I'm at work so I will have to quickly throw out a couple of the many pearls in this passage that spoke to me today.
15 "If you love me, you will obey what I command. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you
23 Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.
The beauty of the trinity comes through powerfully in John 14. Relationship with the Holy Spirit comes through relationship with Jesus and the Father and maybe it is God through the Holy Spirit that makes his home with us. The Kingdom within.
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An eight week journey of seeking God as we read.think.pray.live our way through the gospel of John
An Invitation
Please join us during this lead up to Christmas 2009 by doing the four things listed below. Anyone can join at any time throughout this 8 week period although obviously it would be best if you can begin with us on the first of November 2009.
Requirements:
1. Commit to seeking God EVERY DAY in Nov & Dec '09 in a way that is more radical than anything you have ever done before.
2. Read.think.pray.live your way through the Gospel of John in seven weeks (3 chapters each week) and then 1 John, 2 John, 3 John in the final week.
3. Listen to the Holy Spirit and obey whatever he says to do!!
4. Contribute your insights and experiences to this blog.
May we all continue to seek the Kingdom of God before anything else!
Requirements:
1. Commit to seeking God EVERY DAY in Nov & Dec '09 in a way that is more radical than anything you have ever done before.
2. Read.think.pray.live your way through the Gospel of John in seven weeks (3 chapters each week) and then 1 John, 2 John, 3 John in the final week.
3. Listen to the Holy Spirit and obey whatever he says to do!!
4. Contribute your insights and experiences to this blog.
May we all continue to seek the Kingdom of God before anything else!
6 comments:
This chapter has been the basis for my Junior Church teachings this term. I was asked to teach on the Fruits of the Spirit (Gal) - but to do that we all needed to understand the ROLE of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
I found this from the Amplified bible really helpful:
But the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will cause you to recall (will remind you of, bring to your remembrance) everything I have told you.
The HS is God within - all the time - with me every moment. Me trying to run my life is like me trying to drive a racing car in a Rally when Michael Schumacher is sitting next to me - waiting for me to hand over the steering wheel...
It will be no surprise to any of you then - that when I started preparing the lessons... I received my prayer language! I had no doubt that the two events were related. He had waited patiently for years for me to come to this understanding! Hello Rosaleen! Also the understanding that I don't have to 'pray' to him... just to chat to him - all through the day - in my mind in thoughts, in my prayer language and in English! Not including him in everything is grievous!
Thanks for sharing this with us Rosaleen :)
We are now entering my 4 favourite chapters in John: 14-17.
Jesus doesn't teach us about "the way". He IS the Way! Jesus doesn't just give us teachings which show us the truth, he encapsulates truth! Jesus IS LIFE!!
I don't have to try to be like Jesus. I have died. HE lives in me!! I just need to take up my cross each day, die to self and let his life burst forth in me.
Verses 12-14 have always boggled my mind. WE will do GREATER things than even Jesus did!?! We can ask for ANYTHING in Jesus name and he will do it!?! Lord, give us the faith to trust these promises are really true. And as Rosaleen said, may we surrender control of our lives each day and give control to the Holy Spirit who leads us into all truth!!
Verse 15: If you love me, obey my commandments.
Verse 21: Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me.
Verse 23: All who love me will do what I say.
Hmmm... I think Jesus is trying to make a point here!
Verse 31: Jesus will do whatever the father asks him to do so that the world will know that he loves the father.
I love Jesus' promise in verse 27 and in many ways I think this is THE thing that the world is longing for.
As we introduce people to Christ we bring them to the only one who can give them TRUE PEACE - of mind and heart. This is a gift the world CANNOT give.
If you love me... you will obey.
The context for this, before his death and resurrection.
The obedience - to the commands - love God, love your neighbour.
I make a terrible missionary (the final command) if I do not manage to obey these first two commands!
Jesus knew I could not manage either of these without supernatural assistance! There is no possibility of fruit without the active presence of the Holy Spirit in my living!
I think we often focus on the last command before we have truly come to grips with the first 2...
I say this not to encourage inaction on the mission front - on the contrary - the mission can only be fruitful when love is our moment by moment lifespring.
Very insightful and true Rosaleen!
It's not like "C'mon guys, get your act together and obey me or else..."
It's more like, "Abide in me, live in me, love me and you will (super)naturally obey me."
If you love me, then the natural by-product WILL be obedience.
"The mission can only be fruitful when love is our moment by moment lifespring."
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