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