[Message MP3 coming soon] *
SUMMARY
The Church and its mission are formed by the Holy Spirit. The work of the Spirit is to draw us to Christ; to form Christ in us; to strengthen us to serve God. The Spirit marks us as belonging to God. He is the guarantee the promises of God. The Spirit unites us as the people of God – a dwelling place for God’s presence. And so, as we look at how the Church is formed by the Holy Spirit, we will observe that the Spirit reveals, constructs and inspires.
Today, we focus on the work of the Spirit in revealing.
First, we notice the fact that the Spirit reveals. This is expressed clearly in 1 Corinthians 2.9-16 (NIV). In that passage we find some essential truths. We read: “The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.” For as Paul begins, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him" - but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit.” Apart from the work of the Spirit in us, we are blind. As Scripture states, “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ.” The work of the Spirit then is to open our eyes and ears and minds so that we can see the light of the gospel and the glory of Christ.
Secondly, what does the Spirit reveal? Simply stated, the Holy Spirit reveals our sickness and the Remedy. Jesus said of the Spirit, “When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment …” (John 16.8). The Holy Spirit brings conviction. He reveals to us our sin and need for forgiveness. The Spirit makes us conscious of sin in our lives, of God’s standard of righteousness and of the coming judgment. And He reveals to us the Healer, the Savior – the One who took away our sins, the One who is our righteousness and the One who makes us at peace with God. That is why the Holy Spirit is inextricably connected to conversion, because He is the One who makes it happen. For Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit"(John 3.5). The awareness of the God-shaped hole in our lives and that fact that Jesus is the only One who can fill it is the work of the Holy Spirit. He reveals our sickness and the Remedy.
Thirdly, how does the Spirit reveal? To answer this, I want us to look at three different events in Scripture. Because today is Epiphany (meaning appearance or manifestation), celebrating the “shining forth” or revelation of God to humankind in the person of Jesus, I want us to look at three Epiphany stories: Jesus’ baptism, the coming of the Magi, and the wedding feast at Cana. In each of these events, we find three things: we see something unique revealed about Jesus; we notice how the Holy Spirit, either explicitly or implicitly, reveals it; and we see a response to the revelation.
First, we look at Jesus’ BAPTISM: See Luke 3.21-22 and then John 1.29-34
And so,
- What do we find revealed about Jesus? Jesus is the beloved Son of God; He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world; He is the Anointed One – anointed by the Spirit; and He is the One who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.
- Who revealed this? John said, “the one who sent me to baptize … told me”. Since it was said of John that he would be filled with the Holy Spirit from birth, it is clear that the One who ‘sent and told’ him was the Holy Spirit. Thus, it was the Spirit who revealed Jesus to John.
- What was the response of John to this revelation? He declared Jesus to be the Son of God and the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. He sent his own disciples to follow Jesus instead of him. And he later declared of Jesus, “He must become greater; I must become less.”
Next, we look at another Epiphany story - the MAGI in Matthew 2.1-2 and 9-12
- So, to the Magi, what was revealed about Jesus? Jesus is the true King of Israel and of the world. And in their story we see Scripture fulfilled: Psalm 72 predicted, “kings … will present him gifts. All kings will bow down to him and all nations will serve him.” And Isaiah prophesied that Jesus would be the Light for the nations, as he wrote, “Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.”
- Who revealed this? I believe that the Spirit led these men to Jesus and inspired them to fall down and worship. As magi or wise men, they were evidently seekers of truth. It is the Christian position that all truth is God’s truth and that the Holy Spirit is the “Spirit of truth”. Therefore, it stands to reason that these magi from the east were led, not only by the star, but, in some way, by the Spirit.
- What was their response to this revelation? They fell down and worshiped Jesus – a truly Spirit-inspired act.
Finally, we read about the WEDDING FEAST AT CANA - Jesus’ first recorded miracle. Of it, John writes, “This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed at Cana in Galilee. He thus revealed his glory.” We read the story in John 2.1-11:
- What was revealed about Jesus? His glory was revealed as His miraculous power was shown. And we also see that Jesus is truly God With Us. He was with His disciples and mother at a party - a wedding feast – dwelling among us. And we notice that, like the wine, Jesus is the best saved for last. In the fullness of time God sent the very best – His Son.
- Who revealed this? Well, we read in 1 Corinthians, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him - but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit.” And so the disciples eyes must have been opened by the Spirit to see the glory of Jesus. For faith is a gift from God.
- And what was the response to this revelation? The disciples believed. They put their faith in Jesus and followed Him.
And so, on this Sunday of Epiphany as we celebrate the “shining forth” of God to us in the person of Jesus Christ, we have looked at three events in which Jesus shined forth.
- And what has been revealed to us? That Jesus is the beloved Son of God; He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world; He is the Anointed One, the Messiah. He is the true King of Israel and of the world. He is the Light of the world – Light for the nations. He God With Us. He dwelt among us. He is the very best - glorious and powerful. Jesus is the truth. He is the Way. He is Life.
- But how can we know this? How can we see this? “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him' - but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit.” If we truly see Jesus for who He is and believe in Him, it is the work of the Holy Spirit in us.
- And so, what will our response be to this revelation?
Will it be the same as what we have seen in Scripture: faith and following and falling down in worship? Is our response to confess: Jesus must become greater, I must become less? If you have given your life to Jesus, then you have had your eyes opened by the Holy Spirit. For you could not turn away from sin and follow Christ apart from the power of the Spirit in your life. When the Spirit touches you He opens your eyes – unmasking the fallen world for what it is; uncovering you for what you are; and revealing Christ for who He is. When your eyes are opened, you see things as they are and therefore you see things differently that the world which is blinded and blurred by sin. As followers of Christ our vision is different than that of the world and therefore the way we live our lives is different (every area of our lives). We are given new eyes in order to see Christ and follow after Him.
And so, what is our response? I believe the most appropriate response is to:
- to fall down in worship – praising God for who He is and what He has done – crying out (with the multitude before the throne of God) “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb,” and falling down with the angels saying, “Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!”
- to put your faith in Christ – to put your trust in Him and trust Him with all of your life – to believe and live accordingly.
- to follow Jesus – to get up and get going; to get in step with Jesus – to throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and … run with perseverance the race marked out for us; to (as the rabbis said) drink in Jesus’ words and walk so closely to Him that we are covered by the dust of His feet – to live the Jesus Way.
The Holy Spirit forms the Church first by revealing Christ to His people. And so the foundational element in the Church’s mission is to respond to that revelation – to allow the Spirit to open our eyes so that we can see Jesus and allow, as the song goes, the things of earth to grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace. When the Spirit opens our eyes and we respond with faith, following and falling down in worship, we are the Church and the Church lights the way.
So, open our eyes Lord, we want to see Jesus.
Today, we focus on the work of the Spirit in revealing.
First, we notice the fact that the Spirit reveals. This is expressed clearly in 1 Corinthians 2.9-16 (NIV). In that passage we find some essential truths. We read: “The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.” For as Paul begins, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him" - but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit.” Apart from the work of the Spirit in us, we are blind. As Scripture states, “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ.” The work of the Spirit then is to open our eyes and ears and minds so that we can see the light of the gospel and the glory of Christ.
Secondly, what does the Spirit reveal? Simply stated, the Holy Spirit reveals our sickness and the Remedy. Jesus said of the Spirit, “When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment …” (John 16.8). The Holy Spirit brings conviction. He reveals to us our sin and need for forgiveness. The Spirit makes us conscious of sin in our lives, of God’s standard of righteousness and of the coming judgment. And He reveals to us the Healer, the Savior – the One who took away our sins, the One who is our righteousness and the One who makes us at peace with God. That is why the Holy Spirit is inextricably connected to conversion, because He is the One who makes it happen. For Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit"(John 3.5). The awareness of the God-shaped hole in our lives and that fact that Jesus is the only One who can fill it is the work of the Holy Spirit. He reveals our sickness and the Remedy.
Thirdly, how does the Spirit reveal? To answer this, I want us to look at three different events in Scripture. Because today is Epiphany (meaning appearance or manifestation), celebrating the “shining forth” or revelation of God to humankind in the person of Jesus, I want us to look at three Epiphany stories: Jesus’ baptism, the coming of the Magi, and the wedding feast at Cana. In each of these events, we find three things: we see something unique revealed about Jesus; we notice how the Holy Spirit, either explicitly or implicitly, reveals it; and we see a response to the revelation.
First, we look at Jesus’ BAPTISM: See Luke 3.21-22 and then John 1.29-34
And so,
- What do we find revealed about Jesus? Jesus is the beloved Son of God; He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world; He is the Anointed One – anointed by the Spirit; and He is the One who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.
- Who revealed this? John said, “the one who sent me to baptize … told me”. Since it was said of John that he would be filled with the Holy Spirit from birth, it is clear that the One who ‘sent and told’ him was the Holy Spirit. Thus, it was the Spirit who revealed Jesus to John.
- What was the response of John to this revelation? He declared Jesus to be the Son of God and the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. He sent his own disciples to follow Jesus instead of him. And he later declared of Jesus, “He must become greater; I must become less.”
Next, we look at another Epiphany story - the MAGI in Matthew 2.1-2 and 9-12
- So, to the Magi, what was revealed about Jesus? Jesus is the true King of Israel and of the world. And in their story we see Scripture fulfilled: Psalm 72 predicted, “kings … will present him gifts. All kings will bow down to him and all nations will serve him.” And Isaiah prophesied that Jesus would be the Light for the nations, as he wrote, “Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.”
- Who revealed this? I believe that the Spirit led these men to Jesus and inspired them to fall down and worship. As magi or wise men, they were evidently seekers of truth. It is the Christian position that all truth is God’s truth and that the Holy Spirit is the “Spirit of truth”. Therefore, it stands to reason that these magi from the east were led, not only by the star, but, in some way, by the Spirit.
- What was their response to this revelation? They fell down and worshiped Jesus – a truly Spirit-inspired act.
Finally, we read about the WEDDING FEAST AT CANA - Jesus’ first recorded miracle. Of it, John writes, “This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed at Cana in Galilee. He thus revealed his glory.” We read the story in John 2.1-11:
- What was revealed about Jesus? His glory was revealed as His miraculous power was shown. And we also see that Jesus is truly God With Us. He was with His disciples and mother at a party - a wedding feast – dwelling among us. And we notice that, like the wine, Jesus is the best saved for last. In the fullness of time God sent the very best – His Son.
- Who revealed this? Well, we read in 1 Corinthians, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him - but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit.” And so the disciples eyes must have been opened by the Spirit to see the glory of Jesus. For faith is a gift from God.
- And what was the response to this revelation? The disciples believed. They put their faith in Jesus and followed Him.
And so, on this Sunday of Epiphany as we celebrate the “shining forth” of God to us in the person of Jesus Christ, we have looked at three events in which Jesus shined forth.
- And what has been revealed to us? That Jesus is the beloved Son of God; He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world; He is the Anointed One, the Messiah. He is the true King of Israel and of the world. He is the Light of the world – Light for the nations. He God With Us. He dwelt among us. He is the very best - glorious and powerful. Jesus is the truth. He is the Way. He is Life.
- But how can we know this? How can we see this? “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him' - but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit.” If we truly see Jesus for who He is and believe in Him, it is the work of the Holy Spirit in us.
- And so, what will our response be to this revelation?
Will it be the same as what we have seen in Scripture: faith and following and falling down in worship? Is our response to confess: Jesus must become greater, I must become less? If you have given your life to Jesus, then you have had your eyes opened by the Holy Spirit. For you could not turn away from sin and follow Christ apart from the power of the Spirit in your life. When the Spirit touches you He opens your eyes – unmasking the fallen world for what it is; uncovering you for what you are; and revealing Christ for who He is. When your eyes are opened, you see things as they are and therefore you see things differently that the world which is blinded and blurred by sin. As followers of Christ our vision is different than that of the world and therefore the way we live our lives is different (every area of our lives). We are given new eyes in order to see Christ and follow after Him.
And so, what is our response? I believe the most appropriate response is to:
- to fall down in worship – praising God for who He is and what He has done – crying out (with the multitude before the throne of God) “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb,” and falling down with the angels saying, “Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!”
- to put your faith in Christ – to put your trust in Him and trust Him with all of your life – to believe and live accordingly.
- to follow Jesus – to get up and get going; to get in step with Jesus – to throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and … run with perseverance the race marked out for us; to (as the rabbis said) drink in Jesus’ words and walk so closely to Him that we are covered by the dust of His feet – to live the Jesus Way.
The Holy Spirit forms the Church first by revealing Christ to His people. And so the foundational element in the Church’s mission is to respond to that revelation – to allow the Spirit to open our eyes so that we can see Jesus and allow, as the song goes, the things of earth to grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace. When the Spirit opens our eyes and we respond with faith, following and falling down in worship, we are the Church and the Church lights the way.
So, open our eyes Lord, we want to see Jesus.
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