Learning to Dance
Theme: Showing the importance of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
Text: John 16:7 – 14
Opening Illustration and notes from Max Lucado. A Gentle Thunder - Hearing God Through the Storm (Kindle Locations 731-754). Kindle Edition.
Let’s imagine that you want to learn to dance. Being the rational, cerebral person you are, you go to a bookstore and buy a book on dancing. After all, a book helped you learn to program a computer, and a book taught you accounting—surely a book can teach you how to shuffle your feet. You take the book home and get to work. You do everything it says. The book says sway; you sway. The book says shuffle; you shuffle. The book says spin; you spin. You even cut out paper shoe patterns and place them around the living-room floor so you’ll know where to step. Finally, you think you’ve got it, and you invite your wife to come in and watch. You hold the book open and follow the instructions step by step. You even read the words aloud so she'll know that you've done your homework. “Lean with your right shoulder,” and so you lean. “Now step with your right foot,” and so you step. “Turn slowly to the left,” and so you do. 2 This story was also told by Gary Thomas in “Wise Christians Clip Obituaries,” Christianity Today, 3 Oct. 1994, 24-27.
You continue to read, then dance, read, then dance, until the dance is completed. You plop exhausted on the couch, look at your wife, and proclaim, “I executed it perfectly.” “You executed it, all right,” she sighs. “You killed it.” “What?” “You forgot the most important part. Where is the music?” Music? You never thought about music. You remembered the book. You learned the rules. You laid out the pattern. But you forgot the music. “Do it again,” she says, putting in a CD. “This time don’t worry about the steps; just follow the music.” She extends her hand and the music begins. The next thing you know, you are dancing— and you don't even have the book.
We Christians are prone to follow the book while ignoring the music. We master the doctrine, outline the chapters, memorize the dispensations, debate the rules, and stiffly step down the dance floor of life with no music in our hearts. We measure each step, calibrate each turn, and flop into bed each night exhausted from another day of dancing by the book.
Dancing with no music is tough stuff. Jesus knew that. For that reason, on the night before his death he introduced the disciples to the song maker of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit. When I go away I will send the Helper to you. If I do not go away, the Helper will not come.
Matthew 11:27-30 (The Message) Jesus resumed talking to the people, but now tenderly. "The Father has given me all these things to do and say. This is a unique Father-Son operation, coming out of Father and Son intimacies and knowledge. No one knows the Son the way the Father does, nor the Father the way the Son does. But I'm not keeping it to myself; I'm ready to go over it line by line with anyone willing to listen. (28) "Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. (29) Walk with me and work with me--watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. (30) Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."
If I were to ask you to describe your heavenly Father, you’d give me a response. If I were to ask you to tell me what Jesus did for you, you’d likely give a cogent answer. But if I were to ask about the role of the Holy Spirit in your life ... ? Eyes would duck. Throats would be cleared. And it would soon be obvious that of the three persons of the Godhead, the Holy Spirit is the one we understand the least. Perhaps the most common mistake made regarding the Spirit is perceiving him as a power but not a person, a force with no identity. Such is not true. The Holy Spirit is a person. The world cannot accept him, because it does not see him or know him. But you know him, because he lives with you and he will be in you (John 14:17, emphasis mine).
The Holy Spirit is not an “it.” He is a person. He has knowledge (1 Cor. 2:11). He has a will (1 Cor. 12:11). He has a mind (Rom. 8:27). He has affections (Rom. 15:30). You can lie to him (Acts 5:3-4). You can insult him (Heb. 10:29). You can grieve him (Eph. 4:30). The Holy Spirit is not an impersonal force. He is not Popeye’s spinach or the surfer’s wave. He is God within you to help you.
COMFORT - The Holy Spirit the Helper, Comforter - Parakletos
Joh 16:7-14 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.
Jesus left so that:
1. The Holy Spirit would come
2. Jesus is our High Priest making intercession before the Father, settling the debt.
"Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:14-16).
The Helper
G3875 from Strongs Concorance
- Original: pa?a´???t?? - Transliteration: Parakletos - Phonetic: par-ak'-lay-tos
- Definition:
1. summoned, called to one's side, esp. called to one's aid
a. one who pleads another's cause before a judge, a pleader, counsel for defense, legal assistant, an advocate
b. one who pleads another's cause with one, an intercessor
1. of christ in his exaltation at God's right hand, pleading with God the father for the pardon of our sins
c. in the widest sense, a helper, succourer, aider, assistant
1. of the holy spirit destined to take the place of christ with the apostles (after his ascension to the father), to lead them to a deeper knowledge of the gospel truth, and give them divine strength needed to enable them to undergo trials and persecutions on behalf of the divine kingdom
We need the Holy Spirit as our helper.
We are told that He is an intercessor
Romans_8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helpS our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
He is our intercessor here.
CONVICT - The Holy Spirit the Convictor and Convincer
(8) And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
KJV – Reprove means to convict and convince
(9) of sin, because they do not believe in Me;
The Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin (to miss the mark). If there was no Holy Spirit then how would a person know. It is deeper than a conscience but it is God Himself who convicts us.
(10) of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more;
Jesus is leaving and the Holy Spirit is convicting the world that they are unrighteous. They must depend on the work of Christ to have salvation, to live righteous lives.
He does the same to us.
1) We are not good enough
2) He is good enough.
(11) of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.
The Holy Spirit convicts the world that there is a judgement coming. We may not always see it here but we will see it one day. But it also means that we will be held accountable.
(12) I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.
CONVEY - The Holy Spirit, the guide
(13) However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. (
The Holy Spirit, the glorifier
14) He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.
CONCENT - Empower - The Holy Spirit, the anointer
Luk 4:18-19 "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, [29] To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; (19) To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord." [30]
Common theme in the New Testament Church
Anoint for power.
When the Helper comes, he will prove to the people of the world the truth about sin, about being right with God, and about judgment (John 16:7-9).
Conclusion
By the way, for those of us who spent years trying to do God’s job, that is great news. It’s much easier to raise the sail than row the boat. And it’s a lot easier getting people to join the dance when God is playing the music. his sheep. The worker who is paid to keep the sheep is different from the shepherd who owns them. John 10:11-12 I am the good shepherd. I know my sheep as the Father knows me. John 10:14-15
Max Lucado. A Gentle Thunder - Hearing God Through the Storm (Kindle Locations 731-754). Kindle Edition.
