Country 2-Step?

The Holy Spirit

THE HOLY SPIRIT

When Kanda and were dating we were from different circle. I liked Classic Rock, she liked country. She loved to dance, I didn’t. I liked being in the background, she liked being in the middle of the action.

As we continued dating, country dancing became a weekly event. Remember that I liked neither country music nor dancing. After we got married, we even took swing dance lessons.

As I look back and wonder, why did I so easily give myself to things I did not enjoy. Was it struggle to go to Weekends to go dancing? No. Because of the love that I had for being in a relationship with her and the love I had for her, it was easy. We even camped out in front of the TV with a smorgasbord and watched Garth Brooks live in Central Park. I purposefully bought tickets to Colin Raye so we could dance in his concert to the songs that became a part of our story and made our story. Wayne Cordeiro said it this way, “The power to change is predicated upon your relationship with God. How often I think, God, it's hard to do what you're asking me to do, hard to change. Do I just grit my teeth? "No," the Lord says, "why don't you just come closer to the cross? Why don't you let me restore and renew my relationship with you? Would you come close?" When God calls us to something we don’t initially like or love, we should ask ourselves, how much do we love the Lord? It is through the power of the Holy Spirit that we draw closer to the cross. It is through the work of the Holy Spirit that He renews our relationship with the Father. If we truly Love God, the Father, the when He calls us out of our comfort zone, the Holy Spirit reminds us of our love for Him and His love for us.

Although the Holy Spirit’s activity is best demonstrated in Acts, perhaps no book of the Bible contains more theology of the Holy Spirit than John Chapters 14-16.

John 14:15–31

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.

I. THE HOLY SPIRIT—vv. 15–24

A. He Identifies the children Spirituality—v. 15. We show our spirituality to God by keeping His commandments.

1. Spirit—vv. 16–17

2. Comforter—v. 16. The promised Holy Spirit, or the Comforter. Compare with John 16:7–14 - 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, 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.

3. Character—v. 17. The worldly minded man would not recognize Him. Later, the Christian would have the fullness of the Holy Spirit. After Christ ascended, the Spirit would come.

B. He unites the family —vv. 18–21

1. Promise—vv. 18–19. Christ would be taken into heaven, but would send His Holy Spirit. This was fulfilled in Acts 2:1–4.

2. Proof—vv. 20. Christ in God; or, Christ being equal with God. He had power to overcome death, later to ascend into heaven. Christ in God, and Christ in us.

3. Practice—v. 21. If we love Him, we will obey Him. LOVE ALWAYS OBEYS! As we obey Him, He will reveal Himself to us.

C. He fosters obedience—vv. 22–24. Judas (not Judas Iscariot) asks Christ why He didn’t reveal Himself to all people. CHRIST REVEALS HIMSELF ONLY TO THOSE WHO SEEK HIM.

He will not force Himself on anyone!

Jesus reminded the disciples of truth and peace, and he strengthened their faith. Peace of mind and spirit is essential to all of us, especially in an age of stress and confusion.

II. PEACE – GIFT OF THE FATHER—vv. 25–31

A. Peace for Comfort—v. 26. The coming Holy Spirit would teach man. He would bring to remembrance the teachings of Christ. If we study, the Holy Spirit will help us understand and remember.

1. Trouble—v. 27. Christ gives peace! There is no need to be troubled. There may be trouble, but He gives peace.

2. FEAR – is a weapon, a favorite weapon of satan – keep you eyes focused on Him. If you see darkness – turn and face the light – if you face the light – you cannot see shadows/darkness

B. Peace for Confidence —v. 28. Note how the Trinity works in harmony. Each person has great respect toward the others.

The Holy Spirit teaches us by strengthening our trust in the Father.

2 Corinthians 3:4-6 Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. 5 Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, 6 who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

The letter of the law – unless you keep it all it brings death – the Holy Spirit brings life.

1. Testimony—vv. 29–31. Christ gives a testimony as to what would happen, so when it came to pass man would believe.

Principles

• Once again John’s Gospel reminds us that believing is seeing.

• Faith is important for anyone who would do greater things than Jesus did.

• Jesus’ promises about prayer and the Holy Spirit are just as true today as they were when these disciples first heard them.

Applications

• Do not let your heart be troubled; believe that Jesus is in the Father and the Father is in him.

• Trust the Holy Spirit to be your counselor and teacher.

• Expect God’s peace to calm your heart in troubled times.

Peace of mind and spirit is essential to all of us, especially in an age of stress and confusion.

How do we practice the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives?

How do we guard against sinning in ways that offend the Holy Spirit such as quenching or grieving him?

How do we flesh out the kind of demonstration the world must see to know that Jesus is alive and living in us through the Holy Spirit?

How and where is God calling you to something He loves that may not be a love or desire of yours? Are you willing to learn the country 2-step, the Yahweh shuffle so to speak to show your love for Him?