Sermon Notes
Sermon: To See You Once More: The Promise of the Holy Spirit by Rev. Jessica Johnson
Date: June 2, 2019
Key Scripture Passages: John 15:26-16:15
Sermon Notes:
Dad and Jeffersonville
After someone dies, many people talk about still feeling their presence. I don’t believe in ghosts, but I know some people who do, and they swear they have seen their loved one after their death. However, there is something to that feeling of someone’s presence after their death. Maybe it is just the nostalgic comfort of sweet memories? Maybe it is being in a place that meant something very personal to you and that person? Maybe some aspect of their spirit really is with us? We may never know for certain, but there are times when the memories of my loved ones are so present that it feels as if I could just turn around and see them.
Last week, we went to Michigan, but on our way up, we stopped to see some of my old friends in Ohio. Our route led us right past a tiny town that I lived in when I was in 1st and 2nd grade. In that town, there is a church where my Dad used to be the senior pastor, and we lived in the parsonage right behind it. I convinced Kevin to take a detour, so that we could go see it.
I had not stood there since I was 8 years old. The current minister was gracious enough to let us walk around the church and even the parsonage. Not much has changed in that little town. It matched my memories so well. It was amazing. As I entered the sanctuary, I immediately burst into tears. Because as I looked up at the pulpit, my mind was immediately transported to the past when I was a little girl looking up at my Dad preaching from behind that pulpit. It was overwhelming, and I felt my Dad’s presence and had memories of the way that he used to be before he got sick.
Memory is a powerful thing, and you never know what will trigger it. It could be a person, a place, an object, someone’s mannerisms, or anything. They say that the strongest sense tied to memory is that of smell. For me, it was the place, standing inside that church, and I was overwhelmed with memories of my Dad.
The Disciples
When the disciples lost their friend, Jesus, on the cross, they experienced profound grief. They lost their friend, their teacher and mentor, and their purpose. When Jesus arose from the dead, He had to convince them that He was real and not a ghost. The disciples so desperately wanted to see Jesus just once more, and they got their wish as we have been talking about for the past few weeks. Jesus stayed with them for another 40 days or so, teaching and just spending time with them. But His stay was temporary, and the poor disciples had to experience the grief of losing Jesus all over again. They didn’t yet comprehend the full power of God, who is omnipresent. He is everywhere. When Jesus left, He promised the disciples that they would not be alone. While Jesus physically would not be there, the Holy Spirit would.
The Last Supper
At the Last Supper, Jesus tells the disciples about what is coming and that He would be leaving them soon. Jesus also tells them about the Holy Spirit, or the Helper, that will be with them always.
In John 15:26-16:15, Jesus states:
26 “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. 27 And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning.
16 “I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away.2 They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. 3 And they will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor me. 4 But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you.
The Work of the Holy Spirit
“I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. 5 But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ 6 But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. 7 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. 8 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in me;10 concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; 11 concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.
12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.13 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. 14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15 All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
Though the disciples did not understand at the time, we do. Jesus was gently letting them know that He was leaving them soon. Jesus also was warning the disciples that the world, even their own synagogues, would turn on them because of their association with Him. However, Jesus promised they would have a Helper, the Holy Spirit. His presence would always be with them.
Final Thoughts
The strong memories of my Dad almost brought me to my knees in a sudden and unexpected way. I was overwhelmed with emotions that I could actually feel the force of it physically. Yet, those were just memories. If mere memories could cause such a forceful reaction, imagine what the actual presence of the Holy Spirit could do.
When the Holy Spirit comes upon a person, the Holy Spirit is really there. He is not a memory. I know there are times when I have felt the presence of God strongly. This is not triggered by a memory, because I did not have personal interaction with Jesus during His life on earth. I am not imagining His presence with me. Rather, His spirit truly is with me and in me. The power of the Holy Spirit is what empowers and equips us to transform into a new creation in Christ, to change to be more like Christ, and to do God’s will, continuing Christ’s ministry. The force of the presence of the Holy Spirit may knock you to your knees from time to time, but He can give you the strength, the gifts, and the power to do great things for God.
When the Holy Spirit descended as a dove onto Jesus after His baptism, Jesus began to do many wonders and healings. It was the start of His ministry. When the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples at Pentecost, they were changed men. No longer hiding in the shadows, the disciples boldly proclaimed the Gospel of Christ, many at the cost of their own lives.
If a mere memory can come upon someone so strongly, imagine what the actual Spirit of God could do. Just think of what the Holy Spirit could do with your life. Truthfully, it may be beyond our imaginations. But we will never know until we submit our lives to God and allow Him to work through us.
Sermon: To See You Once More: The Promise of the Holy Spirit by Rev. Jessica Johnson
Date: June 2, 2019
Key Scripture Passages: John 15:26-16:15
Sermon Notes:
Dad and Jeffersonville
After someone dies, many people talk about still feeling their presence. I don’t believe in ghosts, but I know some people who do, and they swear they have seen their loved one after their death. However, there is something to that feeling of someone’s presence after their death. Maybe it is just the nostalgic comfort of sweet memories? Maybe it is being in a place that meant something very personal to you and that person? Maybe some aspect of their spirit really is with us? We may never know for certain, but there are times when the memories of my loved ones are so present that it feels as if I could just turn around and see them.
Last week, we went to Michigan, but on our way up, we stopped to see some of my old friends in Ohio. Our route led us right past a tiny town that I lived in when I was in 1st and 2nd grade. In that town, there is a church where my Dad used to be the senior pastor, and we lived in the parsonage right behind it. I convinced Kevin to take a detour, so that we could go see it.
I had not stood there since I was 8 years old. The current minister was gracious enough to let us walk around the church and even the parsonage. Not much has changed in that little town. It matched my memories so well. It was amazing. As I entered the sanctuary, I immediately burst into tears. Because as I looked up at the pulpit, my mind was immediately transported to the past when I was a little girl looking up at my Dad preaching from behind that pulpit. It was overwhelming, and I felt my Dad’s presence and had memories of the way that he used to be before he got sick.
Memory is a powerful thing, and you never know what will trigger it. It could be a person, a place, an object, someone’s mannerisms, or anything. They say that the strongest sense tied to memory is that of smell. For me, it was the place, standing inside that church, and I was overwhelmed with memories of my Dad.
The Disciples
When the disciples lost their friend, Jesus, on the cross, they experienced profound grief. They lost their friend, their teacher and mentor, and their purpose. When Jesus arose from the dead, He had to convince them that He was real and not a ghost. The disciples so desperately wanted to see Jesus just once more, and they got their wish as we have been talking about for the past few weeks. Jesus stayed with them for another 40 days or so, teaching and just spending time with them. But His stay was temporary, and the poor disciples had to experience the grief of losing Jesus all over again. They didn’t yet comprehend the full power of God, who is omnipresent. He is everywhere. When Jesus left, He promised the disciples that they would not be alone. While Jesus physically would not be there, the Holy Spirit would.
The Last Supper
At the Last Supper, Jesus tells the disciples about what is coming and that He would be leaving them soon. Jesus also tells them about the Holy Spirit, or the Helper, that will be with them always.
In John 15:26-16:15, Jesus states:
26 “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. 27 And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning.
16 “I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away.2 They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. 3 And they will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor me. 4 But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you.
The Work of the Holy Spirit
“I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. 5 But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ 6 But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. 7 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. 8 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in me;10 concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; 11 concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.
12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.13 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. 14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15 All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
Though the disciples did not understand at the time, we do. Jesus was gently letting them know that He was leaving them soon. Jesus also was warning the disciples that the world, even their own synagogues, would turn on them because of their association with Him. However, Jesus promised they would have a Helper, the Holy Spirit. His presence would always be with them.
Final Thoughts
The strong memories of my Dad almost brought me to my knees in a sudden and unexpected way. I was overwhelmed with emotions that I could actually feel the force of it physically. Yet, those were just memories. If mere memories could cause such a forceful reaction, imagine what the actual presence of the Holy Spirit could do.
When the Holy Spirit comes upon a person, the Holy Spirit is really there. He is not a memory. I know there are times when I have felt the presence of God strongly. This is not triggered by a memory, because I did not have personal interaction with Jesus during His life on earth. I am not imagining His presence with me. Rather, His spirit truly is with me and in me. The power of the Holy Spirit is what empowers and equips us to transform into a new creation in Christ, to change to be more like Christ, and to do God’s will, continuing Christ’s ministry. The force of the presence of the Holy Spirit may knock you to your knees from time to time, but He can give you the strength, the gifts, and the power to do great things for God.
When the Holy Spirit descended as a dove onto Jesus after His baptism, Jesus began to do many wonders and healings. It was the start of His ministry. When the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples at Pentecost, they were changed men. No longer hiding in the shadows, the disciples boldly proclaimed the Gospel of Christ, many at the cost of their own lives.
If a mere memory can come upon someone so strongly, imagine what the actual Spirit of God could do. Just think of what the Holy Spirit could do with your life. Truthfully, it may be beyond our imaginations. But we will never know until we submit our lives to God and allow Him to work through us.
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