The Testimony of the Spirit — Part 1 of 2

Today's edition of the Baptist Bible with Sarah Bradley, Junior, I'm Thomas Mann inviting you to stay tuned for another message from God's will and this is Mr. Bailey Junior welcoming you to another broadcast of the Baptist Bible. Our I'm glad you've joined us today. I hope you tell others about this program where they can hear messages on a daily basis from God's word is a mention yesterday. We've going back now to our series on the Gospel of John, interrupted that while we were bringing messages that we thought were particularly applicable to the challenges at all are facing during the time of the coronavirus and certainly we believe that all of God's word is profitable. So where were going back to this series. In the Gospel of John and pray that it will be a blessing to you.

I encourage you to write this I like to send you a sample copy of our publication. The Baptist witnesses are articles in it. Pertaining to this time of crisis that I think will be a blessing to you. Our address is the Baptist Bible. Our box 17/37, Cincinnati, OH 45217.

It's beautiful to observe the compassion shown by Jesus Christ throughout his ministry. We see him opening the eyes of the blind blessing the lane the wall reaching out to sinners.

The outcast of society.

But speaking words of hope to them, bringing salvation to repentant sinners, and indeed he was compassionate with his own disciples read how many times they jump to conclusions. How many times they miss understood what Jesus had said how many times they were distracted, sidetracked, arguing about who was going to be greatest in the kingdom.

Even as the time of Jesus was rapidly approaching dinner when we read about those disciples saying there many faults and failings, do we not see ourselves in at this well how many times have we misunderstood how many times have we jump to conclusions.

How many times have we been sidetracked with some interest other than that which would concern the glory and honor of our Savior Jesus Christ.

In John chapter 13 verse one is having loved his own. He loved them to the end spot of all their imperfections.

He loved them, and then he informed them that the time had come, that he would be going away. They had attempted to take him on numerous occasions, the authorities sent soldiers to arrest them and they were unable to do it because his time and not get the knowledge that I'm going away and their hearts are heavy.

It was shocking when he said one of my disciples is going to train and another is going to deny considering the information to which they had recently been exposed, we can understand how the disciples were very heavy in their hearts.

Jesus knew that and he addresses the situation until chapter 14.

This is like not your heart be troubled you believe in God believe also in me.

But Jesus is straightforward, telling his disciples what they must expect, doesn't try to cover it up make it appear that the Christian life is going to be one of these at the going to be no conflicts to know difficulties and obstacles.

There are those today who promise that kind of a life. If a person will just delete that all their sicknesses will be healed. All of their difficulties will be removed. Jesus never promised a sit in the world ye shall have tribulation. So not only has he given them. These words of consolation is told him that there will be hated by the world, just like Jesus himself hated you as my followers are going to be hated and persecuted.

So as we come today to the 15th chapter of the Gospel of John. Looking at verses 26 and 27 we see that Jesus continues to speak comforting words to his disciples in chapter 14 he spoke twice of the coming of the Holy Spirit called the comforter.

Now he refers again to the comforter, who will come from the father but when the comforter is come home. I will send unto you from the father, even the spirit of truth which proceeded from the father, he shall testify of me. And he also shall bear witness because he had been with me from the beginning, the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity.

Sometimes person will refer to the Holy Spirit as yet rather than he. He is a person and we must think of a mess � in Romans chapter 8 verse 27 references made to the mind of the spirit in first Corinthians chapter 12 verse 11 that speaks of the will of the spirit in Ephesians chapter 4 verse 30.

It speaks of the feelings all the emotions of the spirit, the Holy Spirit is a person.

The third person of the triune Godhead and Jesus says here now for the third time, the comforter will come before us as we look at this passage we want to consider the comforter sent which he and this also the unity of the Godhead because according to this 26 verse he will be sent by Jesus when Jesus has risen from the dead and ascended back the glory and is with the father.

He will send him back in John 1426, it says that the father would send him and hearing the 26 verse of this chapter it said that the spirit proceeds from the father, which indicates that he comes willingly is not sent on a mission that he is resisting areas unity in the Godhead we find the same reference in other matters talks about drawing one to Jesus Christ. There is reference to the father drawing them reference to the sun, drawing them reference to the spirit drawing the Jesus constantly made it clear that he came down from heaven not to do his own will but the will of him that sent him so there is harmony there is unity in the will of the father the son and the Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit is called here in the Gospel of John, the comforter certainly needed comfort. I could not imagine what life would be like without Jesus, they spent 3 1/2 years with him. They left their homes, occupations, and spent all their time with Jesus they'd seen his miracles and heard his messages they had received the private teaching when he spoke just to them what was going to be like.

And now he is informed them that persecution is coming and they need comfort. Considering that verse 20 of this 15th chapter. Remember the word that I said in view. The servant is not greater than his Lord. If they have persecuted me, which we know. In fact, they did. They will all support also persecute you. If they have kept my word, they will keep yours also. In chapter 16 of the second verse, they shall put you out of the synagogues gave the time, that whosoever kill if you will think that he do with God's service. Not only going to hate you.

They're going to persecute you, even unto death. These individuals are in such darkness that they will assume they are serving God honoring God by putting you to death so as Jesus gives them instruction about the realities of what they will encounter. We can understand why there is a somber spirit.

The prevails deep anguish of heart. Now, the comforter, though he said will come in the comforter gives comfort through the word of course not all Scripture has been written at this time because some of these men would be writing it. That is hence they don't have the Old Testament Scriptures and is the Holy Spirit would apply the promises of God, they would find now the book of Philippians chapter 1 verse 29 it says, for unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake.

When you coming to recognize that the persecutions that God's people will endure the suffering that which they will pass at various time is not something that's out of God's control.

It's not some terrible plight that has befallen them, and God is far removed from it said it is giving you to suffer. It is within the scope of God's sovereign purpose that his people from time to time will suffer by their suffering by their persecution by their martyrdom. His name will be honored.

Look at another passage, confirming it the book of first Peter chapter 4 verse 12, but I think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you, you're being informed in advance when you're opposed to the world when you're hated by the world when you rejected the world when you're persecuted with the world. This is not some strange thing this is not something that wasn't anticipated but rejoice in as much energy are partakers of Christ's suffering that when his glory shall be revealed, you may be glad also with exceeding joy� One of the many paradoxes of the Christian experience. What should be our response. They were being persecuted some item. It's a free country like to think about that. I don't know that I could hold up under. I don't know that I could maintain my testimony. If I was threatened and told that I must deny the faith or suffered torture suffer death afraid I would give in, but here he says that when persecution comes, you should be exceedingly glad because you're being identified with Jesus Christ.

You are a partaker of his sufferings. If EB reproached for the name of Christ, are ye farther spirit of glory and of God rests upon you on their part. He is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. I'm confident that none of us here in this comfortable meeting house today could say I can imagine that if I was arrested I was told that if I did not deny Jesus Christ. I was would be tortured, probably burned the state would greatly have to admit I don't think I can handle it.

The fact is the Lord has promised to be with his people during their persecutions. There is much persecution going on among Christians around the world today. Individuals and put to death. Groups of people been put to death. In cases of churches assembled and the building being set on fire and several hundreds of people being killed were thankful for the freedom that we enjoy in America we have no absolute guarantee that it will always be persecutions that are being suffered by Christians in other parts of the world could be suffered so we need to be aware of the Scriptures in far less that if we are standing firm for the gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

We will have opposition persecution will come. The comforter gives the help that we need by giving us strength to be able to stand firm in the midst of trial is the helper the original word is apparently and it carries the meaning of comforter advocate counselor, helper, all of this seen many times the original language is complex and there are meanings within a word that cannot be directly translated into English. The meaning is, is to diverse. So when we're thinking about the comforter, the Holy Spirit, we can think of him as the advocate, one who is the advocate of the name Jesus Christ because he comes to call attention to Kilman to honor his name is the counselor because we turn to him for direction or guidance for understanding of the Scriptures that we may have the Council necessary. He is our helper indicates that it is one who comes alongside of another to help and he is at the side of those that are persecuted back in the gospel of Mark chapter 13 verse 11. These are the words of Jesus. But when they shall lead you and deliver you, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate, but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost is ours at the time, that your arrested your brought before the authorities guilty not to think ahead of time what you don't say because it will be given you by the Holy Ghost, heard some far-fetched interpretations that text somebody suggested at one point that that certainly means that preachers don't need to prepare in advance their missions that they just the pulpit will be the site alive heard some of those messages and I didn't think they had come from the Holy Spirit.

This is talking about something specific in the time of persecution in the time when you are facing, suffering, and even death, imprisonment where it may be the Holy Spirit will give you the words to say. So Jesus is giving his disciples, encouragement, yummy understands the stress thereunder. He understands what they are facing in how they are troubled, and the same is true for us and all of our spiritual battles. He is our helper. The source of our strength, making us more than conquerors is the spirit of truth is here described inspired man to write the Scriptures. All scripture is given by the inspiration of God. It is truth. Jesus said in John 1717. Sanctify them through thy word by word is truth which is the book of second Peter chapter 1 verse 20 knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time of the will of man, but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost, so the preferences of old-time the Old Testament Scriptures came as men were moved by the Holy Ghost.

He is the spirit of truth inspired then men who wrote the New Testament so we have a book upon which we can rely it is authoritative.

It is the truth of God. It is not that the collection of men's opinions. It is the message that God has given us. It is reliable and we should receive its message. Not only did the Holy Spirit inspire man to write it but if of the blessing of the Holy Spirit that anything come to understand we look at the book of first Corinthians chapter 2 verse nine but as it is written, I have not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man the things which God prepared for them. Loving. Simply stated it is that by the next rely we don't see buyer next year. We don't fear by our own instinct out of our heart we don't understand the things are prepared of God, but God hath revealed them to us how, by use. Spirit searches all things, gave the deep things of God.

For what man knows the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in the even sold the things of God know with no man the spirit of God, man doesn't love himself.

Know and understand the things of God are people who are very free to express their personal opinion and say this is what is right. To me this is way I understand that this is the way I see it, but the fact is that man in and of himself does not know, understand, or perceive the things of God. It must be given us by the blessing of the Holy Spirit through the word that the spirit has inspired that we have received not the spirit of the world of the spirit which is of God, that we might know the things that are freely given us of God are you going to know them by the blessing of the Holy Spirit which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Ghost teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. He is the spirit of truth.

Secondly, we observe here the witness given that the apostles would bear witness because they had been with him from the beginning.

They were qualified to give testimony concerning Jesus Christ and we find this in the first epistle of John confirming the fact that they were eyewitnesses. So when we're talking to you today about Jesus Christ and what happened concerning his life, death and burial and resurrection" people who were there, who heard his voice witness his miracles who sought after came out of the brain were talking about and I witness account.

First John chapter 1 verses one and two. That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled the word of life member back in the first chapter of the Gospel of John is is in the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God.

There are others that we have handled the word of life for the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness and show unto you that eternal life which was with the father and was manifested on to us apostles. Now our giving testimony eyewitness accounts of what they had experience and what they had seen in Jesus Christ. First second Peter second Peter chapter 1 verse 16 for we have not followed the cunningly devised fables, when we made no one view the power of the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, what were eyewitnesses of his Majesty's education court and somebody is called as a witness. They say will here's what I think happened. The judge will discount that testimony, I want to hear what somebody thinks might have happened. But if a person is on the stand. Here is an eyewitness. I was there I saw it this is what occurred at that testimony is receipt that means something to what we have is a testimony given by those that were eyewitnesses they were there said then that when Jesus went away, his disciples would be his witnesses and the spirit would teach them.

Jesus had been teaching them.

But now the Holy Spirit is going to teach them back in the 14th Of the gospel of John. Verse 26, one of the passages where he is referred to as the comforter, but the comforter, which is the Holy Ghost. The father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring to remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you his work plan was to teach them and never going to be taught by bringing to their remembrance bringing to their mind. The things that Jesus already told how easy it is for us to forget you read a portion of Scripture and comfort your heart, you rejoice in it to say I'll never forget that.

Then time goes on, and it slips away to hear a sermon, take Lord spoke to me in that they beat later to tell him somehow to have heard of sermon as it would tell me about, but right now I can't remember what it was but it was if I know it was good.

I really enjoyed it at the time. Well, you need some help and the Holy Spirit teaches us and brings to our mind as we call upon him the things we've heard the things we have been told Holy Spirit would guide them in giving glory to Jesus. John 16. The 13th verse, howbeit when key, 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. He shall glorify me for he shall receive of mine and shall show it on to you the spirit of God would glorify Jesus Christ, the spirit would testify of Jesus through the apostles and we depose right there today in this message by Lucero Bradley Junior entitled the testimony of the spirit and if you can come back again tomorrow there will be looking at some specific examples or evidences in Scripture of the ways in which the Holy Spirit points to Jesus Christ. What you would like to hear this message again. It is available on CD. The entire material from both days on a single audio CD. It's yours free when you ask for it by title the testimony of the spirit can ask about that when you write the Baptist Bible. Our PO Box 17 oh 37, Cincinnati, OH 45217 two able to enclose a donation toward the support of the program. Of course that will be greatly appreciated. Your donation is tax-deductible, and of course, is one of the ways in which God keeps the program here on the station once again that address is PO Box 17 oh 37, Cincinnati, OH 45217, or you can take care of these details by phone if you prefer, dial toll-free one 800-4734 DBH have your Visa or MasterCard ready. If you plan to place an order or make a donation toward the support of the program again at one 800-4734 DBH and of course all these matters can be attended to online as well. Simply go to our website@baptistbiblehour.org you will find a host of resources available, including our online catalog can sign up for our free monthly grace mail that's an easy newsletter that there comes your box each month.

Again, free of charge as well as download our free app for the daily devotional right to your smart phone again all that out Baptist Bible I word.that does conclude our time together for today. I'm Thomas Mann inviting you back again next time I see her Bradley Junior brings another Bible-based message on the Baptist Bible and in all