Have you ever met a self-absorbed person? No matter what the topic it always circles back to them. If you have a broken leg, they once broke two legs! No matter what the story, they can always top it!
There is a little poem that some may know:
I gave a little tea party, this afternoon, at 3.
“Twas very small, 3 guests in all – I, myself, and me.
Myself ate all the sandwiches while I drank all the tea. “
Twas also I who ate the pie and passed the cake to me.
Are we self centered and self-absorbed? Here is a way to tell: from an unknown source comes an article titled, “How To Be Miserable.” It says, “Think about yourself. Talk about yourself. Use “I” as often as possible. Mirror yourself continually in the opinion of others. Listen greedily to what people say about you. Expect to be appreciated. Be suspicious. Be jealous and envious. Be sensitive to slights. Never forgive a criticism. Trust nobody but yourself. Insist on consideration and respect. Demand agreement with your own views on everything. Sulk if people are not grateful to you for favors shown them. Never forget a service you have rendered. Shirk your duties if you can. Do as little as possible for others.”
So why do we use these illustrations? Our passage today (John 16: 4-15) is part of the Farewell Ministry of Christ in the upper room. It was very private, very intimate, there were no crowds, just the disciples and the Lord. The Lord is sharing very hard things with the disciples about what lies ahead for Himself and them.
- What Lies Ahead in Suffering
The Lord has repeatedly told them that He has to go to the cross but in Chapter 16 the Lord tells the disciple what lies ahead for them and they began to be fearful and sad.
In John 16: 6, the Lord says to the disciples, “But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart”. What are these things?
We find the answer in John 15:18-20 “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also”. In John 6:1-2, the Lord continues, “”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 service”.
Some will persecute believers even though they think they are serving God, including the apostle Paul before he was saved.
- Paul Persecuted the early followers of Christ – Acts 9 20-22
- Paul believed he was doing God’s will Phi 3:4-9
- Paul tried to destroy the early church Galatians 1:13-14
Suddenly their thoughts turned from the sufferings of the Lord to their own sufferings. How like the disciples we are! We become so consumed with our own trials and difficulties that we forget what the Lord has done for us.
- What Lies ahead in Blessing
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. John 16:7
The Lord will leave the disciples and it is to our advantage!
- Expressed in the negative – if I do not go, He will not come – why?
- This was an eternal decision, not some last minute plan
- Matthew Henry suggests that the Ambassador must leave before the envoy will come. If the Ambassador is present, we have no need of his spokesman
- The Holy Spirit’s coming was the result of the death of the Lord. Without His completed work, there would be no need of the spirit.
- The Lord has prayed for the Spirit in John 7:39. The Lord would leave to allow the Spirit to come
- The convicting work of the Spirit is made possible by the victorious ascension of Christ into glory
- To be effective the disciples needed to be able to operate without the constant presence of the Lord. The coming of the Holy Spirit would help accomplish this.
- The Comforter, Helper, Counselor will come and will bring three things for the world.
Conviction of:
- Sin – convicted of sin and unbelief. The first is easier to accept, but many make attempts at goodness through self-effort. Such attempts are worthless because the Word of God tells us that “we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags” Isaiah 64:6. The unbelief of man and the rejection of the Lord Jesus Christ is the sin that brings conviction
- Righteousness. The world saw Christ as a criminal hanging on a cursed tree. But the resurrection demonstrated His power over sin and death. The Holy Spirit convicts us of the Lord’s righteousness as the perfect sacrifice.
- Judgment. Satan’s power is broken and he now stands condemned by the death and resurrection of the Lord. Our conviction of sin also comes knowing that we stand condemned by our sin, if not for the saving work of our Lord
- The Holy Spirit will bring three things for the believer
- He will guide us in all truth. We have God’s revealed truth in the complete Word of God. The Spirit will guide us in this truth
- He will tells us things to come. The disciples were interested in what was to come for them and so are we. Some of it has to do with our service for Him here and part of it has to do with our anticipation of His return.
- He will glorify the Lord Jesus Christ. The primary purpose of the Spirit is to glory the Lord but revealing all truth about Him from His word.
These are the blessings to come for us!
Pattern Of Sound Words 