 We're in John chapter 16 verses 1 through 15 and I believe this is the fourth sermon in this section of scripture Appreciate you bearing with me as we work through these texts These texts although we try to look at paragraphs in the scripture and stick to specific paragraphs These paragraphs are shock full of biblical truth And so oftentimes it will take us some time to work through those We don't want to go so slow that we're not making progress and we lose sight of the book as a whole But we don't want to go too quickly either we want to dig into these passages and learn what the lord would have us learn And so as we would find ourselves this morning in john chapter 16 We've been working through verses 1 through 15. We come this morning to verse 12 As we consider this passage and the remaining verses in this section of scripture this morning The context of a passage like this should really consider us to remember How weak and how needy we are in one sense We need to put ourselves in the shoes of the disciples here And in considering our weakness and considering our oftentimes our ignorance our proneness to wander The difficulty that we often have with Understanding and applying the word of god. We also need to remember how gracious How merciful how patient right how Compassionate the lord jesus christ is to us In john chapter 16 Remembering the context setting the table so to speak It's the night of the lord's arrest At the hands of a wicked traitor It's the night before his scourging the night before his crucifixion at golgatha And the lord is making his way With his disciples to the garden of gethsemane In the garden where he will agonize in prayer Over the cup that is set before him and that cup Is filled to the brim with the terrors of the wrath of god Do our sin the wrath of god reserved for me the wrath of god reserved for you It's a cup that he will soon drink to the dregs in our place In our stead on our behalf Having loved his own who are in the world were reminded he loves them to the end In the garden over that cup he'll pray with such anguish That in furrowing his brow Bursting the capillaries in such anguish that he sweats as it were great drops of blood What are the disciples doing While he's praying in the garden They're sleeping They're sleeping right This passage of scripture Gives us the account Of what's happening The last night of the lord's earthly life earthly ministry Last night before he dies For them on the cross And with all that he's facing He's imparting to them Gracious and loving last words And in light of that their hearts their minds Swirling on this night With thoughts other than him They have an argument in luke chapter 22 over who will be the greatest among them in this context in this context They have an argument amongst themselves over who's going to be the greatest They enter the upper room in john chapter 13 and no one humbles themselves to wash his feet After three years in ministry with him They show their ignorance by asking him to show them the father in john chapter 14 In john chapter 16 explains that in just a few short hours The disciples will forsake him being scattered. They will be offended at him They leave each their own home leaving him alone So often right to our shame We're just like these disciples We behave often like spoiled Ignorant self-absorbed children not knowing our left hand from the right But consider with me from john chapter 16 the lord's mercy The lord's patience toward us rather than rebuke them In john chapter 16 verse 12 The lord says to them i still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now That's gracious, isn't it? That's merciful It's a wonder of god's mercy and grace that he told them anything at all, right That it reveals anything he stups. He condescends to reveal himself to us And yet his tender mercy is focused on them as they walk along this path toward the garden The riches of his goodness right the riches of his forbearance his long suffering in him by isaac woodbury The hymnist writes mindful of our human frailty is the god in whom we trust He whose years are everlasting. He remembers we are dust Now another reason from verse 12 That they can't bear these things now Is because of their place in redemptive history one The weakness of their flesh their ignorance their frailty They don't have the ability verse 12 speaks of ability the word cannot they cannot bear them now But another reason that they cannot they don't have the ability to bear them now Is because of their place in redemptive history They don't have the ability yet to understand or to bear these things on this side of the cross on their side of the cross It wasn't possible yet for christ to to dive into so many great truths about his Substitutionary death right his atonement for sinners great truths about his resurrection Those things are only fully understood in light of the cross on this side of the cross They were in no position yet to understand those things but lastly they weren't able to bear them because Many things that he writes here He has to say to us are only understood by the illuminating and elucidating work Of the spirit of god in the life of a believer look at verse 13 However When he the spirit of truth has come he will guide you into all truth That is a glorious promise. Amen A glorious promise the gift of the spirit is a promise Given to believers and it is a needed Gift right we desperately need the work of the spirit of god We need the indwelling of the spirit of god turn back with me to john chapter 14 And look at verse 16 the lord speaking regarding this gift john chapter 14 verse 16 the lord jesus christ says And i will pray the father And he will give to 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 as part of the new covenant God says in ezekiel chapter 36 verse 27. He says i will put my spirit within you And will cause you to walk in my statutes Paul says in romans chapter 8 verse 9 if anyone does not have the spirit of christ He is not his So if you're a christian If you've come to know christ if you've turned from your sin And you've put your faith and trust in the lord jesus christ You have been born again by the spirit of god then you have the holy spirit Dwelling within you But that's a promise that's a gift of god as part of the new covenant and it is a glorious gift In fact the holy spirit dwelling within you if you're a genuine christian then the holy spirit dwelling within you Is evidence that you are a genuine christian. Let me ask you the question Do you have the spirit of god dwelling in you? Do you have the spirit of god dwelling in you john would say later in first john chapter 3 verse 24 Now he who keeps his commandments abides in him and he and him And by this we know that he abides in us by the spirit whom he has given us We know That we abide in him and he and us by the spirit whom god has given us Do you have the spirit of god in first john chapter 4 verse 13? john writes by this we know that we abide in him and he and us Because he has given us of his spirit Has there been a work of the spirit of god in your heart? Do you see the fruit of the spirit of god at work in your heart not perfectly You're gonna go instantaneously from lost wretched center to holy saint There's a work of god that takes place in your heart though The work of the spirit of god in your heart to make you more and more like christ to make you more and more holy Has there been a work of god's spirit in your heart? Now notice in john chapter 14 verse 26 there That he's called another helper john chapter 14 verse 16 another helper The lord means another helper like me That's what he's talking about here. The holy spirit Is not a force It's not an energy you having the spirit of god is not like you plugging yourself into an outlet Right the holy spirit is a person. He's the third person of the trinity the word here for helper is paracletus It's derived from a verb meaning to call to one side to call to one side It's used in the sense of exhorting Encouraging helping in other words As christ departs to go to the father He sends the spirit of god to minister to genuine christians In his place and on his behalf. He sends another helper another helper like him Jesus christ is called a paracletus in first john Here the spirit the paracletus Now last sermon in our text We saw that the helper here the paracletus point three is at work in the world. Look at verse chapter 16 verse 7 The helper the spirit of truth the spirit of god the paracletus is at work in the world nevertheless verse seven I tell you the truth It's 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 And of judgment because the ruler of this world is judged Now this week this week as we look at chapter 16 verses 12 through 15 The spirit of god is now taking up residence in the people of god and we see point four on your notes The holy spirits work in the church Now the spirits work in the church is a multifaceted work many Things that the spirit does many ways in which the spirit benefits or blesses the people of god Many ways in which the spirit of god ministers to the people of god and these are tremendous blessings bestowed on the people of god By the spirit of god However in john chapter 16 verses 12 through 15 There are two primary ways discussed by john in which the spirit the spirit blesses the people of god one He's at work in the church Glorifying christ by leading or guiding in truth. That's verse 13 He's at work in the church glorifying christ by leading or guiding in truth Secondly, he's at work in the church glorifying christ by declaring the truth. That's verses 14 and 15 So think about the context with me now as The disciples were encouraged by the lord jesus christ with the work of the spirit in the world Their ministry being to a lost world to preach the gospel to a lost world The spirit of god at work in the world through the gospel preached to convict the world of sin righteousness and judgment The lord jesus christ now in john john chapter 16 works to encourage the disciples with the work of the spirit of god in them The work of the spirit of god in the church point four on your notes. The spirit is at work in the church. Look at verse 13 with me We see first The way that the spirit is at work in the church He is glorifying christ by leading or guiding in truth verse 13 says this 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 And notice first in verse 13 that he has referred to here is the spirit of truth the spirit of truth first This clearly communicates Something important regarding the essential nature of the holy spirit, right? He is the spirit of truth First john chapter 5 verse 6 says the spirit is Truth what's being communicated by this term this title is something about the nature of god the nature of the spirit of god here The spirit of god doesn't lie right The spirit of god is the spirit of truth the spirit of god Never contradicts himself He never lies. He never contradicts himself. He never contradicts the word of god He works through the word of god. He is closely connected with the word of god He is truth god is the source of truth the spirit of god the source of truth He will not contradict the word of god. He will not contradict himself He will not guide in any way that is contrary to his word And he will not lead in any way that is contrary to his word He will not dispense gifts In a way that is contrary to the word of god. He's not going to do it He is the spirit of truth the spirit of truth does not lie the spirit of truth does not contradict himself It's fundamental Right to the essential nature of god That god and here god the spirit is truthful in all things Now that should be comforting to the people of god right the spirit of truth will not lead you in error We want to know the truth We go to the word of god and the word of god revealed to us by the spirit of god He leads us into truth doesn't lead us in a way that will be contrary to the word These things aren't shifting and transitory. They're not Shadows right these things are clear. They're elucidated clearly and they are truth We can take it to the bank because the word of god says it right And the spirit of god is confirming that numbers chapter 23 verse 19 The bible says of god that he's not a man that he should lie Nor a son of man that he should repent Has he said and will he not do? Or has he spoken and will he not make it good? Our god makes it good right anything that he says we can trust him completely He is the spirit of truth Now however What's being communicated here by that title goes beyond just describing one of god's divine Perfections right one of the attributes of god. There's more that's involved in the title here. Secondly The spirit of truth Not only is truth. He communicates the truth He communicates the truth and he does that Through two primary means he communicates the truth through two primary means One means is inspiration Another means is illumination inspiration And illumination. Let's look at inspiration first right now remember in john chapter 16 Who the lord is speaking to here remember who he's speaking to here. He's talking to the disciples These are men The spirit of god would inspire to write the bible All right One of those men that is there at this time is john And we're reading john's gospel this morning All right, now he tells them these men in verse 13 He tells them that when he the spirit of truth has come He will guide you into all truth. Look back again at john chapter 14 and look at verse 26 john chapter 14 verse 26 Where the lord says 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 A good example of this promise a good example of the blessed work of the holy spirit in this is the gospel of john It's the bible that you have in your hands right now. That's a fulfillment of that promise a fulfillment of that gift That john was there as the lord was explaining this. So the holy spirit came Guided john into truth Called to john's remembrance all things that christ had said And you have the result of the spirit's communication to john in your hands and we're reading here in the gospel of john this morning Right, that's how the lord works. That's how the spirit works through inspiration. Look with me at second timothy second timothy chapter three I want to go through a couple of texts with you to discuss this second timothy chapter three And look with me at verse 16 second timothy chapter three beginning in verse 16 And here paul says in verse 16 all scripture All scripture is given by inspiration Of god and remember we're talking about two means by which the holy spirit communicates truth inspiration and illumination The first of these inspiration and here paul says in verse 16 all scripture is given by inspiration of god that word inspiration Means god breathe thaop newstas God breathe it's interesting in chapter 16 verse 13 That the spirit there the word for spirit is numus Meaning breath. He's called numus tasalatheus the breath of truth here his thaop newstas inspiration is god theos Newstas breathed god breathed right all scripture is given by inspiration of god And is profitable for doctrine For rip proof for correction for instruction in righteousness that the man of god may be complete Thoroughly equipped for every good work this truth in mind therefore The word of god Is not a matter of one's own interpretation It is god Breathe god breathed it out by the holy spirit. Now. What does that mean? Does that mean when I come to scripture? I can look at scripture and say well, what what does scripture mean to me? What do I think this means? What do you think this I have my interpretation? You have your interpretation turn to second peter second peter chapter one It's not the way this works all scripture is given by inspiration of god god's Inspiration god's breath god breathes it out. It comes from god god Is its source the spirit of truth here specifically is its source look at second peter chapter one And look at verse 20 second peter chapter one verse 20 Knowing this first of foremost importance knowing this first That no prophecy no writing No giving of scripture is of any private interpretation The word interpretation there. It's an unfortunate translation. It refers to source Right. It refers to source. No prophecy of scripture is of any private source Any private interpretation verse 21 for prophecy never came by the will of man Prophecy scripture God's truth never came by the will of man But holy men of god spoke as they were moved by the holy spirit No truth of god no truth of god has ever come about through the will of man We understand the implications of that right Here the greek word is a genitive of source. It refers to the source Or the origin of the word of god man Is never the source of divine truth The source of the meaning of divine truth is never man Never man you can't look at the scripture and say well, what does this mean to me? Right You can't put a bunch of guys in a committee in a room and have them all come up with some interpretation of scripture And that becomes the authoritative interpretation of that passage The meaning of scripture never comes by the will of man the source of scripture the interpretation of scripture the meaning the understanding Never comes from man God is the source the spirit of truth is the source the source Rather here specifically holy men of god spoke as they were moved By the holy spirit that word moved means carried along in ax chapter 27 That word is used to Show how a ship is carried along the waters toward its destination driven by the wind right carried along in this sense These men were carried along by the holy spirit the writing of scripture In other words here again men are not the source of truth Truth is not open to man's limited understanding. We need to go to the bible to get authorial intent We need to go to the word of god to find out what god intends what god means by what god wrote Means you can't put a man in a funny hat call him the vicar of christ and expect truth to come from him You can't do it You men can't contextualize the truth to better fit our culture You can't contextualize the word of god to get women pastors To get homosexual pastors to make it okay for a sodomite to be a christian. You can't do it For that matter you can't find justification in scripture for an adulterer to be a christian Or a drunkard to be a christian Truth isn't determined by a majority vote of the membership in some denomination And that that happens all the time Look at denominations that meet and they'll have a vote On what a passage means to them in their context at this time Truth isn't determined by your experience In other words your experience is not the source or the determiner or the arbiter of truth Your experience has to be run through the filter of god's word Truth is contained in the word of god as it has been inspired by the spirit of truth Inspired and illuminated by the spirit of god Now be sure That if that word comes from the spirit of truth, it is true. It is true And if it's true Then someone who believes in inspiration, right if if the holy spirit cannot lie if the holy spirit cannot contradict himself Then anyone who believes That the word of god is inspired Which most people would Must of necessity believe that the word of god is inerrant Which most people don't I don't understand the disconnection there the spirit of god cannot lie The spirit of god will not contradict himself And so if you believe in the inspiration of the word of god You must have necessity hold to the inerrancy of the word of god. The word of god is true It is infallible. It is inerrant Every word And that is because it is inspired By the spirit of truth The work of inspiration by the spirit of god is done That work of inspiration is done in other words when somebody writes to him today, it's not inspired Right when somebody prays, it's not an inspired prayer When somebody writes a book it's not inspired somebody makes a movie it's not inspired Somebody says they have a word of prophecy not inspired The work of inspiration now is done. There is no additional revelation Being given look at Hebrews chapter one Hebrews chapter one You're in second Peter just Hebrews James Peter turn back a few pages Hebrews chapter one It's important to have these things firm in your thinking in our minds as we consider the word It's so important right so important to your christian life So important to our understanding that we know what the bible teaches on these things and it requires diligence or requires study Requires the spirit of god to bring us understanding right Hebrews chapter one And look at verse one god Who at various times and in various ways spoke in times past To the fathers by the prophets Now when he says that in verse one various times various ways in time past Now consider those with me for a moment in various times Ages before this one in history redemptive history God in various times before this one spoke in various ways spoke through prophets Communicated through vision Communicated through a dream one time communicated through a donkey right god is in times past In various times and in various ways. He spoke in times past to the fathers here by the prophets by the prophets And he has in these last days now spoken to us in visions No He hasn't these last days spoken to us by words of prophecy No, he hasn't this last day spoken to us through dreams No, no, no those are various times and in various ways in time past In which he spoke to the fathers by the prophets in these last days He has spoken to us by his son. Do you see that? Now most of what you see today revealed that comes under the moniker of revelation from god is wrong And the spirit of god cannot lie and the spirit of god will not contradict himself And the spirit of god will not ever prophesy anything that does not come to pass The spirit of god does not lie. He is the spirit of truth Most of what you see today grossly Contradicts what scripture clearly teaches It grossly will take a look at a passage in a little while It grossly contradicts what scripture clearly teaches most of what you see today That would come under the moniker the title of revelation from god Is done or taught by overtly false teachers in overtly false churches By overtly ungodly people And he is the holy spirit He is the spirit of truth Most of what you see today Is reproduced or replicated in all false religion in false religion Look with me at Ephesians chapter 2 Ephesians chapter 2 And we're just taking a look at a cursory look if you will at some of the teaching of scripture with respect to this It's important. We build this foundation Ephesians chapter 2 And look at verse 19 Again, we're talking about the inspiration Of the spirit of god With the word of god The fact that inspiration is now done Ephesians chapter 2 look at verse 19 Now therefore you brothers and sisters we We're no longer strangers and foreigners but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of god Now that household of god verse 20 Having been built On the foundation Of the apostles and prophets. What is that? What's it referring to when it says apostles and prophets? Referring to scripture Apostolic teaching apostolic teaching the prophets old testament often the word prophets used to summarize the old testament The new testament apostles the old testament prophets that foundation the household of god being built on the foundation of God's word Foundation of the apostles and prophets jesus christ himself being the chief cornerstone In whom now the whole building right the church being fitted together Grows into a holy temple in the lord on the foundation The bedrock foundation the granite slab foundation of god's word Teaching of the apostles the prophets jesus christ himself being the chief cornerstone The whole building now the people of god the church being fitted together Grows into a holy temple in the lord in whom you also are being built together For a dwelling place of god in the spirit the spirit of god the spirit of truth the holy spirit. Do you see revelation chapter 22 18 Says this for i testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book If anyone adds to these things God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book And if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy God shall take away his part from the book of life from the holy city and from the things which are written in this book There'll be folks that will try to do hermeneutical gymnastics with that passage to think that you just can't add to the book of revelation No revelation is the close of the canon from genesis to revelation. We have gods Intended revealed truth given to us in christ in his son in its completion Illucidated and illuminated by the spirit of god. We have gods revelation We have the bible god's intended revelation in our hands genesis revelation If you add to that He will add to you the plagues that are written in the book If you take away from that he'll take away your part from the book of life From the holy city and from the things which are written in the book And the idea of new revelation right the idea of new inspiration Is common to all cults. It's common to cults It's common to all false religion. It's common in the roman catholic church Right, it's common in the roman catholic church adding writings To scripture that have been passed down by popes and councils It's adding to the revelation of god god's intended revelation Adding the apocrypha in 1546 Uninspired books added for an ulterior agenda 1546 the apocrypha Added to god's word The bible that you have the 66 books of the bible that you have in your hands is the word of god That's the word of god that's been given been inspired By the spirit of god God does still speak today. How does god speak? He speaks through his word He speaks through his word And that's so important for the christian to understand this So important For the christian you're in aphesians 2 just flip the page to aphesians 6 aphesians 6 Look at how important this is Look at verse 10 finally my brethren aphesians chapter 6 verse 10 Be strong in the lord and in the power of his might Put on the whole armor of god that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood But against principalities against powers against the rulers of the darkness of this age Against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places Therefore brother sister listen therefore take up The whole armor of god that you may be able to withstand in the evil day and having done all to stand And those of first importance in our taking up the armor of god stand therefore Having girded your waist with truth Right the first piece of our armor that we're to take up is truth That truth Given to us by inspiration of the spirit of god the holy spirit the spirit of truth Now secondly he works through inspiration Communicates truth through inspiration Secondly the spirit of god the spirit of truth communicates truth through illumination illumination The spirit of god Works in the life of a believer to apply The truths of god's word to your heart and mind The spirit of god given a specific task of taking the word of god Pointing to christ glorifying christ and illuminating your mind your understanding by applying the truths of god word god's word To your heart and mind that's done through illumination and we Desperately need the spirit of god to do that work in us through us right look at first carinthians chapter two with me first carinthians chapter two We need the spirit of god to do this work. We need the spirit of god to illumine our understanding To guide us so to speak into truth first carinthians chapter two Look at verse six verse six right In this referencing this work of the spirit of god and illumination First carinthians chapter two verse six however paul says we speak wisdom among those who are mature Yet not the wisdom of this age nor of the rulers of this age who are coming to nothing But we speak the wisdom of god in a mystery the hidden wisdom which god ordained before the ages for our glory That mystery there that he's referring to is the gospel the gospel right the wisdom of god in the gospel verse eight Which none of the rulers of this age knew For if they had known They would not have crucified the lord of glory When the lord jesus christ addressed the Pharisees Or when he was in confrontation with the Pharisees he told them in john chapter five He said to them listen you search the scriptures Because you believe that in them you have eternal life But they those scriptures are they which testify of me the lord jesus christ says right It's going to point to christ They would not have crucified the lord of glory if they knew the truth if the truth had been illuminated to them The lord jesus christ in john chapter five telling that to Pharisees who were obsessed with the old testament scriptures Many of them had large swaths if not all of the old testament committed to memory So he told them Those men who were obsessed with the old testament scriptures much of the old testament scripture memorized They had it committed to their memory and he told them you search those scriptures because in them you believe that you have eternal life And yet those are the scriptures that point to me right those are the scriptures that concern me in other words They don't know the scriptures Although they had them memorized although they were obsessed with them What would it have taken it would have taken the spirit of god to open their understanding right like lydia Having her heart open her understanding opened to understand the things spoken by paul We need the spirit of god to illuminate the scriptures to our heart and mind Here in first christians chapter two look at verse nine It is written i has not seen nor ear heard nor have entered into the heart of man the things which god has prepared for those who love him but god Has revealed them to us believers Through his spirit. Do you see that? That's the illuminating work of the holy spirit You may have met i've witnessed the guys before that knew their bibles inside and out Talked to guys that are our biblical scholars And yet they are dead concerning the things of god No understanding of the scriptures we need the spirit of god to reveal them to us god verse 10 has revealed them to us Through his spirit for the spirit searches all things. Yes, the deep things of god For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him Even so in the same way No one knows the things of god except the spirit of god Now we've received not the spirit of the world but the spirit who is from god That we might know so that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by god We need the spirit of god amen These things verse 13 we also speak not in words which man's wisdom teaches But which the holy spirit teaches Comparing spiritual things with spiritual But the natural man does not receive the things of the spirit of god for they are foolishness to him Nor can he know them because they are spiritually discerned You know, it's it's Very troubling in scripture, but it's also troubling in the church When you have someone that professes christ, they profess to be indwelt by the spirit They profess to be christians, but over a period of time, right a lengthy amount of time and they just never make progress Never understand the word of god Always searching so to speak never coming to a knowledge of the truth It's because the spirit of god is not at work there, right? We need the spirit of god and we need to make progress in the word of god Depending upon the spirit of god for that progress Verse 15 But he who is spiritual judges all things yet he himself is rightly judged by no one For who has known the mind of the lord that he may instruct him We have the mind of christ This illuminating work of the spirit of god Extends to all christians in john chapter 16 The lord jesus christ is speaking specifically to the disciples and that illuminating work of the spirit of god to remind the Disciples of all things that christ has said to them And they'll in the illuminating work of the holy spirit under the inspiration of the holy spirit will write scripture But this work of the spirit of god in illuminating the word of god extends to christians in this sense We need the spirit of god to illuminate the scriptures to us You know professing christians, right? Always attempting to find or discern truth apart from the word of god Finding truth in any number of things, right? You read some of these terrible books Found, you know finding theology in some movie Finding theology in some poem some song just moved me, you know Always attempting to find or discern or follow truth As they see it as they think it apart from the word of god. That is impossible It doesn't exist apart from the word of god Or professing quote-unquote christians Always attempt to find Or discern the leading of god Apart from the illumination or the application of the word of god by the spirit of god Heard it said this week this way The spirit of god without the word of god Is like oil without a lamp Oil without a lamp May cause a flash Right, but not sustained light It's like heat Without light, you know churches like that. Don't you know christians professing christians like that all heat? No light word Without the spirit Is like light without heat It's dead Lifeless dry It's like a lamp with no oil One pastor put it this way the word without the spirit And you dry up the spirit Without the word And you blow up You put the two together and you grow up Back in john chapter 16 verse 13 Lord says in verse 13 however When he the spirit of truth has come He will guide you into all truth For he will not speak of his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak he will tell you things to come When he comes he will guide you it says they're into better translated in Right, he will guide you in all truth In other words, he's going to guide you in the truth. That's already been revealed He's going to guide you specifically the disciples here are going to guide them in new revelation He's going to guide them in all truth Now based on our understanding of inspiration here the truth that he's leading you into is not Whether you should marry that girl Is not whether you should take that job You know, I've been thinking about getting a tattoo. I'm gonna pray about it And lord, you know, if you want me to get the tattoo Just don't say anything lord, and I'll take that as a yes that I should get that tattoo That is absurd That we laugh about that But how many circumstances in your life where you've skirted doing just that maybe have done that in your life We don't understand how the spirit of god leads through the word of god how he guides into all truth All truth here is referring to the whole council of god The entirety of the revealed word of god that which god has intended to be revealed to us It's the 66 books of your bible not the apocrypha added in 1546. It's the 66 books of your bible the whole Council of god now as he explains here that when the spirit of truth comes he will guide us into all truth He then gives us an explanation for this And the explanation begins with the word for there halfway through verse 13 for He will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak And he will tell you things to come now first It says there in explanation Of the guiding of the spirit of truth The explanation is that one he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears He will speak the spirit of truth In this does exactly what the lord jesus christ does right the lord jesus christ says I always speak those things which I heard from the father the spirit of truth has the same priority in other words There's a there's a perfect unity In the godhead There's a perfect unity of both word a perfect unity of work A perfect unity in the revelation that's given that perfect unity existing within the godhead He does not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears. That's what he speaks Secondly, it says here that he will tell you things to come Tell you things to come and that's not merely Eschatologically speaking of end times things for them that started right away. He's going to tell you Things that are to come speaking of all future revelation to them until the canon is complete. All right but the spirit of god In this work from verse 13 has a purpose Has a purpose to his ministry of communicating and illuminating the truth that purpose is found in verse 14 He will glorify me the spirits work In illuminating in communicating truth is to glorify christ now think with me about that for a moment The spirit of god did not come to magnify and glorify himself The spirit of god did not come to magnify and glorify himself in that sense though. He is worthy of glory The spirit of god came to point to christ to glorify him He will glorify me verse 14 for he will take of what is mine and declare it to you Verse 15 all things that the father has are mine. Therefore. I said that he will take of mine and declare it to you In chapter 14 verse 26 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 christ says that i Said to you The holy spirit is not off on his own. He's not running some rogue mission Right He's not running his own program here. It's not that the spirit of god is off doing one thing now The spirit of god does that's totally different from what christ did Or from what god did in the old testament There's a continuity and there's a unity to god's revelation and god's redemptive purposes and the spirit of god In perfect unity with the god head Exercises his role to that end. He's not giving new revelation to people now That's not happening. He points to what jesus christ has said In chapter 15 verse 26 The lord says 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 Now think about it with me to know christ To know christ is eternal life is eternal life god has revealed his redemptive purposes his plans For man for you and i to be right with god We're going to be right with god through repentant faith in christ All of those purposes all of those plans of god the redemptive purposes of god from the fall To revelation is about god redeeming his people to himself Why would the spirit ever come in contradiction or contrary to any of that work? It's simply not going to do it the spirit of god is in alignment in unity with the god head For those purposes to be fulfilled and those purposes and plans are all fulfilled all wrapped up in the lord Jesus christ and now the spirit of god works to point to him christ says that he the spirit of truth will take What is mine and declare it to you look with me at first john chapter four first john chapter four That's the spirit's role He will take what is mine christ says and declare it to you first john chapter four and look at verse one This is again john John's later epistle here first john chapter four verse one beloved Do not believe every spirit I was speaking with someone not long ago and Just justification For their own belief where they're at Indiscriminately believing everything that goes on in the world today with respect to revelation With respect to gifts of the spirit But here john is specifically warning don't believe every spirit Test the spirits whether they are of god Because many false prophets have gone out into the world. Don't we know it right? Verse two by this you know that the spirit of no the spirit of god Every spirit that points to christ Every spirit that confesses that jesus christ has come in the flesh is of god And every spirit that does not confess does not confess that jesus christ has come in the flesh Is not of god and this is the spirit of the anti christ Which you have heard was coming and is now Already in the world at the time that john was writing this epistle You are of god little children and have overcome them because he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world They are of the world Therefore they speak as of the world and the world hears them We are of god he who knows god Hears us he who is not of god does not hear us by this We know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error in other words those that hear them know god Their word lines up with apostolic teaching lines up with what the bible says How do you test the spirits you test the spirits here by the word of god? He is again the spirit of truth not a spirit of error Not a spirit of confusion not a spirit of contradiction. He's the spirit of truth Many times today You see those with revelation they claim to speak on behalf of god They've got some new inspiration some new words some new prophecy some new vision And they are those who disobey christ By their lives denying the lord who they claim bought them First john chapter four verses one through six they are not of christ They are not of christ many of those That we see today right one divorce after another One adulterous relationship after another Greedy covetousness worldly Prideful not of christ Line up those spirits by the word of god Christ says that the spirit of truth will take what is mine and declare it to you Let's get a prime example of that turn with me to acts chapter two Acts chapter two and let's get a look take a look at the spirits work doing exactly this Christ says he will take what is mine and declare it to you acts chapter two And look at verse one The spirits work is to point to christ to show that the scriptures are about christ It's all about christ In verse two chapter two verse one when the day of pentecost had fully come they were all with one accord in one place Suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind and it filled the whole house where they were sitting Then there appeared to them divided tongues as a fire and once had upon each of them They were all filled with a holy spirit and began to speak with other tongues as the spirit gave them utterance Now if you look down at verse 16 This is in fulfillment of prophecy Joel had prophesied that this would take place verse 16 Peter says But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel it shall come to pass in the last day says god that I will pour out Of my spirit on all flesh your sons and your daughters shall prophesy your young men shall see visions your old men shall dream dreams And on my men servants and on my maid servants. I will pour out my spirit in those days They shall prophesy That's the prophecy of joel look at the actual fulfillment of that prophecy look at verse five And there were dwelling in jerusalem jews devout men from every nation under heaven When this sound occurred the multitude came together and were confused Because everyone heard them speak in his own language. These are actual languages They were all amazed and marveled saying to one another look are not all these who speak galleans How is it that we hear each in our own language in which we were born? Parthians and meads and elamites those dwelling in mesopotamia Judea capidosh upon us in asia Phrygia pamphlia egypt in the parts of libya adjoining sireen visitors from ron both jews and proselytes Cretans and arabes we hear them speaking in our own tongues The wonderful works of god. That's the biblical gift of tongues, right? That's not what we see today Now what does the spirit do? We have in chapter two an account of the spirit of god given at pentecost This is what was prophesied This is what the lord jesus christ was talking about when he said the spirit would come, right? The spirit has come and acts chapter two and what is the very first thing That the spirit does through the preaching of peter when the spirit comes at pentecost look at verse 22 Peter stands up and preaches and he says men of israel Hear these words Jesus of nazareth He immediately points to christ A man attested by god to you by miracles Wonders and signs which god did through him in your midst as you yourselves also know Him christ being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of god You have taken by lawless hands have crucified and put to death whom god raised up Having loosed the pains of death because it was not possible that he christ should be held by it He points to christ Why was the spirit given in the way that it was at pentecost to point to christ Why were the signs and the wonders and the miracles done to point to christ Now we have the revealed word of god through which the spirit of god works to point to christ Those things aren't happening that way any longer The gibberish that you hear today is not the gift of the holy spirit Settled in your heart and mind folks He says in verse 33 Therefore being exalted the right hand of god and having received from the father the promise of the holy spirit He poured out this which you now see and hear For david did not ascend into the heavens, but he says of himself the lord said to my lord sit at my right hand till I make your enemies your footstool Therefore let all the house of israel know assuredly that god has made this jesus whom you crucified Both lord and christ So what does the spirit of god immediately do in this inspired sermon of peter at pentecost? He points to christ You in fact when the focus Is on the spirit Rather than on christ It's a good indication. It's not of the spirit All things that the father has are mine the lord jesus christ says Therefore i said the spirit of truth. He will take what is of mine and declare it to you Let me give you one example Of a false teacher look with me at jeremiah Jeremiah chapter 23 Everything must be run through the filter of the truth of god. He is the spirit of truth He will not contradict himself. He will not contradict god's word He will not lie Almost be run through the filter of scripture jeremiah chapter 23 Look at verse 16 Thus says the lord of hosts Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you they make you worthless They speak a vision of their own heart Not from the mouth of the lord And many of those churches who sit under those false teachers those false teachers are making them worthless Verse 17 they continually say to those who despise me The lord has said you shall have peace To everyone who walks according to the dictates of his own hearts. They say No evil shall come upon you For who has stood in the counsel of the lord has perceived and heard his word who has marked His word and heard it Behold a whirlwind of the lord has gone forth in fury a violent whirlwind It will fall violently on the head of the wicked The anger of the lord will not turn back until he has executed and performed the thoughts of his heart In the latter days you will understand it perfectly I have not sent these prophets yet they ran I have not spoken to them yet. They prophesied But if they had stood in my counsel and it caused my people to hear my words Then they would have turned them from their evil way and from the evil of their doings. You see They had spoken god's word god's word does not go out void. It accomplishes the purpose for which it goes out And if they had spoken god's word They would have turned them from their evil way from the evil of their doings God says in verse 23 am I a god near at hand says the lord and not a god afar off Can anyone hide himself in secret places so I shall not see him says the lord Do I not fill heaven and earth says the lord I have heard what the prophets have said who prophesied lies in my name saying I have dreamed a dream How long will this be in the heart of the prophets who prophesied lies Indeed they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart. Do you see Who try to make my people forget my name by their dreams Which everyone tells his neighbor as their fathers forgot my name for bail The prophet who has a dream let him tell a dream He who has my word let him speak my word faithfully What is the chaff to the wheat says the lord is not my word like a fire Says the lord and like a hammer that breaks the rock and pieces Therefore behold god says I am against the prophets who steal my words everyone from his neighbor Behold I am against the prophet says the lord who use their tongues and say he says Behold I am against those who prophesy false Dreams says the lord and tell them and cause my people to air by their lies and by their recklessness Yet I did not send them or command them. Therefore they shall not profit this people at all Says the lord All of this has application for us today, doesn't it? Those words could have been written now Just as applicable today And we talked about the inspiration of the holy spirit One of the applications for you and I brother and sister today So we need to take up the inspired word Inspired by the spirit of truth. We need to take up the inspired and an errant word of god One commentator said the appalling ignorance of many christians concerning the things of the word of god Is directly traceable to their carnality and their failure in seeking the blessing of a life filled with the spirit The modern so-called church has largely lost her moorings. They've abandoned the word of god having abandoned the word of god Their so-called church is on a foundation of shifting sand Examples of this abound don't they? Prioritize the word of god take up the word of god We talked about the illuminating work of the holy spirit We need the spirit of god to give us illumination, don't we to give us understanding We need the spirit of god to help us understand to lead us to guide us Into the truth as it is in christ. We're dependent upon the holy spirit. We need the spirit of god So what are we to do? We're to pray We're to pray we're to depend upon the word of the spirit of god as we read and study The word of god we're to seek him in his word You and I have to acknowledge that we are often dull hearted We are often of dull minds We have clogged ears and fogged eyes And we need the spirit of god Take heed how you hear right take heed how you hear The spirit of god's work through the word of god is to sanctify you to sanctify me in the truth. His word is truth Word in the hands so to speak of the spirit of god is to elicit from you a response We're to respond in faith. We're to respond in repentance. We're to respond In dependence upon him. We're to respond in greater love greater affection for the lord jesus christ We're to respond with more joy. We're to respond with obedience Devotion commitment fervency zeal We are to be transformed That happens when the spirit of god works in us through the word of god It's to draw forth a response The bible says that we're to work out our salvation with fear and trembling. Why? Because he god The spirit of god is that work in you to do into will according to his good pleasure First that's learning chapter four for this is the will of god Your sanctification He has given us of his spirit Ephesians chapter four. We're not to grieve The spirit of god Ephesians chapter five were to be filled With the spirit of god direct application. We just don't have time to go into all of these are so many applications, right? Direct application is is our testimony or witness for christ. Remember that in john chapter 16 The specific context in which the lord is speaking to them is in the context of their ministry now In this lost world with the gospel as christ is departing and going to be with the father It's their evangelism. They're going to face a hostile persecuting world And he encourages them with the ministry of the spirit to them That will provide the necessary help and strength and empowerment revelation For their ongoing ministry Acts chapter one verse eight. You shall receive power When the holy spirit has come upon you and you shall be witnesses to me in jerusalem and all judia and samaria and to the end of the earth primary application For those of you here today That are not in christ is the spirit's work Of causing sinners to be born again That you would turn from your sin You would humble yourself don't harden your heart call on depend on the spirit of god to break you over your sin Better to go to the house of mourning than to the house of feasting amen Turn from your sin put your trust in christ But the spirit of god have his work in your heart this morning. Don't harden your heart submit to him Spirit of god is a tremendous blessing and it's the spirit by which we persevere to the end to be saved amen Let's pray Father in heaven, we praise you. We thank you for this glorious gift of the spirit of god Would help us not to take that glorious gift for granted spirit of god Please have your way in our hearts and our minds help us to understand Word of truth Sanctify us or buy your truth Help us. We need you. Thank you lord for your work in us and through us according to your good pleasure Thank you spirit of god for having Caused us to be born again And thank you for your continued work of sanctification we Want or desire we hunger and thirst for righteousness To be pleasing in your sight Help us to this end for your glory in jesus name. Amen