The discourse illuminates the profound promises bestowed upon the apostles during the pivotal transition from Jesus' earthly ministry to the age of the Holy Spirit. Central to this discussion is the promise articulated in the Gospel of John chapters 14 to 16, wherein Jesus assures His apostles of the arrival of the Comforter, the Holy Spirit. This divine presence is not merely a guide; it embodies a transformative power that enables the apostles to perform extraordinary acts, including miraculous healing and the raising of the dead, thus ushering in a new epoch of spiritual authority and witness. The speaker meticulously examines the implications of these promises, highlighting how they were directed specifically at the apostles, establishing them as the primary conduits of the Holy Spirit's gifts and guidance. The analysis extends to the role of the seventy disciples, noting their initial empowerment during Jesus' ministry, yet emphasizing that the enduring legacy of miraculous abilities appears to have been consolidated within the apostolic community after Jesus' ascension. This nuanced exploration invites listeners to reflect on the unique responsibilities and capabilities conferred upon the apostles, thereby framing the narrative of the early disciples and its divine mandate to disseminate the Gospel with fervor and authenticity.

In delving into the meaning of the term 'forever' as it pertains to the Holy Spirit's presence, the speaker elucidates its contextual significance, arguing that it does not imply an endless state but rather a lasting companionship within the generational span of the apostles. This interpretation opens a broader discourse about the continuity of the Holy Spirit's guidance and the nature of divine presence in the lives of believers across generations. The speaker’s careful exegesis encourages a reevaluation of traditional interpretations that may conflate the specific promises made to the apostles with contemporary expectations, thus fostering a more profound understanding of the scriptural narrative. As the discussion unfolds, the listener is invited to consider the implications of the Holy Spirit’s operations in the context of the first century and the transformative power it wielded amidst a tumultuous societal backdrop.

Takeaways:

• The apostles were promised the Holy Spirit, who would guide them into all truth and provide comfort.
• Jesus assured the apostles that they would not be left alone after his departure, as the Holy Spirit would come to them.
• The power granted to the apostles included miraculous abilities, such as healing and raising the dead, as part of their mission.
• John 14-16 emphasizes the intimate connection between the apostles and the Holy Spirit, which was essential for their ministry.
• The Holy Spirit's presence signifies Jesus' absence yet serves as a reminder of his teachings and guidance.
• Understanding the context of the promises made to the apostles is vital for interpreting the role of the Holy Spirit today.

Good morning and welcome again to our study on the Holy Spirit.

We have looked at the Holy Spirit in the life of Christ as he had the power of the Holy Spirit in full measure, and that he did things in the power of the Holy Spirit.

We ended talking about the promise that Jesus gave the apostles that while he was going away he would not leave them orphaned or desolate, but that he would send another comforter that is another of the same sort who would then guide them into all truth and that he would be with them forever.

I want to pick up with that thought.

That's where we left off last time.

We're looking at John 14.

If you have your Bible open as I promised, we will start there.

Jesus promised that he would send give another comforter that he may be with you forever.

And we've emphasized the fact that he shares with them that he's going to the Father and that they would do greater works than he has done because he would grant anything they ask in his name.

And so telling them that he's going away would set the stage for the promise of the Spirit, because He's not going to leave them all alone.

The second thing is that the explanation for his departure calls to mind the promise of Joel that the Holy Spirit can't come until he's leaving.

In other words, as long as he's with him, the Holy Spirit cannot come.

In fact, he will say that a bit later on and we'll look at that together.

But he has to leave for another comforter to come.

A third thing we ended with with this note, and we didn't go into it too deeply, but I want to share with you the meaning of this word forever.

It's been argued many, many times that the promise that Jesus gave the apostles would leak over into our lives because Jesus said that the Holy Spirit would be with them forever.

Of course, the first thing I'd point out to you, it says that he would be with them forever.

Of course they're not going to live forever.

But most people will take that, or a lot of people rather would take that to mean, well, if he's going to be forever, he can't certainly be with them because they weren't going to be forever.

But he's going to be forever.

So this is an assurance that the Holy Spirit would always be with his people.

Let me look at this word with you.

The Hebrew word olam.

I don't know how you pronounce the Hebrew as I do the Greek, but I think it's olam.

It's Translated everlasting or eternal, it seldom means without end, however.

Instead, the thought of something existing is oftentimes said to be forever when it's just a reference to their generation.

In other words, it will be with them throughout their generation.

And that's conveyed by this word forever.

Let me just notice a few things with you.

The garments that were worn by the priests were to be worn forever.

Do you see the point?

Well, they're obviously not wearing them now.

Not only would they not be here, but the garments would obviously not be here.

So the temple and the sacrifices, they were to stand forever.

The old law, the city and the land, they're all said to stand forever.

Now, if that means without end.

Now we have some contradictions, friends, because examples could be cited where the Old Testament predicts the end of those things.

I mean, it goes without saying, I think it's obvious.

But you can't expect the end of something that is supposed to last forever, can you?

And if we understand how the word was used, there's no contradiction here.

If the Hebrews and the Greeks wanted to express endlessness, they would just simply say without end.

And we have that in Luke chapter 1, verse 31, 35, Ephesians 3, 20, 21.

But when the Hebrews and the Greeks could talk about the end of things, if they could talk about those things ending or the end of things being eternal or perpetual, they.

They would never speak of the end of that which is without end.

Do you see my point?

You're not going to talk about something that's going to end if it doesn't have an end.

But the phrase without end means there is no end.

But something eternal could have an end.

Eternal just simply means it's going to last until a specified time, that is the end of maybe a generation or the end of some end of one's life.

It matters not whether you think that's reasonable or not.

It's just how the word is conveyed in the Scriptures.

And so I beg you, friends, relook at those passages and don't make the mistake that forever in all those passages means without end.

A fourth thing that I think we must clarify here is that the meaning of the Greek aion, aion does not mean world as in the cosmos, this place that we live on.

And Jesus promises that he will not leave them comfortless.

And he says, I will come to you.

And then after the resurrection and the commission to go into all the world and preach the Gospel, he ends in verse 20 of Matthew 28, and though I am with you, Alway, even unto the end of the age, he uses aion.

Now, here is one example that I will say to you where the King James version has hurt us.

It's not a perfect translation.

I don't believe there is a perfect translation, but it's apparent to me that this has been a problem because of that unwillingness, I think, to leave or give some thought to the actual meaning of these words.

It was written in Greek.

And these words have a meaning.

The word does not mean end of the world.

There's three Greek words that need clarification.

It's the word end and the word age.

The Greek aion should be translated as age, not world.

The translators of many English versions did a very poor job translating this word.

It occurs over a hundred times in the Greek text.

And the King James translates it world in 32 cases.

It's interesting that they don't translate it consistently world, however, but they do translate it.

The majority of the time they translate it world.

The other Greek word is the word tele, and it's translated as end.

It means the goal, the end as in the consummation or the goal.

If something has reached its end, the goal has been achieved and thus it's been consummated.

So not only does Jesus not refer to the end of the world, he's not even using the word that refers to time, but rather he's referring to the goal or the purpose of that age.

It's interesting that when you think about the use of the word and the commentary of our discussion here, when Jesus talks about why the law was given, it was added because of transgression, till the seed should come.

You see, it had a purpose.

It had a purpose until the seed should come.

And we'll not get into that because that's another topic altogether.

But I wanted to emphasize that the implication is that the use of certain practice does not continue once its purpose for existence has been accomplished.

When Jesus accomplished his goal, fulfilled his purpose, then he will neither need the services of the apostles nor the Holy Spirit's work that he had with them.

The apostles were commissioned to preach the Gospel, and the assurance of Jesus being with them is in the context of fulfilling that task.

Now, there are other contexts make it makes it abundantly clear that the reference is being made of a time when something is completed, some future fullness, what is presently Done in part, is not completely accomplished.

So when God has finished his goal and has accomplished his purpose for that age, or when fullness replaces what is in part, then a new age begins, a new era will commence, because the end or the fulfillment of the first would signal the beginning of anew.

And what is new here is the age, not world.

I guess you could call it world, but that tends to conjure up a different thought.

The new age for these disciples would find them not on this earth, not because it wouldn't be, not because it be destroyed, but because they would be separated from the chaff in the day of harvest.

Anyway, that's another theme, and I'm sorry to even bring that up, but my point simply, friends, is that these words need to be understood if we're going to understand and interpret the Scriptures.

The end here is not the end with regard to time.

It's the end regarding the goal and purpose that's accomplished in an age.

And once it's accomplished, that age being fulfilled will be replaced by another.

Now obviously that implies time.

That is to say that it will end when it's accomplished.

But that's not the meaning of the word telegraph, and that's the word used here.

So the end of the age that Jesus is referring to is when the goal or the purpose of that age has been accomplished, not talking about the world.

Nor is he talking about the end in time.

Even without considering the proper understanding of these two Greek words, the context itself supports connecting the Holy Spirit's presence with to Jesus physical absence.

Because the Holy Spirit would be given in place of Jesus.

You might ask, well, absence from whom?

And the answer is absence from his apostles.

The promise of Jesus to be with them was not a reference to his physical presence, as he just told them that he had to go away.

And yet, if he's going away, how could it be said that he would be with them and even to the end of the age?

Well, he is with them in the sense of giving them the Holy Spirit, who would then take from him and give it to them.

That's what we've read already.

So two things coincide at the end of the age.

First, the Holy Spirit during this end of the age, I'm not talking about once it's fulfilled, but in these, the time of the end.

First, the Holy Spirit and the miraculous transference of power and direct guidance would be accomplished.

That is, it had served its purpose in those last days.

Second, Jesus returned to complete his mission and began his reign in a new and glorious era of kingdom living and so to appreciate that, we have to consider the evidence from the language of Scripture and that Jesus and his apostles often speak of his coming or his presence, his parresia.

If he came back as he promised he would, and I believe he did, then he would return in the glory of his Father, no longer considered absent.

And the Holy Spirit would no longer serve as their guarantee or as their witness to confirm their preaching.

Let me look at this a different way.

Look at the implication of this text and compare it with Joel.

We'll do it this way.

Number one, the Holy Spirit was given to the apostles in place of Jesus.

That is to say, he was another comforter.

Second, the Holy Spirit's presence was a direct sign of Jesus absence.

Jesus left.

He said, I've got to go to send the other.

Jesus leaves.

The Holy Spirit comes.

So the Holy Spirit's presence is a direct cue that Jesus had left.

He's no longer there.

He explains to them in chapter 14, early on, I've got to go away.

But he's not leaving them altogether because he's sending another comforter.

So he will be with them.

But he'll be with them only in the sense that the Spirit would remind them of his teaching.

He would bring to their remembrance all that he had taught them.

And this can be confusing, I think, as someone might question whether he's is he with them or isn't he?

But we've just said we've said the same things about a loved one, that we wish to be with us even after their passing.

We might even say, well, he's with you.

He'll always be with you, honey.

I've heard this before from many people as they describe the fact that they'll be with them in memory, they'll be with them in their teaching.

In some way, their memory will stay with them.

And in that sense, they'll be with them.

I still hear my mother's teaching.

Not literally.

I don't hear her voice.

She's not talking to me today.

But I can remember.

And her emphasis and her influence is still a part of my life.

Even though I don't physically see her, she's with me in one sense.

And so extending this thought to a greater extent by applying the accuracy of these words in connection with the Holy Spirit's role in keeping Jesus near them.

Think about it this way.

The Spirit would bring to their remembrance all that Jesus had taught them when he was with them in person.

So is he with them?

Yes, but not in person.

The Holy Spirit would guide them this other comforter thirdly, the end or the completion, the consummation of the Spirit's work would bring the presence or the return of the Messiah again.

He's going to return, he told them.

I'm going to prepare a place for you that where I am, there you may be also.

He's going to come back.

And so when Jesus returned as he promised, the work of the Holy Spirit would be accomplished, remember Joel when he wrote that the Holy Spirit would do his work before the great and terrible day of the Lord, when the Lord returned at his parousia, that day of the Lord that finally came, he didn't return until the Spirit had finished his work of revelation and the miraculous confirmation of that revelation.

The duration of the outpouring is linked to the events of the last days, just as the judgment is linked to the last days events.

We looked at that already.

Remember, Joel prophesied and promised that the Spirit's outpouring was in or during the last days before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes.

The question is seeking to find out how long it would take before consummating his promises and what day of the Lord Joel had in mind.

And that's where the controversy arises.

And so what we've looked at here so far in John 14 is that he's going to leave them, but he was not going to leave them orphaned or desolate.

He's going to send them another comforter, the Holy Spirit, who would remind them of what he had taught them.

Now look at verse 25.

I'm in the same chapter, same opening.

Jesus says these things have I spoken to you that while yet abiding with you, but the comforter, even the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, and he shall teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.

Peace, I leave with you, my peace I give unto you not as the world giveth, give I unto you.

Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be fearful.

You have heard that how I have said to you, I go away, and I come again unto you.

If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I go to the Father, for the Father's greater than I.

And and now I have told you before it comes to pass, that when it is come to pass, you may believe so again.

Jesus explains at one point that he's going to send the Holy Spirit.

But here he reports that the Father will send him in his name, so that is in Jesus name.

The specific help from the Spirit is one teaching the Apostles, all things, number two, bringing to their remembrance all that he had said.

And that would include anything that Jesus had already taught them while he was abiding with them.

And it would also include, of course, any new revelation that he had not taught them.

Remember, later he would say, I have many things to tell you now, but you're not able to bear it.

But when he, the Spirit of truth has come, he will teach you all things.

So no.

So he's going to bring to the.

Of whose remembrance is he referring?

Well, what would someone in the 21st century remember that Jesus had said in the first century?

I mean, who are we talking to here?

Who's being addressed?

This promise, friends, was given to the apostles and was very similar to the one given when he commissioned them.

Commissioned the.

To the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

Jesus told the disciples then, but beware of men, for they'll deliver you to the councils and to their synagogues, and they'll scourge you, and they'll bring with you before governors and kings.

Ye shall be brought in for my namesake, for a testimony to them and to the Gentiles.

And yet when they deliver you up, be not anxious how ye shall speak.

For it shall be given to you in that hour what ye shall speak.

For it is not ye that speak, but the spirit of your father that speaks in you.

Now, that was given as a promise to the 70 that was sent out to preach to the Jews.

Here there were there, we're told that the disciples would speak through the spirit of the father.

Mark's account has it, but when they shall lead you, or shall, yeah.

Lead you and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do you premeditate.

But whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, ye shall speak.

For it is not you that speak, but the Spirit speaks, the Holy Spirit.

So you'll notice the work of the personalities and the Godhead here, and they're used interchangeably, will not quibble about that, nor shall we get into that conversation either.

But this peace and this comfort, this.

That eliminates any anxiety and worry over what they'll say was promised to them, friends, not to us.

Compare the Lord's promise to Peter, which is synonymous, I think in the same thought, when Peter was told that he would be given the keys of the kingdom of heaven, he was promised that whatever he binds or looses on earth will have already been loosed in heaven.

Jesus promised them the same thing in their commission to the house of Israel, to the Jews.

Whatever Peter said, he said Whatever he would have said would have first have come from heaven.

In other words, he would be speaking what he speaks would be have been given the guidance from heaven above.

His words would be the words of the Father, words of God or the Holy Spirit.

This is saying the same thing that we're reading here.

In John 14, the Spirit would teach all things and bring to their remembrance all that Jesus had said to them.

He can't bring to your remembrance what Jesus said to you because you weren't there when he spoke.

He didn't say it to your ears, but he did say it to theirs.

And then In John chapter 15, I take you to John 15, the very next chapter, in verse 26.

And once again, whether Jesus sends the Holy Spirit from the Father or the Father sends the Holy Spirit in Jesus name, it amounts to the same thing.

And we're not going to argue that here, that's fruitless.

But the text says, the comforter, when he's come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, and even the Spirit of truth which proceeds from the Father, he shall bear witness of me.

And ye also bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.

And so Jesus tells them that they, his apostles, would bear witness of him because they had been with him from the beginning.

Now, again, this makes it extremely difficult to apply this to us today, friends.

We've not been with him from the beginning, have we?

John's use of the word beginning is explained by Luke's use of it in the same context, in the Context of Acts 1 regarding the choice of Matthias to replace Judas.

He was qualified because of the apostles must first of all have been associated with Jesus from the baptism of John.

That's the starting of it, until the day that Jesus was taken up from them and is expected to be a witness of his resurrection.

Now, there's two observations that I want you to see here, and they're very clear.

The beginning refers to the time of John's baptism.

And the second implication is the apostles and the apostles alone were to be eyewitnesses, meaning they could testify firsthand to what they saw.

They could recall all that Jesus taught them during that time, all that Jesus had done, all the miracles he had done.

They witnessed this.

And they witnessed his teaching and his miracles.

Now, these two descriptions merged together so that their personal experience of being with Jesus would qualify them to give eyewitness accounts and that they would do that with perfect recall, perfect remembrance given them by the Spirit.

And so you shall bear witness of me, friends, that ye is not Talking about you.

It's not talking about to me.

We didn't begin with the baptism of John and witness all that Jesus taught until he was taken up from them.

And so but they could and they could remember all that he had taught them during the time that he was with him.

And they have witnessed and they could bear witness to what he did and the miracles that he performed.

In John 16, another text that we will want to look at, Jesus says in verse one, these things have I spoken to you that you should not be not cause to stumble.

They shall put you out of the synagogues.

Yea, the hour cometh.

Whoever kills you shall think that he offers service to God.

It reminds us of Paul, doesn't it?

And these things will they do, because they have not known the Father, nor me.

But these things have I spoken to you, that when their hour comes, you may remember them how that I told you that these things and these things I said not unto you from the beginning because I was with you.

But now I go unto him that sent me, and none of you asks me, whither goest thou?

But because I have spoken these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart.

Nevertheless, I will tell you the truth.

It is expedient for you that I go away.

For if I do not go away, the comforter will not come unto you.

But if I go, I will send him to you.

And he, when he comes, he will convict the world in respect to sin and of righteousness and of judgment.

Of sin, because they believe not on me of righteousness, because I go to the Father, and ye behold me no more of judgment, because the Prince of this world hath been judged.

I have yet many things to say to you, but ye cannot bear them now.

Howbeit when he, the Spirit of Truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth.

He will not speak from himself, but what things soever he shall hear, these shall he speak.

And he shall declare unto you the things that are to come.

He shall glorify me, and he shall take of mine, and shall deliver to you all things whatsoever the Father hath are mine.

Therefore said I that he takes of mine, and shall declare it unto you.

A little while, and ye behold me no more.

Again a little while, and ye shall see me so once again.

A very similar text is given to describe how the Holy Spirit came alongside the apostles and as their comforter.

The highlights are as follows.

Number one.

The apostles were to be guided into all truth.

Jesus had instructed them over about three years, but he had not instructed them fully he says, I have many things to tell you, but you're not able to bear them.

But when the Spirit of truth has come, he'll guide you into all truth.

He shall teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I said.

Now, any person or movement that would apply this promise of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on us today is forced to demonstrate perfect recall of Scriptures without any notes or without any study.

You see, friends, to apply these words to me, I've got to conclude that the purpose of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth, is to enable me to approach any opportunity to teach without with the greatest of confidence that I would have perfect recall of all the words of truth that was spoken by the Lord.

No human understanding, no reliance on cognitive memory is involved here.

I would have perfect recollection of everything Jesus had taught me.

I would not be anxious about what to say.

You see?

In addition, adding to what we have already discovered regarding the miraculous confirmation, if we had such a gift in our midst, there would be corresponding miracles to confirm it, and no one would be able to deny it, nor its relevance in proving that holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.

All questions would be answered without dispute.

Outside of personal accountability and maturity, all matters of truth would be settled once and for all.

My friends, that just does not describe you and me today.

It doesn't exist.

The fact that it's lacking suggests that we do not have the same operation of the Holy Spirit today.

I've heard so many people who claim to have the Holy Spirit in the same breath, in the same context of delivering their speech and their sermon.

They're full of failures to either quote the Scripture or misquoting and misapplying and misinterpreting.

Why?

Because that's the human element.

The Spirit's not guiding that again.

He knows they're going to be.

They're grief stricken, they're discouraged.

He's about to be taken.

And in this setting he lets them know that they're not going to be left alone, that another comforter is going to come.

And while it's true the Holy Spirit is promised upon all flesh, this is something very intimate and unique.

With the apostles, it had to do with Jesus absence and their new role upon receiving the Holy Spirit.

That would not only give them the power to work miracles, but but grant gifts from the Holy Spirit to others and that's what we want to talk about a bit later on.

Well, our time is up.

I thank you so much for listening.

I trust you have a very good day and a pleasant week.