TEXT: John 16:1-15
INTRO: Easter is behind us now, but some important results that came with Easter still remain with us to this day. Our study is focused on how believers must deal with possible negative responses to the work of Christ, after He has been publicly and politically resisted.
I. A MAJOR PART OF CHRISTIANITY IS FACING OPPOSITION.
A. In the first 4 verses of this chapter, Jesus sets forth the problems His followers will experience, and why they will experience them. These are 4 important things to know.
1.) READ Vs.1. By “These things,” See chapter 14:18-19 Basically, He had made it clear that the disciples would suffer the same responses Jesus had received: READ 14:18-19.
2.) READ vs.2. a.) They will be cut of from the religious community and family support they have known all their lives.
.b.) They could be killed because of their faith. The new faith the disciples had in Christ Jesus would cost them their families, their homes, and possible, their lives.
B. The persecutors: a.)) READ vss. 2-4.
1.) The persecutors will believe they are doing the will of God.
2.) In vs. 3, persecution will come because, many of those who hurt Christ’s followers, simply do not know God!
3.) Jesus will not be physically among them to defend them.
C. These three reasons are still behind much opposition to Christianity today.
II. HOW CAN CHRISTIAN DISCIPLES OVERCOME PERSECUTIONS AND TROUBLE?
A. READ vss. 5-11. Jesus is making a double promise here: first,
1.) The Holy Spirit cannot come to them, unless, the Lord first go away!
Because their sins have not yet been atoned for and they are ,as yet, not ready for holy indwelling.
2.) The Holy Spirit is spirit, thus, unlike Jesus in human form, He can be in many places simultaneously.
B.) The Holy Spirit is meant to be a “Helper” for the believers. “Paracletas,” = “One who walks alongside of.”
a.) First, in vs. 8 “And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment.”
b.) Vss. 9-11, how the Spirit convicts people.
i.) Spirit helps us bear witness with power.
c.) Vss. 12-15. In these verses, Jesus is telling the disciples 2 things about the help of the Spirit. i.) First, they still have a lot of truth to learn about Jesus and about the ways of God.
ii.) Vss. 13b and 14-15, in due time, the Spirit will “disclose” these truths to them.
iii.) Vs13a, Holy Spirit will “guide into all truth.”
CONCLUSION
1 Jn:4:4, “Greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world.”