Unit 2: The Word: The Agent of Creation
Key Verse:
John 14:16 NLT
16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate,[a] who will never leave you.
Beloved. We are not alone…
What you need to know
Isaiah 11:1-6 NLT
1
Out of the stump of David’s family[a] will grow a shoot—
yes, a new Branch bearing fruit from the old root.
2
And the Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—
the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and might,
the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.
3
He will delight in obeying the Lord.
He will not judge by appearance
nor make a decision based on hearsay.
4
He will give justice to the poor
and make fair decisions for the exploited.
The earth will shake at the force of his word,
and one breath from his mouth will destroy the wicked.
5
He will wear righteousness like a belt
and truth like an undergarment.
John 3:34 NLT
34 For he is sent by God. He speaks God’s words, for God gives him the Spirit without limit.
Beloved, Isaiah foretold of the coming of the Messiah as One who would be imbued with the seven-fold Spirit of God. Chapter Eleven of Isaiah provides an unmistakable glimpse of the God-Man that we know as Jesus, Anointed of God. In Chapter Eleven, Isaiah also provides us with a description of the Holy Spirit, The Ruach Ha’Kodesh, literally, “The Wind (or Breath) of The Holy God”. The Holy Spirit of God worked with, in, and through Christ from the very beginning of creation. Additionally, His power rested on Christ throughout the entirety of His earthly ministry. The Bible says that God gave Jesus the Spirit without measure (John 3:34). And now, here in John 14, Jesus is preparing to give us this self-same, very precious gift; the enduring Presence of the Holy Spirit. I have painstakingly attempted to apply each aspect of the seven aspects of the Holy Spirit, as described in Isaiah 11:2 (above) in the passages below. My reasoning? In the narrative below, Jesus seemingly repeats Himself time and again when speaking of the Holy Spirit. I believe His intent was to expose His disciples and us to each of the various aspects or character traits of the Holy Spirit. It is important to know Him, the Holy Spirit, as Counselor, Teacher, Guide, Champion, Advocate, Comforter, and Helper. He’s everything we need, and so much more. Whe Jesus foretold His imminent departure, He rejoiced in knowing that the Holy Spirit would soon come from Heaven to empower His (Jesus’) fledgling Church. Let’s get started.
The Lesson
John 14:15 NLT
15 “If you love me, obey[d] my commandments.
I know what you’re thinking. Obey! Obey! … Wait! Obey what? The ten commandments? No, that’s not what Jesus is talking about. Remember who it is with whom Jesus is speaking. His disciples. In essence, Jesus is exhorting the disciples to continue in the way that He has taught them. To continue their love for Him and to love one another as a demonstration of their love for Him. It is by their love for one another that outsiders will be able to identify them as …His followers. Jesus wants them to stick together in the face of great difficulty to await the precious gift that He has prepared for them: The Eternal Presence of God. They must persevere with and for one another.
John 13:34-35 NLT
34 So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. 35 Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”
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John 14:16 NLT
16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate,[e] who will never leave you.
Jesus’ first description of what he is promising is ‘another Advocate’. What exactly is He saying? The first thing to consider is that He has broken the news to them that He is leaving. Alone. Without Him. Peter once said, “Lord, you have the Word of God. Where will we go (without you)?” Jesus was itroducig them to the answer: ‘another Advocate’, One who would never leave them. A synonym for advocate is ‘champion’, or ‘supporter’. Jesus tells the disciples that the Father is sending One who will replace Him (Jesus) as their advocate, their champion. In the same way that the Spirit accompanied Jesus, He will now accompany us as our Counselor (The Spirit of Consel).
John 6:68-69 NLT
68 Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life. 69 We believe, and we know you are the Holy One of God.
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John 14:17 NLT
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.
Jesus promises that one of the responsibilities of the Holy Spirit (The Spirit of Wisdom) will be to lead you to all truth. At a time when so many in the world adhere to their own personal truth, the truth of God is the absolute truth. Jesus promises that the Holy Spirit will lead us to the absolute truth; Jesus. He presses the point by pointing out that the world is looking in all of the wrong places.
John 14:18-19 NLT
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.
Jesus promises not to leave us comfortless. He does not abandon. And then He makes an exceptional proclamation. Though the world will not see Him after His crucifixion, somehow, His disciples will be able to see (discern) Him. Those who belong to Him will revere Him above all else, they will abide by the Spirit of Awe (reverent fear) of the Lord.
John 14:20-21 NLT
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.”
Jesus won’t stay in the grave. He will be restored to life by the very Spirit of Might (the Holy Spirit) that set creation in motion. His Presence, the very Presence of God will abide with them and in them, all of those who believe in His name; Jesus. Those who have believed will abide in His matchless love.
John 14:22 NLT
22 Judas (not Judas Iscariot, but the other disciple with that name) said to him, “Lord, why are you going to reveal yourself only to us and not to the world at large?”
A salient question. How is it that Jesus will not reveal Himself to the entire world? Beloved, the natural mind of man cannot understand spiritual things. They can only be discerned by the Holy Spirit of God. Even in the disciple’s asking this question, the truth is revealed. Though Thaddeus (Judas) has been an active participant with Jesus, in ministry for three years, there is still so much that he does not yet comprehend. Nor do the other disciples. The things of God can only be discerned by the Holy Spirit. The apostle Paul confirmed this thought by writing:
1 Corinthians 2:14 NLT
14 But people who aren’t spiritual[g] can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means.
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John 14:23 NLT
23 Jesus replied, “All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them.
Jesus’ words are meant to comfort us. Remain in His love, continuing to walk in love and we experience His love for us, in us and with us by the the unction of the Holy Spirit. He loves you and promises to make His home in you. Literally, the Kingdom of God is within you.
Luke 17:20-21 NLT
20 One day the Pharisees asked Jesus, “When will the Kingdom of God come?”
Jesus replied, “The Kingdom of God can’t be detected by visible signs.[d] 21 You won’t be able to say, ‘Here it is!’ or ‘It’s over there!’ For the Kingdom of God is already among you.”
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John 14:24-26 NLT
24 Anyone who doesn’t love me will not obey me. And remember, my words are not my own. What I am telling you is from the Father who sent me. 25 I am telling you these things now while I am still with you. 26 But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.
Those who are not His cannot obey Him because they cannot discern Him. That has been established. But when the Advocate, your Champion has come, the very Spirit of Christ, The Spirit of the Lord will abide with us and teach us the things of God, the very secret things of God and of His Kingdom.
John 14:27 NLT
27 “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.
Beloved, the greatest gift accompanying our salvation is the eternal peace that comes, peace that surpasses all human understanding. This peace, imparted to us by the Spirit of Understanding will deepen our faith and strengthen our love for one another. We walk by faith, not by sight.
2 Corinthians 5:7
7 For we live by believing and not by seeing.
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John 14:28-29 NLT
28 Remember what I told you: I am going away, but I will come back to you again. If you really loved me, you would be happy that I am going to the Father, who is greater than I am. 29 I have told you these things before they happen so that when they do happen, you will believe.
Jesus closes by encouraging His disciples that everything He has told them is ‘Good News’. They should rejoice in the news. What He has promised, He is able to perform. And really, they cannot yet imagine what the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Knowledge has in store for them because of the love that the Father has shone upon them. The same is true for us, Beloved. We struggle to imagine all of the goodness that God has reserved for those of us who love Him, who are the called according to His will. He will teach us, in the same way that the heir is taught before they come into their inheritance. Love will show us the way. Rejoice in the gift of the Holy Spirit that has remained with us and in us to…show us the way home.
Selah,
wb
Ephesians 3:20 NLT
20 Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.
Great Lesson but what I don't understand is why don't other Pastor want to teach about the Holy Ghost what are they afraid of you can Message me Wayne anytime .
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