John 14:15-24 He is Closer Than Close Today we will study the promise of Jesus to never leave us alone. A promise of eternal fellowship with God A promise of the closest relationship possible. At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. John 14:20, NKJV. WHAT does that mean? To be in Jesus and Jesus in me? (Talk about a deep & intimate relationship) HOW can this be? First a REVIEW of our CONTEXT: Jesus had just informed His disciples that He was going away and they couldn t follow (13:33) In preparation for His departure, Jesus gave His disciples important instructions (13:34-35) He also made sure they understood exactly Who He really was (14:6-7 & 9b) Next He gave them some powerful promises concerning prayer (14:12-14) Now He gives His disciples the promise that they will never be alone (READ 14:15-20) PRAY! A closer look V:15-16 Is this a conditional promise? IF (V:15) Page 1 of 8
Again, see V:21 & 23-24 (Comments?) It s important to note that this promise is given to those who love Jesus Disciples Q. How can you tell who LOVES Jesus? How can you recognize & identify His disciples? A. Obedience! Actions Read again - V:15-16 JESUS was WITH His disciples a short time (TEMPORARY) The Helper whom Jesus sends is PERMANENT Notice that this helper is a HE (V:16-17) Also understand that ANOTHER (V:16) Grk. Means, Another of the same kinds. (EXPLAIN) Just as Jesus exhibits the nature of God the Father, so the Holy Spirit - being "another of the same kind" - will exhibit the nature of Jesus. Essentially, the Holy Spirit is sent to empower and help the believer live the Christian life. The greater work (John 14:12-14) is impossible w/o the empowering described in John 14:15-18. Helper / comforter / counselor (16) - "parakletos." = "a person summoned to one's aid," - an advisor, a legal defender, a mediator, or an intercessor. (Cp. Paramedic, paralegal ) Page 2 of 8
HE = Trinity (Father, Son & Holy Spirit) HE is called, THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH. So guess WHAT He is going to teach you Guess WHERE He is going to lead you WARNING: You CAN be SPIRITUAL without The HOLY Spirit V:17a The Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, John 14:17, NKJV. The WORK of the HOLY Spirit = Point to JESUS! But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me. John 15:26, NKJV. Anything or anyone spiritual that doesn t point you to Jesus is of the wrong spirit! Also be aware that there are several STAGES of relationships you can have with God s Holy Spirit Today we will look at 3 Specifically V:17c The first 2 are WITH and IN (EXPLAIN) He dwells WITH you and will be IN you. John 14:17 The Holy Spirit is WITH the sinner, convicting And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: John 16:8, NKJV. When a person receives Christ, The Holy Spirit comes IN! Page 3 of 8
Q. WHEN did the disciples get the IN experience? (Cp. 14:17c) A. After the resurrection And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, Receive the Holy Spirit. John 20:22, NKJV. WHEN do WE receive the IN experience of the Holy Spirit? (READ & EXPLAIN Eph. 1:13 ) In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, Ephesians 1:13 An interesting Trinity verse on this Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee. 2 Corinthians 1:21, 22, NKJV. So we see the WITH experience and the IN What about that 3 rd experience with the Holy Spirit? It s called, the UPON experience (EXPLAIN) But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come UPON you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. Acts 1:8 Q. WHEN did the Apostles experience this? A. PENTECOST! And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. Acts 2:2, 3, NKJV. Look at the story more closely TURN to Acts 2:1-8 Page 4 of 8
Explain: The Apostles had already had the WITH experience Then, the IN experience (Acts 20:22) Now the fulfilled promise of Jesus from Acts 1:8 UPON! EXPLAIN John 14:18 What a comforting promise! I will come to you = The Holy Spirit! The Spirit of God = The Spirit of Christ = Trinity More verses to consider But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. Romans 8:9, NKJV. And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, Abba, Father! Galatians 4:6, NKJV. Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. 1 Peter 1:10, 11, NKJV. The sweet presence of God = The Holy Spirit = The presence of Jesus! = V:18 (Close encounters) cp. V:20 If you are BORN AGAIN, you are NEVER ALONE! V:19? The world will not see me, but you will? This has been taken in many ways. i.e. (1) His resurrection, (2) the Rapture, (3) the death of a believer, (4) a mystical experience, or (5) the Holy Spirit's coming at Pentecost? Page 5 of 8
Definitely applies to His resurrection! The disciples did see Him after His resurrection. His resurrection is also the guarantee of their resurrection. Because I live, you also will live (19b) But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. 1 Corinthians 15:20, 21, NKJV. (V:19) First, Jesus was referring to his resurrection, after which His disciples would see him (20:19 29). o (There is no record that any unbelievers saw him after he rose.) V:19-20 also has reference to the mystery of the Trinity. Through the coming and indwelling of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, Jesus would be back with his own V:21 Obedience is the proof of genuine love So loving obedience sets the atmosphere for intimate fellowship with the Father and the Son. I believe this is an ongoing process of sanctification in our lives Sometimes we love God more than at other times Sometimes we are experiencing God more than To the degree we submit and obey, to that degree we may experience His fellowship (V:21) Page 6 of 8
This bears out in the next few verses (V:22-23 ) Another picture of our varying love is found in 1John 2:15 Read and comment Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world-- the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. 1 John 2:15-17, NKJV. When you are loving these things of the world you are not loving the Father Our love often varies as we grow in sanctification So where are you in these STAGES of experiencing The Holy Spirit of God? 1. Is the Holy Spirit WITH you, convicting you? a. But you haven t received Him? 2. Is the Holy Spirit IN you? (Saved?) a. Have you believed? (i.e. Eph 1:13) In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, Ephesians 1:13 (EXPLAIN THE GOSPEL) 3. Have you experienced the UPON experience? a. Power to be a witness for Him? Move on! Press forward! Seek Him today! PRAYER for each stage of relationship with God Page 7 of 8
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