Senadin Methodist Campus Gospel Centre
27th May, 2012.
Written By Rev Law Hui Seng
Posted By Teresa Han
John 14:15-28 (Pentecost Sunday)
Main Idea: Jesus is in you
Objectives: a. To teach the roles played by the Holy Spirit in our lives
b. To raise awareness of the Holy Spirit inside us
c. To challenge the congregation to obey the Holy Spirit inside us
A. Introduction
- Praise the Lord we are always reminded by the annual Pentecost Sunday on the mighty works of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit is also called the Spirit of Jesus Christ by Apostle Paul in the letters to the Philippians. So, each time you think of Holy Spirit, you must relate it to the Spirit of Jesus Christ. You are very sure it is the Spirit of Jesus Christ, and not any other spirits. Apart from the Spirit of Jesus Christ, all other spirits will destroy you. Philippians 1:19, “for I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.”
- The doctrine of the Holy Spirit is a belief that the Church of God cannot do without. A wrong understanding of the doctrine, ignorance of it, lack of understanding of it, misunderstanding of it and weak awareness of it, will result in the church becoming powerless and cause us Christians and disciples of Jesus like soldiers going to the war to fight the enemies without weapons.
- I am much convicted to preach to you as a lot of Methodists (Christians) are unaware of the presence of the Holy Spirit inside us. This is the promise of Jesus for us in the gospel and yet we live as if there is no Holy Spirit in our lives, and we live a defeated Christian life.
- Jesus says in John 14:16,17, “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counsellor to be with you forever – the Spirit of truth…”
- For us Methodist Christians and disciples of Jesus, we believe especially upon baptism, we are sealed with the Holy Spirit. As Jesus promised, we receive the Holy Spirit at the point of baptism. So, the Holy Spirit of Jesus is living inside us, in our body. Apostle Paul in Ephesians 1:13,14, says “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession – to the praise of his glory.”
B. Holy Spirit promised by Jesus Christ
- I do not simply tell you that the Spirit of Jesus is living inside you. Whatever I say here at the pulpit must not carry any weight, any authority at all. If I say it, it is only a human being who says. Human sayings can be a flaw; not the truth. What I say is just quoting what Jesus says in the passage today. You must believe what Jesus says when He says in today’s passage verse 20, “On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.” Hence, my sermon title, ‘I am in you.’ Jesus says, “I am in you.” That is why I say Jesus is living inside you. Do you believe? Are you aware or not. There are serious implications to this believe.
- This promise of the Holy Spirit is Jesus’ way of preparing the disciples before He is crucified and ascended to sit on the right hand of His Father in heaven. The preparation is needed so that the disciples can still continue to be empowered by Him to carry on His work after He left them. That promise of the Holy Spirit was materialized in the history of the church recorded in details in the book of Acts when the Holy Spirit descended on the disciples as promised by Jesus (during Pentecost) and they were empowered by Holy Spirit to do mission and make disciples of all nations.
- The passage before this is about Philip asking Jesus where He was going; he and the other disciples did not know where Jesus was going. And Jesus answers in verse 6, 7 “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well…” And then, Philip requested in verse 8, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” And Jesus goes on to elaborate He is in the Father, and the Father is in Him in verse 11. And in verse 12 He tells the disciples that anyone who has faith in Him will do even greater things than Him because He is going to the Father. Unless we believe in the Holy Spirit sent by Jesus; and believe in the power of Holy Spirit, otherwise, how can we explain about 2 billion (out of 7 billion of world population) who are Christians.
- See what Jesus will do in your life as He is living in you. I pray that you become very conscious of Jesus who lives inside you after the sermon today, if you are not so conscious yet.
- This is a very rich passage on the roles of Holy Spirit in your life. I pray that you are excited about it and live according to the teaching of Jesus on His Spirit.
C. Roles of Holy Spirit and Applications
- What is the Holy Spirit doing in your life according to John 14:15-31?
- Firstly, in verse 16 Jesus asks the Father to give another counsellor (parakletos in Greek) to be with the disciples forever. Other translations for parakletos are helper, advocate, and comforter. It is a legal term which means counsel for the defence. It refers to any person who helps someone in trouble with the law. The Holy Spirit, who is the counsellor / advocate, is also ever ready to help Christians who are in trouble. The counsellor stands by Christ’s people.
- Secondly, in verse 17, the Holy Spirit is described as the Spirit of truth. The verse says this Spirit of truth lives with disciples and He will be with the disciples. This Holy Spirit is characterized by truth. He brings people into the truth, you see. You and I need to be aware of this and realize the powerful Holy Spirit will lead us into all the truths. Therefore, anything that happens, in sickness, in decision making, making a choice, in accepting advice of people, and in deciding the next cause of action, we are all the time asking and praying for the truths. Make sure whatever we think, do, and say is based on the truth. And you go to the Holy Spirit to listen and receive the truth. The Holy Spirit is the still small voice inside you all the time telling you the truth. You always need to be quiet before Him to hear the voice of the truth. You need to spend time before Him to find out the truth. If you are too busy you cannot hear the truth. Ask Jesus what is the truth and He will tell as He is the Spirit of Truth. How do you know somebody is lying or not, confirm it with the Holy Spirit inside you.
- When I counsel people face to face or over the phone every now and then, I always ask the Spirit of truth to help me. As I counsel and talk, deep down in my heart, I turn to Jesus to depend on Him. Therefore, helps in terms of truth always come to me. Recently, Jesus helped me to save one sister’s life. She wants to end her life in that critical moment. She asked for the reasons why she should continue to live. Deep in my heart, I asked Jesus for a quick answer right there and then. I know all the theological answers will not do the job. I was amazed how Jesus immediately told me to tell her relevant things in her life; truths that are important for her to know and things that are dear to her life. I told her if she died her husband will be the most guilty person throughout his remaining life as he would blame himself for not taking care of her; and her youngest child who is still dependent on the mother would suffer very much without the mother figure around. Eventually she thanked me for saving her life! Coincidentally, when she needed to talk to me I was available. Therefore, when people are depressed, they may ask what the purpose of life is. Be sensitive to the prompting of the Spirit of Truth to help them. Your friends who face failures in the examination; have nervous breakdown; suffered broken relationship; suffered from sickness or in the depressed condition, be there to give them meaning of life.
- Do practise this godly habit as I always try to do it. Live your life everyday expecting Jesus, the Holy Spirit, the counsellor, and the Spirit of Truth to help you any time you need help and you need to know the truth.
- Jesus kept reassuring the disciples that He would send them the Holy Spirit as the disciples might be fearful without Jesus around. That is why Jesus kept saying in verses 18, 19, 20, 21 that “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you; on that you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you; whoever loves me I will love him too and show myself to him”
- And when Judas asked Jesus why did He show to the disciples only and not to the world, Jesus answered in verse 23, if anyone who loves Him and obeys His teaching, His Father will love him; and they will come to Him and make their home with him. What a great promise, Jesus and His Father make their home inside the disciples’ life!
- Thirdly, in verse 25, Jesus says His Father will send the Counsellor, the Holy Spirit in Jesus’ name, He will teach the disciples all things and will remind them of everything Jesus taught. Can we be sure that we are reminded by the Holy Spirit, the counsellor about the teachings of Jesus in the gospel; including the meanings of Jesus’ teachings? For this reason, I urge you to spend time and understand God’s word not only on your own but also study it with others especially through the different levels of 9 month discipleship course. While you are students here for few years, grasp the opportunity to be familiar with God’s word and Jesus’ teaching to equip yourself and make disciples of all nations and face the whole world. God’s word answers all your questions in life. You do not have the confidence in God’s word; you easily fall and overcome by temptations.
- Jesus knows He has left the most precious words with the disciples and the disciples need the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth to understand them. And He continued to reassure them in verse 27 not to be troubled and afraid after He left as He has given them peace.
- He kept reassuring them and now in verse 28, He says He would come back. Still, He has to leave them and the prince of the world (Satan) cannot stop His mission on earth as commanded by His Father (verse 31).
D. Conclusion
- Holy Spirit, counsellor, Spirit of Truth, is living inside us. That is the truth. Failure to realize or be aware of it, you are so powerless. You will be afraid of ghosts; worry a lot; living in fear of failures, disappointments, sadness and depression; overcome by sins and temptations; living a defeated life and there is no joy. As you obey the Holy Spirit and loves Jesus, you have all the resources available to live a victorious Christian life. That Holy Spirit inside you, have you turned it on?
