By Michael Julian
Pastor, Macedonia Baptist Church, Kenton
Focal Passage: John 15:26-27; 16:7-15
Do you like having an advantage when engaged in competition? Let me take an example from the madness that is basketball in March. We can be sure each coaching staff has dissected every cut of film concerning their opponent in order to gain an advantage for their players on the court. Each team wants to win.
In the Christian life, we seek an advantage. We seek victory. Our adversary, the devil, prowls about looking for targets to devour. We do not seek to live according to the flesh, but we seek to live according to the Spirit of God. And there is our decided advantage. The Holy Spirit. He is a person and not an impersonal force, like you would find in the Star Wars movies. God is calling us to yield to and walk by His promised and provided Spirit.
John 15:26-27: At the end of chapter 14, Jesus says it is time to arise and go from where they are. In the opening of chapter 18, the Word informs us that after He spoke these words they traveled over the ravine of the Kidron and entered a garden.
So whether they lingered in the upper room or heard this along the journey to Gethsemane, Jesus was setting forth invaluable truth and instruction to His disciples.
Michael Julian
Someone else is coming to help us. And yet, He is the same. Jesus is going to send him from the Father. Again, the Holy Trinity comes into view. The Spirit is always referred to using personal pronouns, and He will explicitly provide direct testimony to the person and work of Christ. And greater still, is that He will do this in and through us!
The Spirit is as much God as the Son is God. He wonderfully and mightily works within us to testify about the Messiah. The presence of this Counselor means you are not alone. The Spirit brings life and victory. Let’s walk by the Spirit.
John 16:7-11: One thing you will notice in our three Scripture sections is the usage of the word truth. The Spirit of truth will come when Jesus returns to the Father.
The death, burial, and resurrection of Christ are of vital importance, but we must not forget the equally important ascension of Christ. No ascension, no Counselor. Yes, I would love to be able to walk side by side in the physical presence of Jesus like the disciples did, but we are not shortchanged by keeping in step with God’s Spirit.
Since He is omnipresent, the Holy Spirit can indwell every believer. And He is the Spirit of truth, who assists us in testifying about Jesus.
In addition to this work, the Spirit will also bring conviction to the world. How badly we need to acknowledge this reality, and surrender to the Spirit’s conviction. And since He is truth, we know his conviction is applicable and authoritative.
John 16:12-15: Here we find the Spirit’s principle purpose. He will glorify the risen Jesus. Often, by declaration through us. This isn’t a new ministry but a continuation of Jesus’ ministry. Do you see the advantage? May the Holy Spirit magnify the work of Jesus in and through us! B&R
