As we begin a new year we think of new beginnings. The old year is past, the new is only starting. The beginning of the year is always a time of reflection – for what has gone before us, and what is yet to come. It is a time of renewal and commitment, a time to make resolutions and changes.

So what new things will you be doing this year? As we consider our New Year’s Resolutions for 1999, may I suggest that this year we make a commitment to Bible reading, prayer, and to experiencing God in our lives.

I propose that we do this in three stages:

First I would like to call on all of us to spend the first two months of the new year committed to Bible reading and Bible study. Psalm 119:105 tells us, "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path." We need to spend time reading and studying the Bible for guidance and help in our daily walk. I propose that each person either read the daily Bible readings in the bulletin or read through your favorite books of the Bible. You could also attend our Tuesday, Thursday, or Sunday School Bible Studies, or access the weekly studies on our Internet Site. I suggest that we all make a goal to have family devotions or gather with friends for a time of Bible reading and study. Let us set aside the next two months – January and February – to daily read the Bible, and if possible, weekly study the Bible.

Next, I would like to call on the church to make a commitment to prayer. Beginning with Ash Wednesday, February 17th, for the 40 days of Lent which end on Palm Sunday, let us commit those 40 days to prayer. James 5:16 gives this instruction, "Admit your faults to one another and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous man has great power and wonderful results." Prayer really does make a difference in the life of our church as well as in our personal life. For the 40 days of Lent, pray every day for your family, your friends, and your church. Pray for the needs in the weekly bulletin and the monthly Prayer List. You will find that prayer changes things.

And then beginning with Easter for the 50 days up to Pentecost Sunday May 23rd, let us commit ourselves to experiencing God in our lives. Let us spend time in prayer, meditation, and reflection. Allow God to minister to you and speak to your soul. Don’t leave your time of prayer until you’ve felt the divine presence. Some of you may ask how to do this. That will be the theme of the rest of my message as we examine John 16:5-15.

I know many of you are doing these things already – Bible reading, prayer, and experiencing God’s presence – but let us join together as a church to seek God faithfully in these areas during these designated times. If we as a church commit to do these things, we will see a great renewal in our church, but more importantly, we will see real spiritual growth in our lives.

In John 6:5-15 Jesus is explaining to the disciples why it was necessary for him to go. He promised a comforter that would help them. That same comforter can help us as we seek to experience God in this new year.

The disciples experienced first hand the presence of Christ. They talked with him and saw him. But Jesus could only be in one place at one time. In order for the Christian message to spread throughout the world, it was necessary for the Holy Spirit, which is called here the comforter, to come to minister to the hearts and lives of the thousands and millions who would accept Christ as their Savior. If the comforter never came, then we would be going to Jerusalem to just catch a glimpse of Jesus, but now we can experience his presence in our heart. This is the first indication by Jesus that we can all experience God’s presence even though he may seem far away. As we commit this year to strive to experience the Divine, let us realize that the comforter has come to help us, to minister to us, and to speak to our souls.

In order for us to become Christians, there are three things that Holy Spirit does in our life. First he convinces us of our sin, next he reveals to us that in spite of our sins there is righteousness available to us through Christ, and finally we are delivered from judgement.

As Adam Clark points out, "One general exposition may be given of these three verses. The Holy Spirit will convince the world of sin committed, and guilt and condemnation thereby incurred. Of righteousness – of the necessity of being pardoned, and made righteous through the blood of the Lamb, who, after being offered up for sin, went to the Father, ever to appear in his presence as our intercessor: and of judgment – of the great day thereof, when none shall be able to stand but those whose sins are pardoned, and whose souls are made righteous. In all that our Lord says here, there seems to be an allusion to the office of an advocate in a cause, in a court of justice; who, by producing witnesses, and pleading upon the proof, convicts the opposite party of sin, demonstrates the righteousness of his client, and shows the necessity of passing judgment upon the accuser."

Many people get burdened down with feelings of unworthiness. It’s important to remember that although we are unworthy, a way of righteousness has been provided for us to avoid the judgement of God. Allow the Holy Spirit to comfort you with this knowledge. When we accept Christ as our Savior, we are no longer unworthy. Instead we have been clothed with the righteousness of Christ. This should make us realize how much God truly loves us.

The comforter has come to help us understand God’s truth and to guide us into God’s ways. We have a helper who will not leave us confused. There may be a lot of things that you struggle with, but allow the Holy Spirit to teach you the divine plan. Allow the Holy Spirit to remove the doubts and confusion. Allow the Holy Spirit to minister his peace and comfort to you. When you do this, you will experience God’s presence in your life as you never have done before.

Notice that the end of verse 13 tells us that the Holy Spirit will tell us about the future. Have you ever struggled with a decision or been unsure of what direction to take? We are promised that the comforter will help us with our future. God’s spirit will reveal to us which way to go and what to do. We do not face the future alone. There is no need for confusion or indecision for we have one who will show us the way and tell us which path to take.

It is the Holy Spirit which will reveal to us Christ. As Adam Clark wrote in 1825, "As Christ is represented the Ambassador of the Father, so the Holy Spirit is represented the ambassador of the Son, coming vested with his authority, as the interpreter and executor of his will."

Do you really want to experience God in your life? Verse 15 tells us that the comforter will show us the divine glory. He will lead us into the very presence of God, into the holy of holies. We need to realize that it is the Holy Spirit which dwells with us. We always have a portion of the divine with us. The Spirit is always with us to help us and comfort us.

Let me repeat my challenge to each one who reads these words:

Let us commit to daily Bible reading and weekly Bible study for the next two months – January and February, Let us commit to daily prayer for the 40 days of Lent from February 17th to March 28th, And let us commit to daily experiencing God’s presence for the 50 days leading up to Pentecost from April 4th to May 23rd.

As you make the commitment with me and the rest of the church this year, know that it is the comforter which will help you. Allow the Holy Spirit to minister in your life, and you too will "Experience the Divine in Ninety-Nine!"

Footnotes:

This study on The Help of the Comforter © 1999 by David Humpal. All rights reserved.

All scriptures unless otherwise noted are from The Living Bible © 1971, Tyndale House Publishers

Psalm 119:105 from the New International Version © 1971, Zondervan Bible Publishers

Adam Clark’s Commentary, electronic version © 1996, Biblesoft

Adam Clark’s Commentary, electronic version © 1996, Biblesoft