Month: March 2021

John 16.12-15

In most forms of learning there is a fairly hierarchical structure to the concepts involved. There might be more than one route up the structure but learning is not secure until the simpler concepts are grasped and the connections between them are made. We may gain some insight into the more complex issues but we will not have fully understood or mastered them until there is sufficient supportive scaffolding to our learning. Most simply put, we cannot run before we can walk. Learning takes time and that alone often puts people off learning because sustained effort is required. David Beckham admitted he was not the most talented young footballer he grew up with but he practised every day and longer than anyone else. Practice alone is usually not sufficient. A skillful coach makes a massive difference to the amount learnt and the speed of progress.

One of the shifts in emphasis in the teaching of mathematics with young children was a focus on identifying gaps in their knowledge which may have occurred years before but without having grasped a key foundational concept true understanding of a more advanced idea was not secure. The child was not ready to learn the advanced concept until the earlier learning had been returned to and taught again.

The disciples were still undergoing their spiritual education and that would not be completed in Jesus’ earthly lifetime. Jesus had already taught the disciples about his forthcoming death and resurrection and many other key features of “New Testament” life and although there had been some inspirational insights along the way e.g. Peter’s confession that Jesus was the Christ, the building blocks of spiritual learning were not yet secure and wouldn’t be until they had witnessed and experienced more.

This then was the reason for Jesus words, ‘I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.’ ^v12 They were going to be in need of an advanced level coach and so the divine plan was for the Holy Spirit to be that person. ‘When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.’ ^v13 Why this is vital is that these disciples are to be the ones who record Jesus’ life and teaching and write further books included in the New Testament. Jesus was firstly addressing the disciples immediately in front of him regarding their imminent experiences. The things to come were firstly his death, resurrection and ascension. Later on they were to be the giving of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost and expansion of the church into the wider world with all its developing issues.

It is upon their Holy Spirit inspired writing that the future church up to our present time is founded. The importance of the New Testament scriptures cannot be over estimated. The same principle also applies to Paul’s writing although he was not yet a disciple. Paul wrote, ‘For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man’s gospel.^[a] 12 For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.’ ^{Galatians 1.11-12}

The Holy Spirit’s teaching is to glorify Jesus Christ by revealing all that is Christ’s and the Father’s. ^v14 We cannot fully understand the things of God without the assistance of the Holy Spirit revealing them to us. An intellectual understanding is not sufficient, faith itself is a gift of the Holy Spirit. This is not to devalue the importance of the intellectual integrity of the faith but the Christian experience is a relational experience in a way that an understanding of simple facts is not. The authority of the Spirit’s teaching is it comes from the Son and the Father. ^v13 Therefore the authority of scripture also has the authority of the full Godhead.

What are the things that you find more difficult to understand regarding New Testament teaching?

How can you find the answers to your questions?

Fall Afresh – Amanda Cook | Bethel Music Worship

John 16.8-11

‘Convict’ -to decide officially in a law court that someone is guilty of a crime: Cambridge Dictionary

The term convict for the modern reader carries with it legal overtones. We called those sent to other countries to serve their prison sentence convicts. If someone is convicted we think there has been sufficient evidence brought to court to deem someone worthy of a negative judgement. There are three elements that go along with the word convict. Firstly, wrong has been done, secondly for this judgement to be made there must be a standard for good against which the wrong judgement is made. Thirdly there is a price that must be paid for the wrong that has been done. To grasp the rounded sense of the word convict in the passage it is also to be understood in terms of a strong opinion or belief or a feeling of being certain about something which are definitions of conviction in the Cambridge dictionary.

We get then two perspectives when Jesus says the Spirit will come, ‘to convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgement.’ ^v8 From the individual’s perspective the Spirit will impact their strong feeling and belief about their own conduct and motivations. From God’s perspective the Spirit will make clear to them what God’s judgement is. The common position in the modern west is that what is important is what I think about my life is what matters. Otherwise I cannot fulfil myself. However, the Spirit brings an understanding that there is an objective standard outside of oneself about right and wrong and we will face accountability to God against that standard.

Why was Jesus making this clear to the disciples now? It was because he was equipping them for their gospel work, evangelism. Whilst they were to take the message to the people it is the Holy Spirit that persuades and changes the listeners deeply held beliefs. It is interesting that when Jesus describes the reason for sin he addresses lack of faith in him. ^v9 This refers back to the first commandment, ‘You shall have no other gods before me.’ ^{Exodus 20.3} All sin originates in a rejection of God. The gospel message is that righteousness comes from faith in Jesus as well. Through faith the Christian receives the righteousness of Jesus in the eyes of the Father. ‘For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.’ ^{2Corinthians 5.21}

There is a judgement and a decision to be made. If we align with the values of the world we will receive the judgement along with the ruler of the world. If we align and believe in Christ we receive the judgement reflecting Christ’s righteousness. A first step in believing in Christ is an awareness of our own need. The Spirit convicts people of their need so that they can respond to the gospel. There are highly important aspects of the Spirit’s role in convicting one of sin as one progresses in the Christian life however in the context of this passage Jesus is preparing them for his own death, resurrection and ascension and their subsequent role in taking the gospel to the world.

This directly relates to the church’s core current role of continuing to share the gospel. The Spirit continues to be the one who convicts people of their need and who Jesus is. That does not detract from the church’s and individual Christians responsibility to share their faith. Neither does it mean that we should not communicate the message in the most effective way we can. However, a spiritual work needs to be done and only the Holy Spirit can do that. We live and work in a divinely arranged partnership having received God’s mercy ourselves.

Do we specifically pray that the Spirit will convict people we are sharing the gospel with of sin, righteousness and judgement?

Mighty to save

John 16.7

When writing a will one has in mind how one can benefit others following your own departure. Along with one’s material possessions one wants to think about how those closest to you are going to cope with the storms of life that might just about to be becoming stronger because your presence will no longer be there. When my wife and I wrote our first wills we still had small children and so the most important thing to us was to consider who could be a guide for them until they reached adulthood. Our parents were naturally ageing and we could not be sure they would themselves survive that long. The solicitor then suggested that in the will we nominate a couple of trusted friends who would be consulted during that period whenever major decisions regarding their welfare were made. Two such friends did in fact agree to being named and their role was to be mature and wise helpers, advocates and friends. As things turned out we continued to live and so the formal nature of this trusted friendship never had to be called upon but provision was made.

Jesus in this passage is invoking on behalf of his disciples the Father’s promise to provide such a person during his absence due to his death and eventual ascension. This person is the Holy Spirit the third person of the Trinity and therefore much more than simply someone to be consulted he is God himself. His role in coming to the disciples is much more than that of an adviser.

The first thing to grasp about the Holy Spirit is that he comes from the Father. ‘But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me.’ ^{John 15.26} Therefore he will act and reveal those things the Father wills. The full Godhead is working in harmony, the Spirit is coming from the Father but is sent by Jesus and therefore occurs at Pentecost following Jesus’ ascension.  ^‘Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.’ ^v7

The Greek word “Paraclete”, translated Helper in the ESV is translated Advocate in the NIV and Friend in the Message. These three variations convey some of the shades of meaning as to the role of the Holy Spirit in the lives of the disciples. What Jesus is also amazingly saying is that the disciples will be better off having received the Holy Spirit than with his physical presence.

Of course, any friend, helper or advocate is only of use if they are listened to. The Holy Spirit’s words and actions will have the character of the Father himself. Conflict will naturally occur between the world’s perspective and his and also within ourselves where we desire things contrary to God’s character. This means having the self-discipline to spend regular time in prayer and bible reading is essential if we are to be guided by him. It is through the “word” of God that the Holy Spirit primarily uses to guide and reveal God’s purposes and truth.

What is your experience of being “helped” by the Holy Spirit?

Do you use the bible as a standard to check guidance against?

Psalm 121 (I Lift My Eyes) LIVE – Kristyn Getty, Jordan Kauflin, Matt Merker

John 16.1-16

One of the many wonderful, refreshing aspects of the personality and character of Jesus is his commitment to utter reality. As he continues to paint a very sobering portrait of the shadowy road ahead for the disciples, he demonstrates a deep sensitivity to their emotional fragility, only giving them as much as he knows they can bear to take. ^v12 And yet he told the truth, even though the truth was painful to bear, and he lived under no naïve illusions about the disciples either.

Jesus was totally aware that they, despite all of their experiences and victories, were still human, and humans, like sheep are gifted at going astray. His carefully chosen words are designed to warn them of coming perils ahead of time, ‘so they will not go astray.’ ^v1 Jesus saw through the posturing and false piety of mere religion too, knowing that a time would come when religious zealots would attack his followers and irony of ironies, believe that they were doing God a favour as they did so. ^v2

Jesus makes no attempt to gloss over the painful hours ahead. He was going away, and said so plainly, even though the news brought grief to the disciples. ^{vv 5-6}

Jesus is no negative pessimist, though, because he is equally real and emphatic about the help that would be available for his struggling friends in the Person of the Holy Spirit. He reminds them of the wondrous resurrection he would experience, ‘in a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me.’ ^v16

Sometimes people of “faith” try to deny their sickness or sadness, believing that to admit to them is a “negative confession” and an obstacle to faith. No such teaching exists in scripture. Rather, the pages of the Bible tell the real life, flesh and blood stories of the faithful, with their mistakes and fears and scandals unedited. True faith is realistic, it doesn’t attempt to minimize the challenges we face. On the contrary, it squares up to them and yet still affirms that God is great. Get real.

(Jeff Lucas, CWR cover to cover, Feb 2012)

How easy to we find it to be honest with God?

Mighty to save – Hillsong Worship

John 15.21-25

‘Four Christians in China are facing prison sentences of between 18 months and five years for involvement in the distribution of audio Bibles. A fifth Christian involved in a separate business is currently on trial and could face a similar sentence. It’s part of a wider government campaign to ‘eradicate pornography and illegal publications’. (For a fuller story of government opposition to the Christian faith in China – https://www.opendoorsuk.org/news/latest-news/christians-china-audiobibles/ )

It is important to understand what Jesus meant by the “world.” ^v19 When he speaks of the world hating himself and his disciples. Some might consider the world to be anything non-religious but it was clear that religious people made up a significant portion of those who hated and persecuted him.  Jesus’ meaning included the whole system that is in rebellion against God and that may include aspects of rebellion. It also includes individual and societal rebellion against the name of Jesus. ‘But all these things they will do on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me.’ ^v21 The name of Jesus represents his identity as the Son of God and the existence or authority of God the Father. The extract above from China is an example of political and philosophical hatred of Jesus and his followers. In that case they invoked a law outlawing pornography including the bible as equivalent material. Societal opposition does not have to be so formally organised. Materialism in terms of valuing the acquisition of goods and wealth as the goal of life forms a dominant opposition in the West. As does materialism in terms of excluding the possibility of anything existing outside of what can be measured in the physical world also sets itself up in rebellion against Jesus. This is despite advocates of materialism not facing up to the contradictions such a position causes within how they live their own lives.

Opposition to Jesus is heightened by what he said and did because it reveals their rebellion towards God. God views their rebellion as sin and the rebel wishes to assert it as good. In Western society having many sexual partners is commonly endorsed as good. Drunkenness is approved of as having a good time. Using foul language is often approved of, and gossip is to be relished. Those with wealth and power often place their right to increase their wealth above the needs of others who are greatly disadvantaged. Attitudes towards the distribution of Covid 19 vaccines have seen rich countries placing the lives of their citizens and the profit of pharmaceutical companies above the needs of the world’s poorest as good and fair policy. Similarly, if a Christian teaches what Jesus taught they will also open themselves up to opposition and even personal hatred. The purpose of Jesus’ teaching the truth is not vindictive but to open a way for people to repent and turn to him for forgiveness and be included in the Kingdom of God. There will be those who will respond in that way but there will be others who hate Jesus without cause. ^v25

When Jesus performed miracles of mercy that enraged opposition. ^v24 Some accused him of doing so by the power of the devil. Others accused him of breaking the law. When God’s people are engaging in his works of mercy whether through miraculous means or simple kindness there will be those who make accusations that it is done for evil motives. There is considerable opposition to church schools in our society, there are those who accuse acts of mercy by churches as having purely impure motives. This is done because of a rejection of the name of Jesus and his Father.

Jesus’ teaching, actions and life sharply divides people. ^{2 Corinthians 2.16} However, we are not left without help.

Are we prepared to be known as Jesus’ disciple?

When Trials Come – Keith & Kristyn Getty