The Comfor ter

• The Jewish Feast of Pentecost is June 12th.

• This would be a good time to spotlight the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives and in the world.

• It was on the Feast of Pentecost that the Church received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 2:1-4 – On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place. 2 Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. 3 Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. 4 And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.

• Pentecost is exactly 50 days after the Jewish Feast of First Fruits.

• Jesus was resurrected on the Feast of First Fruits. • Passover – Unleavened Bread – 1st Fruits –

Pentecost• Jesus had foretold this at His ascension:

Acts 1:8 – But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be My witnesses, telling people about Me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. (NLT)

• The Purpose: The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is to empower us to be witnesses for Jesus.

• The Problem: Most don’t take advantage of what Jesus has made available to us.

• The Holy Spirit is always with you.• You are never alone.

Show Video: The Holy Spirit

• That is a humorous look at the Person of the Holy Spirit.

• He is always with you wherever you go. • You can have a relationship with the Holy Spirit. • He is a Person and not an it.• You can have a relationship with a Person.• You can’t have relationship with an it.• This morning I want to highlight the point that the

Holy Spirit is always with you from John 14-16.

Set the Stage of John 14-16 (Last Supper)• Ever had the feelings of isolation and even

abandonment overwhelm you? • Ever asked, “What now?” or “What’s next?” • Even felt confusion over what to do next?• This may have been what the disciples felt at the

Last Supper. • They felt this way because Jesus reminded them

that He was about to leave them.

• He had also just said that one of them would betray Him.

• They felt remorse about this as well. • Confusion was settling in like a thick WV fog.• Jesus did an unusual thing and sent Judas Iscariot

out on an apparent errand. • He then took a towel and washed their feet. • He spoke to them about the fact that His mission

was complete and that He would be leaving them. • This only added to their concern and confusion.

• Then came a series of questions from the disciples about His leaving them.

• Guess who was the first to ask?

1. Peter – Lord, where are You going? (John 13:36) • Then he boasted that he would die for Jesus. • But, the Lord told him that he would betray Jesus 3

times that very night.

2. Thomas – We have no idea where You are going, so how can we know the way? (John 14:5)

• Jesus responds with, “I Am the Way, the Truth, and the Life! No man can come to the Father except through Me!” (14:6)

• Many say that believers are intolerant because we believe that Jesus is the only way.

• Well, we’re not the ones who said it—Jesus did!

3. Then Philip asks, Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied. (John 14:8)

• Jesus could see their apprehension and confusion over His leaving.

• Think about it from the disciples’ perspective. • They had just spent 3 exciting years with Jesus. • They had experienced incredible healings and

miracles like raising the dead, feeding the 5,000 and walking on water.

• They had witnessed with their own eyes demons obeying Jesus’ very words.

• They heard the incredible teachings that rolled from His lips.

• What authority and what love He had! • How fresh Jesus’ approach was from the other

religious leader’s stuffiness and religiosity. • They were having so much fun with it all! • Not only that, but He had empowered them to cast

out devils and to heal the sick. • Now, this was all going to end? • What’s next?

• Any time we venture out into the unknown, there is a measure of fear and uncertainty.

• The disciples were no different from us.

• But, look at Jesus’ response to their apprehension over His leaving:

John 14:9-11 – 9 Jesus replied, "Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don't know who I am? Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father! So why are you asking Me to show Him to you? 10 Don't you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me? The words I speak are not My own, but My Father who lives in Me does His work through Me. 11 Just believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me. Or at least believe because of the work you have seen Me do.” (NLT)

• Jesus was emphasizing the relationship He has with the Father.

• What Jesus did and what He said was just a reflection of what the Father did and said.

• They are one. • If you have seen Jesus, then you’ve seen the Father. • Hey, I’m the “spittin’” image of My Dad!

• At this point, the disciples probably thought:Jesus, You empowered us to do miracles and cast out demons. If You are not here with us, how are we going to be able to continue all You have been doing? We’ll be lost without You! You have been our mentor, coach, counselor and teacher. How will we do it without You?

• As if He read their thoughts, look at what Jesus says next:

John 14:12-14 – I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in Me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. 13 You can ask for anything in My name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. 14 Yes, ask Me for anything in My name, and I will do it!

• As if on cue, the disciples thought to themselves:• Wow! Anything?! But HOW? If You are not going to

be here . . . ?• More questions with each answer.• This is where Jesus narrows in on the main point in

this discussion:John 14:16-17a – And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter who will never leave you. 17 He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth . . .

• Remember: the disciples felt alone, abandoned and helpless.

• But, Jesus promises them something better than having Him with them in the flesh.

• He promised the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, Who would dwell not on them or around them but in them.

• At that time, Jesus was limited to time and space, but the Holy Spirit is everywhere.

• A distinct advantage!

• Some people think, I wish I could have been alive when Jesus walked the earth and witnessed the miracles and heard His teachings!

• But, Jesus is saying that we have it better now than it was when He was walking the earth!

• How? • Look at this verse again—He said that He would

send Another Comforter.• Another what?

• Who does “another” refer to? • The Holy Spirit!• In Greek, another literally means one of the very

same kind; same character; same everything; or a duplicate.

• In other words, Jesus was saying that the Holy Spirit would be just like Him in every way—a carbon copy.

• Following the Holy Spirit would be like following Jesus.

• The only difference would be that the Holy Spirit was invisible, and He was not.

• But better because the Holy Spirit will work from within you and not on the outside.

• One translator says that another could be translated this way:

I will pray to the Father, and He will send you Someone who is just like Me in every way. He will be identical to Me in the way He speaks, the way He thinks, the way He operates, the way He see things, and the way He does things. He will be exactly like Me in every way. If the Holy Spirit is here, it will be just as if I am here because We think, behave, and operate exactly the same . . .

• All that out of one word! • Jesus had just talked to the disciples about the

relationship He has with the Father. • They are one in word and action. • What you see the Father do, you see Jesus do. • What you hear the Father say, you hear Jesus say. • The same thing is true of the Holy Spirit and Jesus. • What the Holy Spirit does, thinks and guides us to

do is exactly what Jesus would do if He were standing here beside us.

• Just as Jesus told the disciples that He is the exact image of the Father, the Holy Spirit is the exact representation of Jesus in every way.

• In other words, if you have the Holy Spirit, it is the exact same as having Jesus!

• Look what He says later in this passage:

John 16:13-15 – When the Spirit of truth [Holy Spirit] comes, He will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on His own but will tell you what He has heard. He will tell you about the future. 14 He will bring Me glory by telling you whatever He receives from Me. 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine; this is why I said, “The Spirit will tell you whatever He receives from Me.”

• The Holy Spirit never draws attention to Himself.• He always puts the focus on Jesus.

John 14:26 – 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 things that I said to you. (NKJV)

• The Holy Spirit is our teacher, counselor, comforter, helper and empowerment.

• Pretty clear, don’t you think? • You are not alone! • You and the Holy Spirit make a majority. • God will never leave you alone in this world like an

orphan.

John 14:18 – I will not leave you as orphans [comfortless, desolate, bereaved, forlorn, helpless]; I will come [back] to you. (AMP)

• He will never leave you or forsake you. • He promises to be with you at all times. • Even though you may walk through the valley of the

shadow of death, the Holy Spirit will be with you. • Every moment of every day He is there ready to

teach, guide, counsel, comfort, encourage, and empower.

• The Holy Spirit is with you when: – you go to bed at night– when you wake up in the morning– when you go to work or to school– when you go to the grocery store– to the beauty salon – at the ball game – when you go to the movies– when you come to church

• Everywhere you go, He is there!

• This is His calling. • And, not only is He with you, but He is there to help

you with everything. • Call on Him. Ask Him! • Start the practice of relying on Him for strength,

wisdom and faith. • That is why He is with you.• You know what is even more encouraging, He will

never fail! • He ALWAYS does His job correctly!

• We are so nonchalant and flippant about the Holy Spirit.

• And, most of us have failed to realize Who and what power we have access to.

• It’s the SAME power that raised Jesus from the dead.

• Jesus is not sending us out there empty-handed.

• Let’s take this relationship thing one step further: • Just as Jesus is the exact image of the Father, and

the Holy Spirit is the exact representation of Jesus, what must we be?

• A carbon copy of Jesus through the Holy Spirit.• How do we do it? • Through a relationship.• Husband & Wife Analogy• If we listen to Him, we will think, talk & act like He

does.

• The Holy Spirit is always speaking to us. – He nudges you to be quiet. – Not to nag your husband.– To encourage your wife more. – To be better parents and grandparents. – To listen to your parents.– Pay your bills on time. – To be a blessing wherever you go . . .

• He is always there, but you have to listen to and obey Him.

• It’s a relationship!

Conclusion1. Have faith in God!

– He will never abandon you. – The fact that you have the Holy Spirit living inside of

you should be a great encouragement to you.

2. Challenge: Begin to acknowledge Him in your everyday life. – You will be amazed at where He takes you and how He

empowers you for even common everyday tasks.

3. The Holy Spirit is a gentleman.

The Comfor ter