John 16: The Holy Spirit and the Name of Jesus

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4 days ago
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As Jesus gets ready to be taken to the cross, He prepares His disciples for what is coming by explaining what will happen in the coming days, what their lives will be like. In the sixteenth chapter of John, with the bad news, Jesus also gives some of the most fantastic promises about the help that would come because of His sacrifice.

But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your hearts [taken complete possession of them]. However, I am telling you nothing but the truth when I say it is profitable (good, expedient, advantageous) for you that I go away. Because if I do not go away, the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener, Standby) will not come to you [into close fellowship with you]; but if I go away, I will send Him to you [to be in close fellowship with you]. (John 16:6-7 AMPC)

Before the disciples received the Holy Spirit, they were filled with sorrow and dread concerning what would happen. This is a good indication of how active the Holy Spirit is in your life or if you have received Him. Looking toward the future, especially a troubling one, can unsettle our hearts. We can be overcome with dread or sorrow. Once we receive the Holy Spirit, He removes that fear of the future from us.

The Amplified Classic Version has a more complete description of what the Greek word paraklētos means, which is translated as Comforter. It is often used connected to the legal system, meaning a judicial advocate, but in a wider sense, it can mean a helper in a time of distress, he who brings divine strength, and he who assists in every way we need it. This means that the Holy Spirit will help us with matters concerning God as Judge, but also provide strength and assist us in every way that we need.

His effectiveness in the lives of the disciples can clearly be seen throughout the New Testament. Peter would deny Christ three times when He was taken by the Pharisees, yet after He received the Holy Spirit, he spoke boldly to the crowd.

But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them: You Jews and all you residents of Jerusalem, let this be [explained] to you so that you will know and understand; listen closely to what I have to say. For these men are not drunk, as you imagine, for it is [only] the third hour (about 9:00 a.m.) of the day; But [instead] this is [the beginning of] what was spoken through the prophet Joel:

And it shall come to pass in the last days, God declares, that I will pour out of My Spirit upon all mankind, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy and your young men shall see visions (divinely granted appearances), and your old men shall dream [divinely suggested] dreams. (Acts 2:14-17 AMPC)

Before the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples, they hid in the upper room, fearing what would happen. Afterward, they took to the streets proclaiming the Gospel! When we are drunk, we are often bolder than is wise. We are not in full control of our bodies or our mouths. When the Holy Spirit is poured upon us with great power, we can become “drunk in the Spirit:” we speak with a boldness that is not our natural state. It is the Holy Spirit who brings the courage and strength to speak about God. He removes the fear of the man and any natural consequences.

The Holy Spirit doesn’t often overcome us with this type of power. Usually, He will flow from us in a gentle way.

Now on the final and most important day of the Feast, Jesus stood, and He cried in a loud voice, If any man is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink! He who believes in Me [who cleaves to and trusts in and relies on Me] as the Scripture has said, From his innermost being shall flow [continuously] springs and rivers of living water.

But He was speaking here of the Spirit, Whom those who believed (trusted, had faith) in Him were afterward to receive. For the [Holy] Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified (raised to honor). (John 7:37-39 AMPC)

To receive the Holy Spirit we must cleave to, trust in, and rely on Jesus. These are continuous actions as is the flow of the Holy Spirit from us to others. He will lead and guide us each and every day: it is a relationship that develops and grows stronger over time. Jesus gives us the steps the Holy Spirit will take, as He establishes a relationship with us:

And when He comes, He will convict and convince the world and bring demonstration to it about sin and about righteousness (uprightness of heart and right standing with God) and about judgment:

About sin, because they do not believe in Me [trust in, rely on, and adhere to Me]; About righteousness (uprightness of heart and right standing with God), because I go to My Father, and you will see Me no longer; About judgment, because the ruler (evil genius, prince) of this world [Satan] is judged and condemned and sentence already is passed upon him. (John 16:8-11 AMPC)

This is the first step to receiving the Holy Spirit and the foundation of your relationship with Him. The Greek word, elegchō (el-leg'-kho) means both to convict and to correct, which is revealed by the Amplified version of the Bible. Convict means to bring a sense of shame, an awareness that we have done something wrong.

Convince actually means to chasten or punish. One of the names of the Holy Spirit is Advocate: our legal representative before God, who is Judge. If we fail to turn from what He reveals, God, as Judge, allows attacks on us as He deems right, according to our refusal to listen to Him. This is how He convinces us that we should turn back to Jesus, who is our refuge from attacks. As Jesus continues talking to His disciples, He confirms this:

But when He, the Spirit of Truth (the Truth-giving Spirit) comes, He will guide you into all the Truth (the whole, full Truth). For He will not speak His own message [on His own authority]; but He will tell whatever He hears [from the Father; He will give the message that has been given to Him], and He will announce and declare to you the things that are to come [that will happen in the future].

He will honor and glorify Me, because He will take of (receive, draw upon) what is Mine and will reveal (declare, disclose, transmit) it to you. Everything that the Father has is Mine. That is what I meant when I said that He [the Spirit] will take the things that are Mine and will reveal (declare, disclose, transmit) it to you. (John 16:13-15 AMPC)

The Holy Spirit knows what is happening in Heaven. He knows what the enemy is using against us. He even knows what the enemy will use to hinder us in the future. This is why He convicts us of sin, so that we can shut an open door Satan may try to use in the future. This will keep us from the consequences of the sin; the punishment or chastisement from God.

Jesus said it brings God glory when those born with a condition such as being blind are healed and set free. When we are set free because of Jesus, it brings Him honor and glory. This freedom comes because the Holy Spirit reveals what is necessary for us to receive from Jesus all that He has paid for. The Holy Spirit is our Teacher and Guide throughout our lives.

The more freedom we gain, the more the Holy Spirit will move through us to bring others freedom and more glory to Jesus. If we want to deepen our relationship with the Holy Spirit, we must be willing to do what He says. If we do not listen when He convicts us of sin, it hinders our relationship with Him.

But they rebelled, and vexed His Holy Spirit: therefore He was turned to be their enemy, and He fought against them. (Isaiah 63:10 AKJV)

Sin is always fun, or else we wouldn’t be tempted by it. We have free will. This means we have to choose God, to do it His way. We are rebelling against God when we refuse to turn from that sin.

Even though sin feels good, it will lead us into pain and misery. We may not be able to see the cliff it is leading us toward. If we continue in sin won't even see the cliff as we step off of it and into a world of hurt.

But God has given us the greatest gift. He has sent His Spirit, the one who guided Jesus; He has sent the Holy Spirit to us. Jesus said the Holy Spirit knows the future. He is trying to help us, for Jesus came so that we could have life, and life in abundance:

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. (John 10:10 ESV)

Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? (Romans 6:16 ESV)

Ethylene glycol is commonly found in antifreeze. It has a sweet taste but will kill you if you drink it. The “fun” sin we are holding onto, like the good-tasting antifreeze, will lead us to death. Continuing in sin despite the conviction of the Holy Spirit damages our relationship with Him. When Paul is talking to the Galatians about sin he says this:

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. (Ephesians 4:30 ESV)

When the Holy Spirit is grieved, He will become quiet. Consequences of the sin He pointed out will appear in our life to direct us back to God. When we listen to and do what the Holy Spirit says then we get a fantastic bonus!

And when that time comes, you will ask nothing of Me [you will need to ask Me no questions]. I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, that My Father will grant you whatever you ask in My Name [as presenting all that I Am]. (John 16:23 AMPC)

The Lord has been speaking about the Holy Spirit who will reveal all things to us, including Jesus. We need to know “all that” Jesus is so that when we ask for something in His name, we know that it is His will for us to have it. When we don’t receive what we ask for in His name, it may be because we are not listening to and being guided by the Holy Spirit.

For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. (Romans 8:14 ESV)

And those who belong to Christ Jesus (the Messiah) have crucified the flesh (the godless human nature) with its passions and appetites and desires. If we live by the [Holy] Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. [If by the Holy Spirit we have our life in God, let us go forward walking in line, our conduct controlled by the Spirit.] (Galatians 5:24-25 AMPC)

The Greek word huios (h-wee-os') is translated as sons but as often the case with the Bible, the word means offspring or children. All true children of God will submit to the Holy Spirit and be led by Him. We can also “crucify” our flesh or purposefully come against it: denying the desires that are against God’s ways. At first, it may seem like we are missing out on something, but God will fill that place with more of His glory. This is how we deepen our relationship with the Holy Spirit! This is when we can hear from Jesus what He wants us to ask in His name and receive it!

The sixteenth chapter of John concludes with both a blessing and a warning.

I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.] (John 16:33 AMPC)

Having an abundant life and joy in Jesus doesn’t mean everything will be perfect. Jesus has conquered the ruler of this world, Satan, but this is still a fallen world with the majority of people estranged from God. For this reason, there will be trials (tests from God), tribulation (trouble and hardship), and even frustration. Despite having these issues in our lives, we should remain at peace, knowing that Jesus has an answer. What is happening is not a surprise to Him. We can trust in and rely on Him!

Are you willing to learn God’s ways and remove any hindrances to hearing from the Holy Spirit? Do you want to be led and guided by Him? Do you want to see God’s glory in your life! Don’t wait. Begin strengthening your relationship with the Holy Spirit today. There are free online classes: all materials, classes, and even tutoring are free!

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