John 16:5-11

John 16:5-11 “Now I am going to him who sent me, yet none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ Because I have said these things, you are filled with grief. But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.

The Spirit came to reveal Jesus Christ, God's plan of righteousness and forgiveness of sin for all people. For twenty centuries the Spirit has made Jesus the primary figure in world history, even our calendar reflects Christ's imprint on the world and the conscience of all people. The very name of Jesus convicts people of sin, but many use his name as a curse, even in non-Christian nations. The lovely name of Jesus pours from the mouths of millions every day as a curse, perfunctorily escaping people's lips without the individuals realizing their alliance with the dark side, the world of Satan and his demons who hate Christ and all He represents. On the other hand, millions who know Christ as Savior and Lord speak his name reverently and praise him because we know that name stands for our precious Lord who loved us and humbled himself and became obedient to death — even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:8-11) Since Satan chose to exalt himself above God and thought himself higher than God, the forces of good and evil have contended for the souls of men and women, and a battle has raged in the spirit world; but Jesus viewed the prince of this world as already condemned. In Christ's mind as He spoke to his disciples, He had already won the victory over sin and death, already fought the battle, already drunk the mixture from the hyssop plant and said, “It is finished,” and in total submission, bowed his head and gave up his spirit. (John 19:30) Regardless of the devil's battle against Christ's name, Jesus knew ahead of time He would not waver on the way to the cross, allowing his blood to flow freely from his riven side that forevermore whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:15-16)

Jesus tells the disciples the heart of his mission, the perfect plan of God for mankind: Don't despair, don't grieve unnecessarily over my death as awful as this appears to your troubled human hearts. I have a wonderful surprise for you. The mighty Counselor is coming to do amazing works such as you have never seen, and I will send him to you after I go to my Father! He wanted to stir their hearts with joy that He would make a way for "whosoever will" to attain free access into the presence of a holy God through the name of Jesus by his sacrifice on the cross and the convicting power of the Holy Spirit, the same power that Jesus would trust to raise him from the dead. This is the Spirit of life, light, guidance and comfort we trust in today, the Spirit we read of in countless passages in God's Word that give us great confidence and hope for overcoming our fleshly sinful nature: You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you. (Romans 8:9-11)

The Spirit did not come merely to convince the world as a whole of sin and unrighteousness, but He came to help us in our personal lives as well. He is the indwelling Spirit of God: our ADVOCATE, HELPER, HEALER, ENCOURAGER, TEACHER, COMFORTER, COUNSELOR PAR EXCELLENCE! There is no one better, no not one. His indwelling presence separates us from the world and its anti-Christ spirit, wayward inclinations, and rebellious nature. He represents God's seal of approval, the down payment or the assurance of eternal life for each of us. If we read on in the Romans 8 passage, we find this hope and guidance. For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs — heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. (verses 13-17) Mom was sharing with a friend yesterday concerning a difficult problem, "We can do this. Nothing is too hard for God." That is what the Spirit says to us when we listen to the voice of God speaking faith to our inner ears.

The Spirit of God provides intimacy, personal communication, and direction as He speaks to each of us who has an ear to hear as if we have his undivided attention all of the time. The Holy Spirit cares about the smallest, most insignificant parts of our earthly walk: He is God's love revealed in a still small inner voice abiding within every believer. Through the power of the Holy Spirit Jesus spoke to crowds of people and to his disciples as a group; yet he talked directly to specific individuals He called forth. He knew the details of their lives, understood their weaknesses and their longings. He described Peter's last days on Earth. He revealed He had other plans for John. He knew Nathaniel's thoughts. He told a woman how many husbands she had and that she was not married to the one with whom she lived. Jesus met the needs of the individual as well as the group. God through his Spirit can be in many places at the same time. God the Holy Spirit ministers to the innermost parts of men and women where no one else can touch, heal, deliver, restore, set free, redeem, and bring the light and love of Jesus our Savior and Lord. Jesus expressed tremendous excitement over the prospect of sending such a gift to his beloved disciples and those who would come to him. Today Jesus looks to each one of us with great affection saying, "I love YOU! I made you: I know your name, who you are: who you mean to be and who you are when you fail. I am so pleased with you. I have enveloped you with my unconditional love. In my love you are perfect, lacking nothing. I make your home a garden of my love as you trust in me. I have sent you the Counselor. Listen to his voice and live in his joy today, listen and live!"