James MacDonald - The Glorious Holy Spirit
Summary:
In this teaching from John 16, Jesus explains the Holy Spirit’s vital ministries to believers: as Comforter (Paraclete) who stands beside us, as Convictor who reproves the world concerning sin (rooted in unbelief), righteousness (now revealed through the Spirit since Jesus has ascended), and judgment (because Satan is already defeated), and as Teacher who guides into all truth and glorifies Christ. The preacher stresses that unbelief mutes the Spirit’s convicting work, while true filling comes not from a second baptism but from yielding fully to the Spirit’s control. Ultimately, to experience the Spirit’s comfort, conviction, and guidance, we must stop grieving Him through sin and quenching Him by ignoring His prompts, confessing everything and surrendering completely.
Unbelief Mutes the Holy Spirit
Unbelief is like a mute button on the Holy Spirit in your life. If you don’t believe the Bible, if you don’t believe what Jesus has said, the Holy Spirit has a hard time with you. Some of you are here right now, and I’m talking about how the Holy Spirit wakes you up in the night and convicts you of sin, and some of you are like, «That’s not happening to me.»
All right, well I’m trying to tell you now why that’s not happening to you. The reason that’s not happening is because of unbelief. Unbelief is like a mute button on the convicting ministry of the Holy Spirit in your life. That’s why He says what He says in verse 8: «And when He comes, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.» Concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer.
The Holy Spirit Convicts of Righteousness
So the Holy Spirit is convicting us of righteousness. Look up here—Jesus is telling them why the Holy Spirit’s coming. He’s coming to convict you of sin; He’s coming to convict you of righteousness. I’m not going to be here anymore. When I was walking on the earth with the disciples, if they wanted to know what righteousness was, all they had to do was look at Him—there it is, right in front of you. He’s like, «I’m leaving, and I don’t just want you to be convicted of the wrong; I want the Holy Spirit to show you the right in its place.» It’s not just enough to stop yelling at my kids; there’s something I’m supposed to be doing when I’m doing that. Show me the wrong, show me the right, and the Holy Spirit is sent to live within us to give us the example that was before the disciples’ eyes concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you’ll see me no longer.
Conviction of Judgment
And then verse 11: concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. The Bible says that Satan knows his time is short, but do we know that our time is short? One of the ministries of the Holy Spirit is to convict us—you know, like no squirming room; you’re wrong, and you’ve got to make that right. This is a matter of urgency because life is short.
The Hong Kong Shirt Story
Luke reminded me, our son Luke reminded me of something funny that happened in 1996. Kathy and I went to Hong Kong on a missionary trip, and we spoke to I don’t know, maybe a hundred missionaries in Southeast Asia. We stopped over—seems like coming or going—and spent a couple of nights overnight in Hong Kong. Has anyone ever been to Hong Kong? It’s so exotic, right? Just like, «Is this on the same planet?»
It was so crazy. I had always heard that you can get a cheap suit there, and I didn’t have enough to buy a suit, so I thought I’m going to get some of those nice measured shirts. You know, my shirt sleeves were never long enough for me, and so I went down to this little place. It seems like the street was called Newbold Street, is that right? Or something like that. But on this main street, I went down underneath, and I found this guy in this shop, and he seemed pretty decent, so I bought these—I think the shirts were $20 a piece, measured. I think I bought 10 of them, and they had my little initials on them, and everything just seemed really kind of classy. I was excited to have these $20 made-to-measure shirts.
Well, when it came time to pick them up, the arms were too short. Wouldn’t you know? I mean, didn’t we measure? The arms were just too short. I remember it was like only one said, «I’m leaving tomorrow.» He says, «I’ll fix them; I’ll fix them. It’s no problem.» Anyway, I came down the next day; I was on the way to the airport, and I said, «Well, come on, I got to try one on.» I tried one on; it fit perfect. He said, «Here, try another one on.» I was like, «All right, all right.» I tried another one on; it fit perfect. I came home with my 10 shirts; two were fixed, eight were not fixed. How happy was I?
Okay, so I mean, I’m sure he was banking that I was never coming back to Hong Kong. But in 2003, I went to preach at a Keswick conference about the deeper life of the Holy Spirit, and this is crazy—Luke was with me. I went to the same street, I went to the same hotel, I went to the same basement, I walked into the same shop, and the same guy was standing there. «Hey, hey, remember me?» It was all over his face; he was like, «Yes.» I said, «You didn’t fix my shirts.» I don’t remember exactly what happened; I talked to Luke about it. I think he gave me like five free shirts. He gave Luke five free shirts; it was like he didn’t even argue. Dead to rights; I’m wrong. He had nothing to say, just start making shirts. That’s what the convicting ministry of the Holy Spirit is like—this is wrong, this is right, judgment is coming; deal with it now.
Now, don’t treat this like some cranky state police officer. We love the police officers in our church; we love them. Don’t treat this like some cranky person giving you a ticket. This is the fire alarm that is saving your life. This is the Holy Spirit saving your life, convicting you about the wrong, showing you the right, and helping you get there.
The Holy Spirit as Teacher
Well, here’s the third thing: the Holy Spirit is my comforter, the Holy Spirit is my convictor, and then this—the Holy Spirit is my teacher. Jesus says, «I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 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.» We learned this before; this was in chapter 14. We spent a good part of a message on the teaching ministry of the Holy Spirit.
If you know someone who has wisdom that surprises you frequently, that is the Holy Spirit ministering through them. Notice He goes on: «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. He will glorify me, for He will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that He will take what is mine and declare it to you.»
Everything the Holy Spirit does in comforting us, everything that He does in convicting us, everything that He does in teaching us is coming straight from the heart of Jesus through the third person of the Trinity.
How to Be Filled with the Holy Spirit
Now, I could say more about the teaching ministry of the Holy Spirit. We have spent time on that before. Where sermons often fail is not at the point of understanding, but at the point of application. So I want to spend the remaining time on this: how to be filled with the Holy Spirit. I prayed before I came out for this service to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Now, I’ve taught on this before. There is one baptism; there are many fillings. There is one baptism—hear me—the baptism of the Holy Spirit, I believe—it is our belief—that it happens at conversion.
1 Corinthians 12:13 says, «For one Spirit were we all baptized into one body.» While there are a couple of instances in the book of Acts where the baptism of the Holy Spirit seems to be subsequent, I believe that there are historical transitional reasons for that. I think that Ephesians chapter 1 and other passages make it extremely clear that you have all of the Holy Spirit at conversion. He is the earnest of our inheritance. You have the Holy Spirit, but the question that you need to answer for your comfort, for your conviction, for your instruction is not do you have all the Holy Spirit. If you have turned from your sin and embraced Jesus Christ by faith, if you’ve been saved, you have all the Holy Spirit. That’s not the question.
The question is, does the Holy Spirit have all of you? And that is not an issue of baptism; that is an issue of filling. That’s why it says—put the verse up in Ephesians 5:18. It says, «Be filled.» «Do not be drunk with wine, in which is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit.» The word debauchery there really just means excess. See, the problem with wine is that you can drink it to excess. The problem with sex is, the problem with money is, the problem with… I could fill in a lot of things. The problem is that almost everything becomes a problem at excess except the Holy Spirit, in which there is no excess! Not one person here, not one person on the face of the earth has too much of the Holy Spirit. That’s why He said—He says, «You know, really, really—you’re trying to get your comfort from alcohol, ” is the illustration He used. „Don’t get drunk with wine; be filled with the Spirit.“ It actually means to be continually filled with the Spirit.
The Cookie Jar Illustration
Now, the word filled means to be controlled, to be thoroughly permeated. It means to be entirely and completely filled, which raises I think this question—this is my next little—you’re going to like this part a lot. So, I saw that somebody said this has been used in some other capacity, but I don’t know what that other capacity is. I can’t remember why these cookies are here—maybe in case I get hungry. So filled—look up here—look right in here—filled. Are you filled with the Holy Spirit? Now, are you filled? Are you? Are you filled? It’s getting pretty full. Are you filled? Well, no, you’re not filled. No, are you filled? No, no, are you filled? You know, am I filled yet? Well, maybe. Maybe I can put some—maybe there’s still some more space in here. The idea is that when the Bible says to be filled with the Holy Spirit, it’s talking about really there’s still room in here. Really, there’s still room in here. Really, there’s still room in here. Wow!
To be filled with the Holy Spirit, to be thoroughly permeated, to be entirely influenced, to be completely controlled by the Holy Spirit of God!
Characteristics of Being Filled
A couple of things about that passage and what it’s teaching about the filling of the Holy Spirit: first of all, by way of illustration, look at the verse again; let’s put it on the screen. Ephesians chapter 5, verse 18, is making this point to us that it’s a constant, continuous need. Also, I would point out to you that it’s a command—just leave that scripture up there—it’s a command: „Be filled with the Spirit.“ Sorrowing, Christ follower; be filled with the Holy Spirit. Struggling, discouraged, defeated, tempted, fallen Christian; be filled with the Holy Spirit. God doesn’t give a lot of suggestions; I don’t know if you’ve noticed that. He’s not like, „Well, give this a try; be filled with the Holy Spirit.“
Then it’s also interesting—if you remember from your English class—that this is passive. So it’s not, „I’m going to get me some of that Holy Spirit.“ It’s the Holy Spirit—allow it to take place; invite and allow the Holy Spirit to fill you. As I pointed out already, it’s plural. You can’t see it in your English Bible, but the command is plural: „Every bushel-burning, flag-waving Christ follower; be filled with the Spirit of God.“
And then what’s the illustration? The illustration is alcohol. Why? Well, I’ll say to my shame—I won’t make anybody else go first—when I was a stupid student, I allowed myself to get into a state where I was affected by what I was drinking. I certainly have seen many other people in that state. You know what happens when a person is drunk—they don’t act like themselves anymore. They say all kinds of things that amuse and amaze people because they have no control of their tongue. The police pull them over and ask them to walk a straight line, but they can’t do it. They can’t do it because why? Because they have no control of their body. Ask them a simple question; they can’t give an answer because they have no control over their mind. They become fearful and paranoid and angry and silly because they have no control over their emotions.
Interesting—not just here, but also in Luke 1:15, Acts 2:4, Acts 2:13, other places drunkenness is used as a negative illustration: „These are not drunk with wine; they are filled with the Holy Spirit.“ And in that same sense, they have no control over what they say. Oh, that the Spirit of God would control our mouths, and that nothing would be spoken which should not be said, and that everything that He wants said would be spoken. Oh, that the Holy Spirit would have control of our minds, that we would not spend hours and days ruminating on things that have no purpose or no end. Spirit of God, control my mouth and my mind and my body, so that I won’t go places I shouldn’t go and do things I shouldn’t do. Holy Spirit of God, come and fill me, so that my emotions are in check and carry me positively toward the things that God has in store for me and not be overwhelmed by circumstance.
Hindrances to the Filling
Two hindrances to Holy Spirit filling: if you’re here in church today and you’re a follower of Jesus and you’re not filled with the Holy Spirit, it’s because of these two things. Number one, at some point, you have grieved the Holy Spirit. It’s not going to fight with you. Ephesians 4:30 says, „Don’t grieve the Holy Spirit.“ It means don’t make the Holy Spirit sad. He can’t go anywhere; He lives in you permanently as a follower of Jesus. And how often does the Holy Spirit say, „Why are we looking at this? Why are we going here? Why are you talking like that?“ We grieve God’s Spirit; we make God’s Spirit within us sad, and we forfeit His filling.
Somebody turn to their neighbor and say, „I’ve done that! I’ve done that!“ So grieving the Holy Spirit and then quenching the Holy Spirit. Grieving is where we do things He doesn’t want us to do, and quenching Him—1 Thessalonians 5:19 says, „Don’t quench the Holy Spirit.“ And that’s when the Holy Spirit’s like, „Say you’re sorry; call her and work it out; humble yourself; get over to church; read your Bible, “ and you’re like, „I’m not doing that; I’m not doing that.“ And we quench the Holy Spirit.
Many people wonder if they’re saved because one of the things in Romans 8 says that the Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we’re the children of God. Why are so many people wondering? Because they’re not filled with the Holy Spirit. At one point, He’s like, „You’re saved; you’re mine; I love you.“ And then we grieve him and quench him, and grieve him and quench him. He’s like, „You’re saved; you’re mine; I love you.“ And then we grieve him and quench him, and He’s like, „I don’t know if I’m a Christian.“ You’ve quenched and grieved the Holy Spirit.
What do you do? What do you do? Because we’ve all done it, right? Confess all known sin. Get along with the Lord; get a piece of paper out in front of you; kneel down. Say, „Lord, I’m not kidding around anymore; I want to be filled with your Spirit.“ And I’m inviting You now just to come and prick my heart as I read Your Word and read through some things, like in Ephesians chapter 4 and 5-some of the lists of sins that grieve the Lord. Are these things true? Let the Lord convict you about it, and every time He convicts you, you just confess it and forsake it. „I have no excuse; I’m sorry; You’re right; I’m wrong; I know the better I choose it now.“