BOTTOM LINE: If you’re going to abide in Jesus, you need help.

INTRO

Story: Abullah Abdel-Gawad worked 6 straight days to free the Ever Given cargo ship, which got stuck and blocked the Suez Canal. The ship being stuck caused an estimated $10 billion dollars per day. It came down to Abdel-Gawad and his excavator.

TENSION

(Recap Series)

Does living the “Jesus Life” seem to be an impossible job? The good news tonight is that God gives us help through the Holy Spirit to live and love like Jesus.

If you’re going to abide in Jesus, you need help.

TRUTH

Scripture: John 14:15-31

  • Background
    • Very different from Matthew, Mark, and Luke (Synoptic gospels).
    • Eyewitness account written from the perspective of John, “The Disciple Whom Jesus Loved.”
    • Interpretive Key: “These are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God and that by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:31).
  • Context
    • 13:31 began Jesus’ “Farewell Discourse.”
    • Jesus told them that, because he was leaving, they were to love one another (The Fresh Commandment)
    • The disciples, led by Peter, had a SQUIRRELL! Moment.
    • Immediate context: “Let not your hearts be troubled” (14:1, 27); “Whoever believes in me will do the works that I do (14:12).

Main Point: Jesus said, “I’m giving you the Holy Spirit to help you observe my commandments” (v.15-17).

  • “Keep my commandments” picks up where last week left off.
  • Jesus promised that when he left, he would send the Holy Spirit to help his disciples do what he did.
    • Helper – Parakletos – To call alongside, to encourage, to exhort; In secular Greek, a court advocate; KJV, “comforter” in the sense of strengthening and encouraging
    • He dwells with you = present (Through Jesus)
    • Will be in you = future (fulfilled at Pentecost in Acts 2)

How does the Holy Spirit help us abide in Jesus?

1. He makes God’s presence real in our lives (v.18-24).

The big problem: Jesus was leaving.

  • “The world will see me know more, but you will see me” – Jesus talking about his death and resurrection
  • In “that day” – his resurrection

The big comfort: The Spirit of Jesus would ABIDE with his followers!

  • Jesus promised to manifest himself to his disciples through the Holy Spirit.
    • Manifest = to show one’s self, make known
  • “We will come to him and make our home with him.
    • “Make our home” = meno = ABIDE (in CH.15).

God is working in peoples’ lives TODAY and making himself known TODAY.

2. He illuminates our understanding of Jesus’ commands (v.25-26).

The Holy Spirit inspired the apostles to record his commands and way of life.

  • “No prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit” (2 Pet. 1:21).
  • Jesus’ disciples plainly understood this truth (2 Pet. 3:16).

The Holy Spirit illuminates all believers to understand Jesus’ commands and way of life when they read the Bible.

  • “Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law” (Ps. 119:18).
  • “That the God of our Lord may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him” (Eph. 1:17).

Never forget: God’s Word was written so that regular people can understand and obey it!

3. He comforts our hearts when we’re troubled and scared (v.27).

Peace = Salom (More than the absence of conflict; the sum of all God’s goodness and blessings)

Jesus is the Prince of Peace and the only one qualified to give it away.

  • “I leave,” “I give”
  • “Not as the world gives” – The more the world pursues peace and equality, the less peaceful the world gets.
  • Jesus gives peace through the Holy Spirit
    • “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace….” (Gal. 5:22)
    • “All who are led by the Spirit are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry ‘Abba! Father!” (Romans 8:15).
    • “The Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words” (Romans 8:26).

Living the Jesus life WILL put you in situations that can overwhelm and scare you. That’s why you need the help of the Holy Spirit!

4. He lives inside all who trust in Jesus (v.28-31).

Jesus told his disciples about this ahead of time so that they would believe in him.

The disciples didn’t receive the Holy Spirit because they were elite Christians. They received the Holy Spirit because they trusted Jesus as their Savior.

The same Spirit moves into the heart of anyone who trusts in Jesus as their Savior!

If you’re going to abide in Jesus, you need help.

APPLICATION

Living in the Help of the Holy Spirit:

#1 – Remove the hindrances.

  • We quench the Spirit when we don’t do what he prompts us to do (1 Thess. 5:19).
  • We grieve the Spirit when we do sinful things (Eph. 4:30).
  • We resist the Spirit when we’re stubborn (Acts 7).
  • We desire against the Spirit when we give in to our old sin nature (Gal. 5:16).

#2 – Rely on his power. God’s Holy Spirit is not optional equipment for Jesus followers! You need the power of the Spirit just like a car needs an engine!

#3 – Read his word. Do you have a plan? Choose a time. Choose a book of the Bible. Choose a method. (The SWORD Method)

  • What does it say about God?
  • What does it say about me?
  • Is there a command to obey?
  • Is there a sin to avoid?
  • Is there an example to follow?
  • Is there a promise to claim?

#4 – Receive him (by trusting in Jesus). Stop trying to live the Jesus life without Jesus. You can leave this room tonight knowing that God lives inside you!

LANDING