Sermon Study Guide

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Learning to Rely on the Amazing Power of the Holy Spirit “Learning Jesus” (The Gospel of John) John 14:12-31; 16:4-15 August 4, 2019

BIG IDEA Though you can’t see Jesus, He is with you through the power the Holy Spirit. You don’t have to do life alone. You don’t have to work harder at being a Christian. You don’t have to settle for less in your walk with God. Today I want you to learn to rely on the amazing power of the Holy Spirit.

THIS WEEK’S SCRIPTURE Context: This section of John is called the Upper Room Discourse. This passage is set at the Passover Meal. Jesus had washed the feet of His disciples, commanded the disciples to love each other, identified Judas as the betrayer, confronted Peter about his upcoming denials, explained that He and the Father are one, told them that He would be leaving them, and explained that He was the way to eternal life. All of this uncertainty frightened the Lord’s men. So, Jesus comforted them with news about a Helper that would be sent by the Father. Both of these passages contain the Lord’s words on the matter.

John 14:12-31 12

“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. 13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.

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Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit 15

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. 18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. 21 Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” 22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?” 23 Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me. 25 “These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. 28 You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. 29 And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe. 30 I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me, 31 but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here. John 16:4-15 4

But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you. The Work of the Holy Spirit “I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. 5 But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ 6 But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. 7 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. 8 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; 10 concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; 11 concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. 12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority,

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but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15 All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

DISCUSSION & APPLICATION 1. The Lord Was Preparing the Disciples for the Arrival of Another Helper John 14:12-17 – “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. 13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it. 15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. Believers were about to enter a new era. The signs and miracles that Jesus did in His earthly ministry, and their goal, which was to glorify Jesus—thus glorifying His Father— could not be fully realized until after His death and resurrection. We obey because we love Him and keep His commandments. The Holy Spirit came to provide the power to do this. That’s why we can rely on His amazing power! a. Compared to Jesus and the Father, how much do you know about the Holy Spirit?

b. Do you see Him as equal to the other members of the Trinity?

c. Write down three things you’d like to learn about Him in this study.

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2. The Helper is Alive in the Life of the Believer The Holy Spirit is an amazing person. He is not a concept or a “thing.” He is not magic. He is not a mystical presence that floats around, waiting for us to summon Him. The Holy Spirit is a person. He is God and brings with Him the very power of God. He provides power and wisdom to each person that follows Jesus Christ. a. Have you ever prayed a prayer right to the Holy Spirit? Why or why not?

b. In what ways have you experienced the Holy Spirit’s empowerment in your life?

c. Would you like to better know how to access the Spirit’s power? Explain.

3. The Holy Spirit Dwells Within You and is With You Forever John 14:16-17 – And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. The Holy Spirit is constantly with you. He will never forsake you. He is a voice that speaks to you, providing wisdom and assurance. He is the pang of conscience when temptation strikes. The disciples needed comfort and Jesus assured them that the Spirit would bring peace to them. a. The Holy Spirit dwells within you. What effect does He currently have on how you think and act?

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b. What does His indwelling presence tell you about how long He will stay with you?

c. When you hit rough times, have you considered that God lives within you? How does that truth change your perspective?

4. The Holy Spirit Speaks the Truth of God With the Father’s Authority John 14:17a – …even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. The Holy Spirit communicates the truth of God. Coming so soon after the Lord’s claim in verse 6: “I am the way, the truth, and the life,” this title may allude to the fact that the Spirit bears witness to the truth of Jesus. This is why the world cannot know Him. The world system is ruled by Satan—the Father of Lies. a. In what ways do you see Satan’s lies at work within culture?

b. Why do people refuse to accept the truth regarding the identity of Jesus?

c. What can you do to help others understand that Jesus is real and that he loves them?

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5. The Holy Spirit Convicts the World of Sin John 16:8-11 – And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; 10 concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; 11 concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. This section means that He will present and expose the facts about the “world”—the Satanic system. He will convince people of their desperate plight. The Jewish people crucified Jesus because they thought He was unrighteous. But His death, resurrection, and ascension proved that He was God’s righteous servant. The Spirit convicts people of their faulty view of Jesus. Finally, the ruler of this world will be judged. It may seem like he is winning but he isn’t. The book of Revelation, chapter 20, tells us that his execution will come. a. Read Revelation 20. Does this give you hope that Satan will lose the spiritual war?

b. What can you do to stave off the effects of Satan’s work in your life?

c. Have you prayed that God would protect you? Have you prayed that prayer for someone else?

6. The Holy Spirit Will Teach You About Jesus John 16:14-15 – He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15 All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

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The Holy Spirit is God. He is equal in essence to the Father and Son, but His role is different. He directs us to the Son. He glorifies the Son, which in turn, glorifies the Father. Be careful of churches or denominations that talk more about the Holy Spirit than they do about Jesus. Jesus is central to everything. Remember: a. You will never be without Him. b. You will always have access to truth. c. You are empowered by God who dwells within you. d. He will help you glorify Christ and draw others to him.

PRAY Lord God, thank you for the gift of the amazing Holy Spirit. Thank you that He is with me. I am never alone. He guides me and comforts me. I love Him so much! Amen.

DIG DEEPER For further study this week:  

Forgotten God: Reversing Our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit – a book from Francis Chan How to be Filled With the Holy Spirit – a book from A.W. Tozer

NEXT WEEK’S BIG IDEA The Command to Abide on the Vine (John 15:1-17)

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