitting the italicized words. You will find that they are not needed for our understanding of what God said.

 

2. Another Comforter and Comfortless. Two words need to be explained: Comforter and comfortless.

 

a) 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;

 

b) Comfortless in Greek comes from the Greek word ὀρφανός orphanos or-fan-os', from which we derive our English word "orphan." Orphans have no families and need to be adopted into good homes where they will be loved and cared for . Because of their adoption into the family of God by the Comforter, the child of God has a spiritual family: our Father who is in heaven, our Saviour and Friend who loves us, and the Holy Spirit that indwells us. Aren’t you glad that you are not an orphan

 

In all of our sorrows, come what may! Death, sickness, persecution, trials and tribulations, personal failure, discouragement, disappointment, defilement, both real and imagined. Our Lord will not leave us comfortless, orphaned!

 

F. The work of the Holy Spirit. He is the Agent, the Activity of God on Earth! In the First and Last Mentions of the Holy Spirit, we find His activity.

 

1. The Spirit Moved. God spoke, but the Spirit Moved!

 

Genesis 1:1-3 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. (2) And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. (3) And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.

 

2. The Spirit Spoke. The Spirit will always be Drawing men.

 

Revelation 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

 

G. The Work of the Holy Spirit would take a lot of time, as there is so much that He does, but I will stay within the context of our Scripture. Here are five things that the Holy Spirit will do in our text:

 

1. He will reprove the world of sin. “Of sin, because they believe not on me;”

 

a. The word “reprove” means “to convict.” “Reprove” is a legal term in the way a judge or a prosecuting attorney presents evidence to bring a conviction.

 

b. The Holy Spirit of God presents evidence in the heart that brings us to a place of conviction, requiring a decision to be made.

 

c. The greatest of all sins is stated here. It is the sin of rejection! Rejecting Christ is the sin that damns the unrepentant and unbelieving to a devil’s hell for all eternity.

 

d. There must be a conviction before we can turn in faith and trust to Jesus Christ.

 

2. He will reprove the world of righteousness. “Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;”

 

Romans 4:24-25 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.

 

a. Jesus Christ was delivered for our offenses and was raised again for our justification. Christ took our guilt upon Himself, dying in our place on that cross. Salvation is far more than just forgiveness of sin and going to heaven. Salvation is about the righteousness of Christ being imputed to us so that we stand before God clothed in absolute purity that only God has. This one verse says it all.

 

2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

 

Philippians 3:8-9 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, (9) And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

 

b. Our lack of righteousness. I say this so often because religious people always mix personal merit to some degree with what Christ did for us and what He was made unto us.

 

Isaiah 64:6-7 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. (7) And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee: for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities.

 

Titus 3:5-6 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; (6) Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;

 

Romans 4:4-5 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. (5) But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

 

c. The song “The Solid Rock” says, “Dressed in His righteousness alone, faultless to stand before the throne.”

 

Jude 24-25 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, (25) To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

 

3. He will reprove the world of judgment. “Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.”

 

a. Satan has already been judged!

 

Ezekiel 28:16-18 By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. (17) Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee. (18) Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffick; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee.

 

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:

 

b. The unbeliever has already been judged.

 

John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

 

c. The unbeliever will be judged.

 

Revelation 20:12-13 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.

 

4. He will guide the believer into all truth. “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth”

 

a. Through the gift of the Scriptures.

 

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.

 

John 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

 

b. Through the gift of the Holy Spirit

 

John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

 

5. He will glorify Jesus Christ. “He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you” The religious world makes much of the Holy Ghost and attributes unbiblical work to Him that He does not do. We find here that the Holy Ghost will ALWAYS point us to Christ, not to His work. The Spirit of God never speaks of Himself; He points man to Christ.