Empowered by the Spirit: Living in Divine Unity
Summary
In today's gathering, we delved into the profound teachings of John 14, where Jesus, during His last supper with the disciples, shared pivotal truths about His relationship with the Father and the coming of the Holy Spirit. As we reflect on the gravity of these moments, we are reminded that Jesus was preparing His disciples for His imminent departure and the transformative role of the Holy Spirit in their lives. Jesus emphasized His unity with the Father, challenging the disciples to see the divine in Him and to trust in the works He performed as evidence of His divine nature.
The conversation between Jesus and Philip highlighted the struggle to comprehend the divine mystery of Jesus being one with the Father. This struggle is not unlike our own when we face doubts and seek tangible signs of God's presence. Jesus's response to Philip is a call to faith, urging us to recognize the works of God in our lives as a testament to His presence and power.
Moreover, Jesus promised the coming of the Holy Spirit, the Helper, who would dwell within believers, guiding them into all truth and empowering them to continue His work on earth. This promise assures us that we are never alone; the Spirit of God resides within us, offering peace and guidance amidst life's challenges. The Holy Spirit's role is not only to comfort but to empower us to live out the teachings of Jesus, manifesting His love and truth in the world.
As we navigate our spiritual journeys, we are encouraged to align our prayers with God's will, understanding that true power in prayer comes from seeking His kingdom and glory above our desires. The authority we have in Jesus's name is not a magical incantation but a call to enforce His will on earth, bringing His kingdom to bear in our lives and communities.
Finally, the sermon reminded us of the spiritual battle we face, with the Holy Spirit as our guide and strength against the spirit of the antichrist in the world. We are called to live in the freedom and power of the Spirit, unencumbered by sin, and to be open books, free from the enemy's control.
Key Takeaways:
- Unity with the Father: Jesus's declaration of being one with the Father challenges us to see the divine in Him and trust in His works as evidence of His divine nature. This unity calls us to a deeper faith, recognizing God's presence in our lives through His works. [01:04:19]
- The Role of the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit is our Helper, dwelling within us to guide, teach, and empower us to live out Jesus's teachings. This indwelling presence assures us that we are never alone and are equipped to face life's challenges with divine strength. [01:25:46]
- Power in Prayer: True power in prayer comes from aligning our requests with God's will, seeking His kingdom and glory above our desires. The authority we have in Jesus's name is about enforcing His will on earth, not fulfilling personal wishes. [01:12:36]
- Spiritual Battle: We are engaged in a spiritual battle against the spirit of the antichrist, but the Holy Spirit within us is our guide and strength. Living in the Spirit's power frees us from sin and the enemy's control, enabling us to fulfill God's will. [01:29:39]
- Living in Freedom: Embracing the Holy Spirit's work in our lives allows us to live as open books, free from the enemy's control. This freedom empowers us to do the will of the Father, unencumbered by sin and secrecy. [01:47:30]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:01:00] - Spring Break and Construction Updates
- [00:03:00] - Introduction to John 14
- [00:05:00] - The Last Supper Context
- [00:07:00] - Jesus and Philip's Dialogue
- [00:10:00] - Understanding Jesus's Unity with the Father
- [00:15:00] - The Promise of the Holy Spirit
- [00:20:00] - Greater Works Through the Spirit
- [00:25:00] - The Authority of Jesus's Name
- [00:30:00] - The Role of the Holy Spirit in Truth
- [00:35:00] - Spiritual Discernment and Truth
- [00:40:00] - The Spirit of Antichrist
- [00:45:00] - Living in the Spirit's Freedom
- [00:50:00] - Prayer and God's Will
- [00:55:00] - Closing Prayer and Invitation
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- John 14:8-27
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Observation Questions:
1. What was Philip's request to Jesus, and how did Jesus respond to it? [01:00:04]
2. How does Jesus describe His relationship with the Father in John 14? [01:00:04]
3. What role does Jesus say the Holy Spirit will play in the lives of believers? [01:21:53]
4. According to the sermon, what is the significance of Jesus saying, "Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do"? [01:12:36]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. Why might Philip have struggled to understand Jesus's unity with the Father, and how does this reflect common struggles in faith today? [01:04:19]
2. How does the promise of the Holy Spirit as a Helper change the way believers are to live out their faith? [01:25:46]
3. What does it mean to pray in Jesus's name, and how does this align with seeking God's will over personal desires? [01:12:36]
4. How does the sermon describe the spiritual battle believers face, and what role does the Holy Spirit play in this battle? [01:29:39]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you struggled to see God's presence in your life. How can Jesus's response to Philip encourage you in moments of doubt? [01:04:19]
2. The Holy Spirit is described as a Helper who guides and empowers. In what specific area of your life do you need the Holy Spirit's guidance right now? [01:25:46]
3. Consider your current prayer life. How can you better align your prayers with God's will, seeking His kingdom and glory above your desires? [01:12:36]
4. The sermon mentions living in the freedom and power of the Spirit. What steps can you take to live more openly and free from the enemy's control? [01:47:30]
5. How can you actively recognize and acknowledge the Holy Spirit's voice in your daily life, as suggested in the sermon? [01:47:30]
6. Identify a specific situation where you can enforce God's kingdom on earth through prayer or action this week. What will you do to bring about His will in that situation? [01:16:30]
7. Reflect on the concept of being an open book, free from sin and secrecy. What is one area of your life where you can work towards this kind of freedom? [01:47:30]
Devotional
Day 1: Recognizing Divine Unity
In John 14, Jesus emphasizes His unity with the Father, urging His disciples to see the divine in Him and trust in His works as evidence of His divine nature. This unity challenges us to deepen our faith, recognizing God's presence in our lives through His works. Just as Philip struggled to comprehend this mystery, we too may face doubts and seek tangible signs of God's presence. Jesus's response to Philip is a call to faith, urging us to recognize the works of God in our lives as a testament to His presence and power. [01:04:19]
John 10:37-38 (ESV): "If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me; but if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father."
Reflection: Think of a recent situation where you doubted God's presence. How can you look for evidence of His work in that situation today?
Day 2: The Indwelling Spirit
The Holy Spirit is our Helper, dwelling within us to guide, teach, and empower us to live out Jesus's teachings. This indwelling presence assures us that we are never alone and are equipped to face life's challenges with divine strength. Jesus promised the coming of the Holy Spirit, who would dwell within believers, guiding them into all truth and empowering them to continue His work on earth. This promise assures us that we are never alone; the Spirit of God resides within us, offering peace and guidance amidst life's challenges. [01:25:46]
John 16:13 (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."
Reflection: In what area of your life do you need the guidance of the Holy Spirit today? How can you invite Him to lead you in that area?
Day 3: Aligning Prayer with God's Will
True power in prayer comes from aligning our requests with God's will, seeking His kingdom and glory above our desires. The authority we have in Jesus's name is about enforcing His will on earth, not fulfilling personal wishes. As we navigate our spiritual journeys, we are encouraged to align our prayers with God's will, understanding that true power in prayer comes from seeking His kingdom and glory above our desires. [01:12:36]
1 John 5:14-15 (ESV): "And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him."
Reflection: Reflect on your recent prayers. Are they aligned with God's will and kingdom? How can you adjust your prayers to seek His glory above your desires?
Day 4: Engaging in Spiritual Warfare
We are engaged in a spiritual battle against the spirit of the antichrist, but the Holy Spirit within us is our guide and strength. Living in the Spirit's power frees us from sin and the enemy's control, enabling us to fulfill God's will. The sermon reminded us of the spiritual battle we face, with the Holy Spirit as our guide and strength against the spirit of the antichrist in the world. [01:29:39]
Ephesians 6:12 (ESV): "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places."
Reflection: Identify a specific area where you feel spiritually attacked. How can you rely on the Holy Spirit's power to overcome this challenge today?
Day 5: Living in the Spirit's Freedom
Embracing the Holy Spirit's work in our lives allows us to live as open books, free from the enemy's control. This freedom empowers us to do the will of the Father, unencumbered by sin and secrecy. We are called to live in the freedom and power of the Spirit, unencumbered by sin, and to be open books, free from the enemy's control. [01:47:30]
2 Corinthians 3:17 (ESV): "Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you feel bound by sin or secrecy? How can you invite the Holy Spirit to bring freedom and openness in that area today?
Quotes
Jesus said to him, have I been with you so long and you still don't know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, show us the Father? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? [00:58:07] (13 seconds)
The words that I say to you, I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else just believe on the account of the works themselves. [00:58:22] (13 seconds)
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'm going to the Father, because he's sending the Holy Spirit. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. [00:58:43] (17 seconds)
If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 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. [00:59:14] (15 seconds)
If you're struggling to believe the words that are written on this page, look at your life. Look at your life. What is the works that he's done in your life that you go? I can't explain that. And that's what Jesus is saying is like, look, if you still don't believe me, go look at the works that I've done because that's from the father. [01:05:00] (21 seconds)
So greater works, greater works. What is Jesus talking about? I mean, think about that, this Jesus fed the 5,000. I haven't done that yet with two loaves or five loaves and two fish. I haven't done that. Maybe, maybe anybody in here done that fed the 5,000 yet raised the dead. Heal the blind eyes. [01:06:30] (23 seconds)
And let me tell you the most important, amazing miracle of it all. When somebody who was spiritually dead is resurrected, that's the most amazing miracle, internal life and set free. You got to think about Jesus was confined to this small area of Israel to this one people group. [01:08:28] (19 seconds)
So we continue on. Whatever you ask in my name, this will I do that the father may be glorified. That's a very important point right there that the father may be glorified in the son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it. How many of you ever heard that before? [01:10:45] (18 seconds)
And Jesus names means his authority in his will. Jesus says, so the father may be glorified in the son. That's the purpose of prayers being answered, not our will, but his will, that the father may be glorified. So as we walk in the authority of Christ, who gets the glory? He does. [01:12:09] (22 seconds)
And he says, you know him for he dwells with you, but will soon be in you. Of course, we know that's on the day of Pentecost. The Holy Spirit is poured out and everybody's filled with the spirit of God. Now this was revolutionary for the disciples. I mean, they had known about moments where the spirit of God would, would come upon a prophet or a king. [01:31:21] (25 seconds)
Think about, I don't know. I know it's just so common stance, but I'm just telling you, think about it for a second with fresh ears. God who created the heavens and the earth, put the stars in the skies, created you and me and all matter says, I'm going to take a little piece of me and I'm going to put it inside those who believe in Jesus and the spirit of God lives inside. [01:32:08] (23 seconds)
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