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e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e welcome to everyone it's good to be in the house of our God on this Lord's day just a couple of items by way of announcement our evening service will be at 5:00 p.m. tonight uh the book of numbers on Wednesday night at 7:30 God willing will be in numbers 16 and then a reminder that Shannon Mal jars has applied for baptism and membership so we're hoping to do that on December first in our morning worship and then cam Pastor cam is preaching in Kirkland Washington today so the lindblad's needed Pulpit Supply and it's nice to be able to to to do that so Cam is away uh so for our call to worship you can turn with me in your Bibles to Psalm 72 Psalm 72 we'll read the first half this morning and God willing the latter half this evening but Psalm 72 beginning in verse 1 the psalm of Solomon give the king your judgments oh God and your righteousness to the King's son he will judge your people with righteousness and your poor with Justice the mountains will bring peace to the people and the little Hills by righteousness he will bring Justice to the poor of the people he will save the children of the needy and will break in pieces the oppressor they shall fear you as long as the sun and moon endure throughout all generations he shall come down like rain upon the grass before mowing like showers that water the Earth in his days the righteous shall flourish and abundance of peace until the Moon is no more he shall have dominion also from sea to Sea and from the river to the ends of the Earth those who dwell in the wilderness will bow before him and his enemies will lick the dust the kings of tarses and of the Isles will bring presents the kings of Sheba and siba will offer gifts yes all Kings shall fall down before him all nations Shall Serve him amen well please turn in your H books to Psalm 9 Psalm 9B as in bravo and we'll stand As we sing praise to our great God prise [Music] of sing joy and will PR praise the Lord praise the Lord the Earth his voice praise the Lord praise the Lord oh God his and all for his all trust good and Trust are bless forever Lord Mercy For The Soul by gra to praise praise the Earth his voice praise the Lord praise the Lord let the people to deare his and all for jce his name to Mighty all has chosen toce and his and praise the Lord praise the let the Earth his praise the Lord praise the Lord let [Music] the oh God to De his all H for justice is my AFF by Mery and [Music] for in the of my S Sal and show praise PR the Lord praise the Lord every Earth his praise the praise the Lord let the to deare he is and him all [Music] for well let us pray our great God and our Holy Father we thank you for this Lord's day we thank you for the privilege that is ours to gather before our great God even Father Son and Holy Spirit we confess that you are the most high we confess that you have made this world you govern it you have redeemed your elect out of it and we praise you that you are God for us and for the gospel of our Salvation even our Lord Jesus Christ and his life death and Resurrection we thank you that you've not dealt with us according to our sin nor rewarded us according to our transgression as far as the East is from the West so you have removed our iniquities and as the prophet said You cast them into the depths of the sea so as we sing may we Ponder these glorious truths as we call upon you in prayer as we hear from the word of God May our hearts be drawn out in gratitude and in praise and adoration for such a great and glorious God who has such mercy upon his people we confess to you now our remaining sin we know that you have called us to live according to our our calling in the in the gospel of our Salvation And yet we find with Paul and Romans 7 and Galatians 5 there is that remaining corruption and yet we cry with Paul oh Wretched Man that I am who will deliver me from this body of death we thank you for our Lord Jesus Christ and the Precious Blood of the Lamb that washes us and cleanses us from all sin and we ask even now that that would be the case for us Lord God as well for any and all who've come here this morning that are dead in their trespasses and sins we pray that you would awaken them by your spirit we pray that you'd give them ears to hear and hearts to receive the truth as it is in Jesus that there would be Sinners today looking unto Christ in faith and repentance for salvation and everlasting life we pray that for our meeting together here we pray that for other churches and our local community throughout this country and to the uttermost parts of the earth we pray that from every tribe and tongue and people and Nation you would call Sinners out of Darkness into Marvelous Light confessing faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and our God we pray for your continued Mercy to be upon us we pray for those in need in our local church think of Mr newfeld and Mr Mrs Van shake with surgeries coming up we just commend them to you and to the word of your grace and pray that you would watch over them as well be with our dear sister Shirley and the difficulties that she faces and just give her that peace of God that does surpass all understanding we pray for our dear brother cam as he's away today we pray for the spirit of God to be upon him that he would preach boldly your word and this uh to the Saints there in Kirkland and may you continue to look with favor upon that local church bless Don and Stefan as these men labor in the word and Doctrine and just be glorified in the in the work of the church there as well God we thank you for the several churches that we are in close communion and fellowship with we pray for our brothers and sisters in sui and in Armstrong and in dren we pray for those in pinoca and in Medicine Hat and in Regina and God we look forward to associating forly together with these churches and we look forward to seeking to glorify you cooperating and fellowshipping together in the work of the church in terms of missions and hopefully one day theological training for men we ask that you would just bless and and be with each one in this church we thank you for all of the families here in represented we thank you for all the children be with those who are sick we know that many are sick and affected at this time of the year and we just pray pray that they would have a a restful day and that you would encourage them even in the midst of these difficulties and God bless the missionary Enterprise throughout the Earth we thank you that the word does go forth conquering and to conquer we thank you that you are causing your face to shine upon the Nations we think especially of Myanmar and the great difficulties going on in that country we praise you that Peter is free and released we pray that you would keep him from from government uh interference bless his family and bless the work that he has for him there and look with favor upon all these children we pray that you would provide in your infinite Bounty for the the temporal needs of all these little ones as well our God we pray for the Brethren and Elder at thank you for the pastors and the the Brethren there pray that they would be a light shining in that crooked and perverse generation that they would hold forth your word of Truth and bless the Saints in kumu as well and God we pray for the churches in in Honduras and and all over this Earth we thank you that we're not alone in this small corner of the world but that Christ is enthroned at the right hand of God most high where he must Reign till all of his enemies are made his foot stol and we rejoice in that and we thank you God that you are over even the political situation the political order some encouraging things last week and we give praise to you that God we know there is great great Mercy to be had in this country we ask God that you would turn the hearts of our civil leaders in the direction of righteousness we pray that you would restrain them from further acts of lawlessness and Corruption and we pray that e even in the midst whether good or bad the church would be faithful in our task to preach Christ and him crucified for ultimately we do not look to political ends to to solve any problems we look to the power to the glory to the Majesty of the head of the church to bless that word as it goes forth to the saving of Sinners and the sanctification of the people of God so please continue with us now and receive all our praise as we come to the father through the son in the spirit and we pray through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen you can turn with me again to Psalm 29b it's a new tune at least for me so we'll try to navigate it together 29b we'll stand as we sing together [Music] Mighty [Music] glor [Music] our [Music] Glory of holy is Worship the Lord [Music] glor over the wers wers of the [Music] mighty Earth [Music] [Music] glorious and through all creation is wonderful all see his glor deers [Music] [Music] BL to his people the all [Music] his [Music] with you can turn in your Bibles to the Book of Mark Gospel According to Mark we'll read in chapter 9 specifically verses 30 to 50 Mark 9: 30 to 50 I'll pick up reading in verse 30 then they departed from there and passed through Galilee and he did not want anyone to know it for he taught his disciples and said to them the son of man is being betrayed into the hands of men and they will kill him and after he is killed he will rise the third day but they did not understand this saying and were afraid to ask him then he came to Capernaum and when he was in the house he asked them what was it you disputed among yourselves on the road but they kept silent for on the road they had disputed among themselves who would be the greatest and he sat down and called the twel and said to them if anyone desires to be first he shall be last of all and servant of all then he took a little child and set him in the midst of them and when he had taken him in his arms he said to them whoever receives one of these little children in my name receives me and whoever receives me receives not me but him who sent me now John answered him saying teacher we saw someone who does not follow us casting out demons in your name and we forbade him because he does not follow us but Jesus saido not forbid him for no one who works a miracle in my name can soon afterward speak evil of me for he who is not against us is on on our side for whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in my name because you belong to Christ assuredly I say to you he will by no means lose his reward but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea if your hand causes you to sin cut it off it is better for you to enter into life maimed rather than having two hands to go to hell into the fire that shall will never be quenched where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched and if your foot causes you to sin cut it off it is better for you to enter life lame rather than having two feet to be cast into hell into the fire that shall never be quenched where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched and if your eye causes you to sin pluck it out it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell Hell Fire where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched for everyone will be seasoned with fire and every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt salt is good but if the salt loses its flavor how will you season it have salt in yourselves and have peace with one another amen well let us pray our gracious God and Holy Father we pray for your blessing upon the word here as it's read later as it's preached and all over the Earth as it is opened up and a app to the people of God we thank you that faith comes by hearing and hearing by Your Word we know it's essential nature in terms of instrumental with reference to Salvation in Christ so we pray God for your blessing upon that word we pray that it would be blessed richly and that many would come to a saving knowledge of Jesus and that your church would be more conformed unto his blessed image and that you would cause us to be salt in this present evil generation in this evil generation that so often victimizes little children and so often uh engages in the kinds of barbarity that Jesus so clearly condemns here we ask God in heaven that you would be merciful in this land be merciful to our churches and we pray through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen we can turn with me finally before the preaching of the word to 271 271 again we'll stand as we sing together Jesus your word we are all to you let our hearts and souls be now to see and love andar you you teaching [Music] you till your spirit ra our high with the of to the you all with us your [Music] Us by youres here and bless our praise and PR Father Son and Holy G pra to you and [Music] AD and till we sing your prise you can turn with me in your Bibles to the Gospel of John for our message this morning John 16 our Focus will be verses 5 to 11 but I want to begin reading in verse one remember we're in the upper room discourse this is Jesus interaction with his disciples prior to his death and resurrection and exaltation he takes them aside to prepare them to fit them for the ministry they will have upon his Ascension to the right hand of the father and so he promises them blessings he promises them uh them the blessing of all blessings the gift of the Holy Spirit the Spirit of truth that would Aid them in discipl making and church planting and turning the world upside down for his glory and in this immediate section beginning in 15 at Verse 18 he speaks about the opposition the oppression the persecution that they will face in other words if they they the world hates the Lord God most high and is Christ they are certainly going to hate his disciples remember Jesus says a servant is not greater than his master if they persecuted me they will also persecute you so in chapter 16 he sort of caps off that section in verses 1 to 4 and then promises the ministry in verses 5- 15 but as I said we'll just look at 5 to 11 this morning so beginning in chapter 16 at verse one these things I have spoken to you that you should not be made to stumble they will put you out of the synagogues yes the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God's service and these things they will do to you because they have not known the father nor me but these things I have told you that when the time comes you may remember that I told you of them and these things I did not say to you at the beginning because I was with you but now I go away to him who sent me and none of you asks me where are you going but because I have said these things to you sorrow has filled your heart 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 I still have many things to say to you but you cannot bear them now however when he the spirit of Truth has come he will guide you into all Truth for he will not speak on his own authority but whatever he hears he will speak and he will tell you things to come he will glorify me for he will take of what is mine and declare it to you all things that the father has are mine therefore I said that he will take of mine and declare it to you amen well let us pray Our Father in heaven we pray now for the ministry of the holy spirit that Jesus promises here to the apostles in this original context but to the church by way of extension we know the prophecy of Joel is fulfilled in the book of Acts and we know that the spirit of God is given by the Lord Jesus Christ to magnify that blessed name to send forth that glorious gospel throughout all the nations and we pray that he would guide us and direct us and lead us even now as we consider this passage of Holy scripture again forgive us of all of our sins and cleanse Us in that blood of the Lord Jesus Christ and we pray in his wonderful name amen well as we have seen on many occasions in this study in the upper room Jesus speaks concerning the doctrine of the Trinity not as a Systematic Theology but rather he highlights his relation to the father and then he highlights the relation of the spirit to the father and the son and in this particular passage he does likewise specifically what we have going on in verses 5-15 is the spirit's conviction of the world in verses 8 to1 and then the spirit's Ministry to the disciples in verses 12- 15 remember it's a context highly charged with the language of opposition and persecution and hardship and suffering they're going to put you out of the synagogues they're going to kill you and while they're killing you they're going to actually think they're doing service to God in other words you're going to leave the upper room you're going to see what happens in terms of the Lord Jesus once he is ascended back on high you're going to be an enemy territory when you go to the then known world it's not going to be all reception it's not going to be grow groups of Sinners saying boy we've really longed to hear about this message of blood atonement we really love to hear about how totally depraved we are we really love this conviction of sin it's not going to be that way and so Jesus prepares them in the best way possible he's going to send the helper he's going to give them another Advocate he's going to give them the Holy Spirit and so that's the emphasis in this section in verses 5 to 15 but as I said uh uh we'll look at five to 11 under two heads first the departure of Christ in verses 5 to7 and then secondly the conviction of the world in verses 8 to 11 but let's pick up first on this departure of Christ and what he reiterates to them you saw that in the reading in Mark 9 Jesus announced several times that he must go to Jerusalem he must be tried at the hands of Godless man he must be crucified and on a couple of occasions he even said that he would be resurrected again they didn't always get it in fact in that reading there in Mark 9 they didn't get it they didn't understand it well as we jump into this particular section they're still not getting it they're still not fully aware of all that is involved and we certainly cannot blame them for that we have open Bibles we have the written record we have the revelatory completion of the the Old and New Testament so we're not blaming them but they're still kind of finding their way in the dark and I would suggest that on the heels of hearing that you're going to be cast out of synagogues you you may likely be killed when these Fanatics think they're doing service to God I'm sure that their mindset at this particular juncture is one of Sorrow Jesus acknowledges that part of the emphasis throughout the upper room is that they wouldn't be troubled that they wouldn't be sorrowful that they wouldn't be scandalized that they wouldn't stumble Jesus is encouraging them for the work at hand and encouraging them with the reality of the knowledge that there's going to be opposition it doesn't lie to them in the upper room just go to the synagogues they're all going to bow down and and worship me just go to the Roman Empire and stand before Emperor and all of his horns and tell them that that Jesus is here to save Sinners and and of course Emperors are going to fall he doesn't say that Jesus tells his disciples and again by extension his church today in the 21st century in this world you will have tribulation we have been blessed richly we have enjoyed many Comforts and again not a prophet but it may not always be that way so we need to be on guard and alert and realize the great resources that we have in the word and in the spirit so note Jesus declaration concerning his departure verse 5A but now I go away to to him who sent me and the now there underscores that his hour had come all throughout John's gospel we see several references to the hour and the hour means the death the resurrection and the exaltation of Jesus Christ the reason for which he came Jesus didn't come into this world just to start a new religion he didn't come into this world just to be another ethical teacher Jesus came into this world assumed our Humanity to live for us to die for us and to be raised again for us the Jews seek signs the Greeks seek wisdom but as Paul says we preach Christ and him crucified to the Jews a scandal and to the Greeks foolishness but to those who are being saved Christ is both the wisdom and the power of God so Jesus speaks about the now as having arrived notice in verse 32 in the same chapter verse 32 indeed the hour is coming yes has now come that you will be scattered each to his own will leave me alone and yet I'm not alone because the father is with me notice in 171 father the hour has come glorify your son that your son Also may glorify you we see it several times in the Gospel of John this hour referred to the hour is imminent Jesus is going to depart from them as well note the relation between him and the father and a a relation that has made its way uh very conspicuously in much of John's gospel Jesus says I go away to him who sent me that's the relation the son Bears to the Father the father sends the son we call that a temporal Mission the father sends the son into the world to assume our Humanity to live for us to die for us and be raised again for us it reflects or reveals something of the Eternal procession the father is unbegotten and the son is begotten by the father we're going to see the same sort of a thing when Jesus says I will send the spirit so what Jesus does in time reflects something true of God in eternity the Father unbegotten the Son begotten by the father and the spirit proceeds from the father and the son and so all of this teaches us not only the ministry of the Son and the spirit relative to the father in terms of their life on Earth but with reference to how God or who God is in himself It's a Wonderful way that Jesus teaches so that we can understand who God is and what God is in terms of his relation to the world so notice he then explains or or rather uh uh he he explains this elsewhere if you look at verse 5 but now I go away to him who sent me we know what that means they don't at this particular point but we know what that means he's going to die he's going to be raised again the third day and he's going to be ex exalted to the right hand of the father we call that the Ascension and what Jesus is doing right now is called the the current session or the session of Our Lord one man said that he went in his human nature to the one with whom he was from all eternity in his divine nature so that's the departure that Jesus is speaking but I now uh but now I go away to him who sent me but then notice he highlights the absence of any question on their part he says to them yet none of you asks me or none of you asks me where are you going it's an interesting thing and I think there it's interesting for a couple of reasons first in 1336 and 146 it or 145 it kind of sounds like they did ask him if you look back to 13 13 specifically at verse 36 Simon Peter said to him Lord where are you going I don't think Simon Peter is reflecting upon the going of the Lord Jesus to his death to his resurrection and to his Ascension I think he's reflecting on a local change in fact if you go back to John 7 Jesus says similar things to the unbelieving Jews and they ask that very question well where's he going to go how's he going to hide where's he going to evade from us notice in John 7 at verse 35 then the Jews said among themselves where does he intend to go that we shall not find him does he intend to go to the dispersion among the Greeks and teach the Greeks what what what is this he said you will seek me and not find me and where I am you cannot come I think that's what what Simon Peter is asking Jesus mentions that he's going to be going where where Lord where are you going to go and then in John 14:5 notice what we see there Thomas said to him Lord we do not know where you are going and how can we know the way remember Jesus taught about going to heaven in my father's house or many mansions and I go to prepare a place for you again we can forgive Thomas a bit not knowing all the Contours of that theology but I think that's the Lord we don't know of course you don't know it's the point and then over on uh 165 none of you asks me where are you going I would suggest that the question of Peter in 13 is a confusion concerning local the question of Thomas in 14 is a confusion concerning the mansions in heaven but I think the significance of the question here is most important I would suggest the disciples are sorrowful which indicates they don't understand what Jesus is talking about notice verse six sorrow has filled your heart their sorrow has kept them from appreciating the glory of the announcement that he's going to depart and be with the father I would suggest the disciples are concerned about their own situation which ultimately indicates they're not so concerned about his again Brethren I'm not picking on these men but it's kind of like what you see there in Matthew 16 remember when Jesus says who do men say that I the son of man am and they answer about all the answers of those outside of the disciple community and then Jesus says but who do you say that I am G Simon Peter says you are the Christ the son of the Living God Jesus makes that pronouncement of the blessedness of Peter not because Flesh and Blood revealed this but but the father was in heaven revealed this and makes that declaration that that on this rock I will build my church not Peter he's not the rock it's the Christ that Peter confessed that's the Rock and then dropping down in that section Jesus announces that he must go to Jerusalem he must be tried at the hands of wicked men he must die and what does Simon Peter do he takes him aside and rebukes him and says may it never be Lord I think these men again not blaming them not casting aspersion upon them they are still reflecting on the difficult things that they have heard sorrow has filled their hearts so they don't have that joy that is consistent with the departure of Jesus that's what's happening and I think that's what he's shining the light on I'm going away to him who sent me and none of you asks me where are you going the disciples are caught up more in the Earthly and therefore are not focused upon the spirit ritual and then note he acknowledges the sorrow of it of their hearts but because I have said these things to you sorrow has filled your heart what things naturally we'd say well his departure yeah naturally but I think naturally we'd also say the world's going to hate you they're going to cast you out of the synagogues they're going to kill you in a lunatic frenzy wherein they're thinking they're doing service to their God so these things that he has spoken that has produced the sorrow of heart yes I think departure of Jesus is certainly one of them but not to the exclusion of the opposition of the world Jesus is telling them in no uncertain terms I get it remember that the Apostle in the book of Hebrews tells us that he is able to sympathize with us it's one of the beautiful things about the Incarnation of the sun he takes on our Humanity he identifies with us he's a man of Sorrows he's acquainted with grief his own and the grief and the Sorrows of others he is speaking precisely what these men need to hear at a crucial time he has just told them of the opposition of the world he's just told them about the enmity of the world he has told them that they're going to lose their spot in the world and may lose their lives in the world that produced sorrow of heart for these brothers Jesus understands that the sorrow due to persecution likely explains why no one asked him where are you departing to the sorrow due to persecution is natural but Jesus has throughout this section addressed it let not your heart be troubled these aren't throwaway prises with the Savior we do that how you doing fine and you're not fine but you realize nobody wants to hear how not fine you are so you just say fine right we have a lot of throwaway phrases hello like do you know oh it's good to hear from you it is whenever you call me it is good to hear from you by the way but lots of throwaway phrases when when Jesus does this these aren't throwaways you you think that let not your heart be troubled believe in God believe also in me why is he doing that because these men are going to go out into a world that is going to exclude them from their religion and is going to exclude them from their lives he knows the sorrow of heart that's why he speaks words of comfort I would suggest it would be unnatural for these men not to be concerned God has built Us in such a way that we don't don't ingest poison knowingly God has built Us in such a way that we don't stand in front of trains God has built Us in such a way that there's a degree of self-preservation and the idea of exclusion from society the idea of exclusion from business the idea of being put to death in some lunatic's frenzy for their God that's not something that most people willingly said bring it on so Jesus knows the sorrow of their heart hearts and he is speaking calculatedly to address that in the most helpful way he's going to say what the spirit does in terms of the world itself who's in opposition to God but then in terms of the ministry of the spirit to the disciples themselves and the great benefit that they will have as a result it is impossible not to be sorrowful over hard things but being rooted in the scriptures being cognizant of the Bible knowing the promises of God hearing the cautions against being fearful to the point where we are immobilized we need to make sure that our faith is strong in the precious word of the Living God so notice what then Jesus goes on to say he's told them he's going to depart verse 5 he understands that they're sorrowful verse six and then in verse 7 he says this is actually for your advantage do do you think intuitively they thought it was to their advant Advantage by the way you know 1518 you're you're going to go into this world and they're going to hate you they're going to despise you and if you need any proof for that just look at how they've treated me they're they're going to see the next day how the world treats Jesus very vividly away with him away with him crucify him crucify him what about barabus the terrorist revolutionary oh we want him released we want him free what about Jesus crucify him they're going to see all too well the culmination of ill treatment so he has told them you're going to be treated in like manner now he tells them and by the way I'm leaving I'm going to the one who sent me nevertheless I tell you the truth it's to your advantage intuitively Brethren I doubt they saw it as their advantage in that situation you have told us we're going to be opposed you have told us we're going to die and youve told us you're not going to be there and you're talking about Advantage look at verse 17 nevertheless I tell you the uh seven nevertheless I tell you the truth it is to your advantage that I go away generally speaking that's absolutely positively true and then specifically we'll hone in on in just a moment but it's to the to their advantage that he go to the Cross it's to their advantage that he dies on the cross it's to their advantage that he's raised from the dead it's to their advantage that he ascends on high it's to their advantage that he sits enthroned at the right hand of God where he ever lives to make intercession for them and where he functions as their Advocate with the father it's always advantageous when you consider the gospel nevertheless I tell you the truth it is to your advantage that I go away if you are not a believer in Jesus Christ this morning I want to encourage you that the reality that Jesus is speaking to here is the most advantageous thing ever if I said to you what would be a good thing to happen tomorrow well it'd be a nice thing to find a bag of money that would be advantageous or to get a job promotion that would be advantageous or to get an A on my paper that would be advantageous it's not that those aren't advant agous but the most advantageous thing in all the world is that Christ Jesus came into this world Sinners to save it is to your advantage that I go away that he dies on the cross as a substitute and sacrifice that he's raised again the third day that he is ascended on high that he does make intercession for us that he is our Advocate with the father I suggest this is the most Advantage advantage just thing that's ever happened to anyone here that's saved that if I asked you what's the best thing that ever happen oh yeah I got married yeah we got wonderful kids what's the best thing that oh Jesus saved me isn't that the testimony of God's people that Jesus saved me I was lost and now I'm found I was blind but now I see Amazing Grace how sweet the sound that saved a Wretch like Me Brethren this is the most advantageous thing and Jesus reminds them of that but specifically the advantage falls upon the gift of the Holy Spirit notice in verse 7 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 we have seen the helper referred to notice in John 14 John 1416 I will pray the father and he will give you another helper that he may abide with you forever the spirit of truth whom the world cannot receive because it neither sees him nor knows him but you know him for he dwells with you and will be in you I will not leave you orphans I will come to you and then dropping down to verse 26 but the helper the Holy Spirit whom the father will send in my name he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you 1526 and 27 but when the helper comes whom I shall send to you from the Father the spirit of Truth who proceeds from the father he will testify of me and you also will bear witness because you have been with me from the beginning this means one who takes up the cause for another and indeed for his benefit so just to put it in its context you're going to suffer I'm going to go but that's for your advantage the person and the work of the holy spirit is identified here by Jesus as an advantage for the Disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ it's the way the promise of 1418 always abides when Jesus says I will not leave you orphans I will come to you so he departs via cross via Resurrection via Ascension to the right hand of the father physically absent from us no longer in this local but spiritually present with us by the spirit it is a wonderful promise now the spirit is present prior to the day of Pentecost I'll argue in just a moment that's what he's referring to there the advantage of the spirit coming in power on the day of Pentecost we know the spirits in the Old Testament the spirit's in creation uh not in it like he's part of it but Genesis 1 verse two we see the spirit brooding over the waters Psalm 336 tells us it's the Triune God who made the heavens and the Earth the spirit spake by the prophets we see the Holy Spirit throughout the Old Testament the spirit in personal salvation remember David's Psalm of repentance in Psalm 51:1 take not thine Holy Spirit from me what does that mean it means that David had the spirit but the promise of the presence of the spirit in this powerful advantageous manner all revolves around the day of Pentecost notice in John 20 John 20 he gives a down payment of this a further promise of this and note the language that is utilized here or the metaphor or the signification notice in John 20 at verse 22 and when he had said this he breathed on them and said to them repent uh receive the Holy Spirit the word breath and spirit are the same word wind is a Associated so here we've got this sort of prophetic Announcement by the Lord Jesus with a a a visible symbol doesn't mean the spirit is actually the physical breath that emanated from our Lord but that language is is beautiful and especially in light of Acts 2 look at Acts 2 at verse one when the day of Pentecost had fully come they were all with one Accord in one place and suddenly there came a sound from from Heaven note as of a r rushing Mighty Wind and it filled the whole house where they were sitting so when Jesus says it is to your advantage that I go yes death yes Resurrection yes Ascension but from that vantage point at the right hand of the father according to acts 2:30 it's the son who gives the spirit to the church to equip her for a worldwide Ministry to conquer the nation he shall have dominion from sea to Sea it comes about as a result of the plan of the Father the redeeming work of the Son and the power of the Holy Spirit to effectuate it it's to your advantage that I go away he says that's what he emphasizes clink says that Jesus transitions here from the persecution the disciples will experience to the pericet or comforter or helper who will Empower them that's the meaning in verse 7 and that reflects again in history in time in the temporal Mission something of what is true of God in himself verse seven I will send him to you the spirit proceeds from the father and the son in what we call the Eternal processions of God and himself so that when God works in the world around us it's reflected it's revealed revealed the father sends the son who takes on our Humanity the father and the son send the spirit who affects the application of the Redemptive work of our Lord Jesus Christ nyine Creed and I believe in the Holy Spirit the Lord and Giver of Life who proceeds from the father and the son who with the father and the son together is worshiped and glorified we cannot miss the significance of Jesus constant refrain in this simple small ction of Upper Room discourse on how much he emphasizes the relations between the Father the Son and the spirit Ferguson was right when their world was collapsing all around them what Jesus feeds their soul with is the knowledge of God I submit Brethren that is what you and I need when we're sorrowful when we're troubled when we're scared when there's a tend a Temptation at least hopefully not a tendency to be scandalized or stumble what gets us through man I'm a great guy man I did well this week if you're that much like me you know that's not it you know that's not it what gets us through the valley of the shadow of death thou art with me thy rod and thy staff comfort me I reject every bit of that sentiment that says oh theology is for the seminaries theology is for the heart theology is for the Sorrows theology is for the Cesspool theology is for the deathbed theology is for the sick bad theology is for the labor and delivery room theology theology theology it's not that we have too much of it in the church today it's that we have stinking too little of it we need to know the Father unbegotten the Son is begotten by the father and the spirit proceeds from the father and the son in terms of who God is in himself we see that revealed in these missions the sending of the son by the father to take our humanity and take our place on that wretched cross to rise again for our justification and then to see the ministry of the Holy Spirit the one Jesus breathes upon these disciples that comes in a much a mighty rushing wind on the day of Pentecost that one that brings power to the preached word salvation to the dead Soul sanctification and edification to the to the weary Soul it's the word and truth of God that sustains his people and that's it Brethren I'm going to do something to the people that were in the confession study today that I apologize for I'm going to repeat something I said in the confession study today Wednesday night those of you who were here we studied numbers 15 and numbers 15 is is is an emphasis on the requirements for religious life in Israel which you get a lot of in penud right there's no shortage of chapters on law on how to relate to God in terms of cult worship well numbers 15 is unique because numbers 11 to 14 is all Rebellion it's all sin it's all transgression numbers 16 more more sin more Rebellion more transgression why drop in the midst of a section dealing with sin and Rebellion a chapter on the religious requirements they already knew with reference to grain and wine offering that they already knew the law concerning unintentional and intentional sin they already knew the disposition for you know vile Sabbath Breakers and they knew that these tassels on the on the cloaks were to help remind them about the law I think the the The Motif or I think the emphasis is that if you're serious about numbers 15 you might mitigate some of the effects of numbers 11 to 14 and 16 and following in other words communion with God numbers 15 may help keep you from going a whoring from God coming to church reading your Bibles listening to sermons reading good the theology understanding more of God it's not going to solve all your problems it's not going to cure your polluted remaining corruption having art but it's certainly not going to hurt Thy word I have hidden in my heart that I might not sin against thee the psalmist said in other words the more we know of God the more it gets worked out in our lives Jesus is speaking to them concerning the ministry of the spirit not of feelings not of experience not of emotion but the spirit of Truth when Paul comes to deal with love in 1 Corinthians 13 what does he tell us love rejoices in what feeling emotion roses love rejoice is in truth the upper room is to prepare this band of soldiers to go out into the war and Jesus does it and one of the chief elements that he does it with is who is God he is Father Son and Holy Spirit and this is God in himself and this is God how he works in and amongst the sinner ERS in this age the father is unbegotten the son begotten by the father and the spirit proceeds from the father and the son it is revealed in these temporal missions the father and the son send the spirit Jesus says I go back or I go to him who sent me this is theology this is trinitarian theology this is the theology that has sustained the church the theology that has defined the church the theology that will ever sustain the church and the theology that has fed God's people in the midst of sorrow in the midst of Affliction in the midst of a world that's going to kill you and think that they're doing service to God I couldn't think of anything and this reflects obviously the infinite wisdom of God Almighty I couldn't have done any better I could not have in a million worlds imagine how comforting verse 7 could possibly be it's to your advantage that I go away I'd have been that guy what do you mean advantage that you're we don't want you to go away we want you to stay with us always especially when we go out there and the world hates us we want your protection he's saying you've got my protection you've got my presence you've got my power you've got everything necessary so that when the time comes you can go stand in synagogues and preach me Jesus as the Messiah so that you can stand between before Kings and and preach that Jesus is the Messiah remember that bit in Acts I think it's 25 when Paul is before fesus and Festus says Paul much learning is driving you mad what would you have said in that situation I I yeah I it sounds pretty mad he says I am not mad most noble fastest but I speak the words of truth and reason man how does he do that because Paul is8 foot tall and bulletproof no because Jesus sent the helper how does Paul stand up to the epicurian and stoic philosophers at Mars Hill in Acts 17 cuz Paul's 8ot tall and both proof bring on all your philosophers I'll tear them up no because of the spirit promised by Jesus that is the advantage of his people the spirit and we'll end here we're not going to push the the the conviction of the world in this sermon I don't want to I don't want to taex your your patience and and my throat but with reference to the ministry of the spirit I just I just want to close with two thoughts here the necessity of faithful perseverance in a hostile world this is you know Paramount verse seven and the advantage that they will receive is not divorced from 1518 to 164 it's why it's always good when you do your Bible study and you do your Bible reading to read stuff in context what what's happening what's what's the lay of the land here what's going on larger context Upper Room Jesus with his 12 fitting them preparing them encouraging them so they can go out and turn the world upside down but immediate context I just told you you're going to suffer you may die you're certainly going to be excluded from the synagogues once you start preaching Jesus as the Messiah because it's a stumbling block to the unbelieving Jews so that's the particular context so I think the particular emphasis is NE uh the necessity of faithful perseverence in a hostile world now just in terms of the upper room the difficulties that we Face we going to go by extension from these Apostles to us the difficulties we face he's already spoken of that in 141 27b look at 141 let not your heart be troubled then notice 1427 B let not your heart be troubled neither Let It Be Afraid as well the presence of fear so trouble and fear Don't Let It Be Afraid see the fear of God is a good thing the fear of man is not a good thing and the only thing that really dispossesses the fear of man from the heart is more fear of God because too much fear of man will dispossess the heart from the fear of God so best to fear God and you won't fear man as well the potential for stumbling as a result to difficult things notice in 161 these things I have spoken to you that you should not be made to stumble again he's able to sympathize he knows what human nature nature is he knows the propensity of the of the heart of his people he knows the tendency so he wants us to understand the troubles we face but as well he wants us to understand the promises that we need we don't need bumper sticker theology we need the truth of God's holy word we need the promises of Jesus all of which are yay and amen in him and we need to walk according to that whatever our eyes may dictate otherwise we need to know that he shall have dominion from sea to Sea we need to know what the psalmist in Psalm 46 be still and know that I am God I will be exalted among the Nations I will be exalted in the earth may not most likely the way things look be in our lifetime but but God is yay and amen Brethren it's not contingent he plans and he purposes and he accomplishes and then he wants wants us to know the helper that we have 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 so the ministry of the holy spirit is where I want to end he is the disciples power Paul makes an interesting statement in 1 Corinthians chapter 2 yeah we're good 1 Corinthians 2 you can turn there 1 Corinthians chapter 2 verse one imagine that you're in a church and you're on the board hiring the new pastor and Paul stands up for his interview or sits there and this is how he presents and I Brethren when I came to you did not come with Excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of god notice verse three we'll get back to two but notice verse three I was with you in weakness and fear and in much trembling my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom do do you think he'd get a job in a church today seriously he doesn't seem capable he doesn't seem powerful he doesn't seem to be the Mover and the Shaker I mean come on could you point or paint yourself in a worst possible light you know hit the road hit it hit it Paul we got another guy coming and he's presents much better kind of looks like Joel ostein has a nice big voice doesn't seem to be fearful he's going to be our guy Paul and himself tells you I'm nothing I I have nothing I can do nothing except notice in verse two for I determine not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified that was Paul's Central Focus that was Paul's Central message that was everything for Paul again because of the Helper because of the ministry of the spirit the spirit shines the light upon the Redeemer King and then he goes on to say after the section in verse four that we read we'll just repeat it my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom but in demonstration of the spirit and of power imagine being the church that turfed the Apostle Paul because he presented so weakly and yet it was the Apostle Paul that when he preached it was a demonstration of the spirit and power why because he determined to know nothing among them except Jesus Christ and him crucified why verse five that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God I wonder what Paul would say to the celebrity preacher culture that we face today in North America this is my celebrity preacher this is my hero this is the guy I listen to all the time that's exactly what he is saying is not what's supposed to happen oh that guy's really great we need guys like Spurgeon let the name of Charles Spurgeon die let the name of Jesus Christ be magnified this celebrity preacher fad I hope it's a fad that vanishes the you know with the the heat of a thousand Sons before too long it's just not right Brethren your faith is in Jesus the power of the the Holy Spirit resulting in glory given to God not this great preacher and then the other thing is that the spirit is the disciples protection Comfort Aid pericos he will be there with you in the midst of the fire in the midst of the hardship in the midst of the tril so that you can continue to be faithful to the Lord Jesus Christ in PSM the spirit is the disciples Advantage praise God that when our blessed savior went back into heaven he did not leave us as orphans but he comes to us in and through the power of the holy spirit so that Christ is said to be in the the midst of the lamp stands that's what we have in our blessed god well let us pray Our Father in heaven we thank you for your word we thank you for the truth of our Triune god father Son and Holy Spirit and we thank you for the ongoing Ministry of the spirit in the church truly this is an advantage for your people help us to see it this way help us to appreciate the resources that you have given to us and help us not to stumble and help us not to be troubled or fear ful as we see the various ways that the world uh reacts or responds to the Christian faith give us that boldness give us that courage give us that that that attitude of a of a Caleb let us go up at once and take the land for the Lord Jesus Christ and we ask this in his Most Blessed name amen well you can stand with me and we'll close our service by singing 572 572 to the Holy G the [Music] shall Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all amen will please be seated for a brief time of meditation e e e e