Subscribe to our PODCAST here.Power of the Word
Jn. 16:7-15
Intro.
A. Christ’s promise to the apostles (Jn. 16:1-15).
1. Those who rejected God’s word would think they were serving Him by killing His servants
(v. 2).
2. Christ would be glorified when the Spirit took of His and revealed it to the apostles (vs. 13-15).
B. Study the power of the word and how it works.
Body:
A. The power of the word (vs. 8-11).
1. It would convict the world. It is designed to totally change man’s thoughts, feelings and actions.
2. Conviction - can be negative (rendered guilty of crime), or positive (convinced of truth).
3. Convict of sin (v. 9) - their refusal to believe that He had come to take away sin.
a. The evidence of the gospel would prove Him truthful (Acts 2:22,23).
b. The message convicts men of sin (Rom. 7:7-13). The law was taken away (7:1-4), but
whatever God reveals is “good.” The law could not bring life, but it was good for its
purpose and certainly not to be blamed for man’s sin.
4. Convict of righteousness (v. 10).
a. Christ’s righteousness was proved by His resurrection and ascension (Acts 2:24-31).
b. The word shows the right way (Rom. 1:16,17). From (ek) - out of; growing from and
to (eis) - into, aiming at faith. (Phil. 3:9 “...not having my own righteousness, which is from (ek) the law, but that which is through (dia) faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from (ek) God by faith.”).
c. The Spirit convicts the world of what is right.
5. Convict of judgment (v. 11).
a. They judged Jesus worthy of death, but the Spirit would convict the devil and pronounce just the one they wrongfully accused.
b. We will be judged righteously by the word (Jn. 12:48).
B. It demonstrates a man’s character.
1. When the truth is taught, a man’s character is revealed.
a. Many quote Mt. 7:1 - “judge not...”
b. They do not read the next 5 verses - the kind of judging that is condemned.
2. Character is demonstrated in desire (Jn. 3:17-21).
a. Those determined to practice evil do not like the light of truth.
b. Among the rulers, many were not sincerely interested in truth (Jn. 12:42,43).
c. If the heart is not receptive (a good character), it doesn’t matter WHAT you say nor
HOW you say it. (“If I had said it differently” or “had known better what to say...”
The truth reveals the character of the one who hears it.
d. We do not determine who has a good heart - we teach it to all. (When people react, it shows their character. We do not know which heart is honest until they react.)
C. It sifts and separates.
1. “A great multitude” hears (Mk. 4:1,2), few asked what he meant (v. 10-12).
2. The word will sift out those not interested.
a. Many say “I like the Bible,” but they do not study it - do not even know how many books in the Bible, the difference between Old and New, whether 10 commandments are in the Old or New!
b. The sifting took place on mountain beside the Sea of Galilee (Jn. 6:1,10). The following day Jesus said they followed because they got a free meal and want another one.
c. Jn. 6:60-68 - His teaching about spiritual things sifted out those not interested.
d. Jonah 3:5-10 - 120,000 (4:11 do not know whether these were children or simply helpless people). The most effective preaching recorded in the Bible!
e. Noah (2 Pet. 2:5) - preached c. 120 years and saved only his family.
Concl.
A. Did the word of God work in both cases? YES - it revealed their hearts and delivered those with good hearts.
B. Will it work today? YES - there are two categories of people who hear the word - those who
believe and those who do not (Mk. 16:15,16)
C. When weather man predicts a hurricane - what is the response if we believe him? (If someone makes no preparation - why? He didn’t believe the forecast.) If a person who hears the truth does not act - what does it prove? He did not believe. No such thing as a disobedient “believer” (in the true sense of believing) (Acts 5:14).
Intro.
A. Christ’s promise to the apostles (Jn. 16:1-15).
1. Those who rejected God’s word would think they were serving Him by killing His servants
(v. 2).
2. Christ would be glorified when the Spirit took of His and revealed it to the apostles (vs. 13-15).
B. Study the power of the word and how it works.
Body:
A. The power of the word (vs. 8-11).
1. It would convict the world. It is designed to totally change man’s thoughts, feelings and actions.
2. Conviction - can be negative (rendered guilty of crime), or positive (convinced of truth).
3. Convict of sin (v. 9) - their refusal to believe that He had come to take away sin.
a. The evidence of the gospel would prove Him truthful (Acts 2:22,23).
b. The message convicts men of sin (Rom. 7:7-13). The law was taken away (7:1-4), but
whatever God reveals is “good.” The law could not bring life, but it was good for its
purpose and certainly not to be blamed for man’s sin.
4. Convict of righteousness (v. 10).
a. Christ’s righteousness was proved by His resurrection and ascension (Acts 2:24-31).
b. The word shows the right way (Rom. 1:16,17). From (ek) - out of; growing from and
to (eis) - into, aiming at faith. (Phil. 3:9 “...not having my own righteousness, which is from (ek) the law, but that which is through (dia) faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from (ek) God by faith.”).
c. The Spirit convicts the world of what is right.
5. Convict of judgment (v. 11).
a. They judged Jesus worthy of death, but the Spirit would convict the devil and pronounce just the one they wrongfully accused.
b. We will be judged righteously by the word (Jn. 12:48).
B. It demonstrates a man’s character.
1. When the truth is taught, a man’s character is revealed.
a. Many quote Mt. 7:1 - “judge not...”
b. They do not read the next 5 verses - the kind of judging that is condemned.
2. Character is demonstrated in desire (Jn. 3:17-21).
a. Those determined to practice evil do not like the light of truth.
b. Among the rulers, many were not sincerely interested in truth (Jn. 12:42,43).
c. If the heart is not receptive (a good character), it doesn’t matter WHAT you say nor
HOW you say it. (“If I had said it differently” or “had known better what to say...”
The truth reveals the character of the one who hears it.
d. We do not determine who has a good heart - we teach it to all. (When people react, it shows their character. We do not know which heart is honest until they react.)
C. It sifts and separates.
1. “A great multitude” hears (Mk. 4:1,2), few asked what he meant (v. 10-12).
2. The word will sift out those not interested.
a. Many say “I like the Bible,” but they do not study it - do not even know how many books in the Bible, the difference between Old and New, whether 10 commandments are in the Old or New!
b. The sifting took place on mountain beside the Sea of Galilee (Jn. 6:1,10). The following day Jesus said they followed because they got a free meal and want another one.
c. Jn. 6:60-68 - His teaching about spiritual things sifted out those not interested.
d. Jonah 3:5-10 - 120,000 (4:11 do not know whether these were children or simply helpless people). The most effective preaching recorded in the Bible!
e. Noah (2 Pet. 2:5) - preached c. 120 years and saved only his family.
Concl.
A. Did the word of God work in both cases? YES - it revealed their hearts and delivered those with good hearts.
B. Will it work today? YES - there are two categories of people who hear the word - those who
believe and those who do not (Mk. 16:15,16)
C. When weather man predicts a hurricane - what is the response if we believe him? (If someone makes no preparation - why? He didn’t believe the forecast.) If a person who hears the truth does not act - what does it prove? He did not believe. No such thing as a disobedient “believer” (in the true sense of believing) (Acts 5:14).