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Devotional Reading Joel 2:1-32
Lesson Scripture John 16:5-15
Main/Key Scripture John 16:7 (KJV)
Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you..
Printed Text
John 16:5-15 (KJV)
5. But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou?
6. But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart.
7. Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
8. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
9. Of sin, because they believe not on me;
10. Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;
11. Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
12. 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.
14. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
15. All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
Companion Text
Isaiah 44:1-5, Joel 2:28-32, Luke 24:44-49, Acts 2:4-47, II Corinthians 5:1-5 and Ephesians 1:1-14
A. Introduction
i. Purpose:
The Message of the Jesus Christ concerning the Holy Spirit
The apostles experienced deep worry when Jesus told them He was leaving them. However, Jesus made a promise to the Disciples, a promise that the Father would send them “another Comforter,” “the Spirit of truth”. This Comforter would “teach [them] all things and remind [them] of everything” Jesus had taught them for more than three years. Jesus also promised them that this Comforter would guide them “into all the truth,” even teaching them “what is to come”.
It is not accidental that Jesus repeatedly called this Comforter “the Spirit of Truth”. He is the one who authored the New Testament writings through the apostles and others. This is why the new believers in Jerusalem were able to devote “themselves to the apostles’ teaching”. Once “the Spirit of Truth” came on the day of Pentecost, He enabled some of these men—those He was teaching in the upper room—first of all to speak God’s truth verbally but eventually to communicate it in written form. The New Testament is the apostles’ teaching that has been inspired by the promised Spirit of Truth.
ii. Background
Biography
The Apostles: The name means those who are “Sent” with authority by God. They are one’s who have been commissioned and sent as messengers with an assignment or message from Jesus Christ as his ambassador. Originally there were twelve apostles, all of whom had followed Jesus from the time of John the Baptist’s ministry until Jesus’ ascension to Heaven. Paul and others were recognized later as apostles. All of these Apostles were eyewitness of the resurrected Christ before or after His ascension into Heaven.
Comforter
The Greek word Parakletos ( G3875 Strong’s Concordance) literally means “one called alongside to help” and intercessor and advocate, therefore the word comforter. The Holy Spirit is called another comforter because Jesus Christ also carried the title of comforter (1 John2:1).
The Setting
Jesus had earlier told the disciples it was time for his departure, His death was at hand. The fulfillment of His purpose for coming to earth and dwelling among us was drawing very close. The scene needs to be clearly viewed; even felt in order to realize the impact on the disciples. The disciples were greatly troubled (tarasso G5015 Strong’s Concordance ): disturbed, agitated, perplexed, worried, tossed about, confused, distressed and so on, that reasoning was nowhere to be found. But Jesus gave them a promise. The disciples needed to be settled down and given some sense of peace: to receive encouragement and a new hope for the future.
B. Enlightenment (Open Our Eyes)
Verse 5-6
The Disciples must not let themselves get caught up in what they see around them but think and focus on what Jesus has taught them over the three period of ministry. Jesus will be returning to the Father in Heaven. This should be reassuring that Jesus has gone to the Father who sent Him and has prepared a place for them. Therefore Heaven is a real place for all who believe in Jesus Christ. We are not to stumble around in self-pity and sorrow, moaning over being persecuted or even being here in this world. Our mind and thoughts are to be on the Kingdom of God.
Verse 7
Jesus said a surprising thing: "It is expedient for you that I go away." It was for the believer's good (profit, advantage) that Jesus would leave the world. Notice the additional weight and emphasis Jesus gave to the fact: "I tell you the truth." It may be difficult for a person to see and understand, for it seems that we would be much better off if Jesus were here physically and bodily. Some people even cry out for His presence, for some sight, some vision, some dream of Him. But Jesus said that it was best that He leave and not be physically present. Why? There is one supreme reason: if He had not left, the Holy Spirit would not have come. The believer is better off with the presence of the Holy Spirit than he is with the presence of Jesus. Why is this important? One simple answer that confuses the world even today. Read I Corinthians 2:1-16.
Now note. How can such a statement be made? How can the believer be better off with the Holy Spirit than with the physical, bodily presence of Jesus?
1. Since Jesus departed, we now have a glorified and exalted Lord. We have a Lord who rules and reigns and controls all: who is able to fulfill all His promises and meet our desperate need for life—life that is both abundant and eternal.
Verse 8,9,10 and 11
The Holy Spirit convicts and convinces the world. The word "reprove" (elencho G1651 Strong’s Concordance) means both to convict and to convince a person. Convict means to prick a person's heart until he senses and knows he is guilty. He has done wrong or failed to do right. Convince means to hammer and drive at a person's heart until he knows the fact is true. The Holy Spirit convicts and convinces the world of three things: sin, righteousness, and judgment. The Holy Spirit convinces the world that a man's unbelief is wrong. The Holy Spirit convinces the world that Jesus really did die for sin. The Holy Spirit takes a man who does not believe on Jesus and convinces him that Jesus is the Savior and that his sins are really forgiven when he believes on Jesus.
The Holy Spirit convicts the world of its lack of righteousness, that a man has no righteousness whatsoever that is acceptable to God. The Holy Spirit convicts a man that his righteousness, is self-righteousness only, is human righteousness only, is the righteousness of works that are only human and therefore have an end, is the righteousness of human goodness and therefore passes away when he dies.
• is inadequate, insufficient, and unacceptable to God
Verse 12 and 13
The Holy Spirit guides the believer through three important areas by speaking the truth. Christ said that He had many things to say to the apostles, but they were not able to "bear" (handle, grasp) them, not yet. He would share them later through the Holy Spirit. Christ tells the Spirit what to say and how to guide believers.
1) Jesus Christ, is the One who knows the infirmities and the needs of men. He knows by personal experience (Hebrews 4:15-16). Therefore, He is the One who is appointed by God to instruct the Spirit in His guiding ministry. This should cause our hearts to leap with great joy and confidence, for the Lord knows exactly what we face—knows by experience.
2) The Holy Spirit guides by leading into all the truth. The Holy Spirit is called "the Spirit of Truth." He speaks only the truth and guides into "all the truth." The truth, of course, is Jesus Christ Himself. The Spirit leads the believer to Christ, the Truth, and teaches him "all the truth" about Christ. ( John 14:6; John 15:26-27)
3) The Holy Spirit guides by showing (announcing, declaring) things to come. After Jesus arose, the Holy Spirit was the One who led the apostles to write the New Testament and to foresee the things revealed in its pages. Since that day, the Holy Spirit is the One who takes the things revealed in the Word and shows (declares, announces) them to the heart of the believer.
Verse 14 and 15
The Holy Spirit glorifies Jesus Christ and only Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit "receives" of Christ and shows (declares) it to believers. This means that He receives and declares...
• Only what Christ is. The Son of the Living God
• Only what Christ did. Gave His life for the sin of the world
• Only what Christ said. I ‘am the Way the Truth and the Life…
The Holy Spirit was sent in Jesus' name to proclaim Jesus alone. He, the Spirit of Truth, leads believers to Christ, who alone is the Truth. He did not come to proclaim a movement and message of His own, but to proclaim the movement and message of Jesus Christ. All that the Father has is His. He is the Son of God, the Son of the Father. (John 1:32-34). Jesus Christ is declaring that there is perfect unity in the Godhead. All things of the Father...
• are the things of the Son, of Jesus Christ Himself.
• are the things shown and declared by the Holy Spirit.
C. Practical Application- Faith Without Works
· Discuss your understanding about this lesson.
· How does this lesson relate to your life?
· How does this affect your faith now?
· Would you apply this lesson to your life? Why? Or Why not?
D. Summary
The Holy Spirit performs a unique ministry. As told through the Apostles by the anointing of the Holy Spirit, we must remember that Jesus’ promise regarding the indwelling Holy Spirit was to all believers. One of God’s purposes since the beginning has been to dwell with humanity and enjoy fellowship with us. God does it in this special way through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit
i. Occurs automatically when a person is saved;
ii. Is not an “experience” but produces spiritual experience
iii. Remains permanently with the believer
iv. Is the basis of all the ministry gifts of the Holy Spirit and
v. Is the source of new life in the believer.
Paul made this clear in his letter to the Corinthians when he wrote,
For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. (1Co 12:13)
Since the Holy Spirit supernaturally authored the Scriptures through men as instruments of God, certainly the One who dwells within each one of us personally, and as a body corporately, will enlighten our minds to understand and apply God’s truth.
E. Closing Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father in the glorious name of Jesus, I come to thank you for sending your Son Jesus Christ to fulfill your plan of salvation for us and the promise of the Holy Spirit to kept us until Jesus’ return. For by your word we know that greater is He that is in us, than he that is in the world. We ask for your continued presence with us through the Holy Spirit. Lead us into all wisdom, knowledge and understanding so that we may continue to bring you all the glory, honor and praise that you so richly deserve, In Jesus name I pray Amen.
