The Promise Keeper

Sunday, February 17, 2008 (Message....on a snow day)

Text: Read John 14:12-25

One of the beautiful things about the Gospel of John is the way he has chosen to represent either a divne attribute or a ministry aspect of Jesus in each of his chapters. This is true for chapter fourteen.
Jesus is about to enter into the culminating days of his ministry on earth. The cross looms before him, the resurrection not far behind. But what is really on his heart in this chapter is his ascension. He wants his friends to know that he will soon be leaving....heading up to the Father, and he doesn't want them to start getting mushy with fear. His promise is incredible.

He starts by enlightening them on the fact that he is leaving in order that a few things can take place.
1. He is leaving so that he can start a heavenly building program. vs 1-11
2. He is leaving so that the work can mulitply.
This is seemingly a strange reason for him to be leaving....so that the work can multiply. What his wants them, and us, to know is this: Up to that point, it was Jesus doing the work. With his ascension, it would be Jesus' followers that would accomplish the same work of deliverance, healing, casting out the enemy, and planting the seed of the gospel around the world. He tells them that, after he leaves, they would do more works than his....meaning volume. His work, his miracles, really can't be topped! However, they can be mulitplied by thousands and millions. This leads us to the next reason,
3. He is leaving so that he can send them another helper....
Here is the power, here is the presence, here is the purpose. Jesus offers outstanding encouragement to every believer. He want you and me to know that we will have the same dynamic power to live, to witness, and to work that he had. Jesus left the glory of his divinity behind in order to live as a man......filled with the Holy Spirit. The beliver in Jesus is promised the same presence! Wow!
The Spirit of God is the ... Paracletos... Greek... Para=along side cletos=called
He is the one who is 'called to be our sidekick' but in both an internal and external way.
He lives in us internally by indwelling. (1 Cor. 3:15 2 Cor. 3:18) When we are saved, he takes up residence in us. Jesus told this to the disciples in John 14:17. 'He will be IN YOU." The same Spirit that manifested through Jesus, all the power, all of the greatness, everything.... will live in us. By the Spirit, Jesus continues his holiness, his righteousness, his miraculous, through the believer.
Jesus also promises the external. In the Old Testament, the Spirit worked by coming upon the prophet. It was a visible and powerful manifestation, but it was temporary. Jesus promises us an individual outpouring of the same Spirit....but in a perpetual way. Acts 1:8, Jesus promises that the believer can be Baptized In the Spirit.... Not only will the Spirit dwell within the believer, the believer can dwell in the Spirit just like the individual is immersed in water during baptism. Here is a HUGE point to remember....
THERE IS A BIG WORK TO DO AND WE'LL HAVE HELP TO DO IT..................
We are not alone....were are filled up in one sense, and dunked in another. So, start expecting to get the fulness of both aspects. You have work to do and help to do it.

Then: THERE IS MORE TO LEARN AND THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL TEACH US.
Read John 14:25-26, John 15:26-27 and John 16:13-15

Another tremendous truth concerning the Spirit and Jesus ascension is this: The Spirit of God will take us deeper into the depths of a relationship with the Lord. In other words, he 'quickens' our hearts and minds....helps us to understand more fully and with greater awareness...the things of God. Jesus said the Spirit would lead us into all truth. Well, that is exactly what Jesus was doing with the disciples.... He led them and taught them along the way. The watched and learned.
The Spirit leads us in the same way...its just in an invisible way. The disciples could see Jesus. We go by sound....the voice within our hearts that speaks and directs. That voice is the Holy Spirit. He guides and encourages.
He also prunes and convicts when we head the wrong way. That is GOOOOD.. We need a check in our direction from time to time. It is like the Spirit is right there saying...nope, this way buddy. I need it. You need it.
The Spirit helps us in our FAITH. He does this by illuminating the Word and lasering it right into our being. It comes alive by the Spirit. It becomes reality by the Spirit.

So, believer.....seek the greater fulness that Jesus offers. You have the Spirit inside.. You just may need to be dunked inside the Spirit. Seek out the best Jesus has to offer...it is his promise to you.
AMEN