Knowing through Love

Knowing God’s love through the Holy Spirit

Loving Jesus keeping his commandments to love one another links their love and their obedience.

Paraclete is the one who comes along side as a helper and defender, a friend at court.

Jesus is the Advocate - while Jesus was with the disciples physically now the Holy Spirit would be with them always.

Holy Spirit would not be with the world because the world did not know Jesus - The Holy Spirit is with the true believers.

John 14:25

John 14:25 ESV

“These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you.

John 16:12–15 ESV

“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 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. All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

John 16

What does the Holy Spirit do:

The Holy Spirit is our helper, is our interpreter, is our witness, is our revealer, is our prosecutors (in the sense that the Holy Spirit convicts us to do God’s work and will).

Jesus is preparing His disciples for His departure. While He was with them physically and the Holy Spirit was present - In the OT the Holy Spirit was placed on individuals empower them and lead them. King Saul was anointed by Samuel when he became king but when he went against God the Holy Spirit was removed.

Holy Spirit enables us to share God’s word to the world.

1 Corinthians 12:3 ESV

Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit.

We are unified to God through our faith in Jesus and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

How is it we can share God’s love with others! Empowered by the Holy Spirit means our for them is not contingent on what they do. We are to love all as God loves us.

The Holy Spirit (counselor) comes alongside and His main purpose is teaching, revealing, and interpreting to His disciples.

The world does not know the Holy Spirit because it is not Holy nor does it know the truth.

The Holy Spirit protects us from the world. it is not about intellectual grasping of the truth it is the revealed truth of God and we share that revealed truth.

Another Paraclete - Jesus is the first.

The Apostle Paul in our Acts reading reveals how the Holy Spirit works through us. Paul had left Thessalonica because they were going to cause trouble for Paul. He had spent three Sabbaths preaching and sharing the message of Jesus as Savior. When they went Beroea the Thessalonians found out that he was there and went to find him. With that threat Paul went to Athens.

Those in Athens were like many of today. They were worshipping other gods. They had statues of them. When he meets with them he notices they are very religious. Like many today today say they are spiritual.

Plague “ why pray when you can worry” Ans. comes in the hymn “O what peace we often forfeit, o what needless pain we bear, all because we do not carry everything thing to God in prayer.”

Plague “ why pray when you can worry” Ans. comes in the hymn “O what peace we often forfeit, o what needless pain we bear, all because we do not carry everything thing to God in prayer.”

Faith and works must always go together. Faith releases the power of God

Believing prayer is wonderful medicine to sooth a troubled heart.

We must pray in loving obedience. The Holy Spirit does not work instead of us, or in spite of us, but in us and through us -

Acts 17:28 ESV

for “ ‘In him we live and move and have our being’; as even some of your own poets have said, “ ‘For we are indeed his offspring.’

In hime we live and move

What do you think of when you hear the word comfort?

Most of us would define it as someone soothing someone or consoling someone. True comfort strengthens us - The Spirit moves in us to glorify Christ

Dwells in us - remains in us. In the OT the Spirit of God came upon those God chose. King Saul - the spirit was on him until he departed his ways from following God. The prophets were anointed to speak God’s Word.

When told Moses to select those to help him in decisions and resolving issues of the people while they were in the wilderness.

Numbers 11:17 ESV

And I will come down and talk with you there. And I will take some of the Spirit that is on you and put it on them, and they shall bear the burden of the people with you, so that you may not bear it yourself alone.

God provides the Holy Spirit for us. He indwells in those who believe.

God does not leave us orphaned - He is always there. God does not leave us comfortless - He is always present to strengthen us. God does not leave us abandoned. God does not leave us helpless and God does not leave us hopeless.

Matthew 11:28 ESV

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.