Episode Transcript
WEBVTT
1
00:00:00.400 --> 00:00:05.280
Beloved, let's turn in our bibles. Or please turn your attention to John
2
00:00:05.440 --> 00:00:11.910
Chapter Sixteen. John Chapter Sixteen,
Verse Four, the second half of verse
3
00:00:12.029 --> 00:00:33.539
four, and I'll read through Verse
Fifteen, John Sixteen, verse four,
4
00:00:34.420 --> 00:00:40.130
the second half of verse four.
I did not say these things to you
5
00:00:40.210 --> 00:00:44.369
from the beginning because I was with
you, but now I am going to
6
00:00:44.450 --> 00:00:48.329
him who sent me, and none
of you asks me where are you going?
7
00:00:49.609 --> 00:00:53.520
But because I have said these things
to you, sorrow has filled your
8
00:00:53.560 --> 00:00:59.200
heart. Nevertheless, I tell you
the truth, it is to your advantage
9
00:00:59.320 --> 00:01:03.159
that I go away, for if
I did not go away, the helper
10
00:01:03.280 --> 00:01:06.989
will not come to you, but
if I go I will send him to
11
00:01:07.109 --> 00:01:11.909
you and when he comes, he
will convict the World Concerning Sin and righteousness
12
00:01:11.950 --> 00:01:18.739
and judgment. Concerning sin, because
they do not believe in me. Concerning
13
00:01:18.780 --> 00:01:22.340
righteousness, because I go to the
father and you will see me no longer.
14
00:01:23.140 --> 00:01:29.180
Concerning judgment, because the ruler of
this world is judged. I still
15
00:01:29.180 --> 00:01:30.739
have many things things to say to
you, but you cannot bear them now.
16
00:01:32.739 --> 00:01:36.290
When the spirit of truth comes,
he will guide you into the all,
17
00:01:36.450 --> 00:01:40.049
into all the truth, for he
will not speak on his own authority,
18
00:01:40.769 --> 00:01:44.890
but whatever he hears, he will
speak and he will declare to you
19
00:01:45.049 --> 00:01:49.439
the things that are to come.
He will glorify me, for he will
20
00:01:49.439 --> 00:01:53.200
take what is mind and declare it
to you. All. The father has
21
00:01:53.280 --> 00:01:57.719
his mind. Therefore, I said
that he will take what is mine and
22
00:01:57.879 --> 00:02:14.030
declare it to you. And this
passage that I've just read, Jesus is
23
00:02:14.229 --> 00:02:19.340
a shepherd and he is taking care
of his flock, his disciples, who
24
00:02:19.340 --> 00:02:24.699
have followed him now for about three
years. Their hearts are filled with sorrow.
25
00:02:24.740 --> 00:02:31.689
Why? Because he's preparing to leave
them and he's told them this,
26
00:02:32.530 --> 00:02:38.729
and he's also told that after his
departure they will be persecuted, they will
27
00:02:38.729 --> 00:02:43.849
suffer, I'm just as he has
suffered. But he reminds them in this
28
00:02:44.009 --> 00:02:49.560
passage that though he leaves, he
leaves as he came, for their advantage
29
00:02:50.199 --> 00:02:55.719
and for the believe in him.
And the main proof of that here is
30
00:02:55.879 --> 00:03:04.430
this promise of the sending of the
Holy Spirit. Since we met in person
31
00:03:04.590 --> 00:03:07.629
last time, many of us have
come to a much deeper appreciation of what
32
00:03:07.669 --> 00:03:15.259
it means to to be together,
to be in person. We've all received
33
00:03:15.860 --> 00:03:27.889
Internet invitations to video conferences and we
have messaged each other and emailed and sent
34
00:03:28.050 --> 00:03:34.449
maybe a letter to but despite these
good things, we all know that there's
35
00:03:34.569 --> 00:03:40.919
simply no replacement for being together,
for being in person with those whom we
36
00:03:42.120 --> 00:03:46.400
love. And so my guess is
it's probably not too hard for your for
37
00:03:46.560 --> 00:03:53.199
you to put yourself in the disciples
shoes or sandals and think about how hard
38
00:03:53.199 --> 00:03:59.189
it was for them to wait.
He'd think about how hard it was for
39
00:03:59.270 --> 00:04:02.150
them to hear that Jesus, that
Jesus was about to leave them and they
40
00:04:02.150 --> 00:04:05.349
were not going to be able to
follow. And there would be no stop
41
00:04:05.550 --> 00:04:13.699
gap video conferencing from Heaven, no
six feet spacing, but still the same
42
00:04:13.740 --> 00:04:20.379
space. Gone, gone, gone, gone. No more Jesus, all
43
00:04:20.500 --> 00:04:25.050
the time that they'd spent with him, walking with him, talking with him,
44
00:04:25.089 --> 00:04:30.689
learning from him, seeing his miracles, hearing his teachings, coming under
45
00:04:30.730 --> 00:04:35.170
his discipline, he was saying that
he was going and they could not follow.
46
00:04:35.370 --> 00:04:40.720
And Worse Than That, Jesus tells
them that in his absence they will
47
00:04:40.759 --> 00:04:45.360
suffer, and suffer for his name. You can imagine how easy it might
48
00:04:45.399 --> 00:04:48.399
have been for them to accuse Jesus
of failing to love them as he ought,
49
00:04:49.480 --> 00:04:57.790
for not being there, for not
fulfilling his promises and how hard it
50
00:04:57.870 --> 00:05:00.790
must have been for the disciples to
trust him in this moment when they couldn't
51
00:05:00.790 --> 00:05:05.870
yet see the whole picture and they
couldn't understand why God was doing the things
52
00:05:05.910 --> 00:05:12.060
he was doing when he was doing
them. And I suppose that means also
53
00:05:12.100 --> 00:05:15.660
that they could have understood some of
the things that we go through, our
54
00:05:15.779 --> 00:05:23.529
trials, the absences that we face, even and including the Lord not being
55
00:05:23.730 --> 00:05:29.410
here on Earth. But Jesus,
as I said, is a shepherd taking
56
00:05:29.490 --> 00:05:32.170
care of his flock. He knows
that their hearts are filling with sorrow and
57
00:05:32.370 --> 00:05:39.879
he gives to them. He gives
to you today this spectacular promise, this
58
00:05:40.120 --> 00:05:45.079
Gospel, light in the midst of
darkness, this promise that he goes for
59
00:05:45.560 --> 00:05:50.949
our advantage, and it's a truth
that, if we believe, it will
60
00:05:51.110 --> 00:05:59.310
turn sorrow in to joy, and
that truth is this. He leaves to
61
00:05:59.470 --> 00:06:05.899
send to us the spirit. He
tells us that in this passage and as
62
00:06:05.980 --> 00:06:11.660
this promise is fulfilled, the sending
of the spirit will be to our advantage.
63
00:06:13.060 --> 00:06:15.980
Well, how so? How is
the spirit to our advantage? How
64
00:06:16.139 --> 00:06:21.689
could Jesus leaving possibly be for our
good when we are those who follow him.
65
00:06:23.850 --> 00:06:28.009
Well, Jesus tells US exactly how, and we'll look at that in
66
00:06:28.129 --> 00:06:30.569
a moment, but first I want
to spend just a little bit of time
67
00:06:30.170 --> 00:06:35.439
paying attention to the way that he
says it. Notice the gentle ways in
68
00:06:35.600 --> 00:06:40.959
which Jesus shares with them this news, in this promise, in this consolation.
69
00:06:42.480 --> 00:06:46.279
It doesn't just matter what Jesus says, it matters how he says it,
70
00:06:46.439 --> 00:06:50.189
and he says it in this very
gentle and understanding way. First,
71
00:06:50.269 --> 00:06:57.310
note the gentleness of Jesus is timing, that when, when Jesus says things
72
00:06:57.470 --> 00:07:00.149
to us, it matters. And
in regards to his timing, notice versus
73
00:07:00.269 --> 00:07:05.100
for and verse twelve. In verse
four he says, I did not say
74
00:07:05.180 --> 00:07:11.259
these things to you from the beginning
because I was with you, and in
75
00:07:11.379 --> 00:07:14.100
verse twelve he says, I still
have many things to say to you,
76
00:07:14.259 --> 00:07:18.930
but you cannot bear them now.
It means that Jesus, as he tells
77
00:07:19.009 --> 00:07:25.370
his disciples things, he doesn't just
spirality information, but he gives it at
78
00:07:25.410 --> 00:07:31.199
the perfect timing, according with their
means, according with the events and of
79
00:07:31.439 --> 00:07:35.360
his work unfolding, and this is, of course, an act of his
80
00:07:35.560 --> 00:07:43.199
gentleness. God doesn't just love us
from a distance, not knowing who we
81
00:07:43.439 --> 00:07:46.470
really are, not knowing what's going
on in our lives. He knows exactly
82
00:07:46.709 --> 00:07:50.790
know what's going on in our lives. He knows what we can bear and
83
00:07:50.949 --> 00:07:55.750
he knows what we can't bear,
and he keeps this in mind as he
84
00:07:55.870 --> 00:08:01.699
reveals things to us, now and
in the past. This is important to
85
00:08:01.740 --> 00:08:05.019
remember because sometimes we think that God
should explain to us this or that thing,
86
00:08:05.220 --> 00:08:09.819
that we have a right to know
why this or that thing is happening,
87
00:08:09.819 --> 00:08:15.649
that we should know why he's doing
this instead of that, and we
88
00:08:15.730 --> 00:08:20.329
get frustrated that we don't know these
things now. Sometimes, of course,
89
00:08:20.410 --> 00:08:24.610
God tells us and we're just not
listening. That's what the real problem is.
90
00:08:24.649 --> 00:08:31.199
But other times, he's said other
times he simply isn't telling us because
91
00:08:31.240 --> 00:08:35.720
he's it's not time yet. And
if you ever considered this, that perhaps
92
00:08:35.799 --> 00:08:41.629
God wasn't telling us because we weren't
quite ready to hear it, this,
93
00:08:41.830 --> 00:08:45.190
of course, is a knock against
our pride. We'd like to think that
94
00:08:45.309 --> 00:08:48.350
we are ready at all times and
in every way to hear what God has
95
00:08:48.429 --> 00:08:52.909
to say, but this, of
course, isn't true. But if we
96
00:08:52.990 --> 00:08:56.940
can get past this point, if
we can get past the realization that we
97
00:08:56.059 --> 00:09:01.460
aren't always ready for everything, that
God does give us things in his perfect
98
00:09:01.500 --> 00:09:05.779
timing, these words can be a
real comfort. In other words, one
99
00:09:05.860 --> 00:09:11.090
way God loves us is by giving
things at the proper times. Sometimes it's
100
00:09:11.210 --> 00:09:18.129
to strengthen us, by keeping US
patient and in faith. All their times
101
00:09:18.169 --> 00:09:24.360
it's to keep us from weakening even
more, from crushing under even good truths.
102
00:09:26.799 --> 00:09:31.679
Either way, whatever his purpose,
but I want you to remember from
103
00:09:31.720 --> 00:09:37.000
God's Word is that when Jesus speaks
to us, his timing is always good
104
00:09:37.039 --> 00:09:41.190
and to our advantage. He speaks
in ways that are gentle and in love.
105
00:09:41.629 --> 00:09:46.110
The second thing I want you to
notice is Jesus is empathy. Though
106
00:09:46.710 --> 00:09:52.820
needing some adjustment. Their feelings are
not ignored by Jesus, and even helps
107
00:09:52.899 --> 00:09:58.860
his disciples with them. Notice how
Jesus says, because I have said these
108
00:09:58.059 --> 00:10:05.100
things to you, sorrow has filled
your heart. Now, of course Jesus,
109
00:10:05.340 --> 00:10:09.769
in his divinity, knew even this
most secret and covered places of their
110
00:10:09.889 --> 00:10:15.610
heart, but my guess is that
Jesus didn't need to be a divine in
111
00:10:15.769 --> 00:10:20.639
order to see that sorrow had filled
their heart. When sorrow fills the heart
112
00:10:20.679 --> 00:10:26.159
of a person, you can see
it. You see it in their face,
113
00:10:26.360 --> 00:10:31.080
you see it in their eyes.
Sadness pours into them like a flood,
114
00:10:31.519 --> 00:10:39.789
tears, heavy breathing, a tenseness. Jesus sees it happening right in
115
00:10:39.830 --> 00:10:43.710
front of him. His disciples,
those whom he loves, are their hearts
116
00:10:43.750 --> 00:10:52.139
are flooding, their filling up with
heartache and with sorrow. Jesus recognizes it,
117
00:10:52.580 --> 00:10:58.980
he honors it and he addresses it. He doesn't shove away their feelings
118
00:11:00.059 --> 00:11:03.490
or ignore them, but he also
gives them news that will help them to
119
00:11:03.610 --> 00:11:09.929
see this situation in a new light, if they will believe that news.
120
00:11:11.210 --> 00:11:15.769
and Jesus is doing the same for
us. He's telling us a truth.
121
00:11:16.009 --> 00:11:20.919
Notice what he says. I tell
you the truth. That's what he says.
122
00:11:22.159 --> 00:11:26.480
And if we will believe that,
that truth has great power to do
123
00:11:26.559 --> 00:11:33.870
many things, including turn our sorrow
into joy. In his timing, in
124
00:11:33.149 --> 00:11:39.950
his empathy, we see Jesus loving
us. We hear his words both then
125
00:11:39.149 --> 00:11:46.509
and for us today. And so
now, having considered the way in which
126
00:11:46.509 --> 00:11:50.779
Jesus encourages them, let's consider what
it is he says, and what he
127
00:11:50.860 --> 00:11:56.460
says is this. He says,
I leave in order to send the Holy
128
00:11:56.620 --> 00:12:03.529
Spirit, and that is to your
advantage. The Holy Spirit's coming to us
129
00:12:03.570 --> 00:12:07.570
as an advantage to us in two
ways that he mentions. One because the
130
00:12:07.649 --> 00:12:13.889
Holy Spirit convicts the world of Sin, and too, because the Holy Spirit
131
00:12:13.049 --> 00:12:20.000
leads us, guides us in truth. Jesus says a few things about each.
132
00:12:20.399 --> 00:12:24.840
Let's think about the first one.
The holy spirits coming is to our
133
00:12:24.879 --> 00:12:31.070
advantage because he convicts the world of
Sin. He convicts the World of Sin
134
00:12:31.029 --> 00:12:37.149
Through the Ministry of the disciples and
the Church that is built on their foundation.
135
00:12:37.750 --> 00:12:41.070
Those who are filled with the spirit
and lead and truth. The world
136
00:12:41.269 --> 00:12:50.220
is going to come to see how
wrong it is about everything. That's what
137
00:12:50.419 --> 00:12:54.419
the Holy Spirit is going to do
in the world. And Jesus mentions three
138
00:12:54.460 --> 00:13:01.129
things in particular. He mentions the
first one, which is sin. The
139
00:13:01.289 --> 00:13:07.970
world is wrong about sin. So
many people in the world don't even admit
140
00:13:07.049 --> 00:13:11.570
that sin is a real problem,
even though of course they know it.
141
00:13:11.450 --> 00:13:16.600
But even those who do admit that
sin is a real problem, they are
142
00:13:16.639 --> 00:13:22.360
often unwilling to recognize what is at
the root of that problem. Perhaps you've
143
00:13:22.399 --> 00:13:28.070
asked this question. Where does all
of our distructiveness come from our of violence,
144
00:13:28.110 --> 00:13:33.629
are injustice, our rage, our
hatred, our fear. What's at
145
00:13:33.669 --> 00:13:37.590
the bottom all of all that?
Why does it come? Why does it
146
00:13:37.029 --> 00:13:43.980
speed out of us in our lives, in our families and our marriages and
147
00:13:43.059 --> 00:13:48.659
our communities and our nation, in
our world? It's like we can't take
148
00:13:48.700 --> 00:13:56.129
a break from it. It just
doesn't stop. What is it? Is
149
00:13:56.210 --> 00:14:03.129
it a lack of love? Is
it pride? Well, it is these
150
00:14:03.250 --> 00:14:07.690
things, but if you haven't stopped
there, you still haven't hit the root
151
00:14:07.730 --> 00:14:11.799
of it. And the root problem, excuse me, is what Jesus says,
152
00:14:11.840 --> 00:14:20.000
and it's this. They don't believe
in me. That is the root
153
00:14:20.080 --> 00:14:24.990
problem of sin. That's the real
problem, because no one is righteous.
154
00:14:26.830 --> 00:14:31.350
Even if you recognize the problem of
pride, you're not going to fix it.
155
00:14:31.309 --> 00:14:35.830
You're definitely not going to fix it
by being prideful, by trusting in
156
00:14:35.990 --> 00:14:41.299
yourself, and then you're corrupted flesh
or take love, even if you recognize
157
00:14:41.340 --> 00:14:43.980
that. That's the problem is that
we don't love as we ought. You're
158
00:14:43.980 --> 00:14:50.940
not going to fix it by ignoring
God, who is love and who has
159
00:14:50.019 --> 00:14:56.610
revealed his love for all the world
to have in Christ. What's the problem
160
00:14:56.730 --> 00:15:03.169
of sin, the root problem of
sin, it's failing to believe in Jesus,
161
00:15:03.169 --> 00:15:07.679
or, to put it another way, the only solution for our problem
162
00:15:07.720 --> 00:15:15.039
of sin is the salvation of Jesus, the salvation of the Cross. Refusing
163
00:15:15.240 --> 00:15:22.389
to believe in Christ is what keeps
US stuck, keeps US enslave and keeps
164
00:15:22.429 --> 00:15:26.470
US wrong even about the very nature
of sin itself. That's what the spirit
165
00:15:26.590 --> 00:15:33.309
is going to tell the world,
and indeed he has number two. The
166
00:15:33.389 --> 00:15:37.340
world is wrong about sin, number
one. In the world is wrong about
167
00:15:37.340 --> 00:15:41.500
righteousness, number two. So,
just as the world doesn't know what the
168
00:15:41.539 --> 00:15:45.940
biggest problem is in the world,
nor does it know that the biggest good
169
00:15:46.059 --> 00:15:50.970
in the world the things of righteousness
that are most in accord with God,
170
00:15:52.529 --> 00:15:58.529
with all of reality, with God's
universe. The biggest, the most important
171
00:15:58.570 --> 00:16:03.649
thing is that Jesus goes to the
father and we will see him no longer.
172
00:16:03.840 --> 00:16:07.759
That's what the world doesn't get and
that's what the spirit will convict them
173
00:16:07.799 --> 00:16:14.200
about. The world does not see
that Jesus goes to the father and we
174
00:16:14.320 --> 00:16:21.230
will see him no longer. Perhaps
there's a little bit of the world in
175
00:16:21.350 --> 00:16:25.549
us that says, I don't see
that either. I don't understand what that
176
00:16:25.710 --> 00:16:30.509
means. I will tell you as
one commentator put it here, Jesus is
177
00:16:30.750 --> 00:16:37.700
summarizing his mission, his going to
the father as the son of God,
178
00:16:37.980 --> 00:16:41.379
tells us that he came from the
father, that he is returning to him
179
00:16:41.659 --> 00:16:47.970
having completed his mission, having completed
all he was set to do, and
180
00:16:48.090 --> 00:16:55.049
we will see him no longer until
he returns finally, because he is wrapping
181
00:16:55.129 --> 00:16:59.250
things up, he is completing this
mission, he is sending out his spirit.
182
00:17:00.610 --> 00:17:03.720
We don't see him, that's true, but that's because we are in
183
00:17:03.759 --> 00:17:07.880
an age of faith and of grace
and a mercy. We are relying on
184
00:17:07.920 --> 00:17:14.039
him and trusting on him, whom
we can't see. We might say that,
185
00:17:14.079 --> 00:17:18.549
if the biggest wrong is having no
faith, the biggest right is having
186
00:17:18.710 --> 00:17:26.029
faith in the one who has come
and who has also gone for us.
187
00:17:26.470 --> 00:17:30.099
The world doesn't understand those things.
And the spirit is going to come,
188
00:17:30.180 --> 00:17:34.660
Jesus says, to disciple is disciples. Jesus is going to come and reveal
189
00:17:34.859 --> 00:17:45.009
that to the world. Number three, the world is wrong. The world
190
00:17:45.329 --> 00:17:53.170
thinks perhaps of the devil, perhaps
of evil powers, perhaps of the dark
191
00:17:53.210 --> 00:18:00.759
side, and often it wonders if
these things ultimately have ultimate power. Just
192
00:18:00.960 --> 00:18:04.920
look around the world, says.
Look at what has happened, look at
193
00:18:04.960 --> 00:18:08.559
the evil, look at the unfairness, look at the hatred, and on
194
00:18:08.720 --> 00:18:17.230
and on and on. It seems
as though God has lost, that he
195
00:18:17.349 --> 00:18:21.589
is weak. It seems as though
he is impotent, that is incapable or
196
00:18:21.670 --> 00:18:29.900
unwilling to do the things that a
true God ought to do. But Jesus
197
00:18:29.980 --> 00:18:33.500
tells us that the spirit will come
and will convic the world and say wrong
198
00:18:33.619 --> 00:18:38.420
again, wrong again, because not
only has god, God in the Sun,
199
00:18:38.619 --> 00:18:45.210
come and gone for us, but
in doing so he has set us
200
00:18:45.490 --> 00:18:52.329
free from the tyranny of Satan.
Hebrews tells us that Satan kept US enslaved
201
00:18:52.930 --> 00:18:56.119
through the fear of death. But
what did Jesus do? He took the
202
00:18:56.240 --> 00:19:00.839
Stinger right out of death. He
took the victory away from the grave.
203
00:19:00.279 --> 00:19:03.960
He made it so that there's no
dead end for the people of God.
204
00:19:06.640 --> 00:19:12.789
Satan has no power over us.
He'll growl and war and bark and bite
205
00:19:12.950 --> 00:19:19.670
and try to scare us, but
in the end he is a false God
206
00:19:22.109 --> 00:19:27.059
and he will be judged. That's
what he said. Is Concerning judgment.
207
00:19:27.819 --> 00:19:33.819
The ruler of this world is judged. So these are the things that the
208
00:19:33.900 --> 00:19:38.049
world gets wrong, constantly, every
day and in every way. They don't
209
00:19:38.130 --> 00:19:42.130
know the problem. The world doesn't
know the solution and it doesn't know that
210
00:19:42.250 --> 00:19:49.970
the end of the story is all
about Jesus. But the spirit whom Jesus
211
00:19:51.130 --> 00:19:56.599
has sent and promises to send here
in our passage reveals all of these things.
212
00:19:56.880 --> 00:20:02.599
To the darkness in the world,
he brings the spirit, brings that
213
00:20:02.839 --> 00:20:07.710
illumination of God, that light,
to the world. He brings the sun
214
00:20:07.750 --> 00:20:12.190
and his word to bear. That's
what he promises disciples here. And let
215
00:20:12.230 --> 00:20:18.349
me tell you, this is exactly
what has happened. The spirit, the
216
00:20:18.509 --> 00:20:26.420
Lord ascended, the spirit was poured
out and pentecost and the word of Jesus
217
00:20:26.500 --> 00:20:32.859
has gone forth from that day forth, and powerfully so. Sure there are
218
00:20:32.940 --> 00:20:37.089
people who have hated it and raged
against it and continue to do so,
219
00:20:37.329 --> 00:20:42.130
but many, many others, including
all of you who are sitting here and
220
00:20:42.329 --> 00:20:48.690
confess the name of the Lord Jesus
today, have fallen under this conviction of
221
00:20:48.809 --> 00:20:55.039
the Holy Spirit and have given yourselves
over to the Lord Jesus Christ and are
222
00:20:55.079 --> 00:21:03.319
now prey raising God and a life
of repentance and faith, believing that the
223
00:21:03.519 --> 00:21:07.190
true wrong thing is lack of faith
and the true right thing is the Gospel,
224
00:21:07.630 --> 00:21:14.069
and that it all ends well with
Satan judged and the Lord victorious.
225
00:21:15.150 --> 00:21:18.940
Well, that leads us in naturally, to the second and the last thing
226
00:21:18.940 --> 00:21:22.460
I'll mention. The second advantage that
the spirit comes, not only does he
227
00:21:22.619 --> 00:21:30.460
convict the world, but he guides
and he leads the disciples in the truth.
228
00:21:32.779 --> 00:21:34.730
Not to this point, Jesus was
mainly known among the Jews, but
229
00:21:34.849 --> 00:21:37.970
with the spirit coming, as I
have said, that was all going to
230
00:21:38.049 --> 00:21:47.920
change. The world was going to
come under the conviction of let me ask
231
00:21:48.000 --> 00:21:55.000
you in this way. Was it
to your advantage that Jesus stopped walking around
232
00:21:55.319 --> 00:22:04.630
Israel with just a handful of close
but confused disciple and pour out his spirit
233
00:22:04.750 --> 00:22:11.710
on the whole world? You Bet
it was. His mission has now been
234
00:22:12.069 --> 00:22:18.859
revealed fully. His victory in the
cross, his power and glory in ascending
235
00:22:18.980 --> 00:22:25.779
onto the right hand of the Father
Almighty, victorious over Satan, feel with
236
00:22:25.940 --> 00:22:30.809
life and promise. His mission has
revealed. He has set his spirit loose
237
00:22:30.930 --> 00:22:37.329
on the world to do his work
in bringing the glory of God through the
238
00:22:37.450 --> 00:22:47.119
word to the world. And this
is exactly what he has done. The
239
00:22:47.240 --> 00:22:53.720
spirit gives to us, preaches to
us all the time the truth. And
240
00:22:53.920 --> 00:23:03.509
what is the truth? Jesus is
the truth. Jesus says, I am
241
00:23:03.630 --> 00:23:08.990
the way, the truth and the
life. No one comes to the father
242
00:23:10.789 --> 00:23:15.819
except through me, and what a
blessing it is, then that Jesus says,
243
00:23:17.180 --> 00:23:23.619
the spirit who is now dwelling in
you believers, will guide us in
244
00:23:23.980 --> 00:23:30.049
all truth, and that he speaks
not of his own authority but of Christ,
245
00:23:32.009 --> 00:23:37.809
that whatever he hears, he speaks. And that means that though the
246
00:23:37.930 --> 00:23:45.279
Lord Jesus Christ is ascended, he
is not gone away. Though we don't
247
00:23:45.359 --> 00:23:48.799
have him in person, and there
is a great loss in this, the
248
00:23:49.119 --> 00:23:56.869
spirit unites us to Christ in a
way that no technol ge ever could.
249
00:23:59.549 --> 00:24:08.710
The spirit of God unite us to
Christ. This is to our advantage,
250
00:24:10.940 --> 00:24:15.299
this is our life, this is
our salvation. Jesus has ascended, but
251
00:24:15.420 --> 00:24:18.779
he has not forsaken us and he
has declared to us the things to come.
252
00:24:18.819 --> 00:24:27.130
Jesus, through his spirit, gives
us hope every single day about our
253
00:24:27.369 --> 00:24:37.920
future. And with that hope in
mind, because of the spirit, we
254
00:24:38.119 --> 00:24:44.440
hear these things and we are listening, and let us continue to listen,
255
00:24:44.480 --> 00:24:49.039
and let us continue to walk in
step with the spirit, how by listening
256
00:24:49.200 --> 00:24:56.190
to his words about Jesus. Let
us continue to walk in this new way,
257
00:24:56.230 --> 00:25:02.430
which is to walk in Jesus,
and let us continue to glorify God,
258
00:25:02.789 --> 00:25:07.380
because that's what the spirit does,
and enjoying him too. We can
259
00:25:07.420 --> 00:25:17.180
add. Why? Because he turns
our earthly sorrows into heavenly joys. So
260
00:25:17.420 --> 00:25:21.650
now you know what the spirit does
and you know who the spirit is.
261
00:25:22.450 --> 00:25:26.529
He is the one who convicts the
world of Sin and who leads the Truth
262
00:25:26.890 --> 00:25:30.970
Church in truth, and in doing
so, he puts us in a place
263
00:25:32.009 --> 00:25:36.160
of life and fellowship with the father
through the son, so that we might
264
00:25:36.240 --> 00:25:42.720
glorify all three. Let us never
again fail to give the spirit praise for
265
00:25:42.839 --> 00:25:52.069
his daily work in our lives.
Amen, let us pray our most holy
266
00:25:52.190 --> 00:26:00.029
and heavenly father, we praise you
for the goodness of your grace and your
267
00:26:00.109 --> 00:26:06.539
mercy, for your understanding of our
weakness and our sorrows and knowing how bound
268
00:26:06.579 --> 00:26:12.059
and enslaved we were to sin,
and for sending us this great and mighty
269
00:26:12.099 --> 00:26:21.329
savior, Even Your Own Eternally Begotten
Son and our Lord, who, anointed
270
00:26:21.450 --> 00:26:26.650
by the spirit and born of the
spirit. Even, through that amazing birth,
271
00:26:30.450 --> 00:26:37.920
was anointed by the spirit and became
our incarnate savior. We ask,
272
00:26:38.119 --> 00:26:41.559
oh Lord, that you would help
us to know Jesus as he truly is
273
00:26:44.480 --> 00:26:48.990
and in his light, to see
everything, to see our sin, to
274
00:26:48.069 --> 00:26:52.109
see our sorrow, to see the
hope of heaven that lies before us,
275
00:26:52.230 --> 00:26:59.549
that has been promised to us,
not through works, but through the spirit
276
00:27:00.430 --> 00:27:04.420
received through faith alone. Lord,
we thank you for the work that the
277
00:27:04.460 --> 00:27:08.980
spirit has already done in our lives
and causing us to be reborn into the
278
00:27:10.099 --> 00:27:15.289
truth and into the light. We
thank you for doing the hard work,
279
00:27:17.609 --> 00:27:22.089
not hard for you but unpleasant to
us, of revealing our sins, of
280
00:27:22.289 --> 00:27:26.730
showing us our evil in our pride. But what a joy it is to
281
00:27:26.809 --> 00:27:32.240
be knocked down off our high horses, Lord, that we might be raised
282
00:27:32.279 --> 00:27:37.200
up in the victory of the cross, that we would be a named among
283
00:27:37.400 --> 00:27:42.000
the elect of God, that we
might be the sons and daughters who receive
284
00:27:42.319 --> 00:27:48.309
the promised inheritance. Lord, we
ask that this work would continue in us,
285
00:27:49.269 --> 00:27:57.109
that the work of the spirit would
be would continue in sanctification, leading
286
00:27:57.150 --> 00:28:06.539
to our glorification and the glorification of
you through your work in us, Lord,
287
00:28:06.619 --> 00:28:08.779
we ask that you would be with
us in our sorrows, that you,
288
00:28:10.140 --> 00:28:12.369
by your spirit, would speak to
us the truth and help us to
289
00:28:12.490 --> 00:28:18.089
see things as they truly are.
Lord, help us to understand that this
290
00:28:18.329 --> 00:28:23.049
life is not the end of all
things, that it is a temporary that
291
00:28:23.289 --> 00:28:27.839
it is passing and fleeting. Let
this be both a warning to us and
292
00:28:29.440 --> 00:28:33.559
a promise to us, a warning
not to hold too fast to the things
293
00:28:33.599 --> 00:28:40.640
of this world and a promise that
all all bad things will be brought to
294
00:28:40.799 --> 00:28:45.589
a good end. Help us to
stand fast and walk in the spirit,
295
00:28:45.029 --> 00:28:51.750
to attend to his words and give
him praise. Lord. We pray for
296
00:28:51.910 --> 00:28:56.859
those who are weak and struggling among
us, which is, of course,
297
00:28:56.900 --> 00:29:00.579
all of us, but we pray, Lord, especially for those who are
298
00:29:00.339 --> 00:29:06.579
very downcast and brokenhearted and whose hearts
are filled with sorrow. Lift them up
299
00:29:06.619 --> 00:29:10.410
a Lord, and do so by
the power of your word. We also
300
00:29:10.490 --> 00:29:12.650
asked that you would provide for those
who are I need help it not to
301
00:29:12.730 --> 00:29:18.089
be anxious or nervous about anything.
We also pray, Lord, for those
302
00:29:18.130 --> 00:29:21.609
who are sick and ask that you
would heal them. We pray for our
303
00:29:21.650 --> 00:29:25.160
leaders and we asked that you would
guide them. We pray, Lord,
304
00:29:25.240 --> 00:29:29.200
for Your Church and ask that this, this this witness to the light of
305
00:29:29.240 --> 00:29:34.599
Christ and his glory, would continue
to go out into the world, even
306
00:29:34.640 --> 00:29:41.630
as it is doing, even as
you are doing today. We place all
307
00:29:41.670 --> 00:29:45.509
these things into your hand and we
pray these things in Jesus name, on
308
00:29:45.710 -->
men
