Note: Sermon available for online listening until January 12th, 2020.
Bulletin Message from the Pastor
The Sending of the Comforter
As we progress toward the death of Jesus in our preaching through the Gospel of John, we begin to see the importance of Jesus’ death and resurrection in relation to the sending of the Spirit and His working in our lives. Jesus has already made reference to the eventual coming Spirit in chapter three when He spoke to Nicodemus about spiritual things:
Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
John 3:3-8 (NASB)
The Spirit is referred to as the Comforter, The Spirit of truth, The Intercessor, The Paraclete, and The spirit of God. All these terms are descriptive of what the Spirit is. The exception is the name “Paraclete” which means to call alongside. The Spirit of God comes alongside to direct, instruct, guide, and befriend us. But He (The Spirit) does more than walk with us, He dwells within us. We have the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ, and the one who comforts us in our weakness and fears as close as our hearts and souls.
A flesh and blood being is limited in the amount of places they can be at any one time. Jesus’ death and resurrection brought His Spirit who is not confined by time or space. His Spirit is in all places at all times and dwells in us to lead us if we will allow Him to. The life lived by the Spirit is one of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
Consider who is in charge in your life; is it you, or is it the Spirit? Choose you this day whom you will serve and be led by! Will it be your own will or will it be the Spirit of the living God?
Pastor Dwight <><