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"I will send Him to you."

Text: John 16:7

AN APPRECIATION OF THE MINISTRY OF THE SPIRIT OF GOD

It was vital that the Disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ understand fully the Person and the ministry of the Holy Spirit.

“Nevertheless I tell you the truth.
It is to your advantage that I go away;
for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you;
but if I depart, I will send Him to you.
And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin,
and of righteousness, and of judgment:
of sin, because they do not believe in Me;
of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more;
of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.”
John 16:7-11

1. “To your advantage”

a) The Lord Jesus, being in human form was limited by human boundaries.

i) He could only be at one location at one time.

ii) If He were in Galilee, He could not be at Jerusalem.

b) The Holy Spirit would not be limited.

i) With reference to time.

ii) With reference to space.

iii) Thus it was more advantageous for the Holy Spirit to come to the Disciples.

c) Divine order needs to be observed.

i) For the Lord Jesus to come to earth to do what He alone could do.

ii) The Holy Spirit would then take over to do the work that was uniquely His.

2. Three areas of ministry in focus

The Holy Spirit will not just have a teaching ministry. With all authority and power, He will also be involved in three special areas of ministry.

a) With reference to sin

The Spirit of God will convict hearts of sin. He will testify that Jesus is indeed the Son of God. Those who will respond to Him will come to faith in the Lord Jesus.

b) With reference to righteousness

He will testify of the perfect righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ.

c) With reference to judgment

The Spirit of God will be there to see to the judgment of Satan, the ruler of this world. Through the Disciples the Spirit of God will manifest His authority and power over Satan.