Resist

Resist

Exaudi – 6/1/2025

John 15:26-16:4

Rev. Dr. Christopher W. Brademeyer – St. John’s Lutheran Church of Oakes, ND

 That portion from God’s holy Word for consideration this morning is our reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. John in the fifteenth and sixteenth chapters with special emphasis on verse twenty-six of chapter fifteen which reads as follows:

[Jesus said,] “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.”[1]

Thus far the Scriptures.

In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Introduction

We human beings are prone to overestimating our own abilities. Specifically, I mean in

spiritual matters. That is to say, individual humans may be prone to self-doubt in skill, ability, competency, social abilities, and the like, but even relatively un-confident people tend to be rather assured of their own spiritual knowledge and insights. Now, this is not necessarily a bad thing if the spiritual insights and knowledge that one possesses are true. But the unfortunate side effect of this is that we have something of a hard time being under authority of others in spiritual matters.

                What I am trying to say is that we have an inborn assumption that our spiritual insights are good and trustworthy. But this is not what Jesus says. He tells us her we need a Helper, One who will come and give us the truth. In other words, we cannot simply trust our own ideas and perceptions about spiritual things; doing so ends in confusion at best and unbelief at worst. We need to have a Guide, an Advocate, a Helper. We need to be led and sustained in truth and faith.

                This is why Jesus here promises us the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit and His Duty

                Jesus tells us that the Holy Spirit will bear witness about Him. That is to say, the work of the Holy Spirit orbits around this central hub of Jesus Christ and His work and Word. To be clear, this is the work and ministry of the Holy Spirit. Anyone who claims to teach or present the Holy Spirit in such a manner as to not immediately point to Christ is teaching a different spirit other than the One promised here by Christ. Jesus’s own testimony about this cannot be overruled by the inborn desire we have to seek signs and wonders; Christ is the One the Spirit wants us to know and see.

                That is to say, the Holy Spirit does not come to reference Himself. He does not bestow gifts and wonders that do not immediately point to Christ. Speaking in tongues and manifesting miraculous abilities are certainly within the power of God, but our Lord has promised that the Spirit  will give even greater things than there. Besides, what more miraculous thing can there be than the making of dead men live? Or creating faith in sinful, rebellious hearts? Or bestowing salvation to those in need of redemption and saving?

                The Spirit was sent to give us Christ and to deliver us faith, life, and salvation. He is a Messenger, a delivery man, so to speak, who hands to us through the Word of God the saving work of Jesus Christ, our Redeemer.

The Hostile World

                And why does the Spirit do this? As our Old Testament reading from the prophet Ezekiel and our reading from the Gospel according to St. John remind us, we live in a world that is not too keen on Christ and His ways. We are in hostile territory. And to live as Christians in such a circumstance is too much for our sinful natures to handle. The reality of sin makes all of us resistant to God’s will and work, even enemies of Him. And this is not only true of us human beings, but even of the creation itself. Besides this, we know that the Devil is also prowling around seeking our destruction.

                These enemies of our own sinful selves, the devil, and the world are too much for us to resist on our own. Indeed, when we are confronted with enemies and adversaries, our sinful nature makes us want to lash out in violence and anger. It demands that we win by any means necessary. But such things are not the will of our Father. Though it may be necessary to raise arms in defense of our neighbors or family in Christ, we cannot do so like the pagans and their hateful justification of such things.

The Spirit Strengthens Us to Resist the World

                No, our Father bids us to resist the world in a different way. It is not weakness, though an unbelieving and scoffing world would label it as such. It is the sort of stoic strength exhibited by those who are secure and certain in the convictions and fates. We do not need to win by strength of arms. Such is the strength of God that faith, which seems so small and weak to the world, is more than sufficient to accomplish His aims. But make no mistake, this is not weakness or cowardice. It is, instead, sure confidence that though we may be beset with violence and suffering, we endure because Christ has endured, even has risen again from the dead.

                And this is not because of a strength of ours or a manufactured confidence, this is directly the result of the Spirit’s work in and among us. He consoles us by the promises and work of Christ written for our benefit in Scripture. He salves our wounds and sins with the cooling water of Baptism by the Word. He grants us sustenance in giving us Christ in the Lord’s Supper by the Word. Many of the things we take for granted as central to the Church and her life are the quiet and life-giving work of the Holy Spirit. And through these things, we can weather hardship and storm, struggle, and temptation in a Christian way with devotion to Christ and security in His work.

                This is not through the miraculous or the titillating, but through the Word and the

sacraments, that is, the means of grace. The Spirit does not promise to come in the still of the heart or appear in dreams or grant special, spiritual gifts like tongues or healings. No, He works through the means that He has promised: preaching, absolution, Baptism, and the Lord’s Supper. He points us to Christ and gives us Christ not because He is weak or less important, but because Christ is our Savior and Redeemer. Our secure place in all things is built on that foundation. Hence, the Spirit does not refer to or point to Himself.

Conclusion

                The Holy Spirit is promised to us to give us Christ, and Him truly. More than this, He does not give us Christ to condemn us, but so that we might repent and live. He gives us faith and provides to us that which we believe in, the truth and work of Christ. And, by this work and these gifts, the Spirit enables us to stand firm and ready for all suffering and hardship, even hostility we might face. We are given these good things by His work, built on Christ, and sustained by the same.

You are redeemed; the Holy Spirit’s mission is to make sure you both know and receive this salvation.

In the holy Name of + Jesus. Amen.

The peace of God that passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.

[1] John 15:26 English Standard Version