The Holy Spirit is given to believers to glorify God. In this devotion I will try to point out how the Holy Spirit guides us to be witnesses for Christ as our: Comforter, teacher and coach from John chapters 13-16.
Through Christ’s finished work; His death, burial, resurrection and ascension we are able to receive the Holy Spirit. Jesus said in John 16:7 that it was profitable for us that He goes away (meaning He was going back to heaven. But He was not going to leave us without His presence! He was going to send the seal of the New Covenant, the Holy Spirit.) The Holy Spirit is our comforter and seal of our contract (see John 16:7 and Ephesians 1:13-14).
The Holy Spirit is now the Kingdom of God on earth living in every true believer (Luke 17:21). When Christ was here on earth He was limited to one physical place, but now the Holy Spirit can be everywhere in every believer.
Jesus begins to teach the disciples in John chapters 13-16 about being servants, His departure, a new commandment (Love John 13:34; 15:12, 17), greater works (John 14:12), the Holy Spirit and much more.
After Jesus explained to the disciples how He would abide in them and would not leave them comfortless but would give them a Comforter (John 14:1-21). Judas asked Jesus how he would manifest himself to them and not the world, in John 14:22. This begins a sermon on the Holy Spirit and the opposing stance of the world. I am only going into the discourse of the Holy Spirit here. First He will abide in us, verse 23 and what His ministry is in 14:26; 15:26, 27 and 16:7-15.
But the Comforter, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance, whatever I have said to you. Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. (John 14:26-27 MKJV)
The Comforter is the Holy Spirit. The Greek word is parakletos, par-ak’-lay-tos; meaning an intercessor, consoler:–advocate, comforter. It can also mean coach, teacher and so much more. We can see in verse 26 that He will be our teacher for He will teach us all things. He will also bring all things Jesus has said to our remembrance and this includes the words in the Holy Bible. Certainly this will bring us peace. “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7 KJV). This verse tells me to grasp ahold of the peace of God not fear; so, “Let your heart not be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning. (John 15:26-27 KJV)
The Holy Spirit testifies of Jesus Christ. He is called the Spirit of truth. We can see this in so many verses e.g., the truth is in Jesus (Ephesians 4:21), Thy word is truth (John 17:17), Jesus is the word (John 1:1, 14; 1 John 1:1-3) Thy word is true (Psalms 119:160). The Holy Spirit will bring to your remembrance God’s word for it is truth and testifies of Jesus Christ our Saviour. When we testify we are bearing witness.
Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient [or profitable] for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: {reprove: or, convince}. Of sin, because they believe not on me; Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you. (John 16:7-15 KJV)
I have highlighted six points in verses 7-15: sin, righteousness, judgement, guide, show and glorify. The first is sin because those who know not Jesus do not know the truth. They are walking around unaware of their misguided actions. Just the presence of Jesus could change the atmosphere. If Jesus walked into the room right now I am almost certain anyone with the smallest amount of goodness in them would cease from sin and be convicted of their thoughts, words, and deeds. Now the Holy Spirit’s presence is the convicting atmospheric pressure which convicts the world of godly truth.
The second reason Jesus explains is of righteousness. Righteous because He was leaving and we know there is none righteous no not one as Romans 3:10 tells us. But Jesus is called righteous and if we know he is righteous then true believers will walk in righteousness (1 John 2:1, 29).Righteousness can be another sermon in itself but how would we know about it without the presence of the Holy Spirit and God’s word? The Holy Spirit will bring righteous truths to our conscience.
The third is judgment, to reprove or convince. This is not the judgment of condemnation, but the discernment of what is right. If you look at a tree with apples on it you would call it an apple tree. Why? Because you know what an apple is and this tree has apples growing on it therefore I judge or distinguished from its fruit what kind of tree it is. The Holy Spirit is come because the prince of this world is judged. Satan the opposite of truth must be bright in front of truth so we can all distinguish or judge what is true and what is false.
The next point is “the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak”. The Holy Spirit is our guide into all truth. He speaks what He hears from Jesus, the Word, and from God’s written word, the Holy Bible. When we use the word of God as our plum line, (ruler or absolute truth), we will be able to judge, (to reprove, distinguish or convince) ourselves of the truth. Listen to the Holy Spirit, our guide unto all truth and the paths of righteousness.
The Holy Spirit will also show you things to come. This is the word of wisdom a gift of the Holy Spirit which will be in the next section, the gifts of the Holy Spirit. One example is when Peter was on the roof top praying and
“the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee. Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them. Then Peter went down to the men which were sent unto him from Cornelius; and said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek: what is the cause wherefore ye are come? And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee. Then called he them in, and lodged them. And on the morrow Peter went away with them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him.” (Acts 10:19-23 KJV)
The Holy Spirit told Peter three men were seeking him and there they were. That is definitely showing you things to come.
The last thing here is He will glorify Jesus. This is important. The Holy Spirit is pointing to Christ, to glorify God the Son and God the Father, not me or you. If you believe the Holy Spirit is saying something to you ask yourself, will this glorify God? The Holy Spirit is receiving from Jesus to give to His children spiritual guidance that will glorify Jesus. This is Kingdom work glorifying God and being a witness for Christ. You were saved unto good works (Ephesians 2:8-10).
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. {ordained: or, prepared} (Ephesians 2:8-10 KJV)
You were saved unto good works which God has before ordained for you to walk in. Listen to the Holy Spirit and you shall find the joy and peace of the Lord.
The Holy Spirit will equip you as He wills. He will give you gifts and nurture your character. Philippians 1:6 says,
Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: {perform: or, finish} (Philippians 1:6 KJV)
In Christ,
Greg