Those Who Love Me Will Keep My Word

FROM: MAY 21 @ 27, 2019

TOPIC: “Those Who Love Me Will Keep My Word” John 14:17-23

The SPIRIT is in charge of guiding us into all truth (John 16:15 "...and make it known to you."). John 14:17 "You know him, for he lives with you and will be in you." Do not think that everyone has this truth. For that one has to live in God! The "church stories" are for those who only come and go! The Word is the truth! We have the wonderful Word; it is not to allow ourselves to be deceived by many.

I. The Holy Spirit is called THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH

A. Because the teaching IS TRUE and with THE TRUTH glorifies Christ.

1. Jesus says that the world cannot receive the Holy Spirit because they cannot see Him! (Vs. 17)

2. What is not seen, is not known! The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Deity!

3. The unbelievers want to see before they believe. They do not know or understand the HOLY SPIRIT!

4. He may convince them of sin, and yet they do not know who He is!

5. I say to you: Do you know Him? THE DISCIPLES INDEED KNEW THE HOLY SPIRIT.

6. They had recognized His work in their own lives and had seen Him work through the Lord Jesus.

7. The Holy Spirit lives with you and will be in you!

8. Before the Day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came upon men and was among them.

9. But since Pentecost, when someone believes in the Lord Jesus, the Holy Spirit takes "His dwelling" in the life of that man "forever."

10. (Psalm 51:11) "...do not take from me your holy Spirit." But, if one sins, it is the reason for Him to no longer dwell in our body.

11. Because the Holy Spirit is never taken away from any believer, even though He may be "grieved (afflicted, sadden, hurt), "quenched" (weakened, drowned) or "obstructed" (hindered, impeded).

12. (John 14:18) The Lord tells them that He was not going to leave His disciples like "orphans" or desolated.

a. He was going to come back to them.

b. He returned to them in the Person of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost! He is always there!

c. This coming is spiritual. Pentecost made it like the coming of Jesus for their lives.

d. Although we know that He will literally return to His disciples at the end of this age, when He takes His chosen ones to take them to the heavenly home.

13. (Vs. 19) No unbeliever saw the Lord Jesus after His burial.

a. In the resurrection, He was seen only by those who loved Him. "...but you will see me."

b. After His Ascension His disciples continued to see Him "by faith in Him," as you see Him by faith.

c. After the world could not see Him anymore, His disciples could see Him: "Because I live, you also will live."

d. Here He clarifies and anticipates them of His living when resurrected on the third day after the cross.

14. (Vs. 20) "On that day..." refers again to the day of the descent of the Holy Spirit.

a. He (the Holy Spirit) will instruct believers in the truth. Just as there was a vital link between the Son and the Father, so there would be a "wonderful union of life" and interests between Christ and His saints.

b. Look at our Church: Christ is in you and you are at the same time in Him! Thanks to the Holy Spirit!

c. In reality, Christ dwells in the believer through the Holy Spirit!

d. You find yourself before God thanks to the merit of the Person and the work of Christ!

15. (Vs. 21) The true test of one's love for the Lord is obedience to His commandments!

a. It is useless to try to talk about "loving" Him, IF WE DO NOT WANT TO OBEY HIM!

b. The Father has a special love for those who love His Son.

c. These are also loved by Christ and He makes Himself known to them in a special way.

d. The more we love the Savior, the better we will know Him!

e. Do not think you have knowledge of Him if you have not loved Him, or obeyed Him!

16. (Vs. 22) The Judas mentioned here unfortunately had the same name as the traitor.

a. This is Judas Thaddeus (he is one of the brothers of Jesus and the one who wrote the letter of Judas).

b. The Spirit of God distinguishes him kindly from Judas Iscariot.

c. Judas Thaddeus could not understand how the Lord could appear to the disciples without also being seen by the "world." Perhaps he thought of the coming of the Lord as that of a defeating King or hero.

d. He did not understand that the Lord would "manifest" Himself to His people in a spiritual way!

e. THEY WOULD SEE HIM BY FAITH THROUGH THE WORD OF GOD!

f. By the Spirit of God, us believers can really know Christ better today than some of His disciples did when He was on earth.

g. When Jesus was here on earth, those who "were in the front lines", that is, those who were closer to Him, could know Him better than those who were "further" or more distant.

h. In our time, by faith, each one of us can enjoy the most intimate communion with Him through the Holy Spirit and thus know Him very closely!

i. There is a great process in our lives: first it is to know Him, then to be washed with His blood, immediately the filling of the Holy Spirit, and then be taught in each step of the Word.

j. Obedience to the Word will result in the coming and dwelling of the Father and the Son!

17. (Vs. 23) If you truly love the Lord, you will "keep" His "complete teaching", totally (not portions), not only some of His isolated commandments.

a. The Father loves those who are willing to obey His Son without doubts or reservations! And you?

b. The Father and the Son are "especially close" to these hearts; it is not by preference; it is by the surrender of those "loving" and "obedient" children. Love Him by keeping His Word! Amen.