SPIRIT CONTINUES WORK

Spirit Continues Work (John 14:15-17, 25-26; 16:7-15)

JOHN 13:34-35
Jesus says we should follow His example of love.
When we show love toward each other,
its an indication that we love Jesus.

JOHN 14:

VERSE 15:
He talked about horizontal love, but now he talks about vertical love.

Horizontal love could be an indication that we love Jesus,
but He gives us a specific command that proves our love for Him.
“obey”
     – Means obedience AND passing the good news on to others
        (sharing in His ministry).

Question:
Why do you think love and obedience are inseparable?

VERSES 16-17:
Jesus knew the disciples were troubled about His leaving them,
so He prayed for them to have a new counselor (or comforter)
to lead and guide them.

The good news:
     Jesus knew His time with them would be short,
     but the new counselor would be with them forever.

Question:
Who is this counselor?
     – The Spirit of Truth (aka the Holy Spirit).

The world has a struggle with faith
because they only believe what they can see.
     In contrast, true believers have faith in what they
     cannot see AND they know the Lord and His Spirit.
     Note:
          (John 7:39) – All believers receive the Holy Spirit.

(John 14:12)
     – Jesus had just told His disciples they would do greater
       works than He had done…how was that possible?
            – Because the Holy Spirit
               (another of the same kind as Jesus) is in all believers.
               Jesus could be in only one place at a time, but
               the Holy Spirit can work wherever there is a believer.
               Note:
                    The difference is in the quantity, not the quality.
       Note:
            The implication is that all believers need to be usable by God.

Summary:
     – Love for Christ is shown through obedience.
     – The Holy Spirit is the Counselor Who is
        with believers, and is active through them.
     – The Holy Spirit carries on the ministry of Jesus.
     – All believers have a responsibility to love each other,
        to love the Lord, and to allow the Holy Spirit
        to be effective through them.

VERSES 25-26:
Verse 25 is a reminder that Jesus was a teacher.
     Question:
      “this I have spoken”
      Did He mean just the words that night,
      or the entire time He had been with them?

At any rate, they were probably starting
to wonder who would teach them in the future.
Note:
     Jesus answered their concern in Verse 26.

Earlier He referred to the Counselor as the Spirit
of Truth, now He identifies Him as the Holy Spirit.

“in my name”
     – Indicates the Holy Spirit would act as a representative of Jesus.
       Note:
            Jesus showed the personality and character of God to men;
            the Holy Spirit would do the same thing on a wider scale.

Question:
“teach all things”…What does that imply to you?
     – There were still things the disciples needed to learn?
            – Carry on the ministry of Jesus.
            – Apply God’s Will to their lives.

JOHN 16:

VERSES 12-15:
Jesus confirms that there is more for them to learn.
Question:
Have you wondered why they couldn’t bear them at that time?
     – Because their emotions were strained over His leaving them?
       Question:
       How do our emotions affect us?

     – Because they could not understand everything fully until He leaves
        and the Holy Spirit returns?

     – Because they could not understand the presence
        of the Holy Spirit until He is with them?

Jesus emphasized that all messages from the Holy Spirit
are from God Himself; the Holy Spirit is His messenger.

“all truth”
     – What they would need to serve Him and continue His ministry.

All the work of the Holy Spirit is to glorify God.

“things to come”
     – The Holy Spirit would open their vision
        to the things in the future…after Jesus leaves them.

Question:
What was the result of the Holy Spirit’s presence back then?
     – He provided insight into the inspiration of the New Testament.
     – He caused the disciples to remember what Jesus said and did.
     – He ensured that what was written was the truth.
     – He was talking about masters, not employers
        (many people have two jobs and two bosses).

Summary:
     – While on earth, Jesus was a teacher to the disciples.
     – The Holy Spirit enabled the apostles
        to remember the words and deeds of Jesus.
     – The Holy Spirit inspired the apostles to write the New Testament.
     – Only if God is glorified can people
        claim they were “led by the Spirit”.

Question:
What impact does the Holy Spirit have on us today?

VERSE 7:
Jesus had told the disciples:
     – The world would hate them.
     – That He was leaving them.

Question:
What thoughts could they have had?
     – Who will lead us?
     – Who will teach us?
     – Who will be our anchor?
     – Did I do the right thing in following Him?
     – I want to be liked, not hated.
     – If He is truly the Son of God,
        then why does He have to leave?

Now He tells them it is for their benefit that He leaves them.
Note:
     They must have had more questions.

Question:
How would this benefit them?
     – His leaving would result
        in the Holy Spirit returning in His place.
     – The presence of the Holy Spirit meant:
             – Jesus had risen from the dead
               and was with God.
            – The ministry of Jesus
               would continue on a larger scale.
     Note:
          – The Spirit was at work in Old Testament times,
             and during the ministry of Jesus.
          – His primary work was to be in the age of the Spirit
             (foretold in Joel 2:28-32).
          – That age could not begin
             until the earthly ministry of Jesus was finished.
          – The age of the Spirit began on the Day of Pentecost.
          – The important factor about the age of the Spirit
             was that all believers receive the Holy Spirit.

VERSES 8-11:
The Holy Spirit is like a prosecuting attorney against the world.

He is the convicting force in the world.
Question:
Why is that important?
     – Because many people do not take sin seriously.
     – They become de-sensitized to sin and its consequences.

“sin”
     – People have the choice of believing in Christ and His sacrifice.
     – Since many do not make that choice, the Holy Spirit
        convicts them of the most basic sin….unbelief in Jesus.

“righteousness”
     – The Spirit convicts us that our own righteousness is like
        filthy rags when compared to the righteousness of Christ.
        Question:
        Why is that important?
             – Some may go through life thinking they
                are righteous, but they are never saved.
             – Humility needs to be a part
                of the character of every believer.

“judgment”
     – Satan and the forces of evil conspired to reject and crucify Jesus.
     – They condemned Him to death for supposed crimes.
     – They put Him to death and sealed Him in a tomb.
     – Satan and evil people rejoiced
        over what they thought was a great victory.
     – God reversed their judgment by raising Jesus from the dead.
     – This proved the cross was actually
        a great victory for God and His Son.
     – The Holy Spirit convicts the world of this victory.
    Question:
     Why is all of this important?
           – This is the foundational belief that leads to salvation.

Summary:
     – Christians today are living in the age of the Spirit.
     – The Spirit convicts the world of sin,
        righteousness, and judgment.
     – The Spirit’s purpose is to lead people to salvation.
     – The Spirit uses Christians (true believers)
        to accomplish His mission.
     – The Spirit works in and through believers.
     – In order to use believers,
        the Spirit convicts them and guides them.