Thank you for joining us. That key Life Fellowship for our
Pulpit Ministry podcast. Each sermon on this podcast is
from our 11 a.m. Sunday service.
We are glad that you have joined us digitally, but would love to
see you in person on Sunday mornings at either 9 a.m. or 11
a.m. Now, let's open God's word and
ask him to reveal his truths for our lives.
You have your bibles. If you would go with me to John
in the 16th chapter, John, chapter 16.
As We are continuing our journey through the Gospel of John.
I want to go back about two chapters though before we start
in 16, and I want to remind you of something, don't worry, I'm
not going to go back and start at 14 and preach through that
again, but I want to go back and remind you of something that we
saw in the 14th chapter. Very important promise that
Jesus made to his disciples. He promised them that the
indwelling of the paraclete, the third person of the trinity, The
Holy Spirit, The Advocate, the comforter, the counselor, many
of those terms are used to describe the Holy Ghost.
Jesus was promising there in John, chapter 14, the indwelling
of the Holy Spirit, he said he's here with you now, but he will
be in you and he began to teach his disciples about the Holy
Spirit and how the Holy Spirit would indwell all True.
Believers it. So now here we find ourselves in
John in the 16th chapter we find Jesus and his disciples walking
closer and closer minute-by-minute hour-by-hour to
the Cross where Jesus would atone for the sin of those who
would believe. However, He's going to take the
time and I'm very appreciative of this time.
As a Believer, he is going to take the time to remind them of
what he had already promised them in chapter 14 and in this
he is actually going to elaborate in their knowledge
about what exactly the holy spirit is going to do when he
does come down upon them. And upon this Earth to do the
will of God and so we see in John chapter 16, The disciples
full of grief knowing. And in just a little while,
their lord and savior, they walked with who they've ate
with, who they fellowship with, who they've learned from.
He is going to depart, how do they know this?
He keeps telling them this, that he came from the father and he's
going to return to the father that before that can happen.
There must be his death, his burial, his resurrection, and
then his Ascension where he will Ascend to the father and his
disciples are Grieving here. Rightfully so wouldn't you and
your Humanity grieve? If you knew that your best
friend only had seemingly hours upon the Earth left, And here
they are grieving and they are grieving the fact that Jesus is
going to leave them. He's going to remind him of what
he's already promised them in chapter 14.
The comforter is going to remind them of the Holy Spirit and he's
going to remind them that the holy spirit is going to do a
continual work and so that's what we're going to look at
today. The continual work of the
promised Holy Spirit, the holy spirit is going to continue to
work and Jesus is going to make sure that they know this and
he's going to tell them this so that they will.
Tensed, in the promise of the holy spirit.
So we read together this entire text that we will be looking at
Today. Chapter 16.
We'll look at verse 5, all the way to 15 verse 5 says this.
Now I am going to him who sent me going back to the father yet?
None of you asked me. Where are you going?
Remember before? When he said he was going away,
they said, where you going wherever you're going.
That's where we want to go, and Jesus can't go with me there.
He said you can't go with me. There you will later but you
can't now this time they are so stricken with grief that they
don't even ask that question. He says, in verse 6 because I
have said these things you were filled with grief.
But I tell you the truth, it is for your good, that I'm going
away unless I go away the counselor will not come to you
but if I go I will send him to you.
He's saying it's for your good that I go away because I
promised you the comforter the Holy Spirit and that promise is
true. He is going to come unto you and
to live in you just as I have promised.
Verse 8 says, when he comes, he will convict the world of guilt
and regard to sin, and righteousness and judgment in
regard to sin because men do not believe in me and regard to
righteousness because I am going to the father where you can see
me no longer and in regard to judgment because the prince of
this world, now stands condemned, why would he bring
the prince of the world? Satan into this conversation,
we're going to see that. It's very important that he did
in just a moment. He says in verse 12 I have much
more to say to you more than you can now bear but when he the
spirit of truth comes he will guide you into all truth.
He will not speak on his own, he will speak only what he hears
and he will tell you what is yet to come.
He will bring Glory To Me by taking from what is mine and
making it known to you. All that belongs to the father
is mine. That is why I said the spirit
will take from what is mine and make it known to you everybody.
See how that's working there in the economical Trinity?
He's saying the father has given unto me.
I shall give unto the spirit and it's going to work like that.
What the spirit gives to you is what comes from the father to me
to you. He's not going to give you
anything that I would not Give you in fact he's going to give
you more is going to give you more Revelation it's going to
give you more insight and he's going to give you more truth.
In fact the Holy Spirit as we will see today as we read the
inspired word of God is still continually giving us truth
Jesus is making that very clear to his disciples here but there
are some points that I want us to consider as we look at this
text and some points that I want us to see her clearly defined
here. The promised.
Holy spirit will bring some things when he comes.
Jesus wants this to be known. He's not trying to hide this,
any longer. He is wanting them to know that
when the Holy Spirit comes he's going to bring some things with
him. The first thing that I want you
to see if you're taking notes, write this down.
He is going to bring first Comfort to the believer Comfort
to the believer. In fact, that's why he gets the
term comforter. Chapter 16 there in John's
gospel verse 5. He says now I'm going to him who
sent me yet. None of you asked me, where are
you going? Because I have said these
things, you are filled with grief, you're just focusing on
you, you're focusing on your loss, you're focusing on your
sorrow, you're focusing on your grief, you're going to miss out
on better things if you don't stop doing this because he says
in verse 7, but I tell you the truth, it is for your good that
I am going away unless I go away the counselor will not come to
But if I go away, I will send him to you.
Jesus is letting his disciples know, there are better things in
store for you and they can't come to you until I go away.
I know you want to hold on and I know you want to grieve and I
know you want to be sorrowful because I'm leaving you, but
better, things are going to happen because I am going to the
father. And one of those things is
comfort for the Believers, the Holy Spirit comforts, Every True
Believer. How does he do this?
How does the Holy Spirit Comfort?
Every True Believer watch. Jesus outlines it for us.
Perfectly here, by turning our grief to Joy, write it down by
turning our grief to Joy and how many times in our Christian
lives, has the Holy Spirit taken our great grief.
Our trouble, our sufferings are trials are pain.
How many times can we testify to the fact?
Fact that he is faithful to take those griefs and those sorrows
and to turn them into great, joy, and to move us to a place
of rejoicing in the Lord, in spite of our circumstances,
David understood. This in Psalm Thirty, he wrote
this in verse 11 of Psalm Thirty.
He said you turned my wailing into dancing.
You took my wailing and my weeping and you turned it into
something celebratory and something.
That was a total Joy. You turned mourning into dancing
Isn't it crazy that when the Holy Spirit, empowers the
Christian with his comfort, it can dance in the middle of the
storm. I'm not talking about literal
dancing. I'm talking about that inward,
joy that we have in Christ where we can rejoice in the midst of
the most adverse circumstances we can rejoice in the middle of
our grief. And fact, the spirit turns that
grief into Joy Force just as a song, Instead, you turned my
wailing into dancing, you remove my sack cloth and clothed me
with joy that my heart may sing to you and not be silent.
Oh Lord, my God, I will give you thanks for ever.
See the heart of the psalmist there as he is Experiencing God
taking his grief and his morning and turning it in to
inexpressible Joy and dancing. How many times has the Holy
Spirit been faithful in our lives to do?
Just the same thing? We took that dark situation.
The greatest trial that we thought we could ever endure.
And in the midst of it, he taught you how to dance.
In the midst of it, he taught you how to rejoice and how to be
glad and and how to thank God that we could suffer as Christ
himself suffered for us. It is the Holy Spirit, who
brings Comfort to the believer turning grief into Joy.
The disciples didn't understand it at this time, because they
were infants in their faith, they understand, the full degree
to what Jesus was teaching them, but in a short time, they would
know exactly. What he meant, they would
rejoice and experience the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
As they would experience the resurrection of Christ as they
would experience his final instructions to them as they
would experience his Ascension into heaven confirming that he
did Truly Come From the father just as he said, the Holy Spirit
would then at Pentecost fall on them, reminding them.
He has turned their grief into great joy.
It is in that great joy that these apostles were willing to
suffer and to be persecuted and to die with joy in their heart
in the midst of their martyrdom. Many of them danced and sang,
praise to God, and spoke of his worthiness and their suffering
is the Holy Spirit, who brings Comfort to the believer, turning
our grief into joy. In fact, Jesus said this would
be so and John chapter 14 as we were In verse 26.
He said but the counselor the Holy Spirit whom the father will
send. In my name will teach you all
things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
He then tells them. Peace.
I leave with you. My peace.
I give you. I do not give to you as the
world gives. Do not let your hearts be
troubled, and do not be afraid. He takes our anxiety, our
troubles, our fears, our griefs And he turns them into what
scripture calls inexpressible Joy Even in our darkest times.
It is the Holy Spirit, who brings us comfort.
Comfort to the True Believer turning our grief to Joy, but
also working all things for our good.
He says this in that same section that we just read in
verses 5 through 7. He says in verse 6 because I
have said these things you were filled with grief but I tell you
the truth. It is for your good that I am
going away. Okay, I can attest to this fact,
immediately, as we don't immediately understand these
things, the disciples didn't understand immediately.
What Jesus was talking about and understand immediately, how he
was going to work such an awful thing.
His brutal suffering, and his brutal death, how he was going
to take that thing and work it for such good.
They couldn't understand that how he was going to take and
leaving them seemingly helpless, though he had already promised.
I'm not going to leave you by yourself.
I'm going to send that Advocate to be with you.
Can you imagine if you would and their mind for a moment?
What they were thinking? Oh, this is not good.
Sometimes the things that we face in life, don't seem good.
Especially don't seem good at the time but it is the Holy
Spirit who gives us this guarantee through the inspired
word of God. It is he who declares that he
is, truly working all things to the good though.
Jesus disciples at the time, didn't understand this and do
many of us act. As if we don't understand it, it
doesn't change the fact that he is working everything for the
good to those who love him and who are called according to his
purpose. Just as Romans chapter 8 tells
us in fact, when we look at Romans chapter 8 we see it in
its context. Why Watch it is the spirit
working here in Romans chapter 8.
Many times we forget that we forget that this is the work of
the spirit that allows us the confidence of saying that he's
working all things for our good. Watch what he says in verse 26
of chapter 8. In the same way, the spirit
helps us in our weakness. I'm thankful that he helps me in
my weakness I because that's all I really am.
Is sweetness. It's all I really am as
weakness. Many would say Kirk but you seem
so strong. I make you this guarantee that
if You see any strength in me? It is not for me.
It is from the spirit of the Lord who lives in me, giving me
strength. He says, in the same way, the
spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to
pray for. He says you're so weak that you
don't even know the right thing to pray.
Have you ever found yourself there?
Don't feel bad when you find yourself there it confirms your
weakness. I don't even know what to say.
How could we know what to say to a holy God?
Lest the spirit himself, reveal it to us.
But the spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings
that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts
knows, the mind of the spirit because the spirit intercedes
for the Saints in accordance with God's will the spirit
constantly there. Constantly praying the will of
God be done in our life. And you know what, the will of
God is in our lives. As his children, watch this.
And we know that in all things, God works for the good of those
who love him, who have been called, according to his
purpose, know what God's will is for the life of a believer that
all things be worked for the good.
Did you know, even the spirit now, in your most darkened time
in your biggest struggle, right now, in your life, the spirit is
interceding on your behalf. If you are a Believer praying,
the perfect will of God, that this situation, Be worked for
the good and it will be worked for the good.
Why? Because God's word guarantees
it. So we don't like the situation
I'm in. He's going to work it for good.
I didn't ask for it, I know he's still going to work it for good.
Many people read this passage of scripture and neglect to apply
it to their lives. I speak to people all the time.
We're going through difficult times, right?
It's what the pastor does when someone goes through a trial or
a struggle, they come to me. And I point them to crimes.
I point them to the word. I put Point them to what the
spirit is already spoken in regard to this in Romans chapter
8. We know that in all things.
You have a pastor, you don't really know exactly what all
thing but you have no idea the degree of the suffering that I'm
going through all things. But you don't know all the
details. All things I don't have to know
all the details. In fact the details really don't
matter. What matters is he promises all
thing? And when you see all things as a
Believer, you want to be overwhelmed by the holy spirit
with an inexpressible, joy and comfort.
That only comes from God. to know that if I even lose my very
life for the cause of Christ, he's working all things.
To the good, all things. Oh, can you imagine the Apostle
Paul, they're only all-steinway when he was beheaded.
I Roman Centurion. Well, that's what history says
about the Apostle Paul that he had his head lopped from his
shoulders, because he would not renounce Christ.
Can you imagine him remembering as the spirit revealed Romans
8:28 to him and as he penned it to the church at Rome?
Can you imagine in his heart, as he thought to himself all
things, all things? What Greek Comfort comes from
the Holy Spirit. When we understand that he is
working all things for our good and for God's glory.
Child of God. If you were here today as a
Believer aren't you thankful Aren't you thankful?
Whether you realize it or whether you don't realize that
God is working, all things for the good, to those who love him
and who are called according to his purpose.
I mean, people all the time. They don't realize that he's
doing it. Aren't you think we'll that you
don't have to realize it to know that it's being done?
They don't realize it, they don't yet.
See it. Neither did.
The apostles here wasn't until later that they saw.
He was working all things for their good.
Even though he tells them right here, chapter 16.
It's for your good. Sometimes we have difficulty in
understanding that, don't we? We only think that good things
are for our good. Jesus is speaking to them about
comfort in the midst of their grief covered in the midst of
their sorrow comfort, in the midst of their pain, He says,
I'm giving you this Comfort through the holy spirit.
Let me remind you. That if I don't, leave the
counselor can't come. And you were going to miss out
on the confirmation that he gives to his children.
That all things are working. For the good, Holy Spirit, The
Advocate paraclete the counselor.
He's also our comfort will be comforted by the holy spirit
this morning believer, I know and the Holy Spirit is such a
debatable topic, isn't he? There's so many people who are
chasing just bewilderment and feelings and calling it The Holy
Spirit. And then there are those who are
so afraid of the holy spirit that they're not even speak his
name. But Jesus was not afraid to
speak of the promised, Holy Spirit, to his disciples,
promising them, great comfort. Don't ignore the holy spirit in
your life as a Believer. If you worked and ignore the
holy spirit in your life, as a Believer, you will miss out on
the great comfort that he and he alone brings he is peace for our
trouble. Lighten our Darkness strength
for our weaknesses. He's joy for our sorrows but
don't get caught up in thinking that the holy spirit is some
aesthetic emotion and it is the he disorder that we see so many
times that is labeled as the Holy Spirit.
Don't think for a moment that that is who he is, he is great
comfort to The Afflicted. He is great comfort to the
saint. And Jesus promises.
That's what he will be. He's for our trouble strength
for our weaknesses joy for our sorrows, aren't you thankful?
Child of God, for the Holy Spirit, who lives in you
bringing you comfort continually.
The second thing that we see that the promised, holy spirit
will bring, according to the words of Jesus and I love just
to take Jesus at his word, don't you?
There's no sense complicating this.
Let's take Jesus at his word. He said the holy spirit is going
to be comfort. To the believer. but secondly,
he says this the holy spirit is going to bring Conviction to the
unbeliever. Conviction to the unbeliever.
I'm thankful that the Holy Spirit brings conviction to the
unbeliever because if he did not bring conviction, I would still
be an unbeliever. And before you were misled, I
want to make this very clear. In fact, it would probably serve
you well to write this down. There can be conviction without
conversion, but there cannot be conversion without conviction.
The holy spirit is going to convict The Lost World.
Just because he can fix the laws world, doesn't mean that
conversion happen conviction of the holy spirit that opens the
eyes of the sinner that they might see their great need for
conversion. How does this text say that the
Holy Spirit convicts? How does this actually work in
verse 8? He says here, if you'll read
along with me when he comes, he will convict the world of guilt.
In regard to sin, and righteousness and judgment.
Jesus gives a three-point sermon here on the convicting, power of
the holy spirit in regard to sin, because men do not believe
in me in regard to righteousness because I am going to the father
where you can see me no longer and in regard to judgment
because the prince of this world, now stands condemned,
what is Jesus saying To Us by those statements?
What do we need to learn from that?
We need to see that the Holy Spirit convicts the unbeliever
by revealing to the center. Number one, the guilt of sin pay
attention to verse 8, there in verse 9.
When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to
sin. In regard to sin.
Notice that the Lord, their speaks in the singular.
He did not speak in the plural. We know that there is the
possibility of but not limited to at least 10 sins.
We know that from The Ten Commandments, we know that from
the decalogue, we know that from the law.
He's not talking here about actions though.
Actions reveal this singular sin, that's not what he's
talking about. He is talking about the sin
singular of unbelief, he is talking about unbelief, the fact
that the lost world does not have faith in Christ.
Spirit reveals to the center that they are in a state of on
belief unbelief now, because they are in a state of unbelief,
their life is riddled with sins plural, everybody understand how
that works. And yes, Jesus did die to his
atone for those sins that you've committed, but he also died so
that you would believe in his sacrifice and in believing you
are saved and all of those sins that were once held to your
charge, those plural items, those verbs if you would as, in
comparison to unbelieve those verbs, those actions that come
out of your life are completely washed and forgiving cast as far
as the East is from the West cast down to the oceans floor,
where he remembers those things, no longer Is the Holy Spirit,
who convicts the unbelieving? Center of the guilt of unbelief.
And unbelieving, sinners. Experience.
The wrath of God for all eternity, and they will be
punished for every single action that they committed against God
in their state of unbelief there.
For those of us who are in Christ.
Aren't you thankful that? Because of faith in Christ, all
of your acts of sin will no longer be held against you But
he's letting them know that when you go out and you preach the
gospel and you testify because remember in the versus just
prior to this and John chapter 15, he says, and you also must
testify, he must testify to the gospel to Jesus Christ, and who
he is and what he came to do. Don't you know that he
understands that in there testifying of Christ and they're
sharing the gospel that they need to know.
As that there is a greater power at work.
Here it is. The power of the Holy Spirit.
Who will bring conviction upon the unbelieving sinner.
He reveals the guilt of their sin of unbelief.
And then he says this in verse 10, he says a 9 in regard to sin
because men do not believe in me in regard to righteousness
because I am going to the father where they can see me, no longer
he is going to not only convict The unbelieving Sinner of the
sin of unbelief so that they will believe and be forgiven, he
is then going to show them their need for right.
Righteousness. Why does he give the
illustration that he does in regard to righteousness?
He says in regard to righteousness, because I'm going
to the father, where you can see me, no longer, he's letting them
know. The only way that I can go to
the father, is, if I am righteous and the only way that
anyone can come to the father is if they are righteous, he's
wanting them to understand. The unbeliever needs to know in
the Holy Spirit is going to make this clear to the unbeliever. /
that man when compared with the righteousness of Christ and the
righteous requirements of the law, man in and of himself
Falls, completely short of God's standard.
His standard is complete righteousness.
You say, well, Pastor, I find myself in a predicament.
Yes, we do. Don't we?
We find ourself in the predicament, all of us the same.
It's the same predicament that we found ourselves in when the
Holy Spirit convicted us as unbelievers that we have no
righteousness of Our Own. We're in big trouble.
It is the spirit who reveals to us our need for righteousness,
but it's also the spirit who reveals to us and Romans chapter
3 that there has been a righteousness supplied for us by
God. Romans 3:21, but now a
righteousness from God. Apart from the law has been made
known to which the law and the prophets testify this
righteousness from God comes through faith, in Jesus Christ,
to all, who believe, Leave. There is no difference.
She said, it's for the Jewish for the Gentiles.
For all who believe. For all have sinned and fall
short of the glory of God and are Justified.
Freely by his grace through the Redemption that came by Christ
Jesus, God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement through
faith. In his blood, he did this to
demonstrate his Justice because in his forbearance he had left
the sins committed beforehand unpunished.
He's saying here he should have killed, all of us, we deserve
death. Don't you think we'll that in
his forbearance? He left the sins committed
beforehand unpunished. Why?
So that he could show us the grace that is found only in
Christ. He did it to demonstrate his
Justice at the present time. So as to be just and the one who
justifies Those Who Have Faith In Jesus.
Oh. Don't you see what God is
saying? There he is.
Just those who remain in a state of unbelief in sin.
They will be judged and God will be seen as just because the
wrath of God will come upon them, but he's not also just see
only seen as just, he is also seen as the one who justifies
those who have faith. That is a legal term.
What that means is when you are Justified, it means that you are
declared righteous that God declares you righteous based on
the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Why is that so important?
It's important that the unbeliever I hear that because
the unbeliever might be attempting to somehow gain God's
approval by their own Merit in their own behavior.
Even if you take the 10 commandments and you tried to
live up to those Ten Commandments, you will fall
short. God requires utter Perfection?
Complete perfection. And it is God and His mercy.
And his grace here in Romans chapter 3 that we see, he
supplies a righteousness that is greater than any righteousness
that you could ever have on your own.
In fact, he has supplied a righteousness from God, which is
the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ.
That is given to all who by faith Believe In Christ.
And what he did, who he is verse 27 says where Then is boasting
in Romans chapter 3. It's excluded no room for it
again, bows, because it's all Grace.
It's all Christ on what principle I'm out of.
Observing the law. No, but on that of faith for, we
maintain that a man is justified by faith, apart from observing
the law. So what does all this have to do
with the working of the holy spirit in the life of the
unbeliever? There's a Holy Spirit.
Who makes this very clear, who's making it clear even to some
now, who made it clear to some in the service before?
That God has not changed his mind on his standard of
perfection. It is complete righteousness.
That's why Jesus uses himself. As an example, you're going to
see, I'm going to the father and the unbelieving world is going
to be convicted because I'm going to the father because I am
righteous. They're going to see how
righteous I am that. I came from the father just as I
said and I returned to the father just as I said I was
going to do after I completed the righteous work of Redemption
on the cross. After I lived a perfect life
unto the letter of the law, then I'm going back and I'm going to
prove my righteousness and you fall short of that.
You fall short of the standard. You will not be welcomed into
the throne room of God. Where Christ is seated at the
right hand forever, making intercession for the Saints.
You won't be invited and welcomed in there in your sin,
your unbelief. And your unrighteousness.
But if you enter in through faith in Christ, You enter in
clothed in his spotless righteousness you now are
welcome to fellowship and commune with your creator.
The Holy Father, you are, welcome to have an intimate
relationship with the God of this universe.
Spirits job in convicting. The unbeliever is to show them
the guilt of their sin of unbelief, but to also show them
their need for righteousness. And that righteousness has been
supplied only through Christ. In fact, our righteousness as
Isaiah says, in 64 verse 6, it's that a filthy rags that on our
best day. We don't meet the standard over
all of you who are out there is unbelievers, trying to meet some
list of to dues in a standard, be it.
Even the law of God. Know that you cannot enter into
the presence of the father unless you enter into the
presence of the father, through perfect righteousness and that
perfect righteousness, comes only by faith in Jesus Christ.
And when you believe you are declared Justified, you are
declared righteous in the eyes of God at that point.
And at that point alone, Romans chapter 3 prior to what, we just
read their 21. It tells us, there's none
righteous. No, not one that.
There's no one who seeks him. Both in your efforts right now,
you were trying to somehow. Gain the approval of God through
some performance-based standard or morality.
May the spirit of God the Holy Spirit today convict you that
you need a greater righteousness than that righteousness that
you're trying to muster up by your own willpower and strength.
You need a righteousness that comes from God that has been
revealed in Christ. Jesus, you need that
righteousness imputed to you, or you will not see eternal life,
you will not see, forgiveness of sin.
You will not be justified in the sight of the holy God.
The promised holy spirit, will bring conviction to the
unbeliever. By revealing the guilt of their
sin. The need for righteousness and
this is not very popular but I'm going to preach it anyways
because I'm not into preaching popular things, I'm into
preaching biblical things. The next thing we see the Holy
Spirit reveal to the center in verse 11.
The Lord himself says this and in regard to judgment because
the prince of this world now stands condemned.
He's bringing conviction regarding their position of
condemnation, their position of condemnation, he's using Satan.
Now as an example, he uses himself as an example of one who
has welcomed into the presence of God because he is completely
righteous. He's now going to use Satan as
his illustration and he's going to use the condemnation of Satan
to show us all and if Satan has been condemned, surely those who
follow Satan will be condemned likewise.
If Satan has been condemned, surely all unbelievers are do
not by faith. Repent and turn to Christ.
Will likewise be condemned? That's a pretty simple
illustration that the Lord uses here, it's common sense.
Why is he saying that? Because did you know, if you
were in a state of unbelief right now, God is not your
father. Satan is you are a child of
Satan and you are a child of sin.
I told you it's not popular. I don't have a lot of people who
write me and thanked me for saying things so harsh yet, they
are so true and real that we are under the same condemnation as
Satan himself. Unbelievers are not simply just
waiting to die until they are under some type of condemnation.
Oh, we've walked verse by verse through the Gospel of John.
Surely you remember chapter 3 and that conversation that Jesus
had with a man named Nicodemus? I know we like to only remember
one verse and one verse alone in that whole passage.
But please, can we get past that?
There are many things surrounding John 3:16 that you
need to pay close attention to all the devil is very crafty and
getting you to look at just three sixteen.
Instead of looking at the previous verses that tell you,
you must be born again. Or you cannot see the kingdom of
God. And then, looking at the
precinct, or the following verses, and you see those
following verses as saying, if you don't believe, you're
condemned already, that's what the word of God says.
John 3:16 will read it because that's the only one you want to
read. Let's read all the others around
it for God. So loved the world that he gave
his one and only son that whoever believes in him, shall
not perish but have eternal life.
It's a good news, definitely. But there's good news, there has
to be bad news. Isn't it sad that we live in a
day and time where everybody wants to hear the good news?
But no one wants to hear the bad news.
That makes the good news. Good.
For God did not send his son into the world to condemn the
world 17, but to save the world through him Verse 18, says,
whoever believes in him is not condemned, praise the Lord.
Watch what he says next, but whoever does not believe stands
condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of
God's one, and only son. Why are you condemned?
You're condemned in your sin and your unbelief.
You are unrighteous in the eyes of God.
You're condemned because you are an unbeliever and you were born
into that state. He said, well Pastor do you
really believe that men are born into this state?
I don't know. Let's ask someone who would know
more than I. How about we ask David in Psalm
51 where he says, surely I was sinful at Birth.
Surely, I was sinful at Birth. I came into this world an
unbelieving sinner. Condemned already the Holy
Spirit, convince the Lost of this.
If the true gospel is being preached.
He's convicting the lost, even now their position because they
have not yet turned in faith to Jesus Christ, as Lord and
savior. That condemnation rest upon them
John 3:36 during we even read all the way down to there.
Again in John chapter 3, he says this in 36, whoever believes in
the son has eternal life but whoever rejects the son will not
see life. Why for God's Wrath remains on
him. It doesn't save.
God's Wrath is going to be dropped upon him.
The wrath of God is upon all of the condemned.
Unbeliever, and it is in Christ and it is in Christ alone.
And trusting in Him by faith. Believing. and Christ through
his death, his burial, his resurrection that being our only
hope of forgiveness, and eternal life in believing, that Christ
is who he says that he truly is that he is Son of God and son of
man, that he came to this earth to offer himself as a
propitiation as an atoning sacrifice to forgive sinful
unbelievers, such, as I once was, Till his spirit.
Open my eyes to the truth of my condemnation.
Aren't you thankful that the spirit brings conviction to the
unbeliever showing them their guilt of unbelief?
Oh, how kind that is? Well, the Lord could have just
left us in that state. But he was kind and he was
gracious to us through the Holy Spirit.
He revealed to us. Were unbelievers that we fall
short of his righteous requirements.
That we are condemned. But there is hope.
And there is hope in the gospel. Why?
I told you that conviction doesn't equal conversion.
I pray today that if you are convicted that you are, yes,
guilty of unbelief and sin. I pray today that if you are
convicted for your need for righteousness, that is greater
than the righteousness that you possess in and of yourselves.
I pray today that when you realize through the power of the
holy spirit that you are condemned already that the wrath
of God abides upon you, because you have not believed that
today, you would believe today, you would repent of your sin,
confess your sin to Christ, confess your need for a savior
and be saved this very day as you cry, out to him and him
alone to save your wretched soul.
It is the Holy Spirit who brings us to this knowledge.
Our need for that faith and that repentance by convicting us, the
guilt of sin, the need for righteousness in our position of
condemnation. Apart from Christ many people,
get aggravated with me. They say it seems as if you
preach condemnation I do. I do.
I preached condemnation for all, who were lost because
condemnation, it's where they are.
But I also preach the fullness of the Gospel that if you are in
Christ, there is therefore now no.
Condemnation to he who is in Christ Jesus.
It is in Christ, that condemnation is lifted turned to
Christ today and be free from the condemnation of unbelief and
the condemnation of sin and the wrath of God free today.
The third thing in the final thing, the promised holy spirit
will bring He will bring continued revelation of Truth.
I'm not talking about continued, revelation of Truth, outside of
the word of God, before you jump to any conclusion.
I'm talking about how he continually reveals truth
through the word of God. Through the teaching, the
preaching, the studying of the word of God.
It's very important that we see this.
It's very important that we see the Holy Spirit who he refers to
here in verses 12 through 15 as the spirit of Truth.
Look with me. I have much more to say to you
more than you can now bear. They couldn't even bear
everything that Christ had and desired to say to them without
the power of the indwelling. Holy Spirit, what a statement.
He says but when he the spirit of truth comes, he will guide
you into all truth and he will not speak on his own.
He will speak only what he hears and he will tell you what is yet
to come. He will bring Glory To Me by
taking from what is mine and making it known to you.
All that belongs to the father is mine.
That is why I said the spirit will take from what is mine and
make it known to you. Jesus is saying to his disciples
that the promised holy spirit is going to bring continued,
revelation of Truth. He is going to take with the
father has made known. The belt belongs now to the sun.
The Sun is going to make that available.
Now through the Holy Spirit, Jesus is saying he's going to
keep teach and consistency with father and the son.
We see the Triune godhead working here in agreeance, isn't
it, beautiful? Don't miss that for all the
people who don't want to believe in the Trinity.
Jesus is speaking right here. And you see the Father, the Son,
and the Holy Spirit working in consistency, as one here, don't
miss that. Why is that important?
It's important because the spirit reveals to us truth.
He reveals truth, the truth of God's word.
Inspired it. Oh, how often?
We forget that the inspiration of the word came from the Holy
Spirit. Well how do you know that
Pastor? I know that because that's what
scripture says, second Peter 1:19.
You read it in our scripture reading today.
Let's read it again and we have the word of the prophets made
more certain and you will do well to pay attention to it as
to a light shining in a dark place until the day Dawns, and
The Morning Star rises in your hearts above all.
You must understand that no prophecy of scripture came about
by the prophets own interpretation.
Pay attention to 21 for prophecy, never had its origin
in the will of man. But men spoke from God as they
were carried Along by the Holy Spirit.
When you open up the words on the pages of this Bible, you
open up the very Spirit inspired word of God.
This is the word that Jesus. This is the truth that Jesus
here in this text was saying is going to come to the from the
father. It's going to be given to me.
I'm going to give that truth. You can't take all of that truth
now but you're going to be able to take That truth when the
spirit comes and dwells you and when he does, he's going to
speak truth through you. Not only through your mouth, but
through the things that he carries you along to pin, we
have the New Testament scriptures now along with the
Old Testament scriptures. Why?
Because the Holy Spirit was active in making sure that truth
was revealed to God's people. Second Timothy chapter 3, Paul
refers to the scriptures as this in verse 16.
He says, all scripture is god-breathed all scripture is
god-breathed and is useful for teaching.
Rebuking correcting and training in righteousness.
It's God. Breathe.
Why is that so important that we understand this, the scriptures
come from the Holy Spirit breathing in to these men who
were carried along who were led to pin these things under the
supervision and the superintendence of the Holy
Spirit. That's why it is inerrant,
completely, it is infallible completely, and it is inspired
completely. And we can rest in that, that
when we look at the word of God, we have truth from the Holy
Ghost. It is infallible inerrant.
Inspired. It's all sufficient.
It's all sufficient for all that we need in life and godliness.
The spirit has given us, this truth, Jesus Promised it to his
disciples. He said, you can't handle this.
Now, when the spirit moves in and he and dwells you, You can
learn even more than I could even teach you as I've been with
you. You're going to have the spirit
walking in guiding you leading you.
His words were passed to the holy spirit that were passed to
the apostles that we now read today, as we read, John's
gospel, where did John get this from the John?
Just make this up on a whim? Who absolutely not as to
consistent with the other Gospels.
John was inspired by the Holy Spirit to write down the things
that he has written down here, why he tells us why I've written
these things. So that you may believe that he
is the Son of God. And in that believing you may
have eternal life. That's what he tells us.
Where did John receive this? Some from Christ as he walked
with him face-to-face. But other things obviously that
Christ promised through the indwelling Holy Spirit.
It is the spirit who leads us into to the truth of God's word.
He inspired it watch this, he illuminates it.
It is a spirit in our life, who illuminates, the word of God
using it to exposed the darkness of sin.
The darkness of this world exposing the immorality, The
wickedness of sin. It is a spirit who has given us
the plum line that distinguishes right.
From wrong. Isn't it interesting?
How the non Spirit-filled world doesn't even know the difference
between right and wrong nowadays?
In fact, they are doing just as the prophet said, they are
calling wrong, right? And right.
Wrong. Why?
Because they have no truth from the Holy Spirit.
They think that this is just an old book that was written by a
bunch of crazy people. But oh, how they are mistaken?
This is the very truth of the word of God.
Passed from the father, to the son, to the spirit, to the
apostles. Now, we're reading it today and
even were seeing truth. And that truth is, setting us
apart. And sanctifying us, just as John
17:17 said that it would Jesus, preached sanctify them by the
truth. Your word is truth or the lost
world looks as at us as if we're crazy.
Because they have not had the illumination of the word of God,
through the power of the holy spirit in their life.
In fact they can't understand these things.
They are ignorant of these things.
The natural man cannot understand the things of the
spirit. The Holy Spirit, the spirit of
Truth, reveals the truth of God's word, But not only that.
As he is, Illuminating inspiring interpreting the word of God.
You want a good interpretation of the word of God, trusting the
spirits interpretation. Well, how can I receive an
interpretation from the spirit? What you don't need to do, is
read a Bible passage, and then go meditate.
Now you should meditate on the scripture.
Used to think on these things, I'm not talking about that kind
of meditation, do a lot of times what people do their read the
scripture, then they'll look for an outside interpretation.
Don't look for an outside interpretation, use the analogy
of scripture to interpret scripture, why?
Because the holy spirit is behind it.
All You'll see this very quickly that God has consistent from
Genesis to Revelation in the spirit.
Makes it very clear that he is It's his job to interpret the
word for us. So when you get to a passage in
scripture and you don't quite understand it, go to another
passage of scripture pertaining to the same subject.
When your interpretations are consistent with one another,
there you have the interpretation of the Holy
Spirit interpretation that he desired to give you.
It is clear in this true and it is right and there's no
contradiction at all. It's interesting that many
people want to make the claim that there are contradictions in
scripture. And there could be if you took
something out of context, and didn't use the analogy of
scripture to actually interpret it.
But when you interpret scripture with scripture, what you find
out quickly is, this is the most consistent.
Inerrant article of truth that ever has been.
This is more true than anything that I could conjure up in my
human mind. I need to get to the point where
we say that we believe that. And we lent God's word, be true.
We trust. No man is ever Pastor you
telling us not to trust you, I'm saying, is trust the Holy Spirit
over me every time. I'll never make that error of
trusting me over the power of the Holy Spirit.
You see something in scripture and you say, wait a second.
I saw something over here. Kirk said one thing, but I saw
something over here that contradicted this, let's talk
about that. Let's study.
That a little further. What exactly is going on here?
You'll find quickly when you take the entirety of scripture
the full picture. You'll find out quickly what the
truth is and what a sad day it is that we won't take the time
to do that. We're better suited just to let
some man. Tell us what he thinks about it.
But I'm not telling you this morning, when I think about
this, I'm telling you what the Lord himself says about it.
It is the holy spirit reveals truth.
He reveals truth regarding the word of God.
I need to hurry Dona. Nah.
Truth regarding the word of God. But also, he reveals truth.
Regarding the glory of Christ, he reveals the truth of the
glory of Christ. Look at verse 14, he will bring
Glory To Me by taking from what is mine and making it known to
you. Don't miss that there please,
the spirit is the constant revealer of the glory of Christ.
He is the constant revealer of the glory of Christ.
The son, the spirit is not going to draw attention to his own
Glory. You say what does this the
spirit have Glory? Yes.
He shares an eternal Essence in glory with the father and with
the son, but he's not going to draw attention to his glory.
Why? Because he wants to draw
attention to the glory of the sun, and the glory of the
father, In recent times, we have heard of would be in even
claimed revivals that are going on.
Many, of course of asked me as a pastor Pastor, what do you think
about said Revival? here's what I think about any
movement, who Only draws attention to the spirit.
But if it's a move of the Holy Spirit, a true move of the Holy
Spirit, you write this down, it will draw people's attention to
Christ. It will draw people's attention
to Christ. People will be saved, people
would be broken over their sin. They will turn to Christ.
I don't know what's happening in these particular places only
time will tell if it draws people to Christ, it is the holy
spirit, drawing them pointing them to the glory of Christ
measure any Revival. My that not do.
We see something exciting and something, flashy something
emotional Something that's driven by maybe some type of
Personality who happens to be charismatic know, is this driven
by the glory of Christ? Because the spirit is going to
point you to the glory of Christ, his death, his burial,
his resurrection, his Ascension, his glory, he's going to always
draw attention to Christ. He reveals the truth of the
glory of Christ. His life transforming Glory.
See the glory of Christ, your life is transformed 2nd.
Corinthians 3:18 says this and we who with unveiled faces, all
reflect the Lord's Glory are being transformed into his
likeness with ever-increasing Glory, which comes from the
Lord, who is the spirit. If you were being transformed by
the glory of Christ with an unveiled face, seeing him more
clearly and more clearly as you grow and knowledge of him, it is
a work of the Holy Holy Spirit, revealing the glory of Christ.
And it transforms your life, not just for a moment, not for a
weekend, not for a week, not for to, it's not for three weeks, it
transforms your life for all eternity.
That is the role of the Holy Spirit to reveal the glory of
Christ. Spirits not going to draw
attention to his own Glory. That's for the charismatics are
always talking about. All, we got the spirit.
That's a relevant. Do you have Christ?
Because the spirit is always going to highlight Christ and
how will, you know, if you have Christ, not because you flop on
the floor, you run around waving a flag or because you speak in
tongues, you will know that you have Christ.
How how did Jesus say? He said that you will know them
by their fruit. He said that you will know them
like this, if you love me, you will obey my commands.
Are you living a life of practical, righteousness, unto
God, because of Christ? Then the spirits doing a work in
you You have boldness to share the gospel.
Like we talked about last week, except for one verse 8, Jesus
himself, said, when the Holy Spirit comes on you, you will
receive power to be my Witnesses.
Is that being displayed in your life, mr.
Mrs. So-called spirit filled believer.
If it's not, you're chasing after something, you're calling
the spirit. That is possibly not the spirit
at all. It is your emotions.
It is your feelings. It is man-centered and man
crafted. In fact even further than that
it could be demonically. Crafted be very very careful the
true. Holy spirit always points people
to the glory of Christ and Christ Alone.
He points to the glory of Christ, he reveals the truth of
his glory. And by revealing the truth of
the glory of Christ, he reveals the truth of the glory of God.
The father wants, what Jesus said, they're all that the
father has given me is mine. All that's mine.
I'm going to give to the spirit and he's going to point you to
these things. It is the spirit reveals to us
truth, the glory of Christ, the truth of the glory of God, the
Father, it is the spirit who reveals to us the things of God
that we could not see. Otherwise, First Corinthians
chapter 2, I'll read it quickly verse 6.
He says, we do. However, speak a message of
wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age, or the
rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.
No, we speak of God's secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been
hidden and that God does stand for our Glory Before Time began.
None of the rulers of this age understood it for if they had
they would not have crucified the Lord Of Glory.
This is Paul talking here and he's saying we're understanding
that it is this mystery the secret Wisdom that has been kept
we're understanding. Why was he understanding?
Because the power of the Holy Spirit was revealing to him the
glory of God. However, as it is written, no
eye has seen. No ear has heard.
No mind has conceived what God has prepared.
For those who love him. What's verse 10.
But God has revealed it to us by his Spirit has revealed his
secret wisdom. His majesty, his attributes.
His characteristics from that passage there.
His eternal wisdom, the spirit It searches all things, even the
depths of God or the Deep things of God, some of your
manuscripts. Say for who among men knows the
thoughts of a man except a man Spirit within him and the same
way, no one knows the thoughts of God, except the spirit of
God, we have not received the spirit of the world but the
spirit who is from God that we may understand what God has
freely given us. What is Paul saying here?
you think that it is by the spirit through his power that we
have received the things of God that even Generations passed
along to see, but could not see After the indwelling, holy
spirit, this promise that Jesus is making here to all believers.
we see that through that indwelling, Holy Spirit, We
received the wisdom of God. The Father.
How do we receive that wisdom? We open up the scripture.
We begin to see wisdom like we've never seen before.
We begin to see the wisdom of God in comparison to the wisdom
and intellect of man, we begin to see the wisdom of God in
comparison to the wisdom and the intellect of medicine.
We begin to see the wisdom of God in comparison to the wisdom
of modern science. Human knowledge and philosophy
and ideology we began to see unveiled And truth because of
the indwelling, Holy Spirit who is revealing to us.
Not only the glory of Christ, the son, but also the glory of
God, the Father we see the wisdom of God being revealed.
Also see the attributes of God. Dive into scripture and see if
the script the spirit doesn't move you.
As you see the one true God, and who he is, you see his
sovereignty. You see his associate e.
You see his immutability. You see his omniscience.
You see his omnipresence? You see him for who scripture
says that he is as revealed by the Holy Spirit, you see that
God and see if you don't see greater glory being revealed
every day. That you find yourself in the
Holy scriptures, they're bowed before him learning from the
Holy Spirit as he reveals to you the Glorious.
Three of the father, just as he is revealed to you, the glory of
the son, you see the attributes of God.
And you see his great Glory as revealed by the holy spirit.
In the pages of scripture, Then he shows you his holy position.
It's only position. Oh, it should bring us to a
place of great fear in great reverence when we see his
position over and over in Scripture.
It should cause us to be as Isaiah.
Not to flippantly approach, the God of this universe, The
Sovereign over all the Thrice, holy God, to approach him
flippantly with an attitude as if he owes us something.
But no to approach him with fear and trembling as the scripture
commands us to do and utter reverence fall before him as
Isaiah did woe is me for. I am an unclean man with unclean
lips among a people of unclean lips.
What is the spirit reveals to us?
The glory of God the Father, the glory of God, the son.
Who they are. What they accomplished.
How they deserve all glory and honor and praise is the Holy
Spirit who continually reveals the truth?
The truth of God's word, the truth of the glory of Christ and
the truth of the glory of the father.
So what does this mean for us? As we wrap this up means a lot.
I would that I could stay here for another two hours.
Just to speak to you about the glory of the father and the
glory of the son. But I know the time does not
permit. But I'm thankful that the Holy
Spirit has revealed a glimpse of those things through his word to
me his mere servant. My prayers that he would reveal
those things to you as well and that you would be overwhelmed by
them. How do we wrap this up?
We value the continual work of the promised.
Holy Spirit, that's what we do. We value it.
We value the comfort that he brings to the believer, ma'am.
Sir, you're going through a trial right now as a believer,
Can I apply the word of God to your life and make you this
promise that you have a comforter and Advocate paraclete
the Holy Spirit promised? By Jesus Christ, who was walking
through, that fire with you right now, clean cling to him
for Comfort, cling to him for strength, Sinner.
Can I say this to you today? Perhaps you're being convicted
of your unbelief. oh, my prayer is that you are My prayer is
that you were being so convicted today, that you will not leave
here, without being converted. That you will cry.
Out desperately to a holy God for his mercy and his grace as
you by faith. Trust in Jesus Christ, as the
only payment for your sin As you believe in him and Trust in his
death, his burial, his resurrection as the only hope
you have of eternal life, my prayer for you today is that the
spirit can fix you. To a point of salvation.
When you were broken for a holy God, depending upon the mercy
and Grace of a savior named Jesus.
But you walk in that continued revelation of his word.
You seek truth today maybe we have some truth Seekers here
today. Oh, don't buy into the world's
live relative. Truth relative truth is a
deception of Satan there is but one truth It is inspired by the
Holy Spirit. It was pinned by many many
authors under his supervision And we have in our hand when we
take these 66 books, all the truth that we need to live a
life that is honoring to God. And to spend an eternity with a
God who loved us enough that he sent his son to die in our place
to rescue us. See the truth today.
In value that thank him for it. So I'm confident of one thing
today. I'm confident of this that the
holy spirit is working this morning.
How do I know that he's always working?
he's always working because Jesus promised, that he would be
Maybe he's working on you today. is convicting, you As an
unbeliever that you need Christ as your savior, and Lord today,
would you turn to him in faith and repentance is the spirit?
Empowers, you to believe it, turn from unbelief and send in
to turn to Christ and Christ Alone.
Did you flee? The coming wrath and judgment
that will and has fallen upon all condemned unbelievers?
Would you be saved today by the grace of God?
Perhaps today, you are a Believer, is a spirit working.
You working in your life. Revealing to you truth today,
truth that maybe your life is not lining up with what it
should as a Christian perhaps today.
You would confess that sin, you would repent of that sin.
Knowing that first. John 1:9 says that if we confess
our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us, our sins and
cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Would you confess that today? Whatever it is.
Do you walk in the Forgiveness that he died for you to have?
Perhaps, you're that Christian today, who's walking through
grief? Walking through sorrow, you're
walking through bad news. What would you trust in the Holy
Spirit today to give you the joy that Jesus promised that he
would bring even in the midst of your grief?
Maybe yield to the Holy Spirit. May his will be done.
Father, in the name of Jesus, we come to you thanking you so much
for your word. well, there's so many things that we have seen
today, but yet so many things We did not have the time to look
at. God, I pray that you make those
things clear to us. And I pray for the unbeliever
who's here today. He's making every excuse right
now, in his human depraved mind as to why you shouldn't run to
your feet and bow. I pray now that you take away
every one of those excuses that your spirit would convict him of
his unbelief that you would convict him.
Of his unrighteousness and his need for True righteousness that
you would convict him or her as that they are condemned and need
to be freed from that. Condemnation in Christ that you
would save The Wretched soul today.
God, I pray for each believer. Who's here today?
They would rest in the continual work of the promised.
Holy Spirit, as we have seen it laid out by Jesus himself.
John's gospel this morning, may you be glorified, may your will
be done now in Jesus name. Amen, thank you for listening to
the key Life Fellowship. Hope it Ministry podcast, if you
would like to talk with one of our pastors, please email us at
info at Key Life Fellowship, dot org or call us at 28 1689 1604.
We can also visit our website at Eli Fellowship.com.
We hope and pray. You have a blessed week and
remember you are light in the dark.