That Which Makes The Difference

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That Which Makes The Difference - John 16: 1-14

By Skip Toomaloo
Feb. 26, 2006

Jesus said many things to his followers that night they shared supper in the upper room. Jesus was preparing his disciples for the moment he would not be with them. He was telling them all that would happen after he left. But he also explained the role of the Comforter, the one he would be sure to send to indwell his faithful.

“1These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended. 2They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever kills you will think that he doeth God service. 3And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me. 4But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you.” (John 16: 1-4)

One of the first things that happened to any disciple who preached Jesus in Temple was getting roughed up and tossed out of the congregation. The day Jesus read from the book of Isaiah and explained to the people that the Prophet was speaking of Him; the people rose up and attempted to kill Jesus right then. The modern age shows a deep anguish over the teachings of Jesus. Christians worldwide are persecuted, jailed and killed because they dare to preach a gospel of truth that changes lives.

Jesus spoke these words so that we would remember. When the Comforter came to the disciples, these words were etched into the memories of those men who carried the words to the writers of the scripts that became God’s call to faith.

“5But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asks me, Whither goes thou? 6But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart. 7Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.” (John 16:5-7)

The import of this statement must never be understated. One truly knows God’s faithfulness to his word through the actions and comfort of the indwelling Spirit. He is the proof and the seal of all that God has promised. The Spirit is a tangible presence. The Spirit is a known entity. The Spirit is how each believer holds fast his relationship with the true God of heaven. Jesus returned to the Father and indeed sent the Comforter to indwell those who would say yes to faith. The rejecter has no knowledge and no way to acquire knowledge of God. He can only stand in awe, in envy or in scorn. He cannot stand in understanding.

“8And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9Of sin, because they believe not on me; 10Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; 11Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.” (John 16:8-11)

It is the indwelling Spirit that guides the believer in his daily walk and life. We do not judge and we need not judge. The Spirit is the judge of this age. He is God in the life of his church. The world’s reaction to the truth of God is recorded by the Spirit. What think ye of the Christ? Whose Son is He?

The Revelation of John includes the Great White Throne of God where He will judge all final judgments. All the world’s princes will stand before that throne as will “the prince of this world” (another of Satan’s titles) stand before God to be judged.

“12I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. 13Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come. 14He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you.”

And he did and he has. The Spirit does not speak of himself or for himself. His message is Christ. When he was sent by Jesus to the earth his first message was that of Peter’s sermon on Pentecost which resulted in the creation of a new entity; a faithful remnant of believers that refused to reject the thought of Jesus as the promised Messiah, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

It is he, the Spirit of truth that makes all the difference. It is he, the Comforter that reminds the Christian of his standing before the Living God.

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Email Skip: skiptoomaloo@hotmail.com

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