April 23, 2017
Scripture:
Hymn 293 - A little ship was on the sea
Prayer
Have you born any fruit this week? Are you abiding in Christ? So far in our studies, we’ve looked at John 14, which we called “hope”, chapter 15, which we titled “union”, and this week let’s look at chapter 16, which we’ll call “comfort.”
John 16:4-11. Jesus was with the disciples at this time, but he was going to leave and go back to God the Father. However, the disciples thought that He was about to set up the Kingdom as the Messiah. Instead, Jesus told them that He was leaving. This didn’t make sense to the disciples, and they felt sad.
However, Jesus told them that this was good for them; in fact, it was the best thing that could happen. The Comforter (the Holy Spirit) was going to take His place. Jesus was going to leave, the Holy Spirit was going to come, and this was going to be advantageous. Why, though? As Jesus traveled from place to place, it would have been quite a job to keep up with Him. He was going to send Someone that was going to be with them all the time, wherever they were. That’s a benefit!
When the Comforter came, He was going to convince the world of sin, righteousness, and judgement. Not just Israel or the disciples, like in the gospel, but the whole world. That’s good, because we aren’t Jewish!
Sin, righteousness, and judgement don’t sound very comforting, but you’ll see why they are. Many people don’t realize that they’re sinners, and if they die, they will go to judgement. Because of this, the Holy Spirit convicts them, and works in their conscience. There’s a story of a 1st nation man who went to the trading post, and when he got home, he found an extra coin in his bundle that wasn’t his. He debated about what to do with it, but eventually took it back to the trading post.
“Why did you bring it back?” asked the trader.
“Well, it’s like this,” said the man, “Inside me, there are two men; a good man, and a bad man. The good man said, ‘Bring the money back,’ the bad man said, ‘No! Keep it for yourself.’ They argued so much that I couldn’t sleep!” Really, it was the Holy Spirit working in the man’s conscience. If someone is sick and doesn’t know it, and therefore doesn’t go to the doctor for help, they will finally be past all help! The Lord doesn’t do that; because He loves us, He has sent the Comforter to tell us the truth, and what to do about it.
The Holy Spirit will also convict of righteousness. This makes us think of justification. Not only has Jesus taken the punishment of our sins, but He has also given us His righteousness. It’s not our own goodness; Jesus makes us acceptable to God. That’s comforting!
The Holy Spirit will convict people of sin because they don’t believe in Jesus. That is why people end up in Hell. Jesus was “delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification” meaning that He was resurrected for our righteousness. Because of that, we are accounted righteous before God. Finally, the prince of this world - Satan - will be judged. He was judged at Calvary, and lost. He’s not dead, but if we’re saved, he can’t cause our doom. We’re now free to live for the Lord.
The Comforter can help us enjoy these things. If we are saved, there is a connection between our spirit and God’s. He will guide us into what is true in God’s sight. He will show us the truth about the world, God, salvation, and will make the Word of God real to us, so that we can enjoy it.
Reading Meeting
1 Thessalonians 5:9-28
Before we were saved we did deserve God’s wrath. Those who sleep are those who have gone before, and those who are awake are those who are still on earth. Trying to understand eternity is hard. It’s without beginning or end. God longs to have company, and like the seed of wheat He is abiding alone. He had to die though in order to be able to have us with Him.
After those great verses we have a “wherefore”. After the plan and purpose from the other two verses we find we are to enjoy these things. Edify means to build up so we can go on.
It is very characteristic of Paul to say, “we beseech you.” He longed to see them go on in truth. When mentioning those who labour he’s talking about lay people, not those of a specific office. I am very thankful for those who have laboured among us, giving out the truth with courage. We must value and support them. It is sad to see the ones who labour like this are so often the ones who are criticized.
The last sentence of verse thirteen may be just a few simple words, but if they were adhered to some situations would have been different.
In verse fourteen Paul is talking about those who don’t stay in rank with the truth we have been given. Unruly means disorderly. Being patient with all men can be quite a challenge.
Verse fifteen sounds like he’s touching on revenge. These commands make you realize this is not an easy path. We’re not floating down stream. We’re paddling against the current. It’s not easy to do good to those who have wronged you. Psalm 109:5 is a good example of this.
These one liners hit a little hard. They sometimes feel like impossibilities. “Pray without ceasing” doesn’t mean to be praying constantly, but don’t give up on it. The more you pray the more you will know about prayer.
Some things are hard to give thanks for. Our Brother Norman shared this experience: My wife and I decided, since it was a beautiful sunny day, we would take the opportunity to drive somewhere a little farther from home then usual. Just as we were pulling out of the drive way it began to rain. We hadn’t gone far when it started to pour. It poured all the way to our destination, and all the way home. As soon as we got back into the house the rain stopped. Being thankful for somethings like that isn’t easy.
In our daily path we must be conscious of what quenches the Spirit. We must be in a right state for God to have His way with us in everyday life, and in our meetings. This is for both brothers and sisters.
Hymn 361 - There is a happy land
Prayer