Now What? - Week 4
November 30, 2008
Turning On The Power
John 14:16

Jesus has been talking about how to have peace, certain when everything is falling apart. In that midnight walk

1. remain in me – we have to stay close to Jesus
2. obey me – five words that Jesus is looking for "At your word I will"

Now Jesus adds to that…..

"I will ask the Father and he will give you another counselor to be with you forever - the Spirit of truth."

John 14.16-17

Circle word "counselor" –

Up to this point Jesus has been right beside them – walking with them, talking to them, coaching them, mentoring them, empowering them, giving them direction, comfort, boldness – bringing out the best in them. But now he was going away. He was going to a cross, die, no longer with them physically. But Jesus was promising them that they were not going to be abandoned. He was still going to be with them.

How was that going to happen? Circle phrase "another counselor"

• "allon" Another of the same kind or type
• Parakletos – para (along side), kaleo (to be called).

Jesus promised them that when he ascended to heaven, the Father was sending to them another counselor, another advocate, another coach, teacher, leader, mentor to walk with them, talk to them, instruct them. And that counselor - is the Holy Spirit.

MIXED SIGNALS

Lots of confusion about the Holy Spirit. There are some people and some churches that OD on the Holy Spirit. Everything becomes about the Holy Spirit, He’s getting all the attention. But Jesus made it clear – and we will see in a minute –that the role of the Holy Spirit isn’t to upstage Jesus, but to spotlight Jesus. It’s to push Jesus to forefront of people’s minds.

Other people and churches are flat out scared of the Holy Spirit. Let’s face it, the Holy Spirit has been blamed for some pretty crazy behaviors! If you don’t think so, then just tune into some religious tv. If we really fully embrace the Holy Spirit we’re gonna speak in tongues or bark like dogs, or run around the church during worship, holy rollers convention.

But trying to live the Christian life apart from the Holy Spirit is like trying to run your desktop without it being plugged in – like trying to start you car without a motor – like trying to operate a flashlight without batteries – doing it with no power!

No wonder so many people are discouraged in their Christian life.

I want to talk to you about how to turn on the power in your walk with God today.

TURNING ON THE POWER

Here are six ways the Holy Spirit empowers you to live for God.

The Spirit of God helps you to….

Experience the presence of Jesus

"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…On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you." John 14.17, 20

Develop Biblical discernment

"But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you." John 14.26

Be an bold witness for Christ

/ John 16.7-8/ Acts 2

"When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me." John 15.26

Make wise choices

"But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come." John 16.13

Maintain healthy relationships

"Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit." Ephesians 5.18 NLT

Grow godly character

 

"But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control…" Galatians 5.22-23

Remain in me

Obey me

Yield to me – surrender the control of your life to God. Really begin to take a hard look at your life, the areas where the Spirit is not in control and surrender those areas to him. Ask him to change you. Reshape you. Remake you into the image of Christ.