Embracing Jesus' Love: The Role of the Holy Spirit
Devotional
Day 1: Love as a Response to Divine Love
Our love for Jesus is not something we can create on our own; it is a response to His immense love for us. By focusing on His love, we naturally grow in our love for Him, which leads to greater obedience. This shift in focus from our efforts to His love transforms our relationship with Him. When we understand that our love is a response, it frees us from the pressure of trying to manufacture feelings or actions. Instead, we are invited to rest in His love and let it inspire our actions and obedience. [09:36]
Ephesians 3:17-19 (ESV): "So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."
Reflection: How can you intentionally focus on Jesus' love for you today, and how might that change the way you approach obedience to Him?
Day 2: The Holy Spirit as Our Continuation of Jesus' Work
The Holy Spirit is our Helper, Comforter, and Advocate, continuing the work of Jesus in our lives. He is not a different kind of helper but one of the same kind, ensuring we are never left as orphans. This divine presence is essential for living a life distinct from the world. The Holy Spirit empowers us to live in a way that reflects Jesus' teachings and character, providing guidance and support in our daily walk. By recognizing the Holy Spirit's role, we can lean on His strength and wisdom to navigate life's challenges. [12:37]
John 14:16-17 (ESV): "And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 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."
Reflection: In what ways can you invite the Holy Spirit to guide and support you in a specific area of your life today?
Day 3: Knowing Jesus Through the Indwelling Spirit
The Holy Spirit dwells with and in us, enabling us to truly know Jesus and keep His commandments. This relationship is crucial for experiencing the fullness of God and expressing our love for Him through obedience. The Spirit reveals Jesus to us, helping us understand His teachings and apply them to our lives. By cultivating a relationship with the Holy Spirit, we gain insight into the heart of Jesus and are empowered to live out His commandments in a meaningful way. [17:07]
1 Corinthians 2:10-12 (ESV): "These things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God."
Reflection: How can you deepen your relationship with the Holy Spirit today to better understand and follow Jesus' teachings?
Day 4: The Spirit Reflecting Jesus' Work
The Spirit is sent in Jesus' name, meaning He comes on the merits of Jesus and in His character. This assures us that the work of the Holy Spirit will reflect the work of Jesus, providing a measure for discerning His true work in our lives. By understanding that the Spirit operates in alignment with Jesus' character, we can trust His guidance and discernment in our lives. This alignment helps us recognize the Spirit's work and ensures that our actions and decisions are rooted in Jesus' teachings. [32:26]
John 16:13-14 (ESV): "When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you."
Reflection: What is one decision or situation in your life where you need to seek the Holy Spirit's guidance to ensure it aligns with Jesus' character?
Day 5: Experiencing Jesus' Peace
Jesus offers us His peace, a profound and genuine peace that is not like the world's superficial peace. This peace, rooted in the assurance of His presence and the work of the Holy Spirit, guards our hearts and minds, enabling us to live distinctively as God's people. In a world filled with chaos and uncertainty, Jesus' peace provides stability and comfort. By embracing this peace, we can navigate life's challenges with confidence, knowing that we are supported by His presence and the Spirit's work in our lives. [35:08]
Colossians 3:15 (ESV): "And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful."
Reflection: How can you allow Jesus' peace to rule in your heart today, especially in a specific area where you feel anxious or uncertain?
Sermon Summary
Loving Jesus is the foundation of our obedience to Him. Our love for Him is not something we can manufacture by sheer willpower; rather, it is a response to His immense love for us. By focusing on His love, we naturally grow in our love for Him, which in turn leads to greater obedience. Jesus promised us another Helper, the Holy Spirit, who is our Comforter, Counselor, and Advocate. The Holy Spirit is not a different kind of helper but one of the same kind as Jesus, continuing His work in our lives. This divine presence is essential for living a life that is distinct from the world, as the world cannot receive the Spirit due to its lack of holiness and truth.
Jesus emphasized that the Holy Spirit would dwell with and in His disciples, ensuring they are never left as orphans. This relationship with the Holy Spirit is crucial for understanding and experiencing the fullness of God. It is through the Spirit that we can truly know Jesus and keep His commandments, which is the true expression of our love for Him. The Spirit is sent in Jesus' name, meaning He comes on the merits of Jesus and in His character. This assures us that the work of the Holy Spirit will reflect the work of Jesus.
Moreover, Jesus offers us His peace, a peace that is not like the world's superficial peace. This peace is profound and genuine, rooted in the assurance of His presence and the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. As we navigate the challenges of life, this peace guards our hearts and minds, enabling us to live distinctively as God's people.
Key Takeaways
1. Our love for Jesus is a response to His love for us. By focusing on His love, we naturally grow in our love for Him, leading to greater obedience. This shift in focus from our efforts to His love transforms our relationship with Him. [09:36]
2. The Holy Spirit is our Helper, Comforter, and Advocate, continuing the work of Jesus in our lives. He is not a different kind of helper but one of the same kind, ensuring we are never left as orphans. This divine presence is essential for living a life distinct from the world. [12:37]
3. The Holy Spirit dwells with and in us, enabling us to truly know Jesus and keep His commandments. This relationship is crucial for experiencing the fullness of God and expressing our love for Him through obedience. [17:07]
4. The Spirit is sent in Jesus' name, meaning He comes on the merits of Jesus and in His character. This assures us that the work of the Holy Spirit will reflect the work of Jesus, providing a measure for discerning His true work in our lives. [32:26]
5. Jesus offers us His peace, a profound and genuine peace that is not like the world's superficial peace. This peace, rooted in the assurance of His presence and the work of the Holy Spirit, guards our hearts and minds, enabling us to live distinctively as God's people. [35:08] ** [35:08]
According to John 14:16-17, what roles does Jesus say the Holy Spirit will fulfill in the lives of believers? How does this compare to Jesus' own role with His disciples? [11:02]
In John 14:27, Jesus speaks about a specific kind of peace He offers. How does this peace differ from the peace the world offers? [35:08]
What does 1 John 4:19 say about the origin of our love for Jesus? How does this align with the sermon’s emphasis on focusing on Jesus' love for us? [09:36]
How does Galatians 5:22-23 describe the fruit of the Spirit? How might these qualities reflect the work of the Holy Spirit in a believer's life?
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Interpretation Questions:
In John 14:18, Jesus promises not to leave His disciples as orphans. What does this imply about the nature of the relationship between believers and the Holy Spirit? [17:37]
How does the sermon explain the significance of the Holy Spirit being sent in Jesus' name? What does this mean for how we discern the Spirit's work in our lives? [32:26]
The sermon mentions that the world cannot receive the Spirit due to its lack of holiness and truth. What might this suggest about the relationship between holiness, truth, and the ability to receive the Holy Spirit? [14:12]
How does the concept of Jesus' peace, as described in John 14:27, challenge or affirm your understanding of peace in the context of life's challenges? [35:08]
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Application Questions:
Reflect on a time when you tried to love Jesus more through your own efforts. How might focusing on His love for you change your approach to loving Him? [09:36]
The sermon emphasizes the Holy Spirit as a Helper, Comforter, and Advocate. In what areas of your life do you currently need the Holy Spirit's help, and how can you invite Him into those areas? [12:37]
Jesus offers a peace that is different from the world's peace. Identify a current situation in your life where you need this peace. How can you actively seek Jesus' peace in this situation? [35:08]
The sermon discusses the importance of knowing the Holy Spirit. What steps can you take this week to deepen your relationship with the Holy Spirit and become more aware of His presence in your life? [16:03]
Consider the idea that the Holy Spirit is sent in Jesus' name and character. How can you ensure that your actions and decisions reflect the character of Jesus in your daily life? [32:26]
The sermon suggests that our love for Jesus is shown through obedience to His commandments. What is one specific commandment or teaching of Jesus that you find challenging to obey, and how can you work on this area? [17:51]
Reflect on the fruit of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5:22-23. Choose one aspect of the fruit to focus on this week. What specific action can you take to cultivate this quality in your interactions with others?
Sermon Clips
We love him because he first loved us. Focus more on his great love to you in focus, it will awaken a response of love from you to him. Don't say I have to love him more, I have to love him more, I have to love him. Get your eyes off what you have to do, put your eyes on what Jesus has done for you, and you will begin to respond in love to him, and the greater love will mean greater obedience to him. [00:08:48]
The word that the ancient Greek translates as helper here, it's the word paracletos. What does it say here in our Spanish version? Counselor, counselor, okay, it's a complicated word. It's one of those words that you can't translate with just one definition. It means helper, comforter, counselor, it means mediator, it means attorney, you know it has a rich meaning to it. But you see what Jesus is saying, he's saying I have helped you up till now, now the Holy Spirit will help you, there will be another helper. [00:10:31]
The world can't understand or receive the spirit. The spirit is holy and true, the world is not holy and true, they can't receive. It's dangerous when the church is trying to be like the world is. When the church tries to be just like the world, it can't receive the spirit. God give us grace to not be afraid to be different than the world. Doesn't mean we have to wear different clothes, you know it doesn't have to mean we live in our own neighborhoods. [00:14:12]
Jesus says I will not leave you as orphans, I will come to you. A little while longer and the world will see me no more but you will see me because I live you will live also. At that day you will know that I am in the father and you and me and I in you. He who has my commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves me and he who loves me will be loved by my father and I will love him and manifest myself to him. [00:17:31]
You may have no interest in a personal relationship with God, okay I get that, it's still the most important thing you need in your life, and the only way you will ever have it is by what God has done for you through Jesus Christ. Jesus told his disciples that when he was going to heaven, it was going to be to make all this relationship possible. [00:21:27]
If anyone loves me he will keep my word and my father will love him and he will come to him and make our home with him he who does not love me does not keep my words and the word which you hear is not mine but the fathers who sent me. Notice the question that Judas had, first of all did you notice what John said Judas, not Iscariot. [00:22:22]
Peace I leave with you my peace I give to you not as the world gives do I give to you let not your heart be troubled neither let it be afraid in verse 26 Jesus again speaks about the helper says and notice what he says about the helper 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 things that I said to you. [00:29:25]
The spirit is sent in the name of Jesus is that what the bible says there is am I making this up all right the spirit is sent in the name of Jesus what does that mean okay it means at least two things similar to what it means to pray in Jesus name if the spirit is sent in Jesus name it means that he is sent on the merits of Jesus. [00:30:05]
The holy spirit doesn't come in your name, he comes in the name of Jesus, the holy spirit isn't sent because you're worthy, but because Jesus is worthy. Can we agree that Jesus is worthy? Listen I'm not worried about those of you who say I'm not worthy to receive the spirit, I'm worried about those of you who think you are worthy to receive. [00:31:21]
To be sent in Jesus name means the spirit comes in the nature and the character of Jesus. He comes in Jesus name is in other words when the holy spirit is working you know what it'll look like it'll look like it looked when Jesus was working. Now if we only had a book that told us what Jesus's work looked like wouldn't that be great if we had it written down somewhere. [00:32:18]
Jesus is saying I'm leaving you my peace but I'm not just saying that the way the world does. [00:37:01]
The spirit is sent in Jesus name, now why do I say this, look whenever you start talking about the work of the holy spirit, some people get nervous, they say I saw the craziest thing on youtube it is saying there was this guy and he said that he was doing this in the spirit and it was the craziest thing I ever saw. [00:33:32]