The Wonderful Work Of God's Holy Spirit Series

The Wonderful Work of God's Holy Spirit

The Gospel of John

John 16:6-15 (plus multiple other Scriptures)

Sermon by Rick Crandall

Grayson Baptist Church - December 27, 2017

(Revised March 27, 2020)

BACKGROUND:

*Please open your Bibles to John 16. For many weeks now, we have been studying the night before Jesus died on the cross for our sins. That's because God's Word puts a great emphasis on this night, all the way from John 13:1 to John 18:27.

*In tonight's Scripture, Christ and His disciples have left the upper room where Jesus instituted the Lord's Supper, and they are walking on the road to the Garden of Gethsemane. John Phillips explained: "With the solitude of the upper room now over and the agony ahead, Jesus talked as he walked, first to his followers, then to his Father. His talk with his followers gave them revelations about God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, and God the Heavenly Father." (1)

*On this night, Jesus had already promised 3 different times that God would send His Holy Spirit. These promises foretold what was going to happen after Jesus rose again from the dead, went home to Heaven, and was glorified by God the Father. God's Holy Spirit would be sent in a new way to live in everyone who receives Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

*In the KJV of John 14:15-18, Jesus said:

15. If ye love me, keep my commandments.

16. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

17. Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

18. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

*Then in John 14:25-26, Jesus said:

25. These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.

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

*And in John 15:26-27, Jesus said:

26. But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

27. And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.

*The Holy Spirit surely did come in a new way on the Day of Pentecost, and He is still at work in the world today. In tonight's Scripture, Jesus highlighted some of the wonderful ways God's Spirit wants to work in our lives. Let's begin by reading John 16:6-15.

MESSAGE:

*Peter Marshall was one of the great preachers of the 20th century. One of the things so special about him was his gift to make people aware of the presence of Jesus Christ.

*One of Dr. Marshall's best-known sermons was called, "The King Is in the Audience." He preached it every year on the anniversary of going to the Westminster Presbyterian Church in Atlanta. And Dr. Marshall would say, "The King is in the audience, walking these aisles or sitting beside you. You may whisper your own prayer to the King now."

*Heart-searching silence would follow. One woman said, "We seemed actually to feel Christ beside us, to hear the rustling of His robes." (2)

*Church: We should often feel the presence of the Lord in our lives, because by His Holy Spirit, He is here with us now. Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place, and He is always with us as believers.

*God's Word shows us at least 15 ways that His Spirit is at work in our world today. (See list and Scriptures at the end of this message.) (3)

*Tonight, we will focus on some of the most important ways God's Holy Spirit wants to work in our lives.

1. FIRST: THE HOLY SPIRIT GIVES US CONVICTION.

*Jesus talked about the conviction of the Holy Spirit in vs. 6-11. Here the Lord called His Spirit by a name that means "Helper," "Comforter" or "Counselor." And Jesus said this to His disciples:

6. . . "Because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart.

7. Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.

8. And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

9. of sin, because they do not believe in Me;

10. of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more;