Title: THE SPIRIT AT WORK

Focus: The coming and work of the Holy Spirit concern the world and all God’s people.

Function: To encourage the people to be aware and open to the work of the Holy Spirit in us and through us.

Text: John 15:26-16:15

Do you remember the first time that you became aware of the presence and work of the Holy Spirit in your life?

In light of Scripture, we declare that God’s Spirit brings life and salvation to all who turn to Christ by faith. When adults experience conversion, they often become aware of an invigorating change and power over them. And they recognize that God is changing them and empowering them from within. Two weeks ago, when the Minnesota Teen Challenge Choir members shared with us their dramatic conversion stories, we witnessed the power of transformation at work in their lives. And it’s a thrill to observe the presence and work of the Holy Spirit in their midst.

What about those of us who do not have dramatic conversion experiences? And what about these baptized infants, for example? We declare in light of Scripture that God grants us his Holy Spirit, and the waters of baptism signify the gift of the Holy Spirit—not only to adult believers, but also to the children of believers. When do these children become aware of the presence and work of the Holy Spirit in their lives?

I cannot speak for them. But I do remember that for me it was not a sudden conversion but a more gradual, growing awareness of God working in my life. As I look back over my life, I firmly believe that God’s Spirit has been at work from the very beginning. As a child, I heard the stories of faith and I learned the habits and norms of worship and prayer. As an adolescent, I went through many struggles that centered on the role and place of God in my life and family. Looking back later in life, I learned to recognize that God’s Spirit was at work in the midst of my teenage struggles.

I also experienced moments of joy and strange experiences. Why, for example, did I find myself humming hymns on the soccer field while being engaged in running and playing the game of soccer? Once in a while I caught myself doing so, and I felt a bit weird. My teammates weren’t doing it. So why was I? I tried to stop, but the joy of playing crept up on me and translated within me into the humming of hymn tunes. Strange? Looking back, I recognize God’s Spirit forming and shaping me.

My hunch is that many of us here today have had similar experiences. On this Pentecost Sunday, I wish to emphasize in light of Scripture that the coming and the work of the Holy Spirit concern the world and all God’s people. Therefore, I want to encourage us all to be aware and open to the work of the Holy Spirit in us and through us.

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In the gospel passage for today, we find the Lord Jesus preparing his disciples for drastic changes: soon Jesus will face crucifixion and death. And that will mean sorrow for his disciples. Jesus also prepares his disciples for his resurrection from the dead and his ascension into heaven. And that will mean a change of relating to Jesus for his followers. Jesus will be absent from them in the body. “But,” says Jesus, “I will send you the Holy Spirit. You will not be left alone like orphans. I will always be with you.”

Jesus introduces the Holy Spirit with two references in this passage: he speaks of the “Counselor” and of the “Spirit of truth.” Listen: “When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me.”

The reference of “Counselor” is filled with rich connotations. The word (parakleet) contains such meanings as “intercessor,” “mediator,” “someone who appears in another’s behalf,” a “helper.” The Holy Spirit, in short, stands by us and seeks our good.

Jesus’ reference to the Holy Spirit as the “Spirit of truth,” points to the divine character and essence of the Holy Spirit. There is no guile, no deceit in the Holy Spirit; in fact, his actions center on and flow from truth. The Holy Spirit is truth. In fact, like Jesus, who claims to be the “Way, the Truth, and the Life,” the Holy Spirit communicates that truth.

One in essence with God the Father and God the Son, the Holy Spirit is indeed the Spirit of truth. And the coming and work of the Holy Spirit concern the world and all God’s people. Be aware and open to the work of the Holy Spirit in you and through you.

Jesus has much to say about the work of the Holy Spirit. We could summarize the work of the Holy Spirit under two headings: He communicates, and He advocates.

Listen, for example, to some of Jesus’ references to the Holy Spirit and his work of communication: (15:26) “When the Counselor comes…he will testify about me.” Bearing witness to Christ and doing so in us and through us, is the work of the Holy Spirit. That’s why Jesus connects the Holy Spirit with his disciples, saying, “When the Counselor comes…he will testify about me. And you also must testify for you have been with me from the beginning.”

The work of communication also shows itself in the Holy Spirit guiding us in the truth. That guidance calls for a speaking and a telling or forth telling of the truth. Listen: (16:13) “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.”

Communicating to God’s people is at the heart of the Holy Spirit’s work. It’s a work that brings glory to Christ, for the Holy Spirit leads us at all times to Christ who embodies the living truth and word of God. And thus we hear the Lord Jesus summarize the Spirit’s work of communication saying, “He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you.” Thus the Holy Spirit is a grand communicator.

In vs. 8 and 9, however, the Lord Jesus also helps us see that the Holy Spirit is an advocate. Using the image of a lawyer who does both--pressing charges in a courtroom, as well as defending the accused—the Lord Jesus gives us insight into the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives and world. Listen: “When (the Holy Spirit) comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteous-ness and judgment….”

In this legal image of the work of the Holy Spirit we notice three elements: there is the charge of sin; there is the standard by which sin is measured; and there is the verdict or judgment pronounced. Thus we hear Jesus say: “When the Holy Spirit comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.”

The Holy Spirit, then, as advocate or legal counsel, convicts human hearts of sin and unbelief, so that people may come to repentance and faith. Those who believe find life and salvation in Christ. But those who reject the truth, who persist in unbelief and in their rejection of Jesus, stand guilty and find themselves under judgment.

The Holy Spirit convicts people by using the standard of righteousness against which the charge of sin is made. That standard centers on Jesus’ work of atonement: his death and resurrection and ascension underscore that Jesus is truly righteous. People crucified Jesus because they considered him a blasphemer, an unrighteous man.

But Jesus’ resurrection and ascension into the throne room and very presence of God the Father shows that Jesus is righteous in God’s eyes. His work of reconciling the world to God by paying for our sins is acceptable in God’s sight. In fact, because of Jesus’ work, we are being justified, made right in the sight of God. Jesus’ work of righteousness, then, is the standard against which people are convicted of their sins and also being judged for their sins.

The verdict or judgment on sin does not simply pertain to unbelievers but also to the prince of this world, Satan, the Father of all lies and the deceiver of all people. When Christ died and rose again, he broke the back of Satan; he released us from the bondage to sin; he took away any claim that Satan may have had on us because of our own sins; for Jesus died and rose again for our sake and for the sake of all God’s creation. Thus Satan and all who side with him stand under judgment.

And that’s why I say that the coming and the work of the Holy Spirit concern the world and all God’s people. Let’s be aware and open to the work of the Holy Spirit in us and through us.

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As we compress Jesus’ teaching in this gospel passage, let me apply the following insights:

(1) We are blessed: The coming and work of the Holy Spirit means that we are not alone—left behind like orphans. Even though Christ himself has ascended to the throne room of God the Father, Christ’s Spirit accompanies us throughout life and history. We are blessed.

The blessing of God’s Spirit extends not only to his presence but also to his workings in our lives: the Spirit awakens us to faith in Christ; he renews our spirit; he gives us hope, strength and grace to face the realities and troubles in life. He guides and guards us; he gives us wisdom from above, and he is eager to use us each day to bring glory to Christ. We are blessed, indeed!

(2) We are instruments: Jesus mentioned in the text that the Holy Spirit would testify about Jesus. The Spirit, however, does so through you and me who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. We are co-workers with the Spirit of God in bearing witness to Jesus. In word and deed, we reflect the Lord Jesus’ love and presence in our lives.

Thus we are called to bear fruit—of love and kindness and patience, for example. And thus we are called to be “filled with the Holy Spirit,” to avoid “grieving the Holy Spirit,” and be “clothed” with the Holy Spirit. All of this means that we offer ourselves each day as vessels or instruments in the hand of the Spirit of God. Today is a good day to do so. Surrender yourself to the Spirit of Christ and discover his presence and work in you and through you. We are instruments in his hand.

(3) We are in for a ride: There are many television preachers and evangelists today who proclaim a false gospel; giving people the impression that becoming a Christian is about health and wealth. Following Jesus, however, and bearing witness to him in a world that hates God and his Word, come with consequences that may lead to persecution, mockery, and even a martyr’s death.

The notion that all will be rosy once you come to faith in Christ is an awful heresy. The history of the Christian Church bears this out. And the words of Jesus ring true when he says in the text: “All this I have told you so that you will not go astray. They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, a time is comingwhen anyone who kills you will think he is offering a service to God. They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me. I have told you this, so that when the time comes you will remember that I warned you.”

To be sure, yes, being blessed and being an instrument in the hands of the Holy Spirit means that we are in for a ride—a ride of joy, but also struggles, a ride of peace that passes all understanding, but also a ride that calls for self-denial and sacrifice. Yet, to be led by the Spirit is worth it; for he will lead us into the glory of Christ. So, then, be aware and open to the work of the Spirit in you and through you. Now and always. Amen!