How The Spirit Works In Us.
Scripture: John 16:1-15 NKJV
Introduction:
Many of us have heard of the fruits of the Spirit. Those being love, patience, gentleness, kindness, comfort, compassion, etc. etc. We have heard great teachings on the fruit of the Spirit, but what of the work of the Spirit. How does the Spirit work in us? We know that He changes us. But, how does that come about? What actually takes place? Friends, these are questions that I have asked and you have asked. Many of us still do not understand the work of the Spirit. Today, we are going to try to answer some of those questions. The Spirit does work in mysterious ways, however, we can understand those ways if we are diligent and search the Scriptures. We are going to learn today that there are three ways the Holy Spirit works in us to bring about the changes we need in our lives to allow us to hear from God, be in relationship with God, and be sent out in service for God. Let’s begin by reading our passage today. If you have your Bible, please turn with me to John 16, Starting at verse one and follow along as I read.
1. He Convinces The World Of Sin (v. 8).
I want to start by saying that what Scripture stresses is not our circumstances, but our moral and spiritual condition. With that being said, I want you to listen again to verse 8. The divine teaching is directed first to the conviction of sin. This is one of the chief offices of the Spirit. It is a weakness of much of modern evangelical preaching that this is so little insisted on. The apostolic preaching enforced this truth on Jew and Gentile showing that the culmination of sin was unbelief through not knowing God and Him whom God has sent. We need to say that the real principle of sin is disobedience to the Word of God arising from unbelief. We also need to realize that sin never remains alone. One lie leads to another, one crime leads to another, etc, etc. Sin follows on the heels of sin in a vain effort by the sinner to escape the consequences of what has transpired before. Sin haunts us and the longer we continue without having any regret or sorrow for our sin, the more terrible our sin becomes. Our sins are like our shadows. We should then hail with joy the fact that the Spirit’s work is to convince the world of sin. We need to let His convincing and convicting power have free play in our hearts and consciences. The first step from the bondage of sin is this conviction of its deadly power and presence in the world and in our hearts.
2. He Gives Us A Way Of Escape From Sin (v. 10).
Thank God, the Spirit not only convicts the world of sin, He also comes to convict or convince it of righteousness. Thus we learn that He gives us a way of escape from sin. The Comforter will not only quicken the consciences of sinful men, but, in the finished work of Jesus, will point for us the way of deliverance from sins grip on us. The Word gives us the joyful assurance that the work of sin may be undone, but not by merely changing our circumstances, but by having ourselves changed. Christ the Lord is the One that through the Holy Spirit, this change is brought about. He delivers us from the bondage of corruption. He, through the Spirit, will make us new creations (2 Corinthians 5:17). Convincing us, and others, of the need of righteousness, the Spirit will point to the completed work of Jesus, and its acceptance in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, where He reigns, “The Lord our Righteousness.” It is only through the Holy Spirit that we realize the way of escape from sin as Jesus told us in verse 13 that the Spirit will guide us into all truth.
3. He Informs Us Of His Mission Of Judgment (v.11).
This passage of Scripture is frequently interpreted as though it referred to the final judgment of the world. But it is evident, I believe, that Christ referred to a judgment that had then and there commenced as the words have a present meaning. The Savior was declaring that by His death, He should give life to the world. The judgment then to which He pointed was that conquest which He had already commenced of the dominion of evil, and the final victory over it that He would gain on the cross; and the same meaning must be attached to the word world here, so then the verse can be rendered this way: “He shall convince the world that evil is conquered, overthrown, and shall finally pass away.” Taking it in that sense, we perceive at once why the belief in judgment must follow the belief in righteousness. For when we have been freed from sin, and made righteous in Christ, we find that we have entered a life-long struggle with evil; and as the one thing to keep us true, we need the assurance of final victory. These words present two thoughts then-- a fact, and a conviction founded on that fact. Jesus’ conquest over the kingdom of evil, and His conquest revealed by the Comforter is the pledge of victory for man.
Conclusion:
Friends, the darkest lie of the evil one is this---that evil is an eternal power. Before the advent of the Gospel, the world was beginning to believe in the omnipotence of wrong. The slavery brought on by sin was so complete that men were loosing their faith. Two great facts as the result of sin, lay at the roots of this state--suffering and death. But today, we are strengthened by the fact that some one has know our difficulties and subdued them--Jesus our Lord and Savior. It is by the presence of the Holy Spirit in us that not only does He make known the joy and abundant life we have in Christ, but also the work the Spirit does in us and through us that brings about the knowledge and saving grace of our Lord Jesus to others around us. Let the evidence of the Spirit in your life shine out as a beacon to others.
May God Richly Bless You Today!! Harold Trent!!
Scripture: John 16:1-15 NKJV
Introduction:
Many of us have heard of the fruits of the Spirit. Those being love, patience, gentleness, kindness, comfort, compassion, etc. etc. We have heard great teachings on the fruit of the Spirit, but what of the work of the Spirit. How does the Spirit work in us? We know that He changes us. But, how does that come about? What actually takes place? Friends, these are questions that I have asked and you have asked. Many of us still do not understand the work of the Spirit. Today, we are going to try to answer some of those questions. The Spirit does work in mysterious ways, however, we can understand those ways if we are diligent and search the Scriptures. We are going to learn today that there are three ways the Holy Spirit works in us to bring about the changes we need in our lives to allow us to hear from God, be in relationship with God, and be sent out in service for God. Let’s begin by reading our passage today. If you have your Bible, please turn with me to John 16, Starting at verse one and follow along as I read.
1. He Convinces The World Of Sin (v. 8).
I want to start by saying that what Scripture stresses is not our circumstances, but our moral and spiritual condition. With that being said, I want you to listen again to verse 8. The divine teaching is directed first to the conviction of sin. This is one of the chief offices of the Spirit. It is a weakness of much of modern evangelical preaching that this is so little insisted on. The apostolic preaching enforced this truth on Jew and Gentile showing that the culmination of sin was unbelief through not knowing God and Him whom God has sent. We need to say that the real principle of sin is disobedience to the Word of God arising from unbelief. We also need to realize that sin never remains alone. One lie leads to another, one crime leads to another, etc, etc. Sin follows on the heels of sin in a vain effort by the sinner to escape the consequences of what has transpired before. Sin haunts us and the longer we continue without having any regret or sorrow for our sin, the more terrible our sin becomes. Our sins are like our shadows. We should then hail with joy the fact that the Spirit’s work is to convince the world of sin. We need to let His convincing and convicting power have free play in our hearts and consciences. The first step from the bondage of sin is this conviction of its deadly power and presence in the world and in our hearts.
2. He Gives Us A Way Of Escape From Sin (v. 10).
Thank God, the Spirit not only convicts the world of sin, He also comes to convict or convince it of righteousness. Thus we learn that He gives us a way of escape from sin. The Comforter will not only quicken the consciences of sinful men, but, in the finished work of Jesus, will point for us the way of deliverance from sins grip on us. The Word gives us the joyful assurance that the work of sin may be undone, but not by merely changing our circumstances, but by having ourselves changed. Christ the Lord is the One that through the Holy Spirit, this change is brought about. He delivers us from the bondage of corruption. He, through the Spirit, will make us new creations (2 Corinthians 5:17). Convincing us, and others, of the need of righteousness, the Spirit will point to the completed work of Jesus, and its acceptance in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, where He reigns, “The Lord our Righteousness.” It is only through the Holy Spirit that we realize the way of escape from sin as Jesus told us in verse 13 that the Spirit will guide us into all truth.
3. He Informs Us Of His Mission Of Judgment (v.11).
This passage of Scripture is frequently interpreted as though it referred to the final judgment of the world. But it is evident, I believe, that Christ referred to a judgment that had then and there commenced as the words have a present meaning. The Savior was declaring that by His death, He should give life to the world. The judgment then to which He pointed was that conquest which He had already commenced of the dominion of evil, and the final victory over it that He would gain on the cross; and the same meaning must be attached to the word world here, so then the verse can be rendered this way: “He shall convince the world that evil is conquered, overthrown, and shall finally pass away.” Taking it in that sense, we perceive at once why the belief in judgment must follow the belief in righteousness. For when we have been freed from sin, and made righteous in Christ, we find that we have entered a life-long struggle with evil; and as the one thing to keep us true, we need the assurance of final victory. These words present two thoughts then-- a fact, and a conviction founded on that fact. Jesus’ conquest over the kingdom of evil, and His conquest revealed by the Comforter is the pledge of victory for man.
Conclusion:
Friends, the darkest lie of the evil one is this---that evil is an eternal power. Before the advent of the Gospel, the world was beginning to believe in the omnipotence of wrong. The slavery brought on by sin was so complete that men were loosing their faith. Two great facts as the result of sin, lay at the roots of this state--suffering and death. But today, we are strengthened by the fact that some one has know our difficulties and subdued them--Jesus our Lord and Savior. It is by the presence of the Holy Spirit in us that not only does He make known the joy and abundant life we have in Christ, but also the work the Spirit does in us and through us that brings about the knowledge and saving grace of our Lord Jesus to others around us. Let the evidence of the Spirit in your life shine out as a beacon to others.
May God Richly Bless You Today!! Harold Trent!!
Amen..
ReplyDeleteLike in Ephesians 2:8-9
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God. not by works, so that no one can boast.
Love you,
Chris B