Dedicated To The Men of God Who Preach the Word of God As It
Is To Men As They Are
"Preach The Word"
(John 16:7-11)
Intro: Having traveled for many years, and stayed in motel after
motel, I am always interested in what I will see when I open the door to
my room and turn the light on. On many occasions I have seen creatures
that discouraged me from the beginning. And, on several occasions, to my
dismay, I have found people already in the room. As we approach this
subject, my concern is what is seen when the Holy Spirit turns on the
light in our hearts.
*The word "reprove" is used several ways in the New Testament.
(1) In a few settings, it simply means to rebuke, as in 1 Tim. 5:20, Tit.
1:13, and Rev. 3:19. (2) However, the basic idea is to bring out into the
light, to discover, or to make manifest by the light. see Eph. 5:13; cf.
John 3:20. (3) It has been pointed out that it is the word used for the
cross-examination of a witness, or a man on trial. In this light, I have
chosen the word "Revelation" for our emphasis.
*According to Jesus, the Holy Spirit, in His dealings with men, reveals:
1. The Repulsiveness Of Man's Condition (we are totally
unrighteous!)
"Of sin, cause they believe not on Me" (16.9) (cf. Acts 2 where
they believed)
A His unrighteous state - the sinner's fallen condition in Adam/
not acceptable with God!
B. His unrighteous soul - the sinner's weak condition within/a
heart for sin
C. His unrighteous
situation - the sinner's hopeless condition in this world/unbelief
*Illus. Isaiah's experience - "I am undone ...I am unclean ...I dwell
...with...a people"
2. The Righteousness Of Christ's Character (But, there is help in
the Righteous One!
"Of righteousness, because 1 go to My Father, and ye see Me no more" (16.10)
A. Christ's essential righteousness - as righteous as God, for He is God! Our only hope!
B. Christ's experiential righteousness - it is imputed to the account of believing hearts justified .
C. Christ's evidential righteousness - seen in His justified people/hunger & thirst now! *Illus. The Beatitudes - "poor in Spirit ...mourn-hunger & thirst after righteousness"
3. The Realness Of Satan's Condemnation (Yet, all unrighteousness
will be judged!)
"Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged"
(16.11)
A. This message involves a fact - judgment is not fictional/the
Holy Spirit reminds us!
B. This message involves a foe - the "head" of Satan was
crushed at the cross/Gen. 3:15
C. This message involves a future - If the prince has been judged,
all subjects will be judged!
*Illus. When Goliath was slain, the whole army was subject to defeat.
Concl: William Barclay cites a story from an Indian village where "a
missionary was telling the story of Christ by means of lantern slides
flung on the white-washed wall of a village house. When the picture of the
Cross was shown, an Indian stepped forward, as if he could not help it:
`Come down!' he cried. `I should be hanging there - - not you."' Now,
my question is, how could the portrait of a man crucified as a criminal in
Palestine two thousand years ago rip open the man's heart? How does this
still happen today? This is the work of the blessed Holy Spirit. Thank
God! He has come to convince men of sin, of righteousness, and of
judgment.
A SERMON FROM EVANGELIST
TOM HAYES
Site created by Tom Walker