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[0:00] The Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot accept because it does not see him or know him, but you know him, because he resides with you and will be in you.

[0:17] A new hymn by Keith and Kristen Getty that I'd like for you to listen to and let this to be our prayer today called Holy Spirit, Living Breath of God.

[0:43] Listen as Kristen Getty sings it for us. Amen.

[1:30] Amen. Amen.

[2:30] Amen. Amen.

[3:30] Amen. Amen.

[4:30] Amen. Amen.

[5:07] Dear Lord, this is our prayer, and we ask it in Jesus' name. Amen. I was in that room.

[5:58] I was known as the disciple Jesus loved. Now, some people can take that the wrong way. But we did have a special bond, Jesus and me.

[6:13] You see, Jesus had four brothers, James, Jude, Joseph, and Simon. None of them believed in him. None of them had anything to do with him. So he took me on as his kid brother, John.

[6:29] I understand challenging brothers. James, my brother, likes to start arguments and he can be a real pain. He's got a thunderous temper, not meek and mild like I am.

[6:41] When we entered the upper room, the master and 12 troubled men with some of the women followers, the stench of dirty feet filled the air, but not for long.

[6:56] Jesus took care of that before we ate the Passover meal. The job of a lowly Gentile servant. He took upon himself. He showed to us the full extent of his love for us that day and washed our dirty, dusty feet.

[7:15] Even Peter's feet, not without some hesitation. That's just how Jesus was. As we ate the Passover, conversation was plentiful, but Judas had some business to tend to.

[7:29] We didn't know what it was, so he got up and left. Then Jesus broke the news to us. I'm leaving. I'm departing. And we don't know where or why.

[7:42] We all got worried. We were troubled. The mission had really just gotten started. Now it'll probably fade away. This troubled us all, but in usual Jesus fashion, he said, do not let your hearts be troubled.

[8:02] That's what he said, told us. That's what he said, even when his own heart was heavy, even knowing the shadow of some deep, dark destiny was falling over him.

[8:15] You see, I was there. I saw those faces. Peter's confusion. Thomas's doubt. Philip's longing.

[8:27] We were terrified. He was leaving our master, our friend, our everything. He was talking about death, about going away.

[8:38] How can our hearts not be troubled when light seems to be fading away? But then he looked at us. He looked at me. And he said, trust in God.

[8:53] Trust also in me. Sounds simple enough, doesn't it? It was a command and a promise all at once. He was telling us that the same God who hung the stars is holding us in his hand.

[9:07] And that he, Jesus, is not just some prophet, nor just a teacher, but the very dwelling place of that same divine father.

[9:20] He told us in my father's house are many rooms. It wasn't a parable to confuse us. It was a promise to comfort us.

[9:31] He was going ahead, preparing a place, a home, a reality where we are finally fully together with him. And he told us if it were not true, he would have told us so.

[9:43] And he never lied to us. Never. None of us understood a word he was saying. And yet Thomas, bless him, Thomas asked the question we were all thinking.

[9:55] Lord, we don't know where you're going, and how in the world can we know the way? And that's when he said it. The words I will never forget.

[10:06] Words that changed everything. Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

[10:19] If you have known me, you will know my Father too. And from now on you do know him and have seen him. Philip asked the question we were all hoping someone would.

[10:32] Lord, show us this Father. Jesus answered, the person who has seen me has seen the Father.

[10:43] I am in the Father, and the Father is in me. Then we all remembered. That time at the festival when he told the Pharisees, I am in the Father, and I and the Father are one.

[10:58] And that almost got him stoned. Could it be that for three years we have been walking around with God?

[11:11] We've seen him do mighty works and miracles. Why didn't we recognize him as he actually is? But now he's leaving us.

[11:22] And we're all worried that the mission is over, that we're being abandoned, fired. What's next for us, Jesus? Is this all there is? Then he said, I tell you the solemn truth.

[11:38] The person who believes in me will perform the miraculous deeds that I am doing, and will perform greater deeds than these, because I am going to the Father.

[11:50] And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.

[12:04] Jesus told the disciples that day, the mission's not over, I promise. Promise number one. The mission is not over, I promise. Jesus began the first of five promises given to the disciples on that night of his departure.

[12:22] The first promise answered their fear, this is the end. The work is over, and we all got fired. But Jesus promised them, the mission will continue. They weren't getting fired, they were getting promoted to greater things.

[12:39] Verse 9 says, the person who has seen me has seen the Father. I am in the Father, and the Father is in me. Jesus just encouraged the disciples to trust in him. Rely on him, and cling to him in faith.

[12:52] Because of who he is, in the words that he spoke, and in the miracles he had done. The proof. Now Jesus described the benefit, or blessing that come to this one who believes.

[13:09] He said, the person who believes in me, verse 12, will perform the miraculous deeds that I am doing, and will perform greater deeds than these.

[13:22] Jesus expected those who believe in him to carry on his mission in the world. They will do more and greater things than he did.

[13:33] He didn't expect the disciples to disband after his departure, but to carry on the work. Continue it. But at a greater magnitude, greater deeds can be translated greater things.

[13:47] It should not be translated greater things that Jesus had done, like raising the dead, and changing water into wine, and healing the man born blind.

[14:01] Not so much those things, although that will happen. But Jesus said that they will do more things than he did in the three short years of his ministry.

[14:17] The greater deeds, the focus of the disciples will be less on signs and wonders and spectacular miracles, but on making disciples.

[14:29] That's what they're going to be doing. For example, Peter's sermon at Pentecost resulted in 3,000 disciples made, much more than Jesus ever reached in three short years of his ministry.

[14:43] His prediction of greater deeds started immediately following the resurrection. Jesus' last instructions were, go make disciples. Baptize them.

[14:55] Teach them. I'm with you. I promise. Matthew 28, 19, and 20. In his sermon, Pastor Daniel Litton puts it this way, The Mind can reference a variety of various men and women who have done great works for God, and works of which, but sheer volume, actually contain more words recorded than those of Christ himself.

[15:21] We could pick from the vast amount of early church fathers, or John Wycliffe, or Martin Luther, or Matthew Henry, Jonathan Edwards, George Whitefield, John Wesley, Charles Finney, Billy Graham, Martin Luther King, Joyce Myers, John MacArthur, and Rick Warren, and many, many more.

[15:41] All of these people did the greater works that Jesus talked about. And more will continue to do that until Christ's return for the church.

[15:52] This all happened because Christ went back to the Father. We can add Matt Garrett. We can add John Howard. We can add who?

[16:03] What are some names that come up in your mind? People that are doing greater works than even Jesus did because of the volume of it. Name someone.

[16:14] All right. Somebody else. Sherry Stone. Sherry Stone. Somebody else. All right.

[16:26] Who are some preachers that you really love? Dr. David Jeremiah. David Jeremiah. Greater things than Jesus ever had the opportunity, and he would have loved to.

[16:40] But when holy God meets unholy man, somebody has to give, and Jesus gave. Today, because of the power of print, of radio, television, the internet, technology, etc., we, the church, can do greater things, works, deeds, greater than Jesus could ever have even thought about doing.

[17:05] Just think of the work our little church has done to continue the mission. Just think. Ten years in South America, in the western part of North Carolina, in Appalachia, we've done greater things than Jesus ever had time to do because the world took him, and he gave his life willingly.

[17:31] Jesus will continue the mission through the disciples, and he promised that. Promise number one. Jesus assured his disciples, and I will do whatever you ask in my name so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

[17:47] If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it in my name. Greater works would be possible because Jesus would do his work through his prayerful people who asked and acted in his name.

[18:04] He promised to do anything that his trusting followers ask in his name. That is according to his character and his authority. Pastor Trench, in his commentary, says to ask in his name or do anything in his name argues a unity of mind with his, a unity of aim and of motive.

[18:26] That doesn't mean we ask anything and he doesn't. It has to be in his name. It has to be in his name, in his character, in his unity with him. And ultimately, so that the Father may be glorified, is the ultimate aim of every prayer, every work, and every word.

[18:45] You know this old chorus. Sing it with me. We'll work till Jesus comes. We'll work. Come on. Till Jesus comes.

[18:56] We'll work. You Catholics. Till Jesus comes and we'll be gathered home. Jesus commissioned us to work for him.

[19:09] Listen as I read verses 15 and 17, one we've already read, for the promise number two. If you love me, you will obey my commandments.

[19:21] Then I will ask the Father and he will give another advocate to be with you. The spirit of truth, whom the world cannot accept because it does not see him or know him.

[19:36] But you know him because he resides with you and will be in you. Jesus said, if you love me and obey my commandments.

[19:47] Jesus had just demonstrated the full extent of his love for the disciples by washing their dirty, dusty feet. And he told them to, their response should be, wash one another's feet.

[20:01] Love one another after the pattern of the full extent of love that I showed you. And then he said, trust me, trust God and trust me. Those were his commands.

[20:13] For the believer, disobedience is not only a failure of performance or a failure of strength. In some sense, it's a failure of love.

[20:24] Those who love God must obey him most joyfully and naturally. To say, I really love Jesus, I just don't want him to tell me how to live my life, is a terrible misunderstanding of both Jesus' love, Jesus and our love for him.

[20:46] Spurgeon says, the essence of obedience lies in the hearty love which prompts the deed rather than in the deed itself.

[20:58] The love that prompts the deed. He goes on to say, some persons think that if they love Jesus, they must enter a convent, retire to a cell, dress themselves queerly, or shave their heads.

[21:13] It has been the thought of some men, if we love Christ, we must strip ourselves of everything we possess, put on sackcloth, tie ropes around our waist, and pine in the desert.

[21:25] Others have thought it wise to make light of themselves by oddity of dress and behavior. The Savior does not say anything of the kind, but if you love me, keep my commandments.

[21:37] Only Spurgeon can do something like this. He's talking about relationship. Not just religion. Then he promises, then I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to be with you forever.

[21:57] The Spirit of Truth, promise number two. The disciples fear Jesus is abandoning us. When he leaves, we won't know what to do.

[22:09] They wouldn't have less help. They would have more help because Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth. Jesus understood that his disciples, both those with him that evening and those who have become his disciples through the centuries, us, would need God's presence and power to keep his commandments.

[22:32] We could never do it on our own. God the Son promised to pray to God the Father and ask for the giving of God the Holy Spirit to the believers to accomplish this.

[22:44] And the Spirit would come if you love me and keep my commandments. The word advocate or helper defined the work of the Holy Spirit.

[22:56] They translate from the ancient Greek word parakletos. This word has the idea of someone called to help someone else. And it could refer to an advisor, a legal defender, a mediator, or to an intercessor.

[23:13] And the good old King James translates it comforter. I like that. From the Latin word comfortare, which means to strengthen. Thus the idea of help and strength is conveyed by it as well as consolation.

[23:31] So he is my help and strength and my comfort, the Holy Spirit. Look at all the words that can be translated. All of these words, advocate, helper, advisor, defender, mediator, comforter, one who strengthens.

[23:50] All of these were just the right things that those troubled disciples were needing and looking for on that night in the upper room. Can you imagine the task they face?

[24:02] Sharing the good news of Christ to a world without the Lord at their side doing it and empowering them to do it. I've often thought, wouldn't it be wonderful to live the Christian life with Jesus right here beside us?

[24:20] Each step of the way, like the disciples had. Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would fulfill just that role for us to empower and to help the believer.

[24:34] The greater work Jesus talked about would be impossible without the empowering of the Spirit. The disciples had to be feeling some hope by now.

[24:47] Another advocate to be with you forever? Hmm. Hmm. The advocate will be with the disciples forever. This new state of affairs will be permanent.

[24:59] The Spirit, once given, will not be withdrawn, according to Dr. Morris of his commentary. Verse 17, but you know him. I like that.

[25:10] Because he resides with you and will be in you. There are three aspects of a disciple's relationship with the Holy Spirit. First of all, you should know him.

[25:22] Get to know the Holy Spirit. You should have the Holy Spirit with me, with you. But ultimately, you should have the Holy Spirit in you.

[25:35] And wherever you are is the Holy Spirit, which is the holy presence of God. And we are the representative of that. For those 11 disciples, they were just beginning to know the Holy Spirit.

[25:49] Even though, surely, he was already with them, they would later come to an understanding that the Holy Spirit abides in them and will forever be their advocate.

[26:00] This was the promise of Jesus to the disciples then and to us now. His disciples were just coming to understand that the Holy Spirit was residing within them.

[26:15] So, have you claimed this promise for your walk with Christ? I think the realization grows as we mature in our faith. And we can only recognize the power of the Spirit's presence as we claim it for ourselves.

[26:31] You know this. We've done it many times together. Spirit of the living God.

[26:45] Come on, ready? Do it again. Spirit of the living God. Fall fresh on me.

[26:58] Break me.

[27:11] Break me. Melt me. Melt me. Mold me. Mold me. Fill me.

[27:21] Fill me. Spirit of the living God. Fall fresh on me.

[27:41] Now, listen as I read verses 18 through 21. Listen for promise number three. He comes at you right at it.

[27:52] I will not abandon you as orphans. I promise. I will come to you. I promise. In a little while, the world will not see me any longer. But you will see me.

[28:04] Because I live, you will live too. You will know at that time that I am in the Father. And you are in me. And I am in you. Jesus himself is in you.

[28:17] The person who has my commandments and obeys them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father.

[28:29] And I will love him and reveal myself to him. That's his promise. That's his promise. In biblical times, the disciples of a particular teacher or rabbi among the Hebrews called him father.

[28:46] His scholars were called his children. And on his death, they were considered orphans, according to the Clark commentary. So Jesus promises, I will not abandon you as orphans.

[29:01] I will come to you. The disciples feared. When Jesus leaves, then our discipleship mission is over and it has barely started. Their discipleship mission wasn't finished.

[29:13] It was only just beginning. Spurgeon, again, considered several ways that the followers of Jesus are not like orphans. An orphan has parents who are dead and the Spirit shows us Jesus is alive.

[29:28] An orphan is left alone and the Spirit draws us close to God's presence. An orphan has lost their provider and the Spirit provides all things. An orphan is left without instruction and the Spirit teaches us all things.

[29:43] An orphan has no defender and the Spirit is our protector. He promises, I will come to you. This was a broad promise fulfilled by his resurrection, by the sending of the Spirit, and ultimately by the promise of his bodily return to this earth.

[30:07] The Apostle Paul later wrote in 2 Corinthians 5.16, Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know him thus no longer.

[30:19] For Paul, there was something even more compelling about knowing Christ through the Spirit than knowing Christ through the flesh. He is not only beside us, as Jesus was with the disciples, he is in us as he promised he would be.

[30:33] He said, Over and over and over, Jesus uses the words, If you love me.

[31:17] If you love me. If you love me. The one who loves me. If you love me. If you love me, you'll keep my commandments. Whoever has my commandments and keeps them is the one who loves me.

[31:28] He promises that those who love him will also be loved by his Father. If anyone loves me, he will obey my word and my Father will love him. And we will come to him and take up residence with him.

[31:42] One translator says, we'll go home with them. the person who does not love me does not obey my words where love and obedience are shown the presence of God and of Christ is realized the father and the son together make their home with each of his children according to the commentary by F.F.

[32:06] Bruce this love is personal if you love me but it is demonstrated by reverence and obedience to Jesus teaching he will keep my word love is demonstrated by keeping his word Jesus wanted his disciples to love him for who he is he wanted Israel to love him remember his word looking over Jerusalem as his at his triumphant entry how often has I long to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under his wings but you were not willing they demonstrate his this these words demonstrate his longing to be loved by his own people but John declared in chapter 1 he came unto his own and his own received him not even so while we were yet sinners Christ died sing it with me oh how I love Jesus come on oh how I love Jesus oh how I love Jesus because he first loved me now listen to as I read 25 to 27 listen for promise number four I have spoken these things while staying with you but the advocate the Holy Spirit whom the father will send in my name will teach you everything and will cause you to remember everything I said to you.

[33:56] I promise I promise I promise I live with you. Peace I live with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give it to you as the world does.

[34:07] Promise number four. Remember whenever people greeted back in those days they would say Shalom Brenda Shalom George and when they said goodbye they said Shalom Shalom that's the world's way but Jesus says that's not good enough.

[34:35] Not like the world gives you. I give you. I give you. I give you my peace. The peace that what? What? Passes. All understanding.

[34:48] The disciples were probably feeling a little bit better with these words of promise from Jesus. Yes he's leaving us but he promised the mission will continue. And we will do even greater things but how can that be?

[35:03] Yes he promised another helper and an advocate in the presence of the Holy Spirit. He also promised to be in us and reveal himself to us but we only had three years of training.

[35:14] How will we remember all that he said and did didn't say. Judas had said words revealed some of the worry they all face.

[35:27] Judas not Iscariot. Doesn't the rest of the world need a little revealing and manifestation too? You mean it's all up to us? There was little peace in their hearts that evening.

[35:41] Then Jesus said don't worry. The Holy Spirit I just told you about he will teach you everything you need to know. The Spirit will give you the super power of memory.

[35:56] You will be able to remember and share all that I have taught you. So buck up. Get a grip. Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you.

[36:08] I do not give it to you as the world does. If you listen real closely. You can hear a collective sigh from the room.

[36:20] Crowded upper room. They were finally getting the grand idea. Peace, peace. Wonderful peace.

[36:31] Wonderful peace. Coming down from the Father above. Sweep over my spirit forever I pray.

[36:45] In fathomless billows of love. If you're old enough you'll remember that one. It's me again. John. Greater works.

[36:56] How? How? How can we do greater works than he did? I have seen him turn water into wine. Heal the blind and bring Lazarus out of the grave. What could possibly be greater than that? He said it. It's because he's going to the Father. And it's a good thing that he's going to the Father.

[37:07] But it makes no sense. The world is dark. But then he's had to ask anything in his name. He's. And it. It's. It's. It's.

[37:18] It's. It's. It's. It's. It's. It's. It's. It's. It's. It's. It's.

[37:29] It's. It's. It's. It's. It's. It. It. It. It is about to get darker. The rule of this world is coming.

[37:40] He said. But then he said. To ask anything in his name. He said. If you love me. Keep my commandments. He keeps talking about love.

[37:51] Not as a feeling. But as obedience. And the command to love one another as he loved us. But he's leaving us. A sheep without a shepherd. A child without a father. A disciple without a teacher.

[38:03] No. Not orphans. That's what he said. I will not leave you as orphans. He promised another helper. The spirit of truth. The world won't see him.

[38:15] Won't. Won't know him. But we. We will know him. Because he will dwell within us. He told us that. I will be in you. Hmm. What does that mean?

[38:26] It's better. He said. How can it be better? How can it be better? Because he won't be. Just be with us. He will be in us. Filling us.

[38:37] Bringing. Uh. To memory. Everything that he taught us. He left us. A gift. No. Not money. Not power. Not security.

[38:48] But peace. Peace. My peace. My peace. To you. He said. Not just. Shalom. As the world gives.

[39:00] So my heart. Must not be troubled. Or afraid. He is going away. But he's coming back. He's going to the father.

[39:11] Which means his work is finished here. And ours. Is about to begin. He loves the father. And he is doing exactly what the father commanded.

[39:22] He said. He said. Get up. Let us go from here. The hour is here. The light is going into the darkness.

[39:33] And I must follow. Jesus. Final promise. Don't let your hearts be troubled. Or distressed. Or lacking in courage. To quote a wise person.

[39:46] God's got this. I promise. Verse 30. I will not speak with you much longer. But I will not speak with you much longer. But I will not speak with you much longer.

[39:58] I will not speak with you much longer. For the ruler of this world. Is coming. He has no power over me. But I am doing just what the father commanded me.

[40:12] So that the world may know. That I love the father. Get up. Let us go from here. And these are the words. These are his words to us today.

[40:24] In this sanctuary. Get up. Get out of here. This world. The world. They are the world out there. That needs the good news. The mission continues. And it is up to you.

[40:36] The moment. The moment. The moment. The moment. The moment. Thank you.

[41:11] Thank you.

[41:41]  Thank you.