“God Is with Me”
John 14: 15-18
July 16, 2006
Intro: Bob and Lynne weren’t what they would consider good neighbors, but when they saw a moving van in front of the house across the street, they decided to change their ways. Lynn prepared some homemade bread and together they approached the house.
-When someone answered the front door, Lynn said, "Hi. We wanted to welcome you to our neighborhood. Here’s some bread for you." The woman who answered the door said, "Thank you very much for your kindness. Uh...this is embarrassing. You see, we’re not moving in. We’re moving out. We’ve lived here 8 years.”
-Can you imagine anything much more embarrassing than that? I’m sure their neighbors felt real special! But you know what? I think there are a lot of us who feel God is like Bob and Lynne in that He’s forgotten we’re even here. Some people feel like God doesn’t even know who they are.
-That’s why we’re continuing the series “On Star…On Board” this week. We’re all familiar with “On Star.” It’s a device you can get in a GM vehicle that allows you to communicate w/someone at all times. If you get lost, you can push the “On Star” button and an operator will come on and give you directions.
-If you need your car unlocked, you can call the “On Star” operator and thru a satellite he’ll unlock your car. So as you ride in your car you have a feeling that you’re never alone.
-It’s my hope you’ll discover that as you travel along in this life that you have an “On Star” device as well. You have one who will keep you company and give you direction and guidance all thru life. Who is it? It’s Jesus.
Sermon Idea: Today in our passage of Scripture we’re going to see Jesus sharing w/His followers that He is always w/them; that He’ll never abandon them or leave them alone. It’s so easy to feel alone and abandoned. It’s especially easy, when you’ve gone thru some trying times, to feel like God has forgotten who we are. But as we look in the Bible today, we’ll find out that God is deeply interested in staying in touch w/us.
TEXT: JOHN 14: 15-18
Bckgrd: At this point Jesus had let His disciples know that He was getting ready to die and that one of them was going to betray Him. As you can imagine they were devastated by this news. I’m sure a lot of thoughts were running thru their heads but it’s apparent they were thinking that if Jesus died then they’d be all alone. Their hopes would be crushed.
-But it’s here Jesus reassured them by letting them know that He wasn’t going to forget them, that He wasn’t going to leave them. So how was Jesus going to die, be raised from the grave, ascend to heaven, and yet still be w/the disciples; still be w/His followers?
-It’s here we see Jesus explain how He will still be w/us. You may ask, “How is God w/me?” He’s w/you b/c He’s sent:
DIV. 1: A COUNSELOR (vv. 15-16)
Exp: Jesus was very aware that He wasn’t going to be on this earth much longer. As a matter of fact John 13: 1 says, “It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for Him to leave this world and go to the Father.” Obviously this put His followers in a precarious position b/c any time a leader leaves, it creates a vacuum; it causes a sense of instability.
A. Can you imagine having the “On Star” system in your car for a long time and then all the sudden have it taken from you? Can you imagine what that’d be like? It’d be disconcerting b/c you had direction and answers right at your fingertips. But now it’s taken away.
1. I’m sure a person used to using “On Star” would feel a little lost w/o it. They’d feel a little vulnerable. Well, the same thing would be true w/the disciples. When Jesus said He was leaving I’m sure there was as sense of instability and uncertainty. But Jesus relieved their fears by letting them know He wasn’t just leaving them to face this world all alone.
a. He told them in v. 16 that He was going to give them another Counselor. The word “counselor”=one who represents you at court and stands at your side to plead your case. You may be thinking, “The only people who need defense counselors are criminals! And I’m no criminal!”
b. While that may be true according to the laws of man it’s not true according to the Laws of God. You see, if we break just one command of God we’re considered to be guilty of breaking them all. James 2: 10-“For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.” And the Bible teaches that there will be a day when we’ll stand before God in judgment.
2. And if we stand before God in judgment that means we’re going to need someone to give us a defense; to represent us before God b/c on our own we’re guilty.
a. That’s where the Counselor steps in. Jesus said He was going to give His followers a Counselor who’d represent them before God; a counselor who’d be their friend and give them guidance. You know who this Counselor is? The Holy Spirit! The beginning of v. 17 refers to Him as the Spirit of truth. Of course, the big question is, “How is Jesus w/us if He sends someone in His place?” If you asked that question pat yourself on the back b/c it’s a good question.
b. But here’s the answer. Notice in v. 16 it says that God will send “another” Counselor. The word “another” means “another of the same kind.” It means the HS isn’t an inferior replacement for Jesus b/c He’s of the “same kind” as Jesus! Having the HS w/you is just as good as having Jesus w/you! That’s pretty awesome to think @.
B. But God sent us the HS b/c we need the HS to work as our Counselor. Why? B/c we need a Counselor who’ll defend us before God. We need a counselor who’ll give us advice and leadership. Is there any one you turn to for advice? I turn to different people for advice fairly often. And they’re people who’ve been thru what I’ve been thru. They’re people who have experience and know how to handle situations I’m dealing with.
1. That’s what the HS is willing to do for us. Think @ it. Can you imagine trying to defend yourself in a court of law for murder if you weren’t a lawyer? The prosecuting attorney would pick you apart b/c you wouldn’t have the same knowledge of the law that he does. That’s why in our country we have the right to counsel b/c very few people can actually defend themselves in a court of law.
a. And the same thing’s true in God’s court. Yet God, in His grace, has sent one to defend us, to stand up for us and give us comfort. The HS knows how to defend us; how to take care of us and be there for us. We’re told in Rom. 8: 26-27-“In the same way, the HS helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us w/groans that words cannot express. And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, b/c the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance w/God’s will.”
b. The HS knows how to speak for us before God. He knows God’s language!
ILLUS: One of the great fears people have is the fear of being abandoned, being left alone. I read an interview w/Julian Lennon, whose father was John Lennon of the Beatles. Julian said this @ his dad, “I felt he was a hypocrite. Dad could talk about peace and love out loud to the world, but he could never show it to the people who supposedly meant the most to him: his wife and son.
-How can you talk about peace and love and have a family in bits and pieces—no communication, adultery, divorce? You can’t do it, not if you’re being true and honest with yourself.”
2. Jesus hasn’t abandoned us. He’s given us the HS to be our Counselor, to be the one who defends us and give us direction in life.
Reit: How is God w/me? He’s w/you b/c He’s sent a Counselor. How is God w/me? He’s w/you b/c:
DIV. 2: HE LIVES IN YOU (v. 17)
Exp: I know it sounds really weird to say the HS lives w/in us. It almost makes it sound like I’m saying the HS is a parasite and He’s living off His host. But it’s actually the opposite. The HS lives w/in believers so we can live off of Him. This was an important point Jesus was making to His followers. At this time, they’d been w/Jesus for 3 years. Jesus had taught them, fed them, been their friend and worked w/them.
A. But when He went back to heaven He sent the HS to take His place w/in the life of all His followers. Why? So that the HS could work w/in them to remind them of the things Jesus had taught them; to keep them on the right path.
1. Jesus talked @ the importance of the HS in John 16: 8 when He said, “When He (the HS) comes, He will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment.” It’s the HS who prompts us in our Spirit of what’s right and what’s wrong. He gives us a holy nudge in the direction we should go in living our lives.
a. When the HS is in our lives He also guides us to live the right way. Let me share w/you how important the HS is in your life. Rom. 8: 5-9-“Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance w/the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you.”
b. Having the HS w/in us is so important for another reason as well. Knowing He’s w/in us should prompt us to live our very best. It’s very easy for us to slip into sinful living when we don’t feel like there’s anyone there watching us. I know you’ve seen the Las Vegas commercials. What’s their big slogan?
2. It’s “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.” What do you think that means? It means if you do some things you’re not supposed to do, you’re going to be okay b/c Vegas is going to keep it a secret w/you. They’re not going to tell on you.
a. That’s an appeal to our lowest common denominator. But when you’re a follower of Christ you have the HS living w/in you. But that can mean the very best for us. Knowing He’s living w/in us should motivate us, inspire us to live our very best; to live according to His Word, the Bible.
b. People live their best when they know they’re being watched.
ILLUS: When New York’s Citicorp tower was completed in 1977, it was the 7th tallest building in the world. William LeMessurier, was the structural engineer who won the top architectural award for his design. But only a week after the building opened LeMessurier was informed that the building’s joints had been bolted together instead of welded.
-That doesn’t seem like that big of a deal except that bolted joints aren’t as strong as welded joints. He talked to a meteorologist to find out how dangerous that would be for the building. He was told that statistically once every 16 years a storm would pass thru New York that would cause the building to crumble.
-LeMessurier didn’t know what to do. He weighed his options and realized he could do one of several things. One option was not to say anything and take his chances. The only problem w/that was there’d be a day when that strong wind would come and people’s lives would be at stake.
-Another option was for him to kill himself. But he decided against that quickly. The final option was to confront the problem and have it fixed even though it might cost him his reputation and cause him embarrassment. But that’s what he did in 1978. 3 months after the welding job was done, a storm hit New York that was the strongest storm they’d had in hundreds of years.
-The building stood the test and was determined to be one of the safest structures in the world b/c one man was willing to do what was right.
B. You may come to a point in your life where you realize your life is like that flawed building. By all appearances you might be strong and successful, but you know you have points of weakness that make you vulnerable to collapse.
1. What do you do? Realize the HS is w/in you and you’re not fooling Him. But also remember He has the power to give you strength and help when you submit yourself to His leadership.
Reit: How is God w/me? He’s w/you b/c He’s sent a Counselor. He’s w/you b/c He lives in you. How is God w/me? He’s w/me b/c:
DIV. 3: HE WILL NEVER LEAVE ME (v. 18)
Exp: In the OT you see glimpses of the HS at work in the lives of people. We’re told that the HS came upon King Saul. He came upon King David. But the difference is the Holy Spirit’s presence was temporary. We’re told in 1 Sam. 16: 14-“Now the Spirit of the Lord had departed from Saul.”
A. In Ps. 51 David asks God to keep the Holy Spirit from leaving him. But this was all to change when Jesus ascended into heaven after His resurrection. After Jesus left the HS came upon His followers during the holiday Pentecost.
1. The difference was the HS was coming to live w/in the lives of followers of Christ on a permanent basis and not on a temporary one. That’s what Jesus meant when He said, “I will not leave you as orphans.”
a. What’s an orphan? An orphan is one who’s fatherless; one who doesn’t have a parent. Where a lot of people get into trouble is when they don’t have an authority figure in life to give them direction. The disciples’ spiritual leader was getting ready to leave them. And in one sense they felt as though they were being orphaned.
b. But Jesus wasn’t going to let that happen to them b/c He knew how easy it is for us to fall away from living godly lives w/o proper leadership.
ILLUS: There was a documentary on television that was filmed in a packing-house where sheep were being slaughtered for the meat market. The sheep were huddled in pens outside where they were nervously walking around. They seemed to sense something wasn’t right, but they didn’t know what to do. Sheep desperately need a shepherd who has their best interest in mind to guide them b/c when they’re not being led by a shepherd they have a tendency to just follow whoever’s willing to lead them.
-As they sheep wandered around for a while, a gate was opened that led up a ramp and through a door to the right. In order to get the sheep to walk up that ramp, the handlers used what is known as a "Judas goat." This is a goat that has been trained to lead the sheep into the slaughterhouse. The goat did his job very efficiently. He confidently walked to the bottom of the ramp and looked back. Then he took a few more steps and stopped again.
-The sheep looked at each other skittishly and then began moving toward the ramp. Eventually, they followed the confident goat to the top, where he went through a little gate to the left, but they were forced to turn to the right and went to their deaths.
2. It’s not surprising to note that Jesus referred to His followers as “sheep” more than anything else. And He knows His sheep are in trouble if He’s not the one leading them. That’s why He told us He’d never leave us. And I want you to know today that the HS is living w/in you.
a. He’s at your side. He’s available to give you leadership, guidance and comfort. When you feel alone, the HS is w/you. When you feel like no one loves you, the HS is w/you willing to remind you that God loves you. When you don’t know what to do, the HS is waiting for you to call out to God for direction and He’ll prompt your spirit in the right direction.
b. As we close, let me give you an example of how the HS led my recently. As I was praying, I sensed God calling me to pray for Him to send people my way that I could talk to @ Christ. A couple of days after I prayed, a couple came by to see me and as we talked I realized this was the couple God had sent my way. Our conversation eventually turned to a discussion @ a relationship w/Jesus and both of them became Xians!
B. It was a great reminder to me that God is w/me and that He responds to me.
Jesus has promised never to leave us nor forsake us. And He has kept His promise.
Conclusion: God is w/us. How? He’s w/us b/c He’s sent us a Counselor. He’s w/us b/c He lives in us. And He’s w/us b/c He promised He’d never leave us. But before He’ll be w/you, you have to be willing to plug into Him. How do you do that? By giving Him an invitation to come and work and live in your life.
-If you’d like to do that, pray this prayer after me: Dear Jesus, I know I’m a sinner. Forgive me of my sins. I know you died and rose from the grave for me. Save me.
-If you prayed that prayer, let us know by taking your bulletin and tearing out the Welcome Card on the right. Put your name on the card, check the box that says you committed your life to Christ and place it in the offering basket in a few moments.
-Others of you are believers but you feel alone. It could be b/c you have some sin you need to confess to God and let go of. Ps. 66:18 says, “If I have sin in my heart, God will not hear me.” Reestablish the communication lines w/God again. Some of you need to turn away from your anger. Others of you your desire to have more at the expense of your family.
-It could be lust has creeped into your life and it’s destroying your thought life. Confess it to Christ in prayer and ask for His forgiveness. 1 John 1: 9-“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
