My Faith Journey
Read John 14:15 - 31
16 I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, so that He may be with you forever; 17 the Helper is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him; but you know Him because He remains with you and will be in you (John 14:16-17)
In this chapter, the scene unfolds just before Jesus is arrested and crucified. Knowing that His disciples would soon be overwhelmed with confusion, fear, and anxiety due to the events about to take place, Jesus spoke words of comfort and assurance, reminding them that:
1. His departure was temporary, and He would return for them.
2. They would not be left as orphans, but would receive the Holy Spirit as their Helper.
3. There is a need to love God and His people and keep His commandments.
You are Not Orphans
We are not left alone. In His priestly prayer, Jesus request the Father to send the Holy Spirit, who like Jesus, will take His place to do His work. The Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, is the Helper—one who is called to encourage, exhort, and walk alongside His disciples. The Holy Spirit will remain with you and will be in you. You are God’s temple and God’s Spirit live in you (1 Corinthians 3:16).
The Spirit of Truth Teaches
This Helper is the source of truth and communicates the truth to His own. Without the Holy Spirit, men cannot know God’s truth. The Holy Spirit will convict the world regarding sin, and righteousness and judgment (John 16:8). With the Holy Spirit, you will not be troubled nor fearful. The Helper, the Holy Spirit teaches the disciples to know God, to obey His commandment, and to love Him and others (v. 26). The Holy Spirit will help you to differentiate between good and evil, right and wrong.
Application: The Reward of Obedience
Jesus emphasized the need for the habitual practice of obedience to His commands as evidence of the believer’s love for Him and the Father. The regenerating power of the Holy Spirit provides expressions of love which He pours in the believer’s heart. It is not just the Holy Spirit that dwells in you. Jesus promised that He and His Father will come and make their dwelling in you (v.23).
Prayer
Dear Jesus, I declare that I am not an orphan. Thank you for giving me the Holy Spirit as my Helper. I want to walk in obedience, to love you and your Word. Let my heart be a dwelling place for you. Amen.
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.