The Promised Holy Spirit (John 14:15-27)

                                                 THE PROMISED HOLY SPIRIT 

It has been our privilege for the past eight years to shepherd God's flock at Hope Church in Sharon, a small town in Massachusetts. What makes Sharon unique is that, besides others, it has two distinct communities: A large Jewish community that follows the Torah, the first five books of the Old Testament. A small Christian community that follows Jesus the Messiah and His teachings as recorded in the New Testament, which is the continuation of the Old Testament.

The Jewish community observes three major festivals, one of which is the Feast of Weeks, also known as Shavuot, a Hebrew name. The Feast of Weeks is the second of the three "solemn feasts" that all Jewish males were required to travel to Jerusalem to attend (Leviticus 23, Deuteronomy 16:16). This important feast begins seven full weeks, or precisely 50 days, after the Feast of Firstfruits. It is also known as "Pentecost" (Acts 2:1), which means "fifty."[1]

From June 1 to 3, 2025, the Jewish community observed "Shavuot, a two-day festival that commemorates the giving of the Torah to the Jewish people at Mount Sinai."[2] What connection do Christians have with the Jewish festival, Shavuot, or the Festival of Weeks?

Jesus was crucified as the "Passover Lamb" and rose from the grave at the Feast of First Fruits. After the resurrection, He spent forty days teaching His disciples before ascending to heaven (Acts 1). On the day of Pentecost, or fifty days after His resurrection and ascension to heaven, God sends the Promised Holy Spirit (John 14:15-27). Unfortunately, many sincere Christians are unaware of the significance of Pentecost, let alone celebrate it. On this Pentecost Sunday, we will learn about the Promised Holy Spirit. What is the role of the Holy Spirit in the World, and how does He impact the lives of individual believers today?

I. The Most Neglected Doctrine of the Holy Spirit

In general, we Evangelical Christians believe in a Triune God, that is, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. We spend a considerable amount of time learning about God the Father and God the Son. But many sincere Christians have little to no interest in learning about God the Holy Spirit, the third Person in the Godhead. Why is this disinterest and neglect?

Martyn Lloyd-Jones, who wrote a whole book on this crucial doctrine, "God the Holy Spirit," explains the neglect this way: "Generally speaking, the position today is that the doctrine of the Holy Spirit is either neglected or it tends to be emphasized and exaggerated in a false manner. Because people are so afraid of the spurious, the false, the excesses and freak manifestations of the Holy Spirit, so they neglect the doctrine of the Holy Spirit altogether."[3]

We are comfortable addressing God as our heavenly Father and Jesus as God's Son, but how do we address the Holy Spirit? Does the Holy Spirit have a personality? Is the Holy Spirit Divine? Let's explore these questions from the Bible and the book "God the Holy Spirit." Martyn Lloyd Jones notes, "I have heard most orthodox people referring to the Holy Spirit and His work as 'it' and 'its' influence and so on as if the Holy Spirit were nothing but an influence or a power."

He provides a few reasons behind that thinking: First, his work appears impersonal to us because it involves mystical and secret work. Second, the very name itself. What does Spirit mean? It means breath, wind, or power. That makes one think of Him as just an influence rather than a person. The third reason is the very symbols used in speaking of Him: the dove, oil, water, fire, and so on. The fourth reason is how the KJV wrongly translated the work of the Holy Spirit. "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our Spirit"(Rom 8:16), "the Spirit itself maketh intercession"(Rom 8:26).[4] The NIV translates as the "Spirit himself." Hence the confusion!

II. The Person and the Divinity of the Holy Spirit

            Let us examine the scriptures to establish the Person and divinity of the Holy Spirit. In our 'In Him' series, the personal pronoun 'Him' referred to Jesus Christ. Jesus uses the masculine personal pronoun "He" several times, referring to the Holy Spirit in John 14-16. If Jesus addressed the Holy Spirit as 'He' and 'Him,' we too can refer to the Holy Spirit as 'He' and 'Him,' not as a force, power, or influence. A few scriptures that support the Person of the Holy Spirit.

            The Holy Spirit is identified with the Father and the Son in such a way as to indicate personality. Look at the Baptismal Formula: "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."Matthew 28:19.

He identifies with us as a person. In a letter to the Gentile believers, the Apostles said, "It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements." Acts 15:28. He has a sovereign will. I Cor 12:11, He distributes the spiritual gifts as He wills. He can be grieved, so we are warned not to grieve the Holy Spirit (Eph 4:30). He expresses love as we read about the fruit of the Holy Spirit. (Gal 5:22).

He can be lied to, as in the case of Ananias and Sapphira in the early Church. Peter rebuked Ananias, saying, "How is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit." After that, he made a profound statement, saying, "You have not just lied to human beings but to God."Bringing out the divine nature of the Holy Spirit. Acts 5:3-4.

Here are some scriptures about the divinity of the Holy Spirit. He is the creator, as stated in Genesis 1:2. Job notes that the Spirit of God made him—Job 33:4. He is eternal, as He was referred to as the eternal Spirit. Heb 9:14. He has the same attributes of God. He is omnipresent, as stated in Psalm 139:7. He is omnipotent, as seen in Luke 1:35. He is omniscient, as mentioned in 1 Corinthians 2:10-11. These scriptures reveal the Person and Divinity of the Holy Spirit.

III. The Work of the Holy Spirit In The Life Of A Believer

 There are many promises of God in the Bible, and all of them are "Yes" and "Amen" in Christ. II Cor 2:20. In 900 BC, God promised through His prophet Joel that in the last days, He would pour out His Spirit on all people (Joel 2:28-29). Eight hundred years later, Jesus promised his disciples that he would ask the Father, and he would give them another Advocate to help and be with them forever—the Spirit of Truth. He would also live with and in them. John 14:15-17.

As promised, God sent the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost to a group of 120 disciples first and then to 3,000 Jewish people from all over the World gathered in Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Weeks. He convicted them of their sins, leading them to repentance and baptizing them in the water. As a result of the Holy Spirit's conviction, a Church was born.

Here are a few ways the Holy Spirit works in our lives. First, the Holy Spirit convicts people of their sins and leads them unto repentance as He did in Acts 2:37-39. Second, when we believe in God through our faith in Jesus, we will be marked with God's promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the final day of redemption. Eph 1:14

Third, the Holy Spirit takes up residence in the bodies of believers, making us His temples. I Cor 6:9. For that reason, we honor God with our bodies, avoiding sexual immorality and all other vices that destroy our bodies, the temples of the Holy Spirit.

Fourth, the Holy Spirit will teach us all things and remind us of everything that Christ has said. The best way to learn about Jesus is to sit humbly with an open Bible, a pad to write, and ask the Holy Spirit to teach us about Christ. In addition to these, He counsels us, comforts us in our hurts, and helps us in our prayer life. If you are a believer in Christ, you have the Holy Spirit residing in you. Throughout my life, I have learned to rely on Jesus through the Help of the Holy Spirit. If you let Him, the Promised Holy Spirit can also guide and lead you to Christ.

 

 

 

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[1] https://www.gotquestions.org/Feast-of-Weeks.html

[2] https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/609663/jewish/What-Is-Shavuot.htm#:~:text=15-,Shavuot%202025,of%20the%206th%20of%20Sivan.

[3] Martyn Lloyd-Jones, “God The Holy Spirit.” Page 5

[4] Ibid., 8,9

In HIM: All Things Hold Together

                                       IN HIM: All Things Hold Together 

When we follow the domestic and global news, one cannot help but feel as if our world as we know it is falling apart at the seams. We would like to know if there is anyone who could repair the world's broken systems and hold them together so that we can live in relative peace and security. It has been challenging for Christians everywhere, especially those living in a pluralistic and secular society, to hold on to our Faith in God, particularly in Jesus and His redemptive work.

These challenges are not new; Christians of past generations have faced them as well. How did they handle those heretical views about Christ? We will ask the Colossian Christians, in particular, as they faced the heresy of denying Christ’s divinity, which threatened their Church in Colossae. They must have been blessed to have had the Apostle Paul on their side, who combated this damning heresy with a strong defense of Christ's divinity. In our 'In Him' series, we will explore how All Things Hold Together In Christ. Colossians 1:15-23.

Let us address two complex concepts in Col 1:15, "The Son is the Image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation." First, Jesus Christ is presented as the image of the invisible God. The Greek word "eikon," translated as "image," refers to that which resembles an object and represents it. Eikon always assumes a prototype, not merely what it resembles, but from which it is drawn. For instance, the reflection of the sun in the water is called by Plato Eikon.

 Paul's teaching here is that there was not a mere coincidental resemblance between Jesus Christ and his Father, but they were eternally related to one another. The One was the reflection of the Other, who was real and not merely the figment of our imagination. This is even though God is invisible. That which is invisible, nevertheless, can be and is real. John 1:18, "No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known." In other words, seeing Jesus is equivalent to seeing God.

The second Word, 'firstborn,' is used twice in Col. 1:15 and 18. What it means here is that Christ holds the same relation to all creation as God the Father, and He is above all creation. It does not mean that He is part of the creation made by God, but that the relation of the whole creation to Him was determined by the fact that He is the cause of the creation of all things, and without Him, there could be no creation. Let's see how this concept is clarified in verse sixteen.

I. The Supremacy Of Jesus Christ

            Have you ever wondered how everything began—the universe with its vast number of galaxies and stars within them, the beautiful Earth with all its wonders and intricacies, and, above all, human life that lives and enjoys these lovely things? When you ask such a question, we will hear several arguments from scientists, evolutionists, biologists, philosophers, and religious leaders. As a shepherd, I approach the question of how it all began from the Scriptures.

Colossians 1:16, "For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him." To find out who this Him was, we will read John 1:1-5,

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him, all things were made; without him, nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the Light of all mankind. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it."

 

 

John 1:14, "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." The Word that once was with God and was God in the beginning, at the right time, was incarnated in the world in human form. We call Him Jesus Christ, our Lord. He was the one who created all that we see and don't see: plants, animals, oceanic life, the cosmic wonders, and humans.

The Apostle Paul debunked the heretical teaching that Christ was not God but a created being by affirming that all things have been created through Jesus and for Jesus. He went one step further by including thrones, dominions, rulers, and authorities, which are various categories of angelic beings that were also created by Jesus and for Jesus.

In his letter to the Ephesians Church, Paul prays that the believers would be enlightened. And they might experience "the same power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the Church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way." Ephesians 1:20-23.

Through both these letters, Paul silenced the heretics and skeptics by placing Jesus in the highest place over everything. Thereby, he established once and for all that Jesus is the only supreme God. No one would be a match for Him, for He has all the power and authority.

If everything has been created by Jesus and for Jesus, how about you and I? We, too, have been fearfully and wonderfully created by God, and we are made for Him. The Psalmist sums up the response of creation and all its creatures to their Creator. Psalm 148:1-14.

"Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise him in the heights above. Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his heavenly hosts. Praise him, sun and moon; praise him, all you shining stars. Let them praise the name of the Lord, for at his command, they were created, and he established them forever. He issued a decree that will never pass away. Kings of the Earth and all nations, you princes and all rulers on Earth, young men and women, older men and children. Let them praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is exalted;  his splendor is above the Earth and the heavens." Let's examine another bold proclamation by Paul.

II In Him: All Things Hold Together

Colossians 1:17-18, "He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the Church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy." These scriptures indicate that Jesus, the Supreme God, is not only the Creator of everything but also the sustainer of everything. 

When we feel overwhelmed, thinking that the whole world, including our personal world, is falling apart, let us take heart. Jesus, the one who spoke and everything came into existence, knows how to hold things together until He comes back and establishes His eternal Kingdom.

Jesus is the head of the Church, His body on the Earth. We are members of his body. When Jesus is the center of our lives, we are together. When we move away, we will fall apart. Jesus is committed to making us holy and presenting us to the Father without any blemish.

That is the good news. We have heard it and responded to it by placing our trust in Him.

            At times, we may not understand why we go through difficult times, but during such times, let's trust Him to know that He will hold all things together in our lives. I have been a Christian for over forty years. All these years, Jesus has never failed me; I have failed Him several times. But as he promised, when we are faithless, He remains faithful to us.

How does this truth in Him, that all things hold together, impact our daily living? Believers in Christ can hold onto this truth and remain calm and trusting while facing the turbulence and storms of life, knowing that Jesus holds all things concerning our lives together.

When the world all around us is spinning out of control, God's peace will rule our hearts because we belong to the Prince of Peace and His everlasting Kingdom. How is your life today? Is it falling apart at the edges? Are you afraid of your future and the future of your children? Run to Jesus, who holds all things together in the present and all the days of our lives.

 

 

 

In Him : The Greatest Rescue

                                               IN HIM: The Greatest Rescue

On July 4, 1976, the day the US celebrated its 200th birthday, an Israeli expatriate took a phone call that would change his life. A student in Cambridge, Massachusetts, he went by the name Ben Nitay, an Americanized version of his original name. On the phone was his younger brother, calling with grave news. It concerned their older brother Yonatan, or Yoni. At 30 years old, ruggedly handsome and newly installed as the head of Israel's elite Sayeret Matkal commando unit, Yoni, in the early hours of that day, led a raid to rescue more than 100 Israeli hostages held at Entebbe, Uganda.

The rescue mission had been astonishing, and the hostages were free. The leader on the ground, Yoni, had been killed in action. Their brother was dead. Ben Nitay, born Binyamin Netanyahu, drove seven hours to Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, where his father taught. The 26-year-old was determined to break the news to his parents himself. "I could see my father pacing back and forth. And all of a sudden, he turned his head and saw me. He looked surprised but immediately understood and let out a sharp cry.

The family flew in virtual silence from the US to Israel for the funeral of the son and brother who had already been garlanded as a military hero and was now about to enter the national mythology. The Netanyahu name would take its place in the Israeli pantheon and, in the process, open up a path that would take young Binyamin to the top of Israeli politics."[1] Over two thousand years ago, another son and brother, a young Jewish man of 33, offered his life to pull off the Greatest Rescue in human history. The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Colossians, writes about how that recuse mission was unfolded. In Him: The Greatest Rescue. Colossians 1:9-14

We continue our "In Him" series from the book of Colossians, exploring the incredible spiritual blessings found in Christ for all who believe in Him. Today, we will learn about The Greatest Rescue Mission in Christ and how that impacts our daily Christian life.

To understand the gravity of the rescue mission and appreciate its benefits, we must consider the perilous place we once lived in and the safety we will enjoy eternally.

Colossians 1:13-14, "For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." NIV. NASB reads, "For He rescued us from the domain (authority) of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of  His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."

These verses inform us that God conducted a significant rescue operation at some point, delivering people from the dominion of darkness into the kingdom of His beloved Son. The NLT reads, "For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son." This translation suggests that there are two kingdoms—one of Satan's and the other of God's. God is the only King we have with an enduring Kingdom. All Satan has a dominion, or "power and authority." Let's examine the dominion of darkness and its influence.

 

I. The Dominion of Darkness

During my preaching, you have likely heard me discuss God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and Satan repeatedly. But did you know that a lot of Churches and Christians reject the reality of Satan?

Barna Group research in 2008 notes, "Four out of ten Christians (40%) strongly agreed that Satan is not a living being but is a symbol of evil."[2] In the 1995 film Usual Suspects, Kevin Spacey says, "The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist," Why this confusion? What does the Bible say about Satan? Let's explore.

Consider the following scriptures that explain the origin and fall of Satan. Isaiah 14:12-15 indicates Satan was created as a holy angel. Ezekiel 28:12-14 describes Satan as having been made a cherub, apparently the highest created angel. He became arrogant in his beauty and status, wanting to sit on a throne above God (Isaiah 14:13-14; Ezekiel 28:15).

How did Satan fall from his high position? It was Satan's pride that led to his fall. Notice the many "I will" statements in Isaiah 14:12-15. Because of his sin, God permanently removed Satan from his exalted position and role. Though he was cast out of heaven, he still seeks to elevate his throne above God. He counterfeits all that God does to gain the worship of the world and encourage opposition to God's Kingdom. Satan is the ultimate source behind every false cult, world religion, and system. He will do anything to oppose God and those who follow Him.

Satan wages war against God and God’s people in the spiritual realm. This is how Paul describes this Spiritual Warfare: Ephesians 6:12, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Satan influences the systems and governments of the world through his evil agenda to commit evil against God and people.

He will have dominion or power over the disobedient at an individual level. Eph 2:1-2, “And you were dead in your offenses and sins, in which you previously walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.” Under his control, people commit sins by engaging in acts of darkness. (Rom 13:12-13). All of us once were disobedient to God and walked in darkness (John 12:35), not knowing where we were going. We were all subjected to the wrath of God and were in danger of eternal destruction. Who would deliver us from the domain of darkness? God, being rich in mercy, conducted the greatest rescue because of his great love for us. Eph 2:4.

 

II. In Him: The Greatest Rescue

Colossians 1:13, “For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness.” This is the greatest rescue operation that God ever conducted to deliver people from the power and authority of Satan. This rescue did not happen without bloodshed. It took the life of God’s only beloved Son, Jesus Christ, who died on the cross. Through his blood, he paid the penalty for our sins. Gal 3:13, “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us.”

Paul never wants believers to forget who was behind this greatest rescue, saying, “In Christ, we have redemption and the forgiveness of sins.” Where are we transferred to once we are rescued from the dominion of darkness? Into the Kingdom of Light, of God’s beloved Son.

 

III. The Kingdom of God's beloved Son

Vs. 13, “For he has rescued us from the domain of darkness and brought us into the Kingdom of the Son he loves.” This is where all the believers in Christ live today, while we are still alive in this world. When we die, we will live in His eternal Kingdom when he establishes it on the second return of God’s Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Jesus becomes our true King, and we become the citizens of His enduring Kingdom. What is God’s Kingdom like? It reflects its King.

It is the Kingdom of Light, where no darkness or evil will exist. It is the Kingdom of Love, where there is no fear and hatred. It is the Kingdom of righteousness and justice, and injustice has no place. It is the Kingdom of Peace; unrest and anxiety will not exist.

It is the Kingdom of Joy, where sadness and sorrow will flee. It is the Kingdom of eternal life and health. Sickness and death are dealt with once and for all. That is the kind of Kingdom that Jesus taught us to pray when he said, “Let Your Kingdom Come.” That is the Kingdom Jesus preached about and commissioned us to preach. Matthew 24:14. As the citizens of God’s loving Kingdom, let us enjoy its benefits now. However, as heavenly citizens,  let us work hard to lead as many people as possible to believe in our eternal King, Jesus Christ.

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[1] https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jun/25/entebbe-raid-40-years-on-israel-palestine-binyamin-netanyahu-jonathan-freedland

[2] https://www.barna.com/research/most-american-christians-do-not-believe-that-satan-or-the-holy-spirit-exist/