The Spirit’s Promised Presence

John 14:16-21

 

INTRO: The Lord Jesus Christ made a promise to His disciples, to that early church.  The Lord Jesus promised the permanent presence of the Holy Spirit.  The presence of the Holy Spirit is permanent because Jesus said, “And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever.”  Every believer has the Spirit’s promised presence.  If you do not have the Holy Spirit then you are not saved (Rm 8:9).

 

I.        VSS 16-18, THE PROMISE OF THE SPIRIT’S ABIDING PRESENCE

A.       Vs 16, In this verse, Jesus promised that He would pray to the Father requesting “another comforter” for the disciples.

1. “Comforter” is the Greek word parakleton meaning “one called alongside.”  The Comforter gives the believer counsel, protection, help, and strength.  The Latin words for Comforter are com- along side of- and fortis- strong.  We have a strong one who comes along side.  “We often talk of being able to cope with things.  That is precisely the work of the Holy Spirit.  He takes away our inadequacies and enables us to cope with life.  The Holy Spirit substitutes victorious for defeated living” (Barclay 194-195).

2. “Another comforter,” the word allon is the Greek word for another and means “another of the same kind,” or “one like myself” who will take my place and do my work.

a. The Holy Spirit is a person because Jesus is a person.

b. The Holy Spirit is one like Jesus who came to help us and enable us to carry out the great commission.

c. When the believer needs help in the worship experience, in witnessing, in sorrow, trial or service, the Holy Spirit is in the believer to help him.

3. “That He may abide with you for ever.”  The Lord promises the Holy Spirit as a permanent gift to the believer.  Once we are saved, we never lose the presence of the Holy Spirit.

a. If you are a believer, you are not alone.  You have the help of the Holy Spirit within you.

b. It is a terrible thing to feel alone, to feel that no one cares and no one understands.  Christians are never alone because the Spirit stays with us.

B.       Vs 17, The “Comforter,” the paraclete, is here called “the Spirit of truth.”  This means that He is the truth in person.  He indwells believers and guides them into truth (16:13).

1. The Holy Spirit makes known the written Word.  He works by means of the Word.  He moved men to write it, and He interprets it.

2. The world cannot receive the Spirit of truth.

a. Those who reject Christ cannot receive the Spirit of truth.

b. Those who reject the Gospel message, the fact that Jesus died, was buried, and rose again the third day cannot receive the Spirit.

c. When we hear and believe the truth about Jesus, we receive the Spirit (Gal 3:2).

1- The world is opposed to God (I Jn 2:16).

2- The world is cradled in the arms of Satan (I Jn 5:19).

3- The world believes the lies of Satan and not the Spirit of truth.

3. “But ye know Him....”  Believers are acquainted with the Holy Spirit and His work.

a. Without the work of the Holy Spirit, there is no salvation.

b. The Gospel must come in the power of the Holy Ghost for men to be saved (I Thes 1:4-5).

4. “He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.”  The Spirit was with them because Jesus was with them.

a. “The Lord Jesus here promised that the third person of the Holy Trinity should take up His abode within believers making their bodies His temple” (Pink 372).

b. Also it needs to be noted that on the Day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came to dwell within the local New Testament Church.  He was with the church during Christ’s ministry, but on the day of Pentecost, He empowered and indwelt the church.

C.      Vs 18, In John 13:33, Jesus addresses the disciples as “little children.”  Here He tells them that He will not leave them “comfortless” or as the Greek word orphanos indicates orphans or Fatherless.

1. They will not be left without help, without a defender, or as a sheep without a shepherd in a hostile world.

2. “I will come to you.”  Jesus would come to them by means of the Holy Spirit and indwell them by means of the Spirit (Eph 3:17).

 

II.       VSS 19-21, OUR SPIRITUAL LIFE IS SECURE

A.       Vs 19, In just a short time, the unbelieving world would be rid of Jesus; they would see Him no more.

1. The last time the world saw Jesus, He was hanging on an old rugged cross between two thieves.  They did not see Him risen from the dead, and they still don’t.

2. “But ye see me.”

a. Believers see Jesus through the work of the Holy Spirit (Heb 2:9).

b. Those who believe see Jesus as the crucified and risen Lord.

3. “Because I live ye shall live also.”

a. Jesus lives, and I live.

b. I am as a believer alive spiritually now, and I shall live as long as Christ lives and that’s forever.

B.       Vs. 20, When the Holy Spirit came, baptizing the church on the Day of Pentecost, He revealed unto believers the things indicated here.

1. Believers “recognize and joyfully acknowledge the closeness of the relationship between the Father and the Son” (Hendriksen 280).

2. The closeness of the Lord Jesus to His people is seen in John 10:11, 14.  He is the Shepherd; the believers are the sheep.

C.      Vs 21, Some people have the mistaken idea that if they are saved they can be blessed even if they don’t live right.  Worldly Christians do not receive the same insights that spiritual Christians do.

1. As we read this verse, it is easy to see that is points back to vs 15.  Love is indicated by obedience.  Obedience is the true test of love.

2. Some folks have a hard time seeing things spiritual because they lack love for Christ.