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SERIES ON THE HOLY SPIRIT
"THE HOLY SPIRIT COMFORTS!"
TEXT: John
14:15-18, 25-27; 15:26; 16:7; 20:22
INTRO: Have you
ever noticed the contrasts in our modern life? We live in a society that strongly works toward
COMFORT!
·
We
make machines that do all the hard work so we can be
comfortable...
·
We
work hours designed to give us a comfortable balance between work and
play…
·
We
seek out furnishings for our homes that will enable us to be
comfortable…
·
We
look for friends that we can be comfortable with…
·
We
heat and cool our homes with devices that make life comfortable in any
season…
·
We
even choose our social gatherings around whether they feel comfortable to
us…
·
We
even go to churches that we are comfortable with!
·
We
buy clothes that we feel comfortable in…
Why
this drive for comfort? Because
deep within we don’t have it! Yet,
with all the effort we take to get comfortable we are the most restless
society!!!
It
is because we have failed to find the one thing that can really bring comfort to
us ... the Holy Spirit, He is the comforter!
This
is a major role of the Holy Spirit, to give us comfort in a tough life and to
minister to us in such a way that even with hectic lifestyles or with troubles
on all sides we can still experience Him as “The
Comforter.”
PROP.
SENT: The Bible teaches us that the Holy
Spirit is our comforter, that He ministers help and peace to
us.
I. COMFORTED WITH TRUTH 14:15-18; 15:26
A. Revelation
1. Obeying Jesus' commands are not
always easy in a difficult and sinful world, they involve loving and giving in a
world that can be draining!
a. Where are we to get the power to
keep going, where do we find comfort as we give out to
others!
b. Jesus adds here that He will ask
His Father to send “another comforter” to help us, especially
needed since He is soon to return to His Father in
heaven!
2. Jesus' leaving would bring anxiety
upon His disciples, how would they get along without Jesus, how would they know
God's mind without His direction?
3. To this Jesus assures them that
there is a plan ... "another" comforter was coming ... this meant
someone JUST LIKE JESUS!
a. He would not leave them
comfortless!
b. This new revelation was great
news!
4. This new comforter is called the "Spirit of
truth."
a. They would not be left to figure it
all out by themselves; the Holy Spirit would be the revealer of
truth.
b. They would not be left to their own
intellect and will.
c. This work of the Spirit would
primarily be through the Word of God, they would finally understand it and the
Holy Spirit would reveal the truth of it!
d. Jesus adds here that the world
would not understand His Word, they can't understand it without the Holy Spirit
in their lives!
5. The Word of God is inspired by the
Holy Spirit and revealed as truth by the Holy Spirit, this is the Word's
power!
ILLUS: RABBI
SLOSTOWSKI, A PROFESSOR OF THE TALMUD IN THE RABBINICAL SEMINARY AT TEL AVIV IN
ISRAEL HATED THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.
SO GREAT WAS HIS RESENTMENT THAT HE SHARPLY CRITICIZED A YOUNG JEWISH
CONVERT READING A HEBREW NEW TESTAMENT.
THE YOUNG MAN REPLIED BY GIVING HIM THE COPY ... THAT NIGHT THE RABBI,
ALONE IN HIS ROOM, STAYED UP UNTIL THREE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING READING ABOUT
THE NAZARENE WHO CLAIMED TO BE THE MESSIAH. THE HOLY SPIRIT GUIDED HIM INTO ALL
TRUTH AND LATER HE CONFESSED, “I HAVE ALREADY FOUND MORE THAN 200 PASSAGES OF
THE NEW TESTAMENT THAT PROVE BEYOND A DOUBT THAT JESUS IS TRULY THE
MESSIAH.” A NEW COMFORT GRASPED HIS
HEART AS THE COMFORTER REVEALED JESUS AND THE TRUTH TO HIM!
– SOURCE UNKNOWN
6. Indeed the Word of God cannot be
understood apart from the work of the Holy Spirit, He must reveal the truth of
God from its pages!
a. The starting point for many is when
the Holy Spirit first awakens that understanding of the Word, creating the first
sense of awareness of sin and the need of Christ.
b. Thus, those who have the Holy
Spirit in their lives will see the work of the Spirit revealing the truth about
God and man.
c. This truth of God's Word becomes
clear to those who have the Spirit as we learn more and more about
salvation!
ILLUS: LIKE
THE RAID AT THE AIRPORT IN ENTEBBE, UGANDA BACK IN JULY, 1976. 103 JEWISH HOSTAGES HAD BEEN TAKEN BY
TERRORISTS. THE JEWISH GOVERNMENT
SENT A HIGHLY TRAINED FORCE TO RAID THE AIRPORT IN AN ATTEMPT TO RESCUE THEIR
OWN PEOPLE. IT WAS THOUGHT TO BE
IMPOSSIBLE AND RISKY, BUT WITHIN 15 MINUTES THEY HAD SUCCESSFULLY KILLED ALL 7
OF THE KIDNAPPERS AND FREED ALMOST ALL 103 JEWISH CITIZENS. ONLY 3 JEWISH HOSTAGES DIED, AND IN EACH
CASE IT WAS THEIR OWN FAULT. THE
SECRET TO THE SUCCESS WAS SIMPLE ... THE JEWISH RESCUERS SIMPLY MARCHED IN WHERE
THE JEWISH HOSTAGES WERE ALL HELD AND YELLED IN YIDDISH "GET DOWN ON THE
FLOOR." SINCE NONE OF THE
TERRORISTS UNDERSTOOD YIDDISH, THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS SAID, ALL THE JEWISH
PEOPLE DID AND IMMEDIATELY THEY FELL TO THE FLOOR ... THE JEWISH RESCUERS SIMPLY
SHOT EVERYONE STANDING UP STILL! 3
JEWS DIED BECAUSE 2 DIDN'T OBEY THE COMMAND, AND ONE STOOD UP TOO SOON. THOSE WITH THE REVELATION OF WHAT WAS
SAID WERE SAVED, AND THOSE WHO DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WERE NOT!
– SOURCE UNKNOWN
7. Jesus promised the presence of the
Holy Spirit in His disciples’ lives would bring revelation of truth, truth that
will guide, comfort, and save them!
B. Recall 15:26
1. Here Jesus defines that part of the
work of the Spirit will be to recall God's Word to their
hearts!
a. As mere men it would have been near
impossible for them to remember everything that Jesus had taught them, it was
voluminous!
b. The Holy Spirit would act in a way
as to help them recall Jesus' Words ... to give them comfort about God's ways
and His plans when they are faced with tough tests!
ILLUS: LIKE
A YOUNG MAN NAMED STEVE WINGER FROM LUBBOCK, TEXAS. HE WAS TAKING A TOUGH COURSE IN LOGIC,
AND THE CLASS AND TEACHER WERE WELL KNOWN FOR THE TOUGH EXAMS IN THIS
SUBJECT. THE FINAL TEST HAD COME,
ONE THAT WOULD COUNT A GREAT DEAL TOWARD THEIR FINAL GRADE. THE PROFESSOR AS A GESTURE OF SOME HELP
SAID THAT EACH STUDENT WOULD BE PERMITTED TO BRING IN A SINGLE 8 X 11½" SHEET
WITH AS MUCH INFORMATION THAT THEY CAN PUT ON THAT ONE SHEET FOR HELP. THE DAY OF THE LOGIC EXAM CAME, EACH
STUDENT CAME WITH THEIR ONE SHEET OF PAPER, CRAMMED WITH WRITING ALL OVER IT ...
BUT THIS YOUNG MAN STEVE WALKED IN WITH A SINGLE SHEET THAT WAS BLANK! WITH HIM HOWEVER WAS A FRIEND, A SENIOR
STUDENT WHO HAD AN “A” IN LOGIC ... STEVE BENT DOWN AND PLACED THE SINGLE SHEET
OF PAPER ON THE FLOOR AND HAD THE SENIOR LOGIC STUDENT STAND ON IT NEXT TO HIS
DESK. THE PROFESSOR OF THE LOGIC
CLASS ASKED WHAT HE WAS DOING. HE
REPLIED, "YOU SAID WE COULD BRING IN FOR HELP ON THE TEST WHATEVER WE COULD FIT
ON A SINGLE PIECE OF PAPER, THIS IS MY HELP, AND HE CAN FIT ON THE PAPER!" THE YOUNG MAN GOT AN "A" ON THE TEST WITH
THE HELP OF THIS EXPERT AT HIS SIDE, HE HAD FOLLOWED THE INSTRUCTIONS TO THE
LETTER ... HE WAS THE ONLY STUDENT TO GET AN "A"! THE HOLY SPIRIT IS LIKE THIS FOR US, HE
STANDS ALONGSIDE! –
SOURCE UNKNOWN
2. Like this man Steve, it would have
been impossible to face the test and have all the recall of knowledge on such a
small sheet ... but with a "comforter" to help him recall the necessary
information, it was unlimited!
a. The Holy Spirit often takes our
weak memory and helps us in difficult circumstances and enables us to recall
what we need to know, or reveals to us what we need to
know.
b. The Holy Spirit will testify about
Jesus ... He does NOT speak about Himself, but points the way to Jesus and
reveals Christ to us and others!
II. COMFORTED WITH TRANQUILITY 14:25-27
A. Reassurance 14:25-26
1. Jesus offers His disciples reassurance
that the Holy Spirit will indeed work to enable them, and teach
them.
a. They would in the future face some
very tough times!!
b. At such times they would need
reassurance that they won't drown, there will be help, as long as the Holy
Spirit is with them He would help them handle each situation, they would recall
Jesus' example and teaching.
ILLUS: A
3 YEAR OLD CAN BE TERRIFIED OF WATER, ESPECIALLY IN A POOL. THEY WILL ONLY STAY WHERE THEY CAN FEEL
SECURE AND TOUCH BOTTOM ... BUT IF DAD COMES AND GRABS THEM THEY RELAX IN HIS
ARMS EVEN AS HE WALKS FURTHER AND FURTHER INTO THE DEEP END, FOR THEY FEEL
SECURE IN KNOWING THAT DAD HAS OVERCOME THE POOL AND AS LONG AS HE HAS THEM,
THEY ARE SAFE! THIS IS WHAT THE
HOLY SPIRIT DOES FOR US AS WE FACE DEEP WATERS, HE HOLDS US UP AND REASSURES US
BY HIS PRESENCE AND BY HIS WORD! HE
RECALLS THE MANY TRUTHS JESUS TAUGHT US, AND THESE GIVE US STRENGTH AND
COMFORT!
– SOURCE UNKNOWN
2. Nothing is more reassuring than
God's Word in times of stress or uncertainty! This is what the Holy Spirit brings back
to our minds and helps us focus on when times are tough or
uncertain!
B. Rest
14:27
1. Here Jesus brings in the practical
side to this teaching ... all this will bring “PEACE” to their
hearts!
a. With all this reassurance of the
presence and work of the Holy Spirit they need not be afraid or
troubled!
b. This
peace would be real!
c. This is the rest that comes from
the Holy Spirit even when we are not "rested" physically or
mentally!
2. The Holy Spirit would act as a
security for us ... even in the midst of battle He will be there as "another
comforter."
a. All His teaching would act as a
protection for our hearts and minds.
b. All His teaching would guard us
against the enemy’s attacks on us.
ILLUS: IN
JESUS' DAY GREEK SOLDIERS FOUGHT WITH A PARTICULAR PATTERN ON THE ENEMY'S FIELDS
IN BATTLE ... THEY WOULD STAND IN PAIRS, BACK TO BACK TO FIGHT ... THIS WAY NO
ENEMY COULD ATTACK THEM FROM THEIR BLIND-SIDE ... THIS OTHER MAN IN GREEK WAS
CALLED THE "PARACLETE" ... THIS IS THE SAME WORD USED TO DESCRIBE THE HOLY
SPIRIT ... HE IS OUR PARACLETE!
– SOURCE UNKNOWN
3. For the believer the presence and
ministry of the Holy Spirit acts as a shield to guard our hearts against fear
and worry. He is after all called
the “comforter.”
a. His ministry is one of peace, thus
Jesus who had the presence of the Holy Spirit in Him without measure could now
say that He would give us the same "peace" that He Himself had
experienced!
b. The world cannot match or duplicate
this kind of peace ... for it comes only from the Holy
Spirit!
c. There is rest in the ministry of
the Holy Spirit no matter the circumstances we find ourselves
in!
III. COMFORTED WITH TOUCH
16:7;
20:22
A. Reason
16:7
1. Jesus now explains the reason for
His departure, it is so this magnificent ministry of the Holy Spirit could come
for them all!
a. If Jesus stayed the Holy Spirit
would not come in this new full way.
b. This would leave them with great
restrictions!
c. They had already operated under
this limited way before; the era of the Spirit however would change them and
God's people dramatically!
2. It was not that Jesus didn't want
to be in touch with them that He was leaving, in fact, it was to enhance His
touch on their lives that He desired to go so the Holy Spirit would come into
each one of them and all those down the road who will
believe!
3. Rather than lose something in
Christ's departure they would in actuality be gaining something quite important!
They too would now know the
presence of the Holy Spirit more like Jesus had!
4. It was God's desire to touch them
in a powerful way, no longer just those moments when Jesus happened to appear to
them but in a way that the Holy Spirit would remain resident within
them!
a. How marvelous that God desires to
touch us this way!
b. Jesus
would never do a thing to diminish His touch, only enhance
it!
B. Real! 20:22
1. Finally the day arrived when this
became reality for these guys ... it became real!
ILLUS: YEARS
AGO WHEN THE EXPLORER FROM NORWAY, ROALD AMUNDSEN, EXPLORED THE NORTH AND SOUTH
POLES -- IN THOSE DAYS WITHOUT RADIOS OR TECHNOLOGY, HIS WIFE WAS FEARFUL AND
APPREHENSIVE TO KNOW IF HE WAS ALRIGHT AND HAD MADE IT SAFELY. ON ONE TRIP, ROALD IN AN EFFORT TO
COMFORT HIS WIFE, AS WELL AS TO LET HER KNOW HE ARRIVED SAFELY TOOK ALONG A
HOMING PIGEON. HE ANNOUNCED THAT
WHEN HE ARRIVED AT THE POLE, HE WOULD RELEASE IT AND SO AS SOON AS SHE SAW IT
BACK HOME SHE WOULD KNOW HE WAS SAFE AND HAD ACHIEVED HIS GOAL. IMAGINE THE JOY THE DAY SHE SAW THAT
PIGEON! THE PRESENCE OF THE PIGEON
SIGNALED TO HER THAT HE WAS SAFELY TO THE GOAL AND THE EXPERIENCE WAS REAL! THIS IS WHAT JESUS DID WHEN HE ASCENDED
TO HEAVEN ... HE SENT BACK THE DOVE, THE REALITY OF THE SPIRIT'S PRESENCE IN THE
CHURCH AND IN BELIEVERS’ -- IT IS THE TESTIMONY TO THE REALITY OF JESUS BEING AT
THE RIGHT HAND OF THE FATHER IN HEAVEN ... HE MADE IT SAFELY!
– SOURCE UNKNOWN
2. If Jesus hadn't given the Holy
Spirit we would not know any reality to spiritual things ... the very presence
of the Holy Spirit in the church and in the believer is testimony to the reality
of the touch of God!
3. Jesus wants a real touch on our
lives, this begins with the Holy Spirit in salvation and continues with power in
the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.
a. What a source of
comfort!
b. We can be consoled by the presence
of the Holy Spirit in our lives; we can have comfort even during uncomfortable
times!
c. While the world seeks comfort in
the things of this world and they don't find it ... we
can!
CONCLUSION:
One very important role of the Holy Spirit is to come as a comforter!
This means several things, it means
"counselor," one who strengthens, who guides or
teaches ... one who enables us! It
also means "peace" or comfort, even in the midst of
conflict! The Holy Spirit's
presence in our life gives a certain tranquility that the world cannot give, a
peace that is birthed of the Spirit, not just peace from
conflicts!