Jesus' Promises: Comfort, Peace, and the Holy Spirit
Summary
### Summary
In today's sermon, we explored the profound promises Jesus made to His disciples in John 14, focusing on the assurance and comfort He provided as He prepared to leave them. Jesus knew His departure would be a significant change for His disciples, who had relied on Him for everything over the past three and a half years. He promised them another Comforter, the Holy Spirit, who would abide with them forever, ensuring they would never be alone. This Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, would teach them all things and bring to their remembrance everything Jesus had taught them.
Jesus emphasized the importance of love and obedience, stating that those who love Him will keep His commandments. This love and obedience would result in the Father and the Son making their abode with the believer through the Holy Spirit. Jesus assured His disciples that although the world would no longer see Him, they would, and this would give them an unshakable certainty of His presence and the Father's presence within them.
The sermon also highlighted the peace Jesus offers, a peace not as the world gives but a divine peace that calms troubled hearts and dispels fear. This peace is available to all who love and trust Him, providing comfort and assurance even in the face of life's greatest challenges. Jesus' promises extend beyond His immediate disciples to all believers, offering the same comfort, guidance, and peace through the Holy Spirit.
### Key Takeaways
1. The Promise of the Holy Spirit: Jesus promised His disciples another Comforter, the Holy Spirit, who would abide with them forever. This promise ensures that believers are never alone, as the Spirit of Truth dwells within them, guiding and teaching them in all things. This divine presence is a source of constant comfort and assurance. [46:00]
2. Love and Obedience: Jesus emphasized that true love for Him is demonstrated through obedience to His commandments. This love results in a deep, abiding relationship with the Father and the Son, who make their home with the believer through the Holy Spirit. This relationship is marked by devotion, commitment, and a preference for Jesus above all else. [47:00]
3. Unshakable Assurance: Jesus assured His disciples that although He would no longer be physically present, they would still see Him through the Holy Spirit. This assurance of His presence provides believers with an unshakable certainty that they are in Him, and He is in them, fostering a deep sense of security and confidence in their faith. [48:00]
4. Divine Peace: Jesus offers a peace that surpasses all understanding, a peace that calms troubled hearts and dispels fear. This peace is not like the temporary, fragile peace the world offers but is a lasting, divine peace rooted in the believer's relationship with Jesus and the indwelling Holy Spirit. [53:41]
5. Empowerment for Mission: Jesus prepared His disciples for the work they were to continue after His departure. He equipped them with the Holy Spirit, who would empower them to carry on His mission. This empowerment is available to all believers, enabling them to fulfill their God-given purpose with confidence and strength. [52:51]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[11:42] - Offering Prayer
[12:13] - Praise and Worship
[41:34] - Story of Horatio Spafford
[43:50] - Feeling of Oppression
[44:42] - Prayer for Deliverance
[45:31] - Introduction to John 14
[46:00] - Promise of the Holy Spirit
[47:00] - Love and Obedience
[48:00] - Unshakable Assurance
[53:41] - Divine Peace
[52:51] - Empowerment for Mission
[57:45] - Promises for All Believers
[59:26] - The Spirit of Truth
[01:00:15] - The Comforter’s Role
[01:27:36] - Altar Call and Prayer
[01:35:23] - Closing and Announcements
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- John 14:15-27 (ESV)
#### Observation Questions
1. What did Jesus promise to send to His disciples after His departure, and what is the role of this promise? ([46:00])
2. According to Jesus, how is true love for Him demonstrated by His followers? ([47:00])
3. What assurance did Jesus give His disciples about His presence after He would no longer be physically with them? ([48:00])
4. How does Jesus describe the peace He offers compared to the peace the world gives? ([53:41])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. What does it mean for the Holy Spirit to be a "Comforter" and "Spirit of Truth" in the life of a believer? How does this impact daily living? ([46:00])
2. How does love and obedience to Jesus' commandments result in a deeper relationship with the Father and the Son? ([47:00])
3. In what ways does the assurance of Jesus' presence through the Holy Spirit provide security and confidence to believers? ([48:00])
4. How can the divine peace that Jesus offers help believers face life's greatest challenges? ([53:41])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt alone or abandoned. How can the promise of the Holy Spirit's constant presence change your perspective in similar situations? ([46:00])
2. Jesus said that those who love Him will keep His commandments. Identify one commandment of Jesus that you find challenging to obey. What steps can you take this week to better align your actions with this commandment? ([47:00])
3. How can you cultivate a deeper awareness of Jesus' presence in your daily life, especially during moments of doubt or fear? ([48:00])
4. Think about a current situation in your life that is causing you anxiety or fear. How can you apply Jesus' promise of divine peace to this situation? ([53:41])
5. Jesus prepared His disciples for their mission by equipping them with the Holy Spirit. What mission or purpose do you feel God is calling you to, and how can you rely on the Holy Spirit for empowerment? ([52:51])
6. In what ways can you demonstrate your love for Jesus through acts of obedience this week? Consider specific actions you can take in your family, workplace, or community. ([47:00])
7. How can you share the peace of Jesus with someone who is currently facing a difficult time? Think of a practical way to offer support and encouragement to that person. ([53:41])
Devotional
### Day 1: The Ever-Present Comforter
Jesus promised His disciples another Comforter, the Holy Spirit, who would abide with them forever. This promise ensures that believers are never alone, as the Spirit of Truth dwells within them, guiding and teaching them in all things. This divine presence is a source of constant comfort and assurance. [46:00]
In John 14, Jesus prepares His disciples for His departure by promising them the Holy Spirit, who would be their Comforter and guide. This promise was crucial because the disciples had relied on Jesus for everything during His earthly ministry. The Holy Spirit, also known as the Spirit of Truth, would continue Jesus' work by teaching them all things and reminding them of everything He had taught. This assurance of the Holy Spirit's presence means that believers are never truly alone; they have a divine guide and teacher who dwells within them.
The Holy Spirit's role is not just to comfort but also to empower believers to live out their faith. This divine presence provides a constant source of strength, wisdom, and guidance, enabling believers to navigate life's challenges with confidence. The promise of the Holy Spirit is a profound assurance that God's presence is always with us, offering comfort and guidance in every situation.
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: Think about a situation where you felt alone or uncertain. How can the promise of the Holy Spirit's constant presence change your perspective on that situation today?
### Day 2: Love Manifested Through Obedience
Jesus emphasized that true love for Him is demonstrated through obedience to His commandments. This love results in a deep, abiding relationship with the Father and the Son, who make their home with the believer through the Holy Spirit. This relationship is marked by devotion, commitment, and a preference for Jesus above all else. [47:00]
In John 14, Jesus makes it clear that love for Him is not just an emotional feeling but is demonstrated through obedience to His commandments. This obedience is a tangible expression of our love for Jesus and results in a deeper relationship with the Father and the Son. When we obey Jesus' teachings, we invite the presence of God into our lives in a profound way, as the Father and the Son make their home with us through the Holy Spirit.
This relationship is characterized by a deep sense of devotion and commitment. It means prioritizing Jesus above all else and allowing His teachings to guide our actions and decisions. Obedience to Jesus' commandments is not about following rules for the sake of it but about cultivating a loving relationship with God that transforms our lives from the inside out.
John 14:23 (ESV): "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.'"
Reflection: What is one specific commandment of Jesus that you find challenging to obey? How can you take a step towards greater obedience in that area today?
### Day 3: Assurance of His Presence
Jesus assured His disciples that although He would no longer be physically present, they would still see Him through the Holy Spirit. This assurance of His presence provides believers with an unshakable certainty that they are in Him, and He is in them, fostering a deep sense of security and confidence in their faith. [48:00]
Jesus knew that His physical departure would be a significant change for His disciples, who had relied on His physical presence for guidance and support. However, He assured them that they would still see Him through the Holy Spirit. This assurance was meant to provide them with an unshakable certainty of His presence and the Father's presence within them. This divine presence would foster a deep sense of security and confidence in their faith.
For believers today, this assurance means that we can have confidence in our relationship with Jesus, knowing that He is always with us through the Holy Spirit. This unshakable certainty of His presence helps us to face life's challenges with faith and trust, knowing that we are never alone and that God is always with us.
John 14:19-20 (ESV): "Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you."
Reflection: Reflect on a time when you felt God's presence in a tangible way. How does this memory strengthen your faith and provide you with assurance in your current circumstances?
### Day 4: The Gift of Divine Peace
Jesus offers a peace that surpasses all understanding, a peace that calms troubled hearts and dispels fear. This peace is not like the temporary, fragile peace the world offers but is a lasting, divine peace rooted in the believer's relationship with Jesus and the indwelling Holy Spirit. [53:41]
In John 14, Jesus speaks of a peace that He gives to His disciples, a peace that is unlike anything the world can offer. This divine peace is meant to calm troubled hearts and dispel fear, providing comfort and assurance even in the face of life's greatest challenges. Unlike the temporary and fragile peace that the world offers, Jesus' peace is lasting and rooted in our relationship with Him and the indwelling Holy Spirit.
This peace is a gift that comes from trusting in Jesus and relying on His presence in our lives. It is a peace that transcends our circumstances and provides a sense of calm and assurance, no matter what we are facing. As believers, we are invited to embrace this divine peace and allow it to transform our hearts and minds, bringing us closer to God and helping us to navigate life's challenges with confidence and trust.
John 14:27 (ESV): "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."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you are experiencing fear or anxiety? How can you invite Jesus' divine peace into that situation today?
### Day 5: Empowered for Mission
Jesus prepared His disciples for the work they were to continue after His departure. He equipped them with the Holy Spirit, who would empower them to carry on His mission. This empowerment is available to all believers, enabling them to fulfill their God-given purpose with confidence and strength. [52:51]
As Jesus prepared to leave His disciples, He equipped them with the Holy Spirit to empower them for the mission ahead. This empowerment was essential for the disciples to continue Jesus' work and spread the Gospel. The Holy Spirit would provide them with the strength, wisdom, and guidance they needed to fulfill their God-given purpose. This empowerment is not limited to the disciples but is available to all believers, enabling us to carry out the mission God has entrusted to us.
The Holy Spirit's empowerment allows us to live out our faith with confidence and strength, knowing that we are not alone in our efforts. It is through the Holy Spirit that we are able to fulfill our calling and make a difference in the world. As believers, we are invited to rely on the Holy Spirit's power and guidance as we seek to fulfill our God-given purpose and carry out the mission of spreading the Gospel.
Acts 1:8 (ESV): "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."
Reflection: What is one specific way you feel called to serve or share the Gospel? How can you rely on the Holy Spirit's empowerment to take a step towards fulfilling that calling today?
Quotes
1. "When you trust in God, you can write songs like that. It is well with my soul. Amen. Turn to the book of John, chapter 14. pray the Lord help us this morning." [43:18] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "I believe the main idea of this entire chapter this passage is based on the fact that Jesus is going away and the disciples have come to terms with that well they've come to realize it I don't know if they've come to terms quite yet until Jesus finishes speaking he's been with them for three and a half years he's walked with them he's talked with them he has lived with them for three and a half years he has been their leader for three and a half years he has been their master for three and a half years he has been their Lord for three and a half years he has been a father figure to them for three and a half years they have relied on him for everything" [48:59] (50 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "He is going away to die for your sins and my sins and their sins he was going to make them acceptable to the place he was going to make them clean and make them holy so that they could enter that place where no unclean thing ever will no unholy thing ever will that is what he is going to do the single greatest event in world history is about to happen second only to the incarnation of Christ at his birth we are fixing to see the greatest act of love in human history Jesus is going to die on a cross willingly he is going to lay down his life for all of us" [51:27] (48 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "He would go to the cross and die but he would send a comforter to live in them and by his spirit he would come and dwell with them and he is preparing them for the work that has remained and in verse one he said let not your heart be troubled you believe in God believe also in me and I think this this entire chapter also revolves around that yes he's getting them prepared for the work that they are about to do but now he is telling them through this entire chapter why they should not let their heart be troubled why they should be comforted" [53:17] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "He says the test of love is if you keep my words now that doesn't mean well I keep some of the ten commandments that means I love him you don't work for the love of God and the things you do they demonstrate your love but there are people that can do certain things you know they can they can have certain things they can have a semblance of morality and still not love God this is talking about the whole the whole book not just certain segments not just certain parts of it he said well I do that one really good well yeah man I'm amazing I have kept I mean I ain't never killed anybody in my life 100% I've never killed anybody I'm doing great you ever hated somebody? you ever thought about killing somebody?" [01:04:13] (58 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "How are you going to go on from here? I'm going to send the comforter and guess what? he's not going to be here just temporarily he's going to abide with you forever he is the spirit of truth the world can't receive him the world can't see him the world doesn't know him but you know him for he dwells in you and he shall be in you this is the spirit the bible says that moved on the face of the waters in Genesis creation this is the spirit that came on Solomon he did all his mighty works this is the spirit that in Isaiah 61 and verse 1 it says the spirit of the Lord God is on me because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek he hath sent me to bind up the broken hearted to proclaim liberty to the captives and the opening of the prison to them that are bound I'm going to send you the spirit and he's going to live with you forever not going to leave you alone not going to abandon you" [01:05:10] (79 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "The Holy Ghost is the teacher and he will teach you and bring things to your remembrance to show you truths and realities in the word of God Jesus had been their teacher for three and a half years he had been the one that revealed spiritual things to them he was the one that would unfold the scriptures to them that they would understand and now he's saying I am going away but I am one person I can only be at one place at one time but the Holy Spirit is coming he can be in each one of you if Jesus was here this morning he might be able to leave leave the church parking lot with one of us but he couldn't leave with all of us man he could unfold scripture and teach you all kinds of stuff but the Spirit is here and guess what can go home with each one of us and he can teach us he can unfold the truths of God's word he can illuminate the word of God and it says he will guide you he will lead you he will direct you into all truth" [01:15:07] (68 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "Let not your heart be troubled peace I leave with you my peace I give unto you not as the world giveth give I unto you let not your heart be troubled he's repeating neither let it be afraid ye have heard how I said I go away and come again unto you if you love me you rejoice because I said I go unto the Father for my Father is greater than I he wasn't a greater God he was just the Father he's in that authority authoritative Father position now I've told you before it come to pass so that when it does come to pass you might believe hereafter I'm not going to talk much with you the Prince of this world comes he has nothing in me let not your heart be troubled he's saying I want to give you assurance I want to give you peace I want to give you comfort I want to give you solace my peace I'm going to give you peace this is a promise for you today this man is fixing to die within 24 hours hung on a cross one of the most cruel methods of death that they could think of back at that time and here he is just teaching the disciples and washing their feet and I mean practically carrying on like nothing's happening he's got a disciple that's going to betray him right now and he knows it but you know what he had peace he when the storms are raging when the waves are crashing like sea billow Jesus had peace peace he had a peace that passed all understanding he has a peace and an inner confidence in his heavenly father and he is at peace" [01:16:58] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "Maybe you're here this morning and you say man if I could just if I could just have a little bit of that peace if Jesus could just stand here and hold my hand and tell me I'll give you peace well he is he is standing here this morning and by his spirit he is he can give you peace you've just got to relinquish your trouble to him you've just got to exchange it for his peace for because he says I give it to you it's right there it's right there you can have it" [01:19:14] (55 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10. "How often do we leave stuff just on the table right I mean the piece of God is right there he says I'm giving it to you we're like nah I'm going to hang on to my trouble I'll just I'll just sit over here and suffer with it just give it up say Lord I am claiming that promise it was for all of us I am claiming it I don't want this trouble I don't want this discomfort I don't want this fearfulness in my life so just give it to me just let the spirit do its work in you you've got to lean on his everlasting arms" [01:21:42] (54 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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