Indwelling of the Spirit
5 March 2017 AM – John 14:16-17 – Scott Childs
Introduction: Previously, I have pointed out that in the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit came upon select people for limited times to empower them for a specific service. Once Christ returned to heaven, he sent the Holy Spirit to indwell every Christian until he takes them to heaven.
Transition: This morning we are going to examine the promise, the place of the indwelling Holy Spirit.
1. The Promise of Indwelling (Jn 14:16-17)
a. Jesus promised the Spirit’s indwelling
1) He will abide (dwell) with believers forever (v.16-17). He literally takes up residence in our hearts.
2) He will live in believers (v.17). The third Person of God Almighty’s Trinity lives inside of you if you are a true Christian. Many religious people claim to be Christians but only those who by the Spirit’s conviction of sin repented and placed their faith in Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection to wash them clean and give them eternal life are truly Christians. The rest of the message is meaningless if you are not truly a Christian.
b. Jesus called the Holy Spirit the Comforter
1) The word “Comforter” refers to one who is summoned, called to one’s side, esp. called to one’s aid. When we need help the Holy Spirit is ever by our side to give us the aid we need. He is our Comforter and Friend.
a) The Comforter will teach believers God’s Word and remind them of it. (John 14:26) “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” (cf. 1 Corinthians 2:13)
b) He is the Spirit of truth. (John 15:26) “But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:” He teaches us and guides us in truth. (John 16:13) “Howbeit 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 shew you things to come.”
c) We learned last week that He is the One who convicts of sin. (John 16:8) “And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:”
2) Comforter also describes one who pleads another’s cause before a judge. Thus it is translated advocate in (1 John 2:1). “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:”
3) The Holy Spirit comes to indwell every true believer at the moment of his conversion. (Romans 8:9) “But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.” Anyone who does not have the Holy Spirit living inside is not truly saved.
2. The Place of Indwelling (1Co 6:19-20)
a. His temple is the believer’s body
1) The first mention of holy in the Bible is when Moses came near the burning bush in the wilderness and God these words to him. (Exodus 3:5) “… Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.” For a few moments, in our minds let’s take off our shoes and consider God’s holiness.
2) The word “holy” means to be set apart for God’s use. It is opposite to all that is commonly for man’s use.
3) In the Bible there were holy people, holy days, holy vessels, holy gatherings, holy garments, holy food, holy ointment and holy things. Each of these was set apart for God’s use. To use them for common use was a sin.
4) God came down and dwelt first in the tabernacle and later in the temple at Jerusalem. Both of those buildings were set apart as holy. Each had a holy place and the most holy place where God dwelt. (Exodus 26:33-34) “And thou shalt hang up the vail under the taches, that thou mayest bring in thither within the vail the ark of the testimony: and the vail shall divide unto you between the holy place and the most holy. And thou shalt put the mercy seat upon the ark of the testimony in the most holy place.” (Leviticus 16:2) “And the LORD said unto Moses, Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the holy place within the vail before the mercy seat, which is upon the ark; that he die not: for I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat.” The inner part of the temple where God dwelt was extremely holy and was only entered by the high priest with careful preparation that he die not.
5) Aaron’s sons entered the tabernacle with strange fire and were struck dead as it were by lightening. (Leviticus 10:1-2) “And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not. And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD.” They treated God’s holy place as unholy.
6) During David’s reign as king, he moved the holy ark of God. As he did, Uzzah touched it to keep it from falling and here is what happened. (2 Samuel 6:7) “And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God.”
7) If you are a true Christian, the Holy Spirit lives in you. Your body is His holy temple. The Holy Spirit of God lives right inside of you. In the light of what we have just read, that gives us a fearful responsibility to keep our bodies holy.
b. Your body no longer belongs to you
1) You are not your own. You no longer own your body. You cannot do with your body as you choose.
2) Christ bought you with a price. Christ purchased you with His own blood on the cross. He paid your eternal sin debt. Thus, you now belong totally to Him.
3) Since our bodies belong to God, we now have a duty to glorify God both in our body and in our spirit (v.20).
a) We have no right to tattoo our body. It is not ours.
b) We dare not pollute God’s holy temple by drinking alcohol, taking drugs or smoking.
c) We have no right to listen to filthy music or look at indecency. The Holy Spirit lives in our bodies.
d) We must dress modestly. Men are attracted by sight (Mat 5:28). If you do not believe me, do a Google search as I did for “clothes that attract men”. Here are some secular quotes I found. “One extra square inch of your bare skin is far more noticeable and important to most men than your $300 pair of shoes.” “Exposing the neck and shoulders … sends a message that says, ‘Come talk to me’.” “Pencil skirts, tight jeans and body hugging dresses all favourites.” “Choose styles that flatter your figure.” Therefore, ladies you must choose your clothes prayerfully. We must dress our bodies to glorify God. We cannot wear the immodest fashions of this sinful world. Even the world says that if you expose your thighs, belly, back, shoulders, wear plunging necklines or short skirts even with leggings under them you will attract men’s attention. They say the same about swimsuits. That just cannot be right! Our bodies are God’s temple. The Holy Spirit lives in us. Our bodies must glorify Him.
e) Finding modest clothing takes extra work but it is possible. Try making your own, buy second-hand or look under “modest clothing” online. Even if you only have a few clothes, the Lord will bless you if you determine to be modest and honour the Holy Spirit.
4) As Christians we must think and act biblically for God’s glory. (Romans 14:12) “So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.” God will hold us accountable.
Conclusion: If you are a true Christian, the Holy Spirit lives in you. He is your Comforter. Your body is His temple. You are set apart for His use. You must keep your body holy to glorify God. Let’s ask God to help us keep ourselves holy in mind, body, and soul. Make any changes necessary. We do not answer to the world. We answer to God.
Song: Have Thine Own Way – 388