Promise of the Holy Spirit
Listen closely to this passage, Jesus tips us off on what Love looks like, see if you can spot it.
John 14:15-31 "If you love me, you will obey what I command. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever-- 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him."
22 Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, "But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?"
23 Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24 He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.
25 "All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
28 "You heard me say, `I am going away and I am coming back to you.' If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. 29 I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe. 30 I will not speak with you much longer, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold on me, 31 but the world must learn that I love the Father and that I do exactly what my Father has commanded me. "Come now; let us leave.
People misunderstand what loving Jesus is all about. Did you pick up on it?
How will anyone know that you love Jesus?
3 times Jesus makes it crystal clear!
15 If you love me, you will obey...
21 Whoever has my commands and obeys...
23 If anyone loves me .. 24 He who does not love me will not obey my teaching.
How does your spouse know that you love them - any evidence? Shmily is not enough.
Honor – respect – listen – obey goes both ways – love languages
Kids – how will they know you love them?
Ever say, “This will Hurt me more than it hurts you?” Or hurts you more than it hurts me
Genuine praise – don’t spoil your kid – they matter but they aren’t the center of the universe.
Teach them to obey – if they can’t obey a parent, how can they obey God?
Love is so misunderstood
If you love me you’ll agree with me
If you love me - I will feel good
If you love me - you will obey me
Not a power play, but a way of life
Living in obedience is living in relationship
Living in disobedience is breaking trust - forsaking relationship
Obeying His commands is not complicated
Red letters of the Bible - give several examples
Distilled the entire OT into two commands
Not complicated, but it is hard.
Don’t let anger rule you, be generous (that’s tough!)
Serve willingly (go two miles) turn the other cheek (humility – meekness is power)
Forgive – just like Jesus forgave us.
AND this is HUGE - We aren't to do it alone
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever--
Jesus said, 28 "You heard me say, `I am going away and I am coming back to you.' If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. 29 I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe.
When it happens - On that day (Pentecost) you will realize -
Won’t leave you as orphans - what’s the problem with leaving. What's the blessing of leaving?
Jesus will never abandon us - but will live in us more completely than ever
Jesus promises to leave - and that is not what we want to hear
He also promises to never abandon – that is what we NEED
If Jesus was always by me - then I might never know what stuff I am made of
I would never disobey much because “He’s watching me”
I would also never venture out much because “He can do it so much better”
Early on Jesus put His disciples to work doing the unthinkable (to them)
The 12 were forced to participate in miracles – the feeding of thousands, healing the sick, casting out demons – and they didn’t always succeed
The 72 – Luke 10: 2 He told them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. 3 Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. 4 Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road. 5 "When you enter a house, first say, 'Peace to this house.' 6 If a man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; if not, it will return to you. 7 Stay in that house, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house. 8 "When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is set before you. 9 Heal the sick who are there and tell them, 'The kingdom of God is near you.' 10 But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, 11 'Even the dust of your town that sticks to our feet we wipe off against you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God is near.'
Remember - 25 "All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
Peace - what's the difference between worldly peace and heavenly peace?
Worldly peace is absence of conflict, heavenly peace can exist in the midst of conflict
Worldly peace often pushes differences underground where they simmer and brew for later
Heavenly peace embraces differences, heals wounds, enters conflict knowing victory is ahead
What is the Counselor? Holy Spirit, not just a NT thing
Not the same as a conscience - HS brought life - at creation - at the inception of Jesus,
The Holy Spirit leads us to all truth - reminds you of truth
What is the Baptism - in or with the HS?
So today begin an experiment with trusting Jesus at His Word. Invite the Holy Spirit, Counselor to instruct you, remind you of all you need. Do not LET your hearts be troubles, DO NOT be afraid – obviously these are things Jesus is expecting US to do! HOW?
Next Step
Pick something Jesus told you to do that you have been balking at. YOU PICK, or let the Holy Spirit lead you to someplace to begin. Then as Nike says, “Just Do it!”
Talk or journal about the experiment. Talk to your family or close friends. Talk about the successes as well as the struggles. Here are some examples you might want to try.
Forgive others just as Jesus forgave you
Be generous – lend or give away stuff or money
Say yes to opportunities to serve others
Stay connected to Jesus – turn off distractions, turn your heart towards the Lord
