DEVOTIONS WITH PASTOR BOB The gospel of John 14 (lesson 2) “The work of the Holy Spirit”

DEVOTIONS WITH PASTOR BOB

The Gospel of John 14 (lesson 2)

“The work of the Holy Spirit”

The Book of John in Song - Chapter 14 - "In My Father’s House"

https://youtu.be/zGc3Cs5vNRA

John 14:15-21(NLT)

¹⁵ “If you love me, obey my commandments. 

¹⁶ And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. 

¹⁷ He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth.

The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him.

But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. 

¹⁸ No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you. 

¹⁹ Soon the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Since I live, you also will live. 

²⁰ When I am raised to life again, you will know that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 

²¹ Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me.

And because they love me, my Father will love them.

And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.”

In verse15, Jesus says,

“If you love me, obey my commandments.” 

Obedience to the commandments of Jesus is evidence and proves that we love Him.

Understand that the commands of Jesus do not dismiss any of the Old Testament commandments.

The commandments of Jesus do reject a legalistic, letter-of-the-law approach, by

fulfilling the spirit of the entire law through faith.

In verse 16, Jesus says,  

“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you.” 

The Greek word for “Advocate” means; Intercessor, Consoler, Comforter, Helper.

It also has a broader meaning of someone called to our side to help us.

It is a legal term for a trial lawyer who advocates for someone.

THIS MEANS THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT IS ON OUR SIDE, DEFENDING US.

The Holy Spirit is also called “The Spirit of Truth.” (verse 17)

It should be no surprise that our best arguments often fail, because the world cannot receive the Spirit of Truth!

We need to simply trust that the Holy Spirit will do His job.

“He will guide us into all truth” (John 16:13)

Jesus said in John 14:18,

“No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you.” 

We are not orphans. He is with us.

Jesus promised, “I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20)

Jesus is with us through the Holy Spirit.

Jesus is God, as is the Holy Spirit is God.

Jesus goes on to say in verse 19,

“A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me.

Because I live, you will live also.”

Jesus is speaking about eternal life.

He declares that, “Because I live, you will live also.”

Because He lives, we are partakers of that life now, and forever.

This is saying that our eternal life is dependent directly on Jesus giving it to us.

In verse 20, Jesus says,

“When I am raised to life again, you will know that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.” 

This mystical personal relationship with Father, Son and Holy Spirit is what the resurrection life is all about.

Jesus' words “keep My commandments” includes the mutual indwelling of Father, Son and Holy Spirit with us through faith.

Jesus promises that He will love us, and manifest Himself to us.

We don’t need to be a part of an exclusive church to be loved by God.

The Holy Spirit has come to confirm God’s love for us.

The Church is any place where Jesus dwells through the Holy Spirit.

The Church is where His love lives in people.

It is hard to understand the Trinity, God, three in one, yet they have distinctive functions.

RIGHT NOW, THE HOLY SPIRIT IS SHINING THE LIGHT ON JESUS

He is directing us to Jesus, to the cross, to forgiveness, through faith in His name.

The Holy Spirit will help us to live lives that please God.

This enables us to fulfil the Commandments of Jesus to love God and to love others.

The Holy Spirit pours God’s love in our hearts. (Romans 5:5)

This can take place because of the sacrifice of Jesus, who cleansed us from sin and made us expectable before God.

PRAYER

Father we are caught up in the mystery of all you are. Jesus has become our advocate, who has made us acceptable to come boldly to the throne of grace through the cross. We are in awe of the gift of the Holy Spirit who is working in us to make us like Christ. Father, Son, Holy Spirit, Three in One, God. We rejoice in all that you do for your children, in Jesus name we pray, amen!