You’re Not Alone

Jn 14:21,25-25

Most of you have heard of Senator John McCain, and you may even be familiar with the fact that he is a Vietnam veteran. Did you know that he spent 5 years in solitary confinement in the infamous Hanoi Hilton? During that time, he and other prisoners worked out a taping code on the walls to communicate with each other. Most of the time it was a simple daily motto of “stay strong.” He says if it wasn’t for that minute bit of contact with his fellow prisoners, he would have gone mad from the loneliness.

Loneliness is a powerful weapon. Both physical and spiritual loneliness can destroy a person. Jesus understood that his disciples would be afraid of being alone when he was gone and had taken steps to make sure they weren’t alone. God knew from the beginning that being alone wasn’t good for man. As you look at creation he always ended each day with, “and he said it was good.” the one thing God said wasn’t good is found in Gen 2:18. “the Lord God said, It is not good for the man to be alone.”

In understanding that loneliness, God gave the disciples and us a companion until Christ returned. He gave us the Holy Spirit. With the Holy Spirit in our lives, we don’t have to feel alone and never be alone as Christians.

PRAYER

I. The Reality of the Holy Spirit

A. Paraclete

1. The Greek word for the Holy Spirit that Jesus uses is the word paraclete, not to be confused with percolate.

2. Paraclete was a Greek word for a friend or trusted advisor who would sit with someone while they were in court and give them advice and encouragement.

3. Actual definition is “to sit along aside and assist”

4. What a wonderful picture of who the Holy Spirit is and what he is to do in our lives.

B. Explain that please!

1. Have you ever tried to explain the Holy Spirit and what he does to a non-Christian?

2. Jesus knew it would be tough for the world to understand and lets the disciples know in vs 17 READ

3. We barely understand ourselves and they tend to think we have lost touch with reality.

4. They give us that patronizing look like “oh so you have an imaginary friend. How nice.”

5. He is much more than a imaginary friend. He is a real friend.

C. Jesus tells us more

1. As you read our text, Jesus tells the disciple a little more about the Holy spirit. He uses 3 key words in telling them about the coming Holy spirit.

2. ANOTHER

a) READ vs 16

b) Did you catch that modifier Jesus used with the word counselor? Another

c) The Holy spirit would be their counselor or friend, just as Jesus was to them.

d) He would remind them of Jesus words to them vs 26

3. WITHIN

a) God is putting a part of his holy being in each and every one of us.

b) We have been reconnected with God in a greater way than anyone since the garden of Eden.

c) He isn’t off in the clouds somewhere out of earshot.

d) He is within us, working in us and helping us.

4. FOREVER

a) We aren’t talking about a temporary arrangement

b) This isn’t a sometimes companion

c) Christ is giving a part of God to dwell in us forever!

5. Summed up, the Holy Spirit is a faithful, forever friend.

II. The Role of the Holy Spirit

A. Guide

1. Jn 16:12-13 tells us the Holy Spirit will guide us

2. How, by guiding us to make right choices in the daily battle between the flesh and the spirit.

B. Strength giver

1. It’s not enough to know what we need to do to choose right, we need the inner strength to do it.

2. THAT is where we really need the Holy Spirit

3. Without that inner strength he gives us, we will almost always choose sin over right.

4. Satan has too good a grip on our lives to fight him without help.

5. It’s like trying to battle a really good infection without antibiotics.

a) Some, very few, might be able to fight the infection off, but most will succumb to it.

b) Just look at the plague in Europe and our own Influenza epidemic early this century that killed so many.

C. Convict

1. When we allow the Holy Spirit to work in our lives, it convicts the world of their sin.

2. When we allow the wisdom and power of Jesus to have full control of our lives, the world sees what they are missing and many will want that in their lives as well.

3. READ Jn 3:20-21

III. The Result of the Holy Spirit’s Presence

A. Peace

1. Jn 14:27 says - Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

2. The Holy Spirit is the opposite of fear and loneliness, it is peace.

3. It’s a peace of knowing that whatever happens here on earth, we have something better to look forward to.

4. It helps us put life’s troubles in perspective

5. It helps us to not fear death

6. It allows us to face life with joy rather than fear.

7. It’s a very good feeling

B. Peace misused

1. Sadly, we lose the beauty of that peace somewhere.

2. Communion becomes mundane and commonplace

3. Peace has become so expected that we often fail to be awed by what Jesus gave us in the Holy Spirit.

4. Don’t ever forget what the incredible gift the Holy Spirit is.

5. He does to much to put him on a shelf in our lives and forget to use him until it’s an emergency.