In other wordswords which we have heard beforejoy is the result of abiding in Christ. The point Jesus was making to Thaddaeus is that He would manifest Himself in a spiritual sense. God is gracious, both in what He reveals, and in what He conceals. We cannot miss Jesus' clear statement here that the proof of genuine love for Him is obedience to His commands (a subject I explain in great depth in my book The Gospel According to Jesus [Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1988, 1994]). They were concerned with our Lords departure, as He had spoken of it to them. How and why would they not see Jesus? They all are tied to the coming of the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, Teacher, and Helper who would minister to the disciples when Jesus left. It is important for us to keep a firm hold on the truth that the definitive revelation has been given in Scripture. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you. 17 For he received honor and glory from God the Father, when that voice was conveyed to him by the Majestic Glory: This is my dear Son, in whom I am delighted. 18 When this voice was conveyed from heaven, we ourselves heard it, for we were with him on the holy mountain. ABOUT THE PODCAST Join us every day as Jerry reads through a New Testament chapter from the Bible. Far from it, their lot was often a very hard one indeed. Paperback Illustrated, November 3, 2020. 18 And we all, with unveiled faces reflecting the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another, which is from the Lord, who is the Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:7-17, emphasis mine). After a little while the world will no longer see Me, but you will see Me." Now we get it. Judasnot Judas Iscariot, but the disciple who is also called Lebbaeus and Thaddaeusspoke out: "Lord, what then has happened that You are going to disclose Yourself to us and not to the world?" They have only told Him that they understand, and because of this, they wont need to question Him further. Jesus lets His disciples know that they have not put anything over on Him, that He knows full well that they still do not understand what He is saying, or what is about to take place. Third, we know that a time of great satanic activity and resistance is coming, when saints will undergo suffering unlike anything the people of God have ever experienced before. So the disciples were not ignorant of the ministry of the Holy Spirit. They all say the same thing: "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments, and I will manifest Myself to you." 33 I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, believers are saved, filled, sealed, and sanctified. The Cross And Christian Distinctiveness (1 Peter 2:1-10), That You Might Believe: A Study of the Gospel of John. The world seeks for a joy that is rooted in the absence of trials and suffering, that delights in the promotion of self-interest, and often in the downfall of ones rivals. We are enjoined to be this or to commit ourselves to do that. The disciples had been asking quite a lot of questions in the Upper Room, but the resurrection would answer so many of them that they would be in a completely new situation. Leon Morris, Reflections on the Gospel of John (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1988), vol. It is this aspect of the Christian way that comes before us in the passage that forms our present study. Morris, vol. He has to show us the errors of our ways and that we are all sinners in the eyes of God. No wonder the veil was torn asunder when Jesus died on the cross (Matthew 27:51). The Holy Spirit's main role to us is that of teacher. The house was exactly what we had hoped for. We should also see from our text an example of the fact that God reveals truth to us progressively. In that hour of turmoil, they feared being left alone. God can do great things through you. "All things" is used here in a relative sense. And Epicureanism, with its pursuit of pleasure, denied that the gods had any concern for mortals in their troubleswe are left to do the best we can for ourselves. However Jesus assured them that they would not be left to fend for themselves; they would have a supernatural Helper. Our joy is in the abasement of self, in the exaltation of Jesus Christ (see John 3:29), and in sacrificial service (Philippians 2:17). I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you. The Holy Spirit ministers through spiritual gifts, ministries and operations (workings). It appears to me that they have left, immediately after the question and answer discussion of chapters 13 and 14: Get up, let us go from here (John 14:31b). 2 My goal is that their hearts, having been knit together in love, may be encouraged, and that they may have all the riches of full assurance in their understanding of the knowledge of the mystery of God, namely, Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. WebThe Holy Spirit is the third person of the Holy Trinity God the Spirit. We will never know the sense of loss and defeat that the disciples did when Jesus died on the cross of Calvary. Therefore, let us heed the Lords words in our text, knowing that they are as important to us as they were to those men, so many years ago. Eternal life refers not just to quantityto life that goes on foreverbut more to quality. This is a very neat way of giving the impression you know something that you dont and of explaining why you are not asking any questions. He helps us to understand Gods will and to put it into practice. We must always, daily, come back to the cross. When you receive Jesus Christ for salvation, you receive the Holy Spirit also. In point of fact the disciples did pray to Jesus, so if this refers to prayer they did not fulfill it. 10 Roles of the Holy Spirit in the Life of Christians. Quite clearly Jesus means his followers to take prayer with much greater seriousness than we often do. Leon Morris, Reflections on the Gospel of John (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1988), vol. The following points should be noted: (1) Only John 16:16 adds the phrase after a little while to the promise you will see me. This is not accidental. WebThe ministry of the Holy Spirit has not changed from the Old Testament. On the one hand, Scripture makes clear how we are to live, act, think, and speak. The difference in the New Testament is that the Holy Spirit now operates through the body of Christ and not just through some selected people. Since the world didn't recognize the first Comforter, Jesus, for who He was, you can't expect it to recognize the second One, who is exactly like the first. Is this what prompts the questions to flit around the group? Christian teaching is the teaching God gave through Christ and Christs apostles. We will not be those through whom the gospel was defined and by whom the New Testament Scriptures were written. In that hour of turmoil, they feared being left alone. We do not understand what he is talking about. 19 Jesus could see that they wanted to ask him about these things, so he said to them, Are you asking each other about thisthat I said, In a little while you will not see me; again after a little while, you will see me? He is the One who is all-knowing, and this includes His knowledge of what they claim to know, and yet do not. We had no earthly idea what Howard Prier really had in mind. He may become confused at times, but he will always abide in Christ. If they proclaimed the gospel without knowing that the world would not understand, they might have been crushed. 82 The disciples found themselves struggling to grasp what these words meant, not unlike the way we struggle to understand prophecies of things to come for us. Verse 26 says that the Spirit teaches "all things." Everything that the Father has is mine; that is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what is mine and will tell it to you (John 16:14-15). First, Jesus is in heaven, exalted and glorified, and magnificent, so that one like John, who used to recline on His breast, falls before Him as a dead man (Revelation 1:17). The events of the next few hours will prove this, for virtually every one of them will abandon Him. But the strong expression you will ask me nothing is against this. And it is clear that He does not reveal everything we might wish to know at one time. The power is within youall you need to do is turn on the ignition switch! The revelation which is promised is that truth which has come from the Father, to the Son, and through the Spirit. Acts attests that the early Christians after Pentecost experienced great joy (Acts 13:52; cf. Truly, truly, I say to you, if you ask the Father for anything in My name, He will give it to you (emphasis mine). We have a supernatural Helper, not just with but in every one of us who believes. She must first endure the pains of childbirth before she can enjoy the pleasure of holding that child in her arms. She would catch my eye and I knew exactly what she was trying to communicate: Come on; lets get going. As we read the things which Jesus told His disciples, it all makes sense to us. In Matthew 28:20 Christ says, "Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." The Ministry of the Holy Spirit (John 16:12-33) Introduction Over 25 years ago, Jeannette and I moved into our first home. 30 Now we know that you know everything and do not need anyone to ask you anything. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is present, there is freedom. 26 At that time you will ask in my name, and I do not say that I will ask the Father on your behalf. It is the cross which should shape our perspective (we should take up our cross daily). They understood what He had been teaching them. The words of Paul seem to support this conclusion as well: 18 When they arrived, he said to them, You yourselves know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I set foot in Asia, 19 serving the Lord with all humility and with tears, and with the trials that happened to me because of the plots of the Jews. At that time, whatever they ask84 the Father in the name of the Son will be given to them. Why is it, then, that we find so many joyless Christians? WebThe work of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament differed somewhat from His work in the New Testament. This is not the joy that the world seeks. Once the disciples see Jesus, raised from the dead, their sorrow turns to joy. 11 In him you also were circumcisednot, however, with a circumcision performed by human hands, but by the removal of the fleshy body, that is, through the circumcision done by Christ. But when they see Him again, raised from the dead, then they will not ask Him anything (16:23), because they will not need to. While our Lords words will, in the future, be understood in all their particulars, they have a message for us now, in general. There are many other things that Jesus did. You received the Spirit when you were saved, and He continues to abide in you. 1 Samuel 16:13-14; Ps. He knows that they are mystified about all that He has been saying to them about the future. They will enjoy a fullness of understanding which will swallow up their present confusion in joyful comprehension. D. A. Carson, The Farewell Discourse and Final Prayer of Jesus: An Exposition of John 14-17 (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1980), p. 162. Jesus gave the disciples several key points related to the way in which He would disclose this new revelation: We are learners, who learn at His feet as we abide in Him. In the New Testament He is also called that and the Spirit of Christ. The birth of a child comes only through the pain of childbirth. Penny Noyes Author. The cross of Christ is what removes the veil of blindness from the eyes of unbelieving Jews, and Gentiles too. At this same period of time, the unbelievers (the world) who have crucified Jesus will rejoice over His death. They were confused and greatly distraught by Jesus words. Even with the Holy Spirits presence, our understanding of spiritual things is partial and imperfect: For now we see in a mirror indirectly, but then we will see face to face. The possession of the Holy Spirit by the believer was not permanent in every case. We should take note of the important fact that Jesus is speaking to His disciples here. 20 I tell you the solemn truth, you will weep and wail, but the world will rejoice; you will be sad, but your sadness will turn into joy. When they petition the Father in the name of the Son, they will not merely receive the answer to their prayers through the Son. Enter your email address and we will send you instructions on how to reset your password. In that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. The Holy Spirit also helps Christians in their weakness and intercedes for them. The Holy Spirit ministers through spiritual gifts, ministries and operations (workings). You do well if you pay attention to this as you would to a light shining in a murky place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. Learn more about the third person of the Holy Trinity and the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Jesus said, "The world cannot receive [the Spirit of truth], because it does not see Him or know Him" (v. 17). It was not universal nor was it permanent. Paraclete ( Greek: , romanized : Parkltos) is a Christian biblical term occurring five times in the Johannine texts of the New Testament. He is the believers Helper ( John 14:26 ). The Holy Spirit also helps Christians in their weakness and intercedes for them. Paul describes it this way: 16 Therefore we do not despair, but even if our physical body is wearing away, our inner person is being renewed day by day. There's no such thing as a Christian who doesn't possess the indwelling Christ (Romans 8:9). To let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly is to be preoccupied with the presence of Christ. Jesus commands them to pray in His name, assured that they will receive what they have requested, and in so doing, their joy will be made complete. WebThe Holy Spirit is the third person of the Holy Trinity God the Spirit. First, they speak of blessings which are future for the disciples, but which are present for us. The Holy Spirit resides within every person who believes in Jesus Christ as God and Savior, the Bible way ( Jn. WebThe Ministry of the Holy Spirit John 16:4b-15 Introduction. 31 Therefore be alert, remembering that night and day for three years I did not stop warning each one of you with tears. They didnt want Jesus to know they didnt understand. Soon, they will weep and wail, while the world will rejoice. You cannot study the New Testament long without seeing that there is a dichotomy between what we are responsible to do as Christians and what has already been done on our behalf. 20 You know that I did not hold back from proclaiming to you anything that would be helpful, and from teaching you publicly and from house to house, 21 testifying to both Jews and Greeks about repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus. In that hour of turmoil, they feared being left alone. I confess, we turned on the air conditioning and lit a fire in the fireplace, just to try it out.) The Upper Room Discourse contains a significant portion of our Lords preparatory teaching. It requires some hard thinking to get through to the truths being expressed. Leon Morris, Reflections on the Gospel of John (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1988), vol. Notice that the Spirit is called "the Spirit of truth" in John 14:17. Bob was born and raised in a Christian home i More, 9. This is the subject of verses 13-16. There's not a soul in the world who wants Jesus Christ to the point of loving obedience who doesn't receive Him (cf. He led me into the sound and tape room, off the main hall, and then proceeded to ask me what I thought of a certain Greek preposition in a particular text. An unbeliever cannot get saved unless they are first convicted by the Holy Spirit. Click here to purchase this as a booklet. He has, in fact, been telling them that they would not understand what He was saying to them, not now anyway. That's why Jesus said, "In that day you will know," a reference to the day of Pentecost. with His presence and power. The things which the Spirit teaches them are the things which Jesus will be teaching them. 51:11). The verb tell here is elsewhere (John 4:25) rendered explain by the NIV. He possesses intellect (John 14:26), will (1 Corinthians 12:11) and emotions (Ephesians 4:30). In the Old Testament, we see different aspects of the work of the Holy Spirit. Is this promise of our Lords presence, of answered prayers, and of permanent joy not ours, as well as the disciples who first heard Jesus speak of it? We discovered many more cars there than we had expectedindeed, than we had invited. Jeannette and I now looked upon that discussion and our delay in an entirely different light. Now He was turning over His teaching of the disciples to the Holy Spirit, who would dwell in them: "These things I have spoken to you while abiding with you. To convict is to reprove, or to show someones error. Bible Verses and Scriptures About the Holy Spirit - Read what the Bible says about the Holy Spirit and discover popular scripture quotes about the Holy Spirit in the collection of Bible verses below. WebThe Holy Spirit's ministry in the Old Testament differs from his ministry in the New Testament not so much in kind as in degree. The reason I have told you these things is not with the expectation that you would understand them immediately (as you have professed to do), but so that you may have great peace in the future, when you see how all these things of which I have spoken take, just as I said. They don't love Him. That is what it means to be a disciple. (3) The analogy of the woman giving birth likewise fits best into the sharp, short agony of the three-day period immediately ahead. But it is not merely the teaching of (i.e. WebParaclete. Because of this we believe that you have come from God., 31 Jesus replied, Do you now believe? Perhaps so; it is difficult to be certain of the physical setting at this point. D. A. Carson, The Farewell Discourse and Final Prayer of Jesus: An Exposition of John 14-17 (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1980), p. 156. In John 16:12 Jesus says, "I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.". At that time, they will ask in His name, and their petitions will be granted. And He will reside in us permanently. If one ever did, the Holy Spirit would have failed in His teaching ministry. They most certainly did not. 3, p. 549. In my opinion, all the New Testament authors should be viewed as apostles, and in a distinct category from anyone else, from that time on. Neither will we experience the relief and joy at seeing Jesus, raised from the dead (John 20:20). Youre no longer speaking in riddles, but plainly. We, too, see through a glass darkly (1 Corinthians 13:12), but then we will know (cf. Christians should therefore seek to be filled with the Spirit on a continual basis. In John 16:15 Jesus says, "All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said that He takes of Mine and will disclose it to you." Register. They will soon look back and recall that the very things that had happened to them were the things Jesus foretold. The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity and is responsible for the ministry of reconciliation. First John 2:1 says, "If anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." 10 Roles of the Holy Spirit in the Life of Christians. Please respond to confirm your registration. So Jesus told His disciples that when the Holy Spirit came, the world would not accept the message any more than it did from Him. He assures us that Christ really exists. An unbeliever cannot get saved unless they are first convicted by the Holy Spirit. 2023 Grace to You. The disciples had no idea what was about to happen. They fall into the category of things that have been accomplished on our behalf without effort on our part. His life will not be taken from Him; He will lay it down, voluntarily, and He will take it up again (John 10:14-18). To what period of time was Jesus referring by the expression, a little while? In this text, Paul claims to have taught the Ephesians all the truth they needed to know. 23 At that time you will ask79 me nothing. Christians should therefore seek to be filled with the Spirit on a continual basis. We know that He will sustain us through our times of trial and tribulation, just as we know that He will bring us to glory. with His presence and power. This is the office of the Holy Spirit as Judge. As we prayed and asked God for guidance, he has faithfully led us through the power and ministry of the Holy Spirit. WebParaclete. The Father will personally attend to the prayers of Jesus disciples, because of His love for them, a love which is the same as His love for the Son (14:23; 17:26). Ephesians 5:18 says to "be filled with the Spirit." The cross is the test of orthodoxy. He is the Truth. He indwells believers and seals them until the day of redemptionthis indicates that the Holy Spirits presence in the believer is irreversible. You will see how this tribulation of mine was purposed to bring about great blessing for you. Christians should therefore seek to be filled with the Spirit on a continual basis. Jesus assures them that when they make their requests in His name, the Father will provide for them, and in this they will experience an even greater joy than they have known up to this point in time. May become confused at times, but he will always abide in Christ and Spirit! 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