Untitled (5)

This morning we're going to be in John chapter 14 verse 18 to 17. We continue in the upper room discourse of our Lord in these chapters.

! Now, we all know that today is Pentecost Sunday and ideally, oftentimes it's customary to preach from Acts 2.

But I think because we've been in the upper room discourse so far, I think it's proper to stay there, especially in the gospel reading this morning. Because it is in the calendar we have here in John 14 is God the Son's promise to the church of what is not fulfilled on the day of Pentecost.

Which is the pouring out of the Holy Spirit upon his disciples, upon the church. So I encourage you to open your Bibles to that. I think it's on page 1071 in your pew Bible.

Now, as we think of the significance of these verses, we're going to dwell on verse 15 to 17 especially.

But in context, we ought to see Philip's question starts this section that we have before us. Philip, one of the twelve, well right now at this point, one of the eleven, remember now that Judas Iscariot is no longer among the apostles.

He has departed from them after the supper. So Philip, one of the eleven, after Jesus already answered Thomas' question, asks Jesus this.

Well, Jesus, let's set the context. The disciples are troubled at this point. Jesus had just told them in the preceding verses, in the preceding chapter, one of you will betray me.

He told Peter, you will deny me, but I will save you. So you can imagine they are troubled. Jesus is talking, even now, more than ever, about his impending death.

And so Jesus tells them, let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God. Believe also in me. In my Father's house, there are many rooms. He starts chapter 14.

He goes on there and tells them of the fact that he is going back to prepare a place for them. He tells them that he is the way, the truth, and the life in the preceding verses.

He tells them, if you have known me, you have known my Father also. But then Philip asks, in verse 8, Lord.

This is in response to Jesus saying, if you know me, you have known the Father. Philip asks, Lord, show us the Father and it is enough for us. Show us the Father and it is enough for us.

Now, on the surface, that seems like a really, you know, worthy request of the Lord. Yes, you said if we know you have seen the Father. Show us the Father and it is enough.

But look at how Jesus responds to that request of Philip. Jesus seems a bit disappointed in his disciple. Have I been with you so long and you still do not know me?

Philip, whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you then say, show us the Father? Jesus, in these opening verses from verse 8 to 11, is declaring his sufficiency for his disciples.

He is all sufficient. He is all they need. You can't go any further than Jesus. That's what Philip is asking. Well, yeah, we see you, Jesus, and we've seen all you've done.

That's the implication that Jesus says, have I been with you this long? You've seen all I've done. You've seen my miracles. You've seen me multiply loads of fishes to feed thousands. You've seen me walk on water.

You've seen me heal the sick. You've seen me raise Lazarus three days dead. You've seen all of it. So Jesus is saying to him, you can't go any further than me.

If you've seen me, you've seen God the Father. You can't know God without Jesus. Remember what he said earlier in these verses.

He is the way. He is the intermediary to the invisible God. The incarnate Christ. This reminds me of Hebrews, the beginning verses of Hebrews chapter 1.

Long ago, the author of Hebrews tells us, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets.

We have the whole testament. God revealing himself to his people by the prophets. But, the author of Hebrews continues, in these last days, he has spoken to us by his Son.

That is Jesus Christ. Whom he appointed the heir of all things. Through whom also he created the world. Jesus. Jesus Christ.

Jesus. He is the final word of God. He is the last word about God. He is the true and sufficient revelation of God.

And that's what Jesus is affirming in these verses to Philip. You've seen me. You've seen the Father. You know me. You know the Father.

You have a relationship with me. You have relationship with the Father. So, Jesus affirms this to him.

And he says to him, believe, Philip. Believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Or else believe on the accounts of the works themselves. The miracles of Jesus are given.

This is important also to help us to see. The miracles that Jesus gives are given to authenticate his words. So, believe in my word. Believe in the signs that prove my words to be true.

How long have you been coming to church? That's the question that we ought to ask ourselves today. How long? Are you like Philip? How long have you been coming to church and you do not yet know Christ? Or maybe you don't know that Jesus.

Maybe you think you know Christ. But you don't know yet that he is the perfect and final revelation from God. Maybe you're looking beyond him to something else in order to know God.

Jesus says to you as he says to Philip. He says to us this morning. Look at me. If you know me, you already know the Father. If you have a relationship with me, you already have a relationship with the Father.

And Jesus continues in the next verse 12 to 14. He says to his disciples. Truly, truly I say to you. Whoever believes in me, we will also do the works that I do.

And greater works than these will he do. Because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do.

That the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it. This is Jesus' word to his apostles.

Now we must be careful in these verses to see what Jesus is actually saying. Not what we want him to say. Is Jesus saying in these verses that we will be able to do more miracles in greater quality than he did?

If that is what he is saying, then we have to conclude that Jesus' words hasn't come to pass. Do you know?

And I want us to examine it here. Do you know of any church since the gospel's account of Jesus' early ministries? When miracles were done so consistently and with such great power as in Christ's earthly ministry on earth?

Do you know of any pastors that walk on water? Some of them claim to. If they do that, they're charlatans. Run away. Do you know of any that are feeding, you know, thousands and thousands of people with just a little boy's lunch ration?

Do you know of any pastors that are going into towns and healing all the sick and infirmed? All of these things we see in Jesus' earthly ministry.

And rightly so in this consecrated time. Because who is Jesus? God. God incarnate.

So when he walks among us, there are signs of his divinity. There are signs of his power. Now, that is not to say that the Holy Spirit and God, the Father and Son and the Holy Spirit, do not still operate and function in the world and in the church.

That still happens. But we must be careful not to interpret these words to say, oh, well, yeah, we will be like Jesus. You know, doing the kind of things he does.

And even with greater quality than he did. That is not what Jesus is saying here. Let's look closely. So what does Jesus mean when he says greater works?

I think the clue is in the text itself. Look what he says at the end there. Greater works than these will he do. Who is he there?

He or she, really. Whoever believes in me. That is, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do. Greater works than these will he do. But on what basis, what's the ground for which whoever believes in Jesus will do these greater works?

It's because I am going to the Father. We spoke of this last week. As Jesus speaks of his impending death, which is the path to his exaltation.

His enthronement and his ascension as he enters into heaven as a conquering king, having overcome sin and death. In his return to glory.

In his return to glory. The glory he had before with the Father. Before he came into the world and took on human flesh. It is because he is going back.

Because he is returning to his Father. It's because of his ascension into heaven. That this new age has dawned. And this new age is the life-giving power of the Son.

In this new age, he pours out afresh on the world his power. In the power of the Holy Spirit. So we ought to see the context of what Jesus is saying here.

In light of what he is saying to his disciples. Our work, Jesus says, greater works will he do. Whoever believes in me. The work that Jesus talks of.

First has to be the church's obedient proclamation of who he is. That is the work. That is the primary work that Jesus gives us.

Remember the Great Commission. What is the work that Jesus leaves the church? To proclaim his gospel to the ends of the earth.

This is the primary work. And this work that we do it. The church does it. Whoever believes in Jesus. Whenever you proclaim the gospel. You do it in the light of Jesus' triumph.

Through his death and resurrection. You do it. This is why Pentecost is important. We proclaim Christ. Empowered by the pouring out of his spirit on us.

We are in this dawning of a new age. We have greater clarity. We have greater clarity of the person and work of Jesus Christ. In light of what he has accomplished.

His death, resurrection and ascension. Do you see it? I think. He says it. Let's look at one of the passages we read this morning.

In Acts chapter 2. Peter. He says to them. Whatever you ask in my name. This will I do. That the Father may be glorified.

Look at Peter. Look at all the apostles actually. Not just him. Where were they? Before Pentecost. Cowering. Afraid.

Now you might say they're cowards. But if I was with them. If all of us were with them. We will be cowering. In that room as well. But what happened after the Holy Spirit was poured out on them.

When they were indwelled with the power of the Holy Spirit. This same Peter. Who in fear. Weeks earlier. Had denied Jesus.

To a little girl. Now stands in front of thousands. And proclaims. The gospel of Jesus Christ. In power.

And what happens as a result of his proclamation. Thousands. Three thousand to be exact. Came to know the Lord Jesus Christ. Now. This is the greater works that Jesus speaks of.

You don't actually see that kind of harvest. Even in Jesus' early ministry. He spoke to thousands. But remember what happens. They all left him. They left.

And Jesus turns to his apostles. Will you also leave? That's also a comfort actually to us. Jesus spoke. And there's no better teacher.

There is no better preacher. Than our Lord. Yet. People didn't hear. Crowds. Thousands left. Because his words were too hard. But now.

It's the dawning of the new age. The pouring out of the Holy Spirit. This is the power in which. A proclamation of the gospel goes. This is the greater works. That Jesus speaks of.

That even as Peter. Speaks. Thousands come. We are beneficiaries. Of this. Pentecost. This pouring out of the Holy Spirit. You see the spread of the gospel.

It can't be contained. Persecution can't contain it. Heresy can't contain it. The gospel goes forth with power. In China.

There are more Christians. Perhaps. On the Lord's day. Even though they are. Most of them are worshipping. In hiding. Than perhaps even. Any other country in Europe.

Maybe even. The United States of America. The gospel goes forth. With power. And Jesus says to us.

Whatever you ask in my name. This I will do. That the Father may be glorified. In the Son. If you ask me anything. These are comforting words.

I will do it. Jesus says. Now this shows. That the greater works. Which we will do. Are in fact. Ultimately. Do you see it?

His work. Because he says. If you ask me anything in my name. I will do it. Jesus promises us. That whatever we ask in his name.

Will be done. He will do it. He does the work. Through us. When we are spirit filled. Believers. When we as spirit filled believers.

Pray to him. You see. The close connection. Of the proclamation of the gospel. And prayer. Right there. When we pray to him. As we proclaim his word.

When we seek him. He works through us. In the power of the Holy Spirit. To do. What he promises to do. The prayers spoken of here.

Are prayers. That lead. Look there. It's not prayers for. Your 401k to triple. It's not prayers for. A new mansion.

It's not even prayers for elf. And wealth. And wealth. As some will tell you. That's what it's about. Here. Look. What is the point of this prayer?

That the father. May be glorified. In the son. That's the prayer. That is the prayer. To which we pray. The prayers spoken for.

Are the prayers. That lead to the father. Being glorified in the son. Who's being glorified? The father. In the son. Not us.

Oftentimes we pray. For our own glory. Towards our own ends. Jesus says here. The prayer that I will answer.

Are prayers. That. That. That. Ends. In God the father. And the son. Being glorified. That is Jesus's whole work.

After all. Isn't it? His work. Is to glorify. His father. And in as much. As we seek to glorify. The father. Jesus promises us.

That he will work through us. To continue his mission. That is a comfort. For the church. Now that doesn't mean. That there are no benefits. That attends that.

To us. But ultimately. Our purpose. As the church of Christ. Is to seek. The glorification. Of God the father. In God the son. In the power of God.

The Holy Spirit. Now let's look at these. Closing verses. Because all of these things. Jesus has promised. And he's promising. The apostles. And us.

The church. Those who will come. Come to believe later. But how is this all. To work. How is it to endure.

How are we going to appropriate. All of these many. Worthy promises. That God gives us. Jesus continues in verse 15. And verse 15 is important. We've talked about it.

Because Jesus repeated. In verse 21. And I think we talked about it. Two or three weeks ago. In our previous upper room discourse. In this chapter. This is important for us.

It cannot be separated. Brothers and sisters. If you love me. Jesus says. You will keep. My commandments. If you love me.

You will keep. My commandments. And I will ask the father. Jesus continues. And he will give you. Another helper. Another. Parakletos. The Greek word there.

Meaning advocate. Meaning someone who comes alongside you. To help you. I will give you another one. To be with you.

Forever. Even the spirit of truth. Wom the world cannot receive. Because it neither sees him. Nor knows him. You know him. For he dwells with you.

And will be in you. Look at the progression. Of Jesus' promise here. If you love me. Only those who love God.

How do we know that we truly love God? We obey. His words. So love and obedience. And our love and obedience. Leads to. The mission.

Of our Lord Jesus Christ. In the power of the Holy Spirit. If you love God. Holy Trinity. And you keep his words.

You have the promise. Of God the Holy Spirit. To come alongside you. To help you. To advocate for you. As you.

As you seek to glorify God the Father. And God the Son. This is the Trinitarian formula. Of these passages. God the Son. Speaks of us.

Knowing God the Father. Through himself. And he promises. That God the Holy Spirit. As another helper. Will help us. To know him. And the Father.

And have life. With God. Communion with God. The gift of the Spirit. Brings the presence. Of God. There is nothing less than that. The gift of the Spirit.

Brings the very presence. Of God. Into our very lives. That's the true blessing. Of knowing Jesus. That's the promise. Fulfilled.

At Pentecost. To those who love Jesus. And obey his words. Which is the sign of a true apostle. Again. Love and obedience. Signs of a true apostle.

I'm sorry. Signs of a true disciple. Of Jesus. Signs of a true follower. Of Jesus. Those who love. And obey his words. The Holy Spirit proceeds.

From those such people. The Holy Spirit proceeds. From the Father and the Son. And comes alongside. Such people. To help them. That is the promise. Of Jesus Christ.

In these verses. That is the true meaning. Of the word. The Greek word. Paraclete. Helper. That's translated here. It means.

An advocate. A helper. Who sticks. Close to you. To counsel. And lead you. Into God's truth.

This helper. Continues. The work of Jesus Christ. Themself. Making known. To you. And me. The truth of his word. Making the truth of his word.

Come alive. In our hearts. Encouraging us. In the midst. Of distress. In the midst. Of persecution. And fear. Even as we live.

As strangers. In this world. That is no longer. Our home. While we await. The home. Our Lord has gone. To prepare for us. This.

This. Is the helper. That Jesus promises. That comes alongside us. Those who believe in Jesus Christ. Now. Even to speak. Of the spirit. In these ways.

Is to acknowledge. That he is. Unknowable. That is. Jesus Christ. That the Holy Spirit. Is unknowable. Without faith. In Jesus. Do you see.

The close connection. You must have faith. Those who love me. And obey my words. Are those. Who are promised. The Holy Spirit. Indwelling. And Jesus says.

This spirit. Is the spirit. The world. Cannot receive. Because it neither sees him. Nor knows him. You know him. You know him.

For he dwells with you. And will be in you. Now. The world does not know. The Holy Spirit. They cannot know him. He is known only. To those who know.

From whom he came. Only those. Who have an intimate relationship. With Jesus. Can claim the same. Intimate relationship. With the Holy Spirit. Now.

One of the errors. Of the modern church. Is to seek the power. Of the Holy Spirit. Outside. Love. And obedience. To Jesus. And his words.

It is a. It is a gross error. Many churches. Claim. To be spirit filled. But they do not all fast.

To Jesus. Nor do they keep his word. For such people. It is only empty claims. The Holy Spirit. Does not.

And cannot. Operate. Anywhere. Where love. For Jesus. And obedience to his word. Has been discarded. Many churches now.

Are claiming. That. In the power of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit. Do you recognize these words? The Holy Spirit. Is leading them. Into new truths. About God.

In the world. That's not the work. Of the Holy Spirit. That's not what Jesus says. The work of the Holy Spirit is. The Holy Spirit does not lead us. Into new truths. The truth of God.

Has been given. In the words. Of this. Scriptures. The Holy Spirit work. Is to lead us. Into the truth. He is the spirit of truth. Who is the truth.

After all. Jesus Christ. You see the connection there. He is the way. The truth. This is the spirit of truth. He leads us. Into knowledge. With more knowledge.

And intimacy. With Jesus Christ. Any claim. Of truth. Outside. Of what Jesus revealed. In his word. Is not.

The power of the Holy Spirit. That's not the work. Of the Holy Spirit. The work of the Holy Spirit. Is always in. In conformity. To the words. Of Jesus Christ. That is how you know.

The Holy Spirit is working. That's how you discern. The work of the Holy Spirit. Among us. And we ought to discern it. Because many people claim. To work in the power of the Holy Spirit. When it is not at all.

The power of the Holy Spirit. Now a few more words. About this Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit. Is not an it. It is a him.

Right. I just made the same mistake. He is an him. Right. A relationship with him. Is a personal one. Do you hear that? It's a personal relationship.

Because it is with a person. Note the words of our Lord. For he dwells with you. And will be in you.

That's the words of Jesus Christ. Concerning the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is not a force. This is in Star Wars. Right. And that's not to deny.

Hear me please. That's not to deny. That to have the Holy Spirit. Indwelling you. Is to have real power. Look what happens in Acts.

After all. Again. That's real power. Power of the Holy Spirit. To have him. Is to have real power. When the Holy Spirit dwells in you. You have the divine power.

Coming alongside you. Dwelling in you. We see that in the Bible. Don't we? We see it in Peter's proclamation. And actually. We see it throughout Acts. As the church works in the power.

We still see it today. Every new life. That comes from death to life. That is in the power of the Holy Spirit. Flesh and blood. And that accomplish. The salvation of souls.

Do you wonder why. At the proclamation of Jesus. People hear it. And they just walk away. And some hear it. And they fall on their knees.

Turning to Jesus Christ. You think that's because of. You know. The speaker's power to. Convince. And to persuade. It is the Holy Spirit working.

And the Holy Spirit calls. Whom he chooses. To God. So. We see.

The accounts of the power of the Holy Spirit. So. But then the question is. If the Holy Spirit is not. An it. If he's a person. What. In what power does he.

In what way does he work. In us. How does he dwell. In us. And with us. We have to see. Again. What Jesus says about the Holy Spirit. He's a counselor.

I think that's the best way we can see that word. The Greek word itself. Is often used. In early. You know. In that time. A paraclete.

Is often. Will be a word that you use. As a. A lawyer. A family lawyer. A counselor. So. The Spirit's primary work.

Is as a counselor. Counselor. But he's. He said to be. In verse. Another. Counselor. We've already spoken about. Jesus. Is our advocate. Before God.

Last week. He pleads our case. Before the Father. We don't have any. Like to stand on. You know that. Right. Before God. But Jesus. Advocates for us. By saying to the Father.

I've given him my righteousness. She's mine. I died for her. I've carried their shame. And their guilt. And given them my name. That's how Jesus advocates.

For you and I. Before the Father. Such is the advocacy. Of our Lord. And he has a hundred percent record. As a defender. He can never lose a case.

So whoever he advocates for. Is rescued. Gets to go scot-free. Because. He's paid the price. He's carried you. The brunt of your shame and guilt.

Upon himself. And he's covered you. With his righteousness. So. Christ. Is our advocate. But now we're promised. Another. Advocate.

Another helper. The Holy Spirit. Is also an advocate. But in what sense. Then are we to understand. His advocacy. For us. He. Is Christ.

Advocate. To us. That's why. Jesus says. He dwells with us. And in us. Jesus told us. That he is the spirit.

Of truth. In. Chapter 14. Verse 6. Jesus says. I am the truth. So no one comes to the Father. Except through me. Jesus says.

Jesus. Now he gives us. The spirit of truth. That we may indeed. Come to him. And to the Father. Paul describes this. Work of the Holy Spirit. In. In 1st Corinthians.

Chapter 2. As. Those who have the spirit. Have the mind. Of Christ. To know Christ.

Is to know the Father. But who can know Christ. Who can know his mind. And have a lasting relationship with him. Only those who have.

The Holy Spirit. Do you see. The Trinitarian formula there. We'll continue with that next week. But it's. It's all over. These upper room discourses. As Jesus talks about.

His work. His continuing work. The Father's work. And the Holy Spirit's work. But if the work of the Holy Spirit. Is to make known. The words of Christ. So that we may come to know him.

Believe in his name. How does that happen. In our world. This is a crucial question. That we must ask ourselves. How does the Holy Spirit.

Counsel and lead us. Into the truth. That is Jesus. And the way we answer that question. Is the difference between. The path of truth. Or heresy.

Many today claim. To have been inspired. By the Holy Spirit. Even as they go on. Disobeying Christ's word. That's because they claim.

A revelation from God. Outside of God's revealed. And authoritative word. But the Bible tells us. That the Holy Spirit. Only counsels.

In accordance. With God's word. Any claim. I'm repeating myself here. Any claim. That. Any claim. Or leading. Of.

That is contrary. To God's word. Is not of the Holy Spirit. God's word. Now lastly. We ought to see. That the Holy Spirit. Is a gift. Of God. Is a gift.

Of God the Father. And the gift of God the Son. To those who have come to faith. In Jesus Christ. He's given. To us.

In fact. He's given. To those who God. Has. Himself has called. You cannot respond. In faith. Unless you have.

The Holy Spirit. This is why he's a gift. This is why. It's not by. Flesh and blood. That anyone comes. To God. They have to be.

Given the gift. Of the Holy Spirit. In order to respond. To the words of Christ. The Holy Spirit. Is a gift. So we can say.

It is through him. It is through this spirit. That we have fellowship. With Jesus. And with the Father. And it's through him. That we. Even have fellowship. With one another. In fact.

We can paraphrase. John 3.16. For God so loved the world. That he sent his only son. Begoth. Only blood and son. Right? We can also say.

Of the Holy Spirit. For God. The Father. And God the Son. So loved. Those whom he has. Jesus. God the Son. As redeemed. And saved.

That he sends. The Holy Spirit. To do the work. Of leading us. And counseling us. And leading us. And illuminating God's word. To us. The Holy Spirit.

Is not a tool. Brothers and sisters. He's not a tool. For our promotion. Or glorification. If you think of the Holy Spirit. As a tool.

That's blasphemy. He's God. He cannot be a tool of man. Rather. The reverse. Is true. We. Are vessels.

We. Are tools. Of. God the Holy Spirit. To accomplish. His divine purposes. He doesn't. Yield to us. We.

Yield to him. And how do we do that? It's not by strange. Incontations. Or any. Invocation. Of man. It's. By.

It's. By. A. Steadfast. Commitment. To Jesus. As is revealed. In the apostolic word. The Holy Spirit.

Knows. Those. Who are Christ. And those. Who are Christ. Know. The Holy Spirit. That's why Jesus says. To his.

To his. Disciples. You know him. Because you're mine. You know. The Holy Spirit. He dwells with you. And will be in you. Here's the comfort.

And joy. Of life with God. Brothers and sisters. If you. Know Jesus. You know the Holy Spirit. He dwells. With you. And in you.

Have you ever thought. For a second. Do this this week. Why am I convicted? Why does my sin. Why is it odious to me? Why am I.

Uncomfortable. When I'm. Far from God. When I'm not in line. With his word. What is that about me. That makes me. Uncomfortable. And know. That I'm not at peace.

When you were in the world. Without Christ. You were swimming. With the rest of the world. Walking dead. Didn't know any difference.

But now. Because of the Holy Spirit. In dwelling. You have new life. With God. So that. Even though. You are still weak. All of us are. In flesh.

And we still sin. We are made aware of it. The Holy Spirit. Convicts us. Of our sins. Reproves us. Of our sins. Makes God's word. Come to life.

In our hearing. And draws us. To Jesus Christ. That is the promise of God. Here. You know him. He dwells with you.

And will be in you. May that be a comfort to us. Let us pray.