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by Sandy Shaw
While evangelising – while sharing your faith – you will receive spiritual help.
When God has chosen you and ordained you and appointed you and anointed you, you can depend upon the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. We are moving from John Chapter 15 and into Chapter 16.
Jesus Christ is teaching us what to expect, in the world and from the world, so that we will not give up or give in when all these things actually happen, and take place. Jesus is sharing all this with us, so that the work will go on.
In the light of all that Jesus has been teaching, you would almost think that the cause of Christ was doomed to failure from the very start. But no. The Holy Spirit will come, to make you a fortress and to make you brave in Christian service.
This is part and work and ministry of the Holy Spirit – to make absolutely sure that the work and ministry of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is not destroyed by opposition, criticism, and persecution. Now, let that encourage you wherever God has called you and placed you and go on serving faithfully and remain in the vine – in the local fellowship of believers in Jesus Christ.
John Chapter 16 verse 2 – Religousy people may put you out of the place of worship. They may even try to kill you. It is all so unreasonable and irrational, but Jesus makes it clear that it is because they do not know the Father, and they do not know Me! You cannot get it much plainer than that!
Real Christianity - real dynamic Christian faith – upsets and disturbs certain people.
There are those who consider Christians to be ‘extreme’. Are we? How are we, compared with this word, and compared with Jesus? There is no invitation or call to be popular.
How did Jesus face opposition and persecution? By continuing faithful to the Father – by just going on – and this is how we are to face being criticised, mocked, laughed at, ridiculed or persecuted. We are called to continue to witness to Jesus Christ lovingly and powerfully – relying upon His help. I will send you a helper and the Holy Spirit does not go by the majority. He goes by the truth!
These warnings are grim and almost forbidding, but Jesus is preparing His men for reality. Many shut their ears and have not wanted to know anything about these sentences. So often we have almost coaxed people to come in as though it were going to be nice and easy and cosy. Some, who thought it would be nice and easy and cosy, have got a shock! Jesus does not tell us everything immediately. He kept this to His final day with His men.
Verse 6 – When Jesus sees what He is saying was doing to His men, He has to say – I see by your faces that you are sad in your heart – but I am telling you the truth. If I do not go away, the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, will not come to you. But if I depart, I will send Him to you. What at first reading, appears to be tragic, proves to be the way in which God’s mightiest blessing begins to flow – and continues to flow.
Now, the Holy Spirit can be with every disciple, at all times, and in all sorts of situations. Jesus is teaching us and making things clear, so that we will not be overly surprised. Jesus warns us so that we will not run away or be diverted and sidetracked. Nor, does He expect us to be involved in any form of compromise.
They were thinking about themselves. Jesus was thinking about others.
They were almost feeling sorry for themselves. Jesus was thinking about a dark, dark world. Jesus would have us remember these warnings because we will be the recipients of hostility. How will we face the heat? Many have to face the heat of hostile persecution daily! Are you remembering them in prayer?
I will go and the Holy Spirit will replace Me, and now we can have Him with us every day, and no matter where we go.
Jesus now has a universal presence, and He also has an internal presence. It is absolutely wonderful!
He will convict sinners of their sins, and He will guide disciples into truth.
He will upset people as He brings things to the surface, and He will lead others into all that is good and true and beautiful and right.
The Holy Spirit is always pointing to Jesus and He speaks what He has heard the Father and the Son saying. Consider that!
That is why when the Holy Spirit falls upon men, all they want to do is worship.
They will stop arguing and fighting – as they want to express their love and thanks, giving praise and glory to God.
Alexander 'Sandy' Shaw is pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship in Nairn, Scotland. Nairn is 17 miles east of Inverness - on the Moray Firth Coast - not far from the Loch Ness Monster!
Gifted as a Biblical teacher, Sandy is firmly committed to making sure that his teachings are firmly grounded in the Word.
Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40am, New Orleans time, at wsho.com.
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