April 17, 2002, WE: Works of the Holy Spirit

April 17th, 2002, Wednesday Evening

"Works of the Holy Spirit"
Why it was better for Jesus to return to Heaven than stay on earth

OPENING: John 16:5-11 KJV

John 16:5-6: The disciples interpret that Jesus is going to leave them permanently. They don't want Him to leave.
- John 15:18: It's difficult for the disciples to get motivated when Jesus, in effect, says "I am leaving, you have to spread the Gospel yourself and the world will hate you."
- John 16:7: At the same time, it is puzzling for the Disciples when Jesus says it's better ("expedient") that He leaves them. (And if He doesn't leave then He cannot send the "Comforter" (Holy Spirit) to them.)
- Just as we as humans have limitations in the flesh, Jesus had the same limitations (and dealt with the same temptations--Matt 4:1-11) when he came down in the body of a man, also. Now we understand one reason it is better for Jesus to leave them: so He can use His spiritual power that being in the flesh could not allow.
  - Mark 16:19: From Jesus' death brings two consequences-- 1. Now Jesus sits at GOD's right hand, interceding for us every day and 2. He has sent the Holy Spirit to be our guide
    - ASIDE: Notice that from Jesus' death (crucifixion) is brought life (His resurrection and our salvation).
- Ephesians 5:18: This shows a mutual exclusion--you cannot be filled with the Holy Spirit if you fill yourself with alcohol.
  - When we are filled with the Spirit, we do three things:
    - Give thanks -- because it is evidence of GOD at work in our life
    - Sing -- because we are Spirit-filled
    - Be submissive -- we get along with others
- That's why Jesus departed this world (He never truly left us): the Holy Spirit teaches us. Not the pastor. The King James Bible was written by GOD. GOD gave us pastors (Ephesians 4:11) so that pastors could study the Bible and receive interpretations from GOD so the pastor can plainly explain it to the church.
  - Ephesians 4:11-12: Every person on earth has one "spiritual gift" from GOD. The purpose of this gift is as it says in verse 12: "For the perfecting of the saints [saved], for the work of the ministry (the Church), for the edifying of the body of Christ:"
    - Your spiritual gift is based on the desire of your heart. You must discover it yourself. For example, my passion is computers. I've been programming and playing games since I was five so my spiritual gift is "computers." I use my spiritual gift to help GOD by conceiving and building on this web site: churchsermon.org.
- Therefore, if Jesus stayed with us, He could not use His spiritual power to help this world, none of us in this world would have a spiritual gift, and most importantly we, the people of this world, would not have eternal salvation.
John 16:8: Aren't you glad it's not your job but GOD's to straighten other people out and get their act together?
- People in church today say, "<so-and-so> really needed to be in church today to hear what the pastor taught" but it's not the pastor's job to adjust others. The Holy Spirit brings conviction in man--not the pastor or any other man.
- Some would argue that motivational music (Christian rock bands) or a very loud, dynamic preacher determines the amount of passion; And the more passion, the more a man will be convinced to turn to Christ. The dead (a.k.a. the lost, not-saved) cannot turn. They do not hear! CONCLUSION: PASTOR SHARES TRUTH, GOD CONVICTS HEART OF MAN.
- Matthew 7:3: Besides, who are we to convict others when we have our own imperfections?
Philippians 1:29: Keep in mind being saved doesn't mean an easy life. We must also show joy in suffering ... just as Peter did while in prison (Acts 12:5).
The lost of the world do not need a Savior until they know they are lost. When do they find out? When we, who are charged with spreading GOD's word (when saved) to all the world, tell them (Matthew 28:19).
- Jesus' presence in itself was convicting (and irritating) to many; And that's why the world hated and wanted to kill him. People don't want to talk about conviction because they know it means a judgment upon them.
  - Acts 24:24-25: Felix, governor of Caesarea, became frightened from Paul's account of the Gospel and didn't want to hear it anymore. He told Paul to come back "later" (a time that was never defined).
- We "impart the truth" (spread GOD's Word, a.k.a. the Gospel) not because we're better (because we're not) but because we are the light of this full-of-darkness world.
The process is: when a pastor gives a message (or sermon) he is sharing GOD's Word. During this time, it is GOD who convicts the heart of man through the hearing of GOD's Words from the Bible (Romans 10:17).
- Being saved means we have pure eternal Salvation. It means we asked Jesus Christ to come into our life so when we stand at the Judgment Seat of GOD (Revelation 20:11-15) --and we all will--GOD will not see us but Jesus through us and because Jesus was perfect on earth, we will be judged as perfect and not spend eternity in hell.
CLOSER
Therefore, we can conclude that it was better for Jesus to leave us to ascend into Heaven. We should give thanks daily for this.
In the meantime, our daily prayer is for Jesus to "come again." Until He does, the Spirit is working in us. CONCLUSION: We are never alone. We never have been truly alone.
It is not our (or a pastor's) job to "beat people up and drag them into church." Our job is simply to spread (impart) GOD's Word. Let GOD do the convicting.