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July 13,2007; Series Conclusion (2 of 3)

Focus Text: John 16.12-15

THE Prophet had some significant words to say to some prophets [His apostles]. Hear Him:

“I [Jesus] still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 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. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.” (John 16.12-15).

This text states explicitly (as well as teaches implicitly) an important fact that every human being on earth needs to know. Here is that fact: After the apostles of Jesus Christ received the truth that they could not bear at the time Jesus spoke personally to them, there was NO MORE TRUTH TO BE REVEALED! Of course we realize that the truth spoken of here has to do with spiritual truth, the truth that sets one free from sin (John 8.32), and the truth that saves (2 Thessalonians 2.10 & 1 Timothy 2.4). As great as the apostles were and as great as the role of the prophet had been in past ages, there came a time during their life upon the earth that the role of the prophet (as a receiver and revealer of truth) ceased to be operative.

Re-read part of the text again, please. He [the Spirit of truth] was to guide them [the apostles] into all truth. He would speak only that which He heard from the Lord Jesus Christ, and all that the Father had also belonged to the Lord. When it was all said and done, the Holy Spirit knew everything that Jesus wanted and needed to say to the apostles, and Jesus knew everything that the Father knew! There simply was no more truth anywhere in all the realms of heaven, truth that related to man’s salvation, which had not been revealed.

Tomorrow’s devotional will examine a couple of implications that are mandated given the above facts. However, the remainder of today’s message will capitalize on the significance of the 40 or so years after the death of Christ as it related to the scheme of redemption. Thousands of years in earthly time had been spent in preparing men for the momentous events that this generation would see, the generation that lived just after our Lord’s resurrection. The telescopes of all the Old Testament prophets had been trained on that very era, yet they had not experienced it. Think of the grand privilege it must have been to stand in earshot of the apostle Peter on the day of Pentecost and hear for the very first time in all of human history the means by which man’s sins could be totally and eternally forgiven! Think of the joy, the relief, the hope, the overflowing praise that accompanied that grand occasion! It is no wonder that Luke recorded that “…they gladly received his [Peter’s] word” (Acts 2.41), and that they were “…praising God and having favor with all the people.” (Acts 2.47).

The prophets had all worked to usher in this grand day! Their collective ministries were an essential part of God’s plan. Read those essential historical truths by reading the Bible!

Questions:

1. Into what was the Spirit to guide the apostles? How much truth exists besides “all truth”?

2. How much truth did Jesus “have”? After Jesus was glorified, how much truth did the Father have that the Son did not have?

3. Why was the day of Pentecost (Acts 2) such a memorable event?

4. What would you give to have been there? What do you think Moses might have given to have been there? Or, Isaiah, or Jeremiah, or any of the faithful prophets of the Old Testament?

"'Winging It" from Stan Smith

Moralism