You Can Have A Guide Series

You Can Have a Guide

"Our Guide and Companion -- Don’t leave without Him."

Scripture Reading: John 16:12-15

Intro:

Last week we began our series on THE QUEST - The Power to be Free - Discovering Life in the Spirit of Christ.

I trust the majority of you started in this study in your Small Group.

Last Sunday morning I preached to you a sermon entitled: How can I live the Life you’ve always longed for.

Today’s sermon is entitled: "You can have a Guide." "Don’t leave Home without Him."

I could have also entitled this sermon: "The Help We’ve Always Longed For"

Walking with Christ is not always easy. Have you found that to be true? Sometimes it can be a difficult journey.

It demands diligence,

focus,

devotion, and

determination.

Last week we determined that most of us are working at our faith. All of us are on different spiritual levels in this spiritual pilgrimage.

We are trying to live God’s way; we’re trying to learn to serve each other, represent Him well.

But much of the time we find ourselves weary, worn out, burn out and feeling alone.

Does that sound familiar to you?

But it is with this reality in mind that Jesus gives us some helpful news.

He tells us in our Scripture reading about the

Counselor,

the Spirit of Truth,

Jesus refers to Him as our

Helper and

Our Guide,

the Paraclete (literally, the Greek translates this as the One called alongside). . .

And I think Eugene Peterson is appropriate in calling the Holy Spirit "the Friend".

If you’re anything like me, I’ve needed Him all my spiritual life. And yet at times I’ve grieved Him.

Illustration:

Max Lucado likens the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives to a guy who wants to learn to dance.

This fellow is a rational, intelligent sort, so he goes to the bookstore and buys a how-to book.

He takes it home and starts reading it.

He carefully does everything it says.

When the instructions say sway, he sways.

When the instructions say lean, he leans.

When the instructions say spin, he spins.

He even cuts out paper footprints and arranges them on the family room floor so he will know exactly where to step.

At last, he thinks he’s got it down pat. He calls his wife in and says, "Honey, watch!"

With book in hand and reading aloud so she’ll know he’s done his homework, he follows the instructions step by step.

It says, "Take one step with your right foot."

So he takes one step with his right foot.

Then it says, "Turn slowly to the left."

He turns slowly to the left."

He keeps it up, reading and then dancing, reading and dancing, through the whole thing.

Then he collapses exhausted on the sofa and says to his wife, "What do you think? I executed it perfectly!"

To which she replies, "You executed it all right. You killed it!"

The befuddled husband says, "But I followed the rules,

I laid out the pattern, I did everything the book said..."

"But," she sighs, "you forgot the most important part--the music!"

She pops a tape into the stereo. "Try it again. Quit worrying about the steps and just follow the music."

She holds out her hand, and he gets up and takes it.

The music starts, and the next thing the guy knows he’s dancing--without the book!

Max Lucado observes: "We Christians are prone to follow the book while ignoring the music. We master the doctrine, outline the chapters, memorize the dispensations, debate the rules, and stiffly step down the dance floor of life with no music in our hearts. Dancing with no music is tough stuff. Jesus knew that. For that reason, on the night before His death He introduced the disciples to the song maker of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit." [A Gentle Thunder by Max Lucado. Word Publishing, 1995. Pages 67-68.]

Illustration:

A number years ago American Express was known as the credit "card of choice."

Visa, MasterCard, the Discover card, and others were viewed as "second choice."

The American Express card was known at that time as standard.

One of their best slogans was, "Don’t leave Home without it!"

It worked like a charm back then!

People who carried credit cards wanted to carry an American Express Gold card.

And they said, "Don’t leave home without it!"

In one of His last meetings with His disciples Jesus spoke to them in a long conversation introducing them to the Holy Spirit - whom He said the "The Father would send to them."

On one occasion Jesus stressed the importance of this by saying to them as recorded in Luke 24:48-49, "You’re the first to hear and see it. You’re the witnesses. What comes next is very important: I am sending what My Father promised to you, so stay here in the city until He arrives, in other words - don’t leave Home with Him - until you are equipped with power from on high."