What a Great Time to Be Alive
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Ask the Right Questions
Ask the Right Questions
A little boy, disappointed that his father is suddenly called away for an emergency meeting when both the boy and his Dad had expected to go fishing together, says, ‘Aw, Dad, where are you going?’, but cares nothing at all to learn the destination. The question is a protest; the unspoken question is ‘Why are you leaving me?’ The disciples have been asking several questions of that sort (14:28; 13:3); they have not really asked thoughtful questions about where Jesus is going and what it means for them. They have been too self-absorbed in their own loss.Carson, D. A. (1991). The Gospel according to John (p. 533). Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press; W.B. Eerdmans.
The disciples had been asking the wrong questions and the questions they asked had been posed with wrong motives. They had been focused on their own grief and potential loss of the presence of Jesus; thinking perhaps He would go to another earthly location without them.
They had not taken the time to ask serious questions of where Jesus was actually going and what that would mean for both Jesus and them. What it would mean for the work of Jesus and their part in it.
All of the talk of separation between the disciples and Jesus had left them heart broken. They were feeling pretty sorry for themselves. They were filled with grief and anguish.
Jesus answers their grief with a teaching on the ministry of the Holy Spirit. The time for Jesus’ earthly ministry in the flesh was quickly coming to an end but this would mean a new time of God’s ministry among mankind; the Holy Spirit, the Counselor, would come upon them.
Many of us might at one time or another have said the words, “If only I had been alive when Jesus was walking on the earth!” But Jesus makes clear in verse 7 that the best time to be alive is during the ministry of the Holy Spirit on earth! His going away to Heaven would usher in this golden age of God’s work among mankind!
The disciples had been asking where Jesus was going, why they couldn’t go with Him and what might become of them when He was gone.
The right questions for the disciples would have been: where are you actually going Jesus, what does that mean, how does that impact your mission and our part in it.
These are still the right questions for us to ask today: Where are you Jesus? What are you doing? How can we be a part of it?
Do you see the difference? One set of questions is faithless, self centered and short sighted while the other set of questions is Christ centered, Kingdom focused and demonstrate a humility before God.
Jesus is always at work and our part to play in His work is the best kind of life we could ever have this side of Heaven. He is working all things together for our good and all circumstances in such a way that He can get the greatest glory from our life.
Christ will never leave us nor forsake us. He will never leave us to fend for ourself…He will never desert us. He will never send us into battle without the weapons of our warfare…Never leave us without a plan for us.
The best time to be alive is when God brought you into this world. The best thing you can do with your life is be a part of what He is doing around you. Everything we need to be a part of God’s plan is given us so we can succeed…the greatest of these provisions being Himself…the Holy Spirit
Jesus was leaving and it seemed everything was going haywire…that all was lost and the plans they had dreamed in Jesus were all for naught…but things had only begun and the best was yet to come! The resurrection of Christ and the coming of His Holy Spirit upon them.
The Ministry of the Holy Spirit Part 1
The Ministry of the Holy Spirit Part 1
There are three things Jesus teaches here about the ministry of the Holy Spirit in this passage. It is vital that we understand and believe in the ministry of the Holy Spirit otherwise we fail to be a part of what God is doing on earth in our generation.
When we fail to have faith in God we begin to make our own plans, depend upon our own power and lean on our own understanding for Kingdom work. Such thinking, planning and living leads to disaster…it leads us away from what God is actually doing and makes us a part of our own selfish ambition.
Counselor — Again we see the Spirit described in legal terms…as though an attorney coming into the world to make a case.
We have seen the Holy Spirit depicted as an advocate and described in terms of a defense attorney…The Spirit makes the case for Christ. But here we see the Spirit in terms more attune to a prosecuting attorney who brings the world under conviction.
Convict the world of sin — The Spirit of God goes before us as a powerful advocate in order to bring the world under conviction…to convict the world of its unbelief in Jesus. The Spirit shows people their sin, in particular their sin of unbelief and summons them to repentance ...We don’t do the convicting, the Spirit of God does.
We have seen the Holy Spirit depicted as an advocate and described in terms of a defense attorney…The Spirit makes the case for Christ. But here we see the Spirit in terms more attune to a prosecuting attorney who brings the world under conviction.
The Spirit shows someone their sin and summons them to repentance — We don’t do the convicting, the Spirit of God does.
putting to shame, treating with contempt, cross-examining, accusing, bringing to the test, proving, refuting
Convict the world of Righteousness — Jesus is vindicated. He will go to the cross, be accursed for us, die a criminal’s death…but He will rise from the dead and the Spirit will bear witness to this fact in the heart of those whom Jesus calls to Himself.
Righteousness — God’s way of doing things...Jesus was and is God’s way of doing things…the way to a relationship with God…The Spirit will convict the world of relationship with God through Christ alone.
Convict the world of Judgement — Satan is defeated…the Light has not been overcome by the darkness. The lost and Satan are condemned.
There are two ways of traveling in Europe. In the first, you do everything for yourself. You obtain your ticket, look after your luggage, get your seat in the carriage, ask at least three porters whether you are right; and if you have an imperfect knowledge of the language, you have perpetually an uneasy sense that perhaps you are wrong. ... There is another method of foreign travel. You employ a Tourist Agency, which obtains your tickets, sees to your comfort, gives you precise directions, provides you, where necessary, with a conductor, and at every terminus waits to greet you. . And in this we have an apt illustration of the easier way of traveling to Heaven... . Be at rest in the indwelling and in-working of the Holy Spirit.
Isn’t this interesting? We sometimes feel we must convince the lost to believe, defend the honor of our Christ in the face of those who reject, mock and ridicule Him. Convince the world Satan has lost and Christ has won! Do everything ourselves...The reality is this is all the work of the Holy Spirit. Not us but Him!
The Work of the Holy Spirit Part 2
The Work of the Holy Spirit Part 2
The fullness of the revelation of God is found in the person of Jesus Christ. But the disciples could not take it all in at once. There was much which Jesus could not reveal to them at the moment because they simply were not ready for it.
The Holy Spirit would come to them and give them understanding of everything they had heard, perfect recollection of it, as well as give them additional information post resurrection which would make the revelation complete.
This was a ministry of the Holy Spirit specific to the disciples but with implications for us. The Holy Spirit opens our eyes to understand God’s revelation of Himself as well…But…we are not writing the New Testament and bringing to completion the revelation of Jesus’ life on earth to the world.
The Holy Spirit would bring glory to Jesus in the life of the disciples by taking the truth of Jesus and making it clearly known so they might reveal it to the world.
So…What Now?
So…What Now?
The Spirit is making Jesus known to the world…showing them their sin, showing them the truth of the cross and His resurrection, the defeat of Satan. Many will never believe. Many will never humble themselves and submit their life to Christ.
The Spirit is making Jesus known to us as well…confirming, affirming and teaching us everything about Him…to the end that we, like the disciples who heard these words from the lips of Jesus, might glorify Him.
Everything is for the glory of Christ…that we might testify to the witness of the Holy Spirit, that we might make much of Him.
Catechism — a summary of the principles of Christian religion in the form of questions and answers, used for the instruction of Christians.
There is an old confession of Catechism called the Westminster Shorter Catechism. The very first question of this particular catechism is, “What is the chief end of man?” That is an interesting first question isn’t it? Not a question about God, creation, heaven, hell or salvation but “Why are we here?”
I think this is an appropriate first question. After all, God created us and if we are to be who we are meant to be we need to know to what end He did so!
The catechism answers the question very simply, “Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.”
Jesus lived to glorify the Father, the Father glorified the Son, the Spirit glorifies Jesus and we live to glorify the Triune God, three in One, Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
Glorify — To praise, extol, magnify, celebrate.
Our chief end, the reason we are here is to glorify God…praise (appreciate, admire and proclaim the character, power and person of God), extol (praise enthusiastically), magnify (make something appear larger), celebrate God.
Enjoy God — Christianity isn’t meant to be drudgery, boring or dead…but exciting, fun and wonderful. We should enjoy our relationship with God…enjoy (take delight in, pleasure from…posses and benefit from) our relationship with Him.
A Russian countess accepted the Lord Jesus as her Saviour and was open about her testimony. The Tsar was displeased and threw her into prison. After 24 hours with the lowest level of Russian society, in the most miserable conditions imaginable, he ordered her brought into his presence. He smiled sardonically and said, “Well, are you ready now to renounce your silly faith and come back to the pleasures of the court?” To his surprise, the countess smiled serenely and said, “I have known more real joy and more real happiness in one day in prison with Jesus than I have known in a lifetime in the courts of the Tsar.”
To his surprise, the countess smiled serenely and said, “I have known more real joy and more real happiness in one day in prison with Jesus than I have known in a lifetime in the courts of the Tsar.”
Are you living your life purpose? Are you glorifying and enjoying God?
Charles Spurgeon — “There is a marvelous medicinal power in joy. Most medicines are distasteful; but this, which is the best of all medicines, is sweet to the taste, and comforting to the heart. This blessed joy is very contagious. One dolorous spirit brings a kind of plague into the house; one person who is wretched seems to stop all the birds from singing wherever he goes . . . [But] the grace of joy is contagious. Holy joy will oil the wheels of your life’s machinery. Holy joy will strengthen you for your daily labor. Holy joy will beautify you and give you an influence over the lives of others.”
God is making Himself known to us in His Word and in the witness of the Holy Spirit. He is showing Himself practically in the events and circumstances of our life. He in revealing Himself to us so that we might glorify and enjoy Him…are you?
This is a great time to be alive because it is God’s intended time for us to be so. He created us when and where we are so that we could glorify and enjoy Him right here, right now…are you?
Conclusion
Conclusion
Would you just enjoy God and stop being afraid of Him? Stop worrying whether or not He is happy with you and trust Jesus took care of your worthiness on the Cross?
Can you live from the place of joy and assurance that you are saved by grace through faith in Christ? Can you believe He loves you no matter what?
Can you believe He chose you as His own?
And if you can believe this would you then believe that He chose you, saved you and is revealing Himself to you so that you might glorify Him…might be a part of making Him known throughout all of the heavens and earth He created?
Would you leave the heavy lifting of conviction, condemnation and judgement to God’s Holy Spirit and just glorify and enjoy your relationship with Him? That is the invitation God is giving to each of us this morning and upon every morning of our life.