The Holy Spirit, The Helper, The Comforter / The Gospel of John

The Holy Spirt, the Helper, the Comforter,

John 14:16-20, etc. July 2, 2023

I. Introduction:

A. When we are job hunting, often we are so focused on what the salary will be

that we overlook the benefit package that makes the offer much better than we

realize.

1. Many people see salvation much the same way.

a) They focus on the main salary of forgiveness now and heaven later, but

they are not plugging into all the benefits that come with it.

b) In Ephesians 3 Paul summarizes the benefit package of salvation as

being blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenlies in Christ

Jesus.

2. This morning I want to talk about one of those benefits, one of those

spiritual blessings

a) In my experience, this benefit has become one of the most precious and

valuable gifts to me in my relationship with Jesus Christ.

b) The indwelling Holy Spirit of God!

B. If you remember, the upper room discourse is about the truths that were

essential for Jesus’ followers and us to know during the time between when he

returned to his Father in heaven and when he comes back for us.

C. Jesus referred to the Holy Spirit two times earlier in the book but in the few

chapters of the upper room discourse, Jesus spoke about this gift six different

times.

1. We first heard about the Spirit when in chapter three Jesus was talking

with Nicodemus about salvation and letting him know that being born

again was a miracle of the Holy Spirit.

2. Then again in chapter 7 at the great feast when Jesus cried out in 7:37c-39

a) Here Jesus says the Holy Spirit is going to quench the deepest thirsts in

our life and he will dwell in our deepest part of our beings flowing like

a river of water.

b) John tells us Jesus was speaking of the Spirit whom they had not

received yet because Jesus had not yet been glorified by ascending back

to the Father.

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• Now in the upper room discourse we see Jesus repeatedly coming back to and

emphasizing this precious gift as one of the essentials truths they must not forget

after he leaves them

II. Holy Spirit

A. As I read note that Jesus is basically telling his followers that while he is gone

they will not be left as orphans but Jesus will actually come and dwell within

them by means of the Holy Spirit.

1. The Spirit is going to bring the presence, power and help of the Jesus into

their lives

2. Watch for this as I read John 14:16-20

3. Jesus is telling them that the Holy Spirit will not only be with them but in

them, dwelling within them bringing to them the very life, power and

presence of Jesus.

B. Helper is a word that is very broad and covers a bunch of different areas.

1. It means one who helps by comforting, encouraging or mediating in behalf

of someone.

2. He is the one that comes along side us to help us with whatever we need to

do God’s will in our lives

C. Note that he was with them but in the very near future, he would be in them.

Point out v17

1. That is what Jesus means when he will not leave them as orphans when he

returns to the Father but the Holy Spirit will be indwelling them, living

right in them, to be there to help them and us.

D. Note in v19 he speaks of his death and resurrection but in v20 he says it will

be in that time period after his resurrection and ascension that they will

understand that he is in the Father, they will be in Jesus and Jesus will be in

them, obviously by means of the Holy Spirit. Reread v20 and cross reference

with v17 “in” you

E. I want you to note the context both before and after this. Read v 15, 21

1. Both before and after it is talking about obedience.

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2. Now at the start of v16 the great majority, but not all of translations have

the word “and” to start the verse. This is there in the Greek and is a

connective that links the obedience of v15 with the coming of the Helper

in verse 16.

3. I think the primary way the Holy Spirit helps us is by enabling us to obey

what Jesus wants us to do.

4. Is that not why the Holy Spirit was originally promised in Ezekiel 36 –

Israel’s disobedience got them in big trouble and God promised them in

new covenant the following: Read Ezekiel 36:26-27

a) God by means of his Spirit would cause them, enable them to walk in

obedience to him and even create in their hearts a carefulness,

attentiveness, a vigilance to obey God’s Word.

F. The indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, the spirit of Jesus Christ living in

them/us to help us with whatever we need to live for Jesus in these days.

• There are some other references to the Holy Spirit that come up in this discourse

that I will briefly take you to, because most of them we will come back to in

future messages in this series.

III. Other references to the Holy Spirit in upper room

A. Read 14:26 –

1. Remember there were many things in the book of John that Jesus taught

the disciples that they did not understand. The promise is the Holy Spirit

will remind them of these things and help them understand the significance

2. The Holy Spirit will be sent in Jesus’ name – that means the Holy Spirit is

coming to officially represent Jesus to us!

B. Read 15:26, 27 - the Holy Spirit will be working right along with us

witnessing about Jesus to the world as we witness to them.

C. Read 16:7 – the Holy Spirit coming to them and living in them, as their helper

is actually an advantage to them over having Jesus’ physical presence with

them.

D. John 16:8-11 – in these verses it speaks about how the Holy Spirit will

convict/convince people regarding sin – righteousness and judgment. We will

give a complete message to this

E. Read 16:12-13 – here Jesus promises the future inspiration of the rest of the

New Testament. we will give a complete message about this

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IV. Ministries of the Holy Spirit in other portions of the New Testament

A. Regeneration – makes us a new creation and puts the new life within us

B. Sealing – locks us in and guarantees our salvation until Jesus returns to

receive us to himself

C. Teaches us – he gives us the ability to understand the meaning and

significance of God’s Word

D. Leads and guides us

E. Baptizes us into Jesus – he is the one who puts us into Jesus just like we saw a

few minutes ago where you are in me and I am in you

F. Fills us – makes his presence and power known in every area of our life so

that we are living under his influence rather than the influence of our best

efforts

G. Assures us deep within that we are children of God

H. Prays for the believer

I. Gifts us supernaturally with various different gifts as expression of Jesus in

and through us to bless others

J. Sanctifies us – that means that he breaks down the control of the flesh in our

lives and fills us with more and more of the resurrected life of Jesus. That is

how we are made more like Jesus!

• I think now you can see why I think the Holy Spirit is one of the most precious

and valuable gifts Jesus has given to us in these days!

V.Application

A. Now that we know some of the ways that the Holy Spirit helps us in these

days; how do we plug into this benefit?

B. I want to say there are three ways the first is prayer

1. Hebrews 13:20-21- this is a prayer of benediction, a prayer for blessing.

Read

2. Blank check here regarding whatever we need to do God’s will!

3. Note it is the indwelling Christ who equips us with this

a) Cross reference Philippians 2:12-13

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C. The second way is faith

1. Turn and read Galatians 2:20

2. It is not I who is living my life now but Christ in me – remember – you in

me and me in you!

3. The life we live right now is a life of faith in the one who lives in me to

supernaturally express his life through me!

4. Illustrate: Jesus calls me to obey him in some specific way (not be angry or

anxious or to be forgiving and pure, etc.) we have one of two options to go

about it.

a) First, we can trust ourselves by trying very hard, setting up

accountability systems, following certain steps, being real sincere and

committed this time

b) Or we can put no trust in ourselves and rely upon the one who lives in

us to do a miracle in and through me enabling me by his life living

through me.

5. Turn and read Galatians 4:19

6. The Christian life is more about the life of Jesus being incarnated within us

than us becoming better imitators of what Jesus did.

D. The third way is to walk with the Holy Spirit in obedience. Let him lead you!

1. You cannot walk with the Spirit unless you are going in the same direction

he is going.

2. Is the Holy Spirit speaking to you about:

a) If he says, “this is the way walk in it” – then go that way!

b) If he says you are going in the wrong direction – then stop and say no

to that

c) If he says release something – then let go of it

d) If he says be still – then wait

e) If he says go – then go

E. So when Jesus went to be with his Father, he sent the Holy Spirit to live

within us forever to help us live the life God wants us to live!

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VI. Response

A. As we sing this last song, I’m going to ask you to actually pray it to the Lord

as you sing and respond as the Holy Spirit would lead you.