Tabor Baptist Church

Introduction

• As believers we need both challenge and encouragement
  • Explanation
  • We need 'God will' and 'you must'
• Jesus has a wonderful balance of encouragement and challenge
  • Chapters 14,15,16 and 17 - have little challenge, but are full of comfort and promise
    • The many mansions in glory
    • Encouragements to pray
  • Challenges
    • "If you love Me, keep my commands"
  • The doctrine of the Holy Spirit
• A long discourse in the upper room
  • John has recorded it for us
• Looking at v23, 26, 27
• Overview:
  • An Indwelling God (v23)
  • A Counsellor who Guides (v26)
  • A Permanent Peace given by Our Saviour (v27)
• Our society seems more restless than any before it - examples
  • Example of Russell Brand - "I need a personal relationship with God"
  • Example of Adrian Carey Jones
• None but Jesus Christ satisfies
  • He has said He will come and make His home in believers
  • He will dwell with us
• There is nothing better than God dwelling with His people
  • Given the Holy Spirit - the perfect Teacher
  • Given the peace of God that can never be taken from us
• The disciples could not turn to anyone us
  • Ps 73:25
  • Does Jesus satisfy your soul?

An Indwelling God (v23)

• Some people talk about a 'Christ' conscience
  • Explanation
• Help coming from above
  • Not from our heart/ourself, where there is sin
  • There is no help from within
• What does it mean for God to dwell in us?
  • The Holy Spirit (v16-20)
    • Jesus was glorified on the cross, when He was resurrected and when He ascended to heaven - then the Holy Spirit was sent on the day of Pentecost
  • The Holy Spirit came to dwell in men in a way that God had not done before
• Not to worry about the mechanics of how this will work (v23)
• The Holy Trinity
  • References to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit
  • Separate and distinct persons - yet joined
  • The term came about due to heresies - clarified by the Council of Nicea
  • Solomon and Ezk 37:26-28
• God has truly come to dwell with men
  • First through Jesus Christ
  • Then through the Holy Spirit (2 Cor 6:16)
• We have fellowship and communion with the living God
  • He will never leave us or forsake us
• Our 'home' (v23) - same word as 14:2
  • First a home with Jesus in ourselves
  • Second a home with Jesus in heaven
• If we walk in obedience
  • To keep the commandments of God (v15, 21)
  • To keep His word (v23-24)

A Counsellor who Guides (v26)

• The disciples would need much guidance
  • They had given up everything to follow Jesus but He would now leave them
  • They were insecure
• Jesus sent them the Holy Spirit
  • They were enable to write down the gospels and epistles
  • They were given divine understanding
  • They were given remembrance
• There was a tremendous change in them after Pentecost - examples
  • Science does not explain the soul or morality
  • People need a counsellor and the peace of God

A Permanent Peace given by Our Saviour (v27)

• Two types of people:
  • Believers and unbelievers
  • Those who know the peace of God and those who don't
• The natural person cannot understand because they are blind to spiritual things
• Jesus gives us His peace
• Our society needs the peace of Christ
  • Do you know this peace?
  • Do you know contentment?
  • Are you happy in God?
• The child of God knows the peace of God
  • You can know this peace - come to Jesus (Matthew 11:28)

Closing Remarks