The Helper Has Come — Zac Poonen

Calvary, Pentecost, and the Full Purpose of Christ's Coming

There are many reasons why Jesus came to earth. Most of us know that he came to die for our sins. But he also said that he came to send fire on this earth. And he said he had a baptism to go through not the baptism.

He took in the River Jordan. But a baptism of suffering on the cross. He called it an immersion. Baptism means an immersion and He said he had to go through an immersion. And does only then the fire would fall.

So Calvary had to precede Pentecost and When we look at Calvary and if you receive only the forgiveness of sins. You missed a major part of what Christ came for. I Look at our heart like a cup. You know, there's a verse in the Psalms which says what shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits towards me?

I shall lift up The cup of salvation. I shall lift up my cup and It's filthy. But sin with years and years of sin. So I need the blood of Christ first but once the blood of Christ has cleansed me if I'm delighted that My cup is clean now.

It's not dirty anymore. And I stay like that with a clean cup till the end of my life. Maybe clean. But I will never be a blessing to anybody else. There's nothing I have to give in that cup to other people.

That's why the whole purpose of Christ coming and dying was not just to clean the cup, but that that cup might be filled. Turn with me to John chapter 7. We read in John chapter 7 and verse 39 when he spoke about rivers of living water in verse 38 flowing from our innermost being that's that cup Inside which has been cleaned cleansed by the blood of Christ from there Jesus wanted to fill that with the Holy Spirit.

So the rivers of living water will flow out to others. You see a cup can only satisfy your own need and if you're satisfied with just that small measure of fullness that Gives you peace and gives you joy.

It's a very selfish way to live and Jesus didn't come to earth just to Live a life of peace and joy and show how peaceful his own life was. His life was an overflowing life, but wherever he went people got living water from him that's how our life is supposed to be every single one of us and That's what rivers of living water means and it says this he spoke of the Holy Spirit.

Whom those who believed in him were still to receive. But the Spirit was not given. I mean he was given in Old Testament times. But only upon people not inside them. Every person filled with the Holy Spirit anointed with the Holy Spirit all the way up to John the Baptist.

They were filled on the outside anointed on the outside. Of course, it's like pouring water on a Glass, which has got a lid on it Before it doesn't go inside the glass. It just flows around and blesses millions.

But that lid on top of our spirit is called a veil. In the Old Testament that veil blocked off that third part of the tabernacle and the third part of man is our spirit it was blocked off and Spirit could not penetrate that because of what the Bible says in Hebrews 10 20 of flesh.

When Jesus died that veil was rent. And he opened the way for the Holy Spirit not only for us to go into God's presence. That's one part of the truth. The other part of the truth is the veil was rent so the Holy Spirit could invade our spirit and fill us from within and that's what it means here that the Spirit could not be given in that way to dwell within man because In the previous verse verse 38.

He's talking about the innermost being. The Spirit was not given to dwell in man's innermost be. Because Jesus was not yet glorified and Jesus had to die be raised up be glorified only then. Could he send the Spirit to dwell within man?

That's what he longed for and that's why on the last night Before his crucifixion he spoke a lot about the Holy Spirit. I Don't know whether you've noticed that He spoke very little about the Holy Spirit before that.

I mean, there's an occasional reference like this rivers of living water without any without even referring to the Holy Spirit. Later on John writes that that was referring to the Holy Spirit, but I don't think everybody understood it.

In fact a lot of people don't understand it even today. I Never knew for many years of my Christian life after being born again what that verse meant. The Spirit was not given. I was so blind. I thought the Old Testament pouring of the Spirit upon David and Elijah and Elisha was the same as a New Testament.

And I think that's the understanding of 90 of Christians who are blind. Till God opens our eyes to show us that the read it in context. The Spirit was not given to dwell in man's innermost being and to flow out from man's innermost being and God opened my eyes.

I saw that. That the veil was rent now. God could come inside and dwell within and flow out from within. That's why in the Old Testament those People who did mighty works for God the water flowing over them without touching their spirit, you know delivering Israelites here.

There's Samson and David, but they would come into adultery also because the Spirit was not within them. But in the New Testament You can't dream of Jesus sinning or Paul committing adultery or Peter committing adultery.

No, that's unheard. It's unthinkable. So when you hear today of a preacher who was preached and being blessed the blessing to thousands and then he's committed adultery. Say that guy's under the Old Testament.

That's the reason the Spirit was not within him it's upon him blessing thousands of people you can live in this new covenant age. And if you don't allow You don't walk the way of the rent veil spirit won't dwell within and You can grieve the Holy Spirit.

It's very easy. So I see this as the greatest blessing. I know there are times in my life when I have wept and wept and prayed and said Lord you can take away anything in My from my life, but don't take away the Holy Spirit father than me take not the Holy Spirit from me.

That's what David prayed and that was only upon him. You Know it's so easy for us to lose that mighty anointing of the Holy Spirit there would have been no church In the world today if it were not for that mighty baptism in the Holy Spirit that took place on the day of Pentecost.

That's why the devil has made that such a controversial issue. I'm not surprised. Because he wants people to shy away from it. But Jesus spoke so much about it in the last days and see the context in which he spoke.

Obedience in the New Covenant

John 14 first of all He speaks about the necessity of obedience. He says in the Old Testament People obeyed God out of fear. Or because they wanted God's blessing because the Old Testament people were like children and How do you get children to obey?

Two ways punishment or Reward. If you don't do this, I'll punish you. If you do this, I'll give you a reward. That's how we get all children to obey. And as long as People were under the Old Covenant. They were treated like children.

They had to be under law and you read Deuteronomy chapter 28 the great chapter of punishment and reward. If you obey me, I'll reward you if you disobey me. I'll punish you. You can see from there the entire law was teaching treating people like little children.

And like I said earlier you can live in a New Covenant age and live like an Old Testament person. We are in the computer age. Today in the world, but do you know that there are people in the world today?

Living in the Stone Age conditions. You go to some of the jungles in some parts of the world of barbarians. Who live exactly like man lived? 5 ,000 years ago, so it's possible in a computer age to live according to Stone Age conditions and It's possible in a New Covenant age to live according to the Old Covenant or With no covenant at all like the unbelievers live.

So it's possible for a believer who was born again to live out of the same principle that the Israelites did punishment or reward. And there are preachers who encourage that. You better not sin because God will punish you.

You better not sin. Otherwise, you'll go to hell. You better not sin. Otherwise, God will give you a sickness. You better not sin. Otherwise, some suffering will come into your life and You better obey.

Then God will bless you give your money to God. God will bless you with wealth and houses and lands and it's all back to the Old Testament. There are preachers in our day and there are thousands of them Who are leading people back to the Old Covenant making them children again, but Jesus said in John 14 verse 15 If you love me.

You will keep my commandments. This is something completely new. Not because you fear me. Not because I'm going to give you a reward. What if I don't give you any reward. I'll serve you. I remember when I left the Navy 47 years ago.

God called me about 49 years ago, but the Navy wouldn't let me go for two years. And when I left I said Lord as soon as the Lord called me 49 years ago. I said Lord. It makes no difference to me now. Whether I get food or a place to sleep.

I love you, and I'll serve you till the end of my life. I don't have a place to sleep. I'll sleep in the railway station or a bus stand or somewhere like that. And I can live with very little food. No problem, but I want to serve you.

It had nothing to do with reward and it had nothing to do with fear of punishment. I hope you have come there. Where you are not expecting God to do this for you expecting God. You know a lot of teaching on faith today is claim this from God and claim that from God.

What is it most people are claiming? Invariably 99 of cases. Some earthly blessing. Some jobs some marriage for their children. Some healing. Something earthly. How many people fast and pray to overcome anger?

Or to overcome dirty thoughts. They never think that is God's blessing. That's a far greater blessing than getting a million rupees if you love me. You'll keep my commandments and there you see God treats us like adults.

You don't tell a 25 year old son if you obey me, I'll give you a chocolate or Yeah, I'll make you lie down in bed. I won't let you go and play those are all for little children. You talk to a grown-up son saying if you love me son.

Do what I say? When God speaks to you like that, you know, you're a son and when you relate to God like that I Obey him not because I'm afraid of punishment not because I want any reward at all. He's already done more for me on Calvary than I could ever expect.

Then you're a son. But it's difficult to keep his commandments. If you don't believe that read Matthew 5 6 and 7. I remember reading it seriously long after I was converted. For many years after I was converted.

I never took it seriously when I took it seriously. I said Lord, this is impossible. How can you live without getting angry? How can you live without lusting after women as a young man. How can you live without seeking any honor from people?

How can you be free from the love of money? These are some of the things written in Matthew 5 6 5 and 6 which in this church we pray preached for 38 years. But within most churches and hardly ever preached at all.

Just these few things I mentioned and yet Matthew 5 and 6 is all about this. It's impossible to live there. The standards of Jesus are so high. He said if every idle word you speak you give an account in the Day of Judgment Matthew 12 36 to 38 who can live according to that standard and.

So when we can't keep God's command and you say Lord how in the world I love you. But how to keep my come your commandments and the Lord anticipates that question. He says something and before you ask the question he gives the answer.

If you love me keep my commandments and your question is how in the world can I keep them? He said I'll tell you verse 16. I will ask the Father and He will give you a helper. I Like the NASB translation a helper and if you read it in its context It means a helper verse 15 to keep the commandments.

What else does it mean? Dear brothers and sisters once fundamental principle of Bible study. Read a verse in its context. Not by itself. The King James Version called it comforter and a lot of Christians who say the comforter has come the comforter has come we sing A song the comforter has come.

What for? What for to help me keep the commandments? That's why he has come. He said that You'll keep my commandments and I will ask the Father for a helper to help you keep those commandments. It's all one sentence, really and he'll be with you forever so that you can keep my commandments forever and That's why I know that I'll never sin in heaven.

I mean if in a filthy world like this The Holy Spirit can help me to overcome so much of sin not perfect yet, but so much imagine how it will be in like in heaven. God doesn't have to take away my free will to prevent me from sinning in heaven.

He's not gonna make me like a robot in heaven. I automatically I will have complete free will in heaven for all eternity. To disobey God, but I'll never disobey God. What a wonderful thing that is. Have you thought of that?

You think God's gonna take away your free will in heaven? You'll be a robot then you'll be like the planets. God's not going to reduce us to the state of the planet. The great miracle in heaven will be.

I will have free will for all eternity. But I'll never sin and I've begun that journey here on earth. Slowly slowly get to that place where I'll never sin. I hope you're climbing towards that mountain peak.

You're not going to do healing and preaching in heaven. Those are not the mountains I want to climb. But this mountain peak of never sinning. I haven't got there yet, but I'm gonna get there. And I know I'm getting there because I'm getting closer and closer in my life.

I hope you are. That's how you know the spirit has come the spirit of truth Verse 17 whom the world cannot receive. Because he cannot does not know him. But I will not leave you as orphans. That's the other thing the Holy Spirit's come for.

To deliver us from being orphans. A lot of Christians are orphans. They don't know God is a father. I mean they say God is their father. It's like someone whose father is living in a distant land. I've heard of children whose fathers are living in some distant land, and they don't see their father for 10 years.

But they know there's a father because there's occasional letter from there and some money comes. They've never seen him. They're never really they never been hugged by that father. And I think a lot of Christians are exactly like that they say way back there.

There is a father I have. I know I never seen him. But I don't know but now and then he answers some prayer of mine, and I never get a hug from him. I'm not so sure whether he loves me, but I Think he does because I read his letters, and he says he loves me.

But when you're in a troubled difficult situation, and you get all anxious and worried you know that you're an orphan. Even though theoretically you say you have a father and Jesus says the Holy Spirit comes you'll never feel like an orphan again.

That's the other thing the Holy Spirit's come for to take away from you. Disobedience and to take away from you the sense of being an orphan. I Don't need fellowship. A lot of Christians can survive or leave this fellowship.

I don't need fellowship. I Can live 20 years in a prison for my faith. I will not be an orphan. Because I found my father the Holy Spirit. It's one of the great things that happened to me when the Holy Spirit filled my life.

Showed me God is my own father. There's very little of preaching of that nowadays and go and see in a Christian bookshop. How many books there are that encourage you to know God as your father. I Guarantee you won't even find 1 of the books there.

Go and listen to the preaching in charismatic circles brethren assemblies. Pentecostal assemblies. There are little of teaching of God as your father. The proof of that being he will take care of you.

You don't have to be anxious. You don't have to be worried. You don't have to be living in security about the future. You won't be in competition with others. Orphans are the ones who are always competing with people.

They can't cooperate with others. They're always jealous of others if they see two people talking. They're sure they're talking about me. That's an orphan. The person who's an orphan not an orphan. He's secure.

It doesn't matter if everybody leaves him. Jesus said later on in John 16 you can all leave me. Doesn't matter the father's with me. See this in John 16 that shows that Jesus was not an orphan. Many had already left him.

Now there were these 12 and one of them left him Judas. Then he tells the 11 in John 16 and our is coming when all of you 11 also will leave me. You won't stick by me when the Roman soldiers come you will run and You will leave me alone.

John 16 32 you will leave me alone. But I'm not alone. What a great phrase. You will leave me alone, but I'm not alone. Because the father is with me. You know when things become tough and difficult a lot of your good friends Don't Stand with you.

They stand with you when things are going well. They won't stand with you. In fact, you know what the Apostle Paul's experience was towards the end of his life. Paul was such a radical wholehearted person.

He never compromised and you know one by one people started leaving him. Demas left him one of his closest co-workers. And listen to this 2nd Timothy 1. 2nd Timothy 1 the last letter that Paul wrote and verse 15 He tells Timothy.

You are aware of the fact 2nd Timothy 1 15 that all those who are in Asia Have turned away from me. What the unbelievers and believers were never with Paul in any case. These were believers who found it embarrassing to stay around with Paul.

Because his standards were too high. So did Paul feel like an orphan? No, not at all. He says I fought a good fight and I finished my course. He said in 2nd Timothy 4 7 I'm just waiting to see my Lord.

He's calling me up there and there's a crown waiting for me. So why did these fellows left me? I feel sorry for them. So an orphan is not always Longing that other people will be with him. It doesn't matter if people leave.

Absolutely, let them all go. The Demas is and like we read here the Hermogenes and The Phygelus 2nd Timothy 1. I'm just reading verse 15. There will still be a few like Timothy and 2nd Timothy 1 16 Onesiphorus.

It'll be few the rest let them go. But Paul did not feel like an orphan. Then Jesus also said when the Holy Spirit has come Back to John's gospel. He says in John and Chapter 16 Before he gets there. He he says one thing that you're gonna be the help when the helper comes.

The Holy Spirit's Witness in Evangelism

John 15 26 the last two verses. He will bear witness about me and You will also bear witness. This is a wonderful thing, you know. For me, that's a great verse that when I speak God's Word I'm testifying about Jesus the Holy Spirit also Backs that up.

It's the only way you should preach any of you who preach even if you are a young brother. You must say Lord these two verses must be true in my life. That when I testify about you. The Holy Spirit also testifies along with me about you.

That'll go home to people's hearts. Go straight to people's hearts like an arrow so don't ever Go about preaching without the Holy Spirit. I said Lord, I'll never get into a pulpit if you're not there with me.

I Wouldn't dream of getting up and speaking anywhere. The Holy Spirit is also not going to be backing me up and saying that's right. You better listen to it it's the best way to serve the Lord and All of us can be that you may not be preacher standing in a pulpit but even if you're Speaking to a person for two minutes.

Somebody visits your home. Or you add a sentence in an email one sentence. And it's from the Holy Spirit that guy gets that message and the Holy Spirit says listen to that. Dear brothers and sisters. What a wonderful thing if all of us can seek to be filled with the Holy Spirit to live like this.

They could not do this in Old Testament times. Today we can from the innermost being. I want you to come to John 16. You know, there are a number of places in 14 15 16 where he says when the helper has come when the helper has come.

Here's another one like that. It's a great study when you get time study John 14 15 16 when the helper has come. What's going to happen when the helper has come what's going to happen? Here's another one.

Some of you are saying Are wondering where am I going John 16 5? None of you are asking me where am I going. They knew he's going away. They were hesitant to ask where he going because they felt so secure.

Three and a half years were the best years of their life. Jesus was always with them. If there was a storm Jesus would still it. If there were sick people who would heal them if there was not enough food, he'd produce the food.

There was never a problem. Jesus could not solve and they said now he's going away. It's like if you had a rich millionaire. Who lived next door to you and helped you all the time with everything you need and he says I'm shifting now I'm going away.

You say boy What'll happen to me? That's exactly how Jesus they felt when these Jesus they sent Jesus going away and then he says to them It's better for you that I go. Because the helper is going to come it's gonna be just like me.

It's another millionaire who's coming next door to you just as helpful as me. So the Holy Spirit's coming is exactly like having Jesus here. Even better. Because Jesus could only be outside. Holy Spirit can be inside.

That's why it's better. That means he can do all that Jesus did for the disciples and he can do more. Because Jesus the could only help the disciples on the outside external problems. Storm lack of food sickness all types of external problems.

He'd take care of that not enough wine. What about the internal problems. You think Peter and James young fellows age 30 had victory over dirty thoughts. I don't believe it. They were just like any other 30 year old young man.

Battled with lust but Jesus could do nothing for them. I mean when you're in the presence of a holy man, you sort of get encouraged, but what if he goes away for 10 minutes? You begin to lust all of a sudden that was their experience or they began to fight with each other about leadership.

And Jesus said it's better that I go away. Because when I go away the Holy Spirit will come and He'll take care of your external problems as well as these more serious internal ones. Lack of food and a storm is not as serious as sin in the heart and that can never be solved if I stay around with you.

And so when the helper has come. Then it probably saw I tell you the truth verse 7 listen to this exactly what I was saying. I Tell you the truth it is to your advantage that I go away. It's better for you that I leave.

How many of you believe it is better that Jesus did not stay on the earth and be always with me. Some of us that have wished over for Jesus were here next door to me. All my problems will be solved if Jesus are physically living in your house.

Tell me what problems could he solve? Every earthly problem. But he wouldn't be able to deliver you from your lust and your anger and your bitterness and your jealousy and your Anxiety and your love of money and all the other things inside your heart.

He wouldn't be able to do it and Those are much more serious problems than the external problems, and I want to tell all of you sitting here if any of you think Your external problems, whatever you're facing now are more serious than your internal problems like sin.

I want to say to you in Jesus name you are carnal. C-a-r-n-a-l carnal don't even dream that you are spiritual. A Spiritual man recognizes that his internal problems are a million times worse than any external problem He can face and if that is how you see your internal was your external problems.

You're a spiritual person praise the Lord. We need more people like that and those people say yes, Lord. I want the Holy Spirit in me. I don't want someone just to Solve my external problems. The Spirit of God comes in he deals with both.

That's it's your advantage. Because if I don't go away see that in verse 7 if I don't go away This helper cannot come. I have to be glorified first. You know if you were on earth, and you knew who Jesus was I?

Would migrate from India to Israel straight away. I Wouldn't want to live here without a doubt I would go there. Even if it is a very poor country, and I had to struggle I'd say Lord I want to be where you are the second person of the Trinity on earth.

Why in the world should I be living anywhere else than where he is? Would you be would you do that? Yes, or no a Few of you anyway said yes. Now let me say the third person of the Trinity has come here on earth, and he's not in Israel.

He's everywhere. Are you eager? Desperately eager that he must come inside and fill your heart and be with you all the time. Do you recognize his presence? Do you honor him as you would honor Jesus? Say spirit of God.

I want you always with me. I never want to do a single thing even in my thoughts That will hurt you or grieve you. And if I accidentally speak a word I'm going to immediately repent. Do you know that even if you're in a bad mood for five minutes?

You grieve the Holy Spirit. I don't think many Christians recognize that. Before I knew the fullness of the Spirit. I used to be frequently discouraged bad moods and everything. I'm still tempted, but I immediately realized hey, I shouldn't be in that and Repent of it as soon as possible.

Sometimes we are under pressure. But as soon as possible repent and come back, you know temptation pushes you Under the water supposing somebody holds your head under the water. What will you do? You'll struggle to get out.

You won't be thinking of anything else at that time other than getting out of the water. Somebody's trying to drown me. Do you feel like that when? Some pressure. Makes you feel discouraged gloomy depressed bitter jealous or Just upset.

Do you feel like a person trying to drown you underwater and say battle? You can't think of anything else at that time other than getting out get out as soon as possible. Then you're a spiritual person.

But if you can live with that Who can live with their head underwater? For a long time dead person. No problem. And that would indicate where you are spiritually. I don't ever go back to those days when my life was like that Helper will help you.

The Spirit's Threefold Conviction: Sin, Righteousness, and Judgment

It's for your advantage That I go away and the Holy Spirit comes in and when he comes He will convict the world of three things and I just want to mention them briefly. Sin righteousness and judgment verse 8 the Holy Spirit will convict the world of sin righteousness and judgment and.

And That's how he begins we're not part of the world, but we were part of the world and that's how he began convicting us. Of sin righteousness and judgment if he had not convicted you sufficiently in these three areas.

Then you may say you're a believer, but you need to ask yourself as the Holy Spirit really convinced you about these three things. I. These areas well, then we need to get convicted. Because it's not as simple as you think number one.

Sin it's not about. The sin of anger or jealousy or bitterness that's not what he's convicting about primarily the Holy Spirit goes to the root. Not the fruit these are the fruit anger bitterness jealousy strife bad words depression.

Discouragement gloom all types of things. He goes to the root. He says the root is You don't depend on Jesus. Believe means a helpless dependence, you know the word faith so misunderstood, but what it means is a committing of yourself to Christ.

To God in total dependence upon him just like a branch in a tree. I believe one of the best definitions of faith is The branch in the vine that cannot produce any fruit by itself. Helpless dependence.

That's the picture. I always in my mind of faith. I thank God Jesus used word pictures. There's no preacher like him in the whole Bible. No prophet was like him who used such beautiful word pictures to help us understand and I believe every preacher must be like that to make truth clear to people.

The Branch think of a branch. We don't see so many vines here, but think of a branch in a mango tree. He's just helplessly dependent on the tree and that's faith. It's not struggling and doing something's not trying to work up any faith.

When it says the sin is they don't believe in me. That's the sin verse 9 of sin because they don't believe in me that means they're not helplessly dependent on me. They're always trying to do things on their own.

That's life under the law. There's no faith under the law. That's like a branch cutting off itself from the tree and saying I'm gonna produce mangoes. It doesn't happen. So the biggest reason for sin is that we don't helplessly depend upon Jesus.

If a branch is not producing fruit, that means some connection with the tree is severed broken somewhere. The sap is not flowing as it should. Faith is that it's not a complicated thing. It's helpless dependence upon Jesus the total confidence that my Lord is Perfectly wise Perfectly loving and almighty.

So he can handle everything. It's helpless dependence upon God and that is man's biggest sin. If you want to know what the greatest sin is greatest sin in the world. Is that it's described here. You don't helplessly depend upon me.

And some of us who think we are pretty holy because maybe you overcome anger you used to think you've made great progress. There was a brother I knew in one of our churches. Who was a Hindu? Who told me?

Brother Zach, I overcame anger. Before I became a Christian. I practiced yoga. There are people who practice Buddhism and yoga and Conquer lusting after women anger. They're able to control the tongue better than a lot of Christians, but it's not the power of the Holy Spirit.

Because it's just an external control. The heart is dirty or probably dirtier than other people's hearts. That's not Christianity. No, the greatest sin is a Lack of helpless dependence upon God. If you go back to the Old Testament and first sin in the Garden of Eden a The choice of two trees before Adam was.

Do you want the knowledge of good and evil to be within yourself so that you don't need God you can decide yourself? What is right? And what is wrong? Or With the tree of life where you have to helplessly depend on me always to know what is good and what is evil.

Every time I have to refer to Adam said I choose this. Let me have it within me. So I don't have to keep referring to God all the time. That was a root of sin. That's how we all became sinners. It's not because Adam got angry with his wife or Adam lusted after some other woman or Got discouraged.

That's not how sin came. Sin came because he chose a life where I don't know to keep consulting God are depending on God for everything. I can have it resident within me. I myself will know what is good and what's evil and I'll choose.

And the world is full of the descendants of Adam today. They don't need God to show what's right and wrong. They say we know what's right. What's wrong? And if you ever Live like that you're living like a child of Adam.

Jesus said I don't live like that. I'll keep listening to the father. He tells me what's right and what's wrong, and I do what the father says. And that's why I say a Christian who does not read the Bible and does not study the Bible.

He won't know what God says how in the world. Can you know what God says when he's given only one book to the world? Only one I Remember, I was convinced about his 50 years ago there's only one book among all the billions of books in the world that God wrote and If that is true Lord, and I want to spend my life studying that and living according to that.