Introduction:

In John 14:1-6 Jesus told His disciples He was going to prepare a place for them where they would live forever with Him.  Having an awareness of that prospect brings comfort to troubled hearts.  There were questions by Thomas and Philip which led Jesus  to reveal a new teaching about the Holy Spirit.  If we truly grasp the Holy Spirit’s ministry, we will find confidence in this troubled world.   *

A.                 Love and Obedience (v.15).

1.                  “If you love Me, keep My commandments…” (v.15).

a)                  Obedience is not optional for believers (v.15).

(1)                 Jesus is not giving an optional commandment, “If you love me, [then, optional] keep my commandments.” He is saying that the man who truly loves Him will keep His commandments.

(2)                 The believer is not claiming perfection, but he is claiming to love Jesus and to believe with all his heart that Jesus is the Son of God. Therefore, he diligently seeks Jesus, and he seeks to please Him in all that he does.

b)                  What it means to love Jesus must be understood.

(1)                 To love Jesus is not an emotional thing – It involves emotions, but it is not based upon emotions. It is not feelings: not feeling good today and loving Jesus, and feeling bad tomorrow and not loving Jesus.

B.                He is the Comforter, the other Helper (v.16).

C.                He is the Spirit of truth (v.17).

a)                  The world cannot receive Him (v.17a).

b)                  The believer does receive Him and know Him (v.17b).

D.                He is the personal presence of Christ (v.18-20).

a)                  Not in a physical sense (v.19a).

b)                  A living, eternal presence (v.19b).

c)                  A living union between God, Christ, and the believer (v.20).

E.                 He is the very special manifestation of Christ within the believer (v.21-22).

a)                  The special presence is conditional: Must obey and love Christ (v.21).

b)                  The special presence is questioned (v.22).

F.                 He is the abiding presence of the Trinity (v.23-24).

a)                  Is conditional: Must love and obey Jesus (v.23a).

b)                  Is the love and presence of God and Christ (v.23b).

c)                  Is not given to those who do not love and obey Christ (v.24a).

d)                  Is assured by God Himself (v.24b).

G.                He is the Holy Spirit, the Teacher (v.25-26)

a)                  The facts (v.26a-b)

(1)                 He is promised (v.26a)

(2)                 He is given by the Father in the name of Jesus (v.26b)

b)                  His purpose (v.26c-d)

(1)                 To teach the believer (v.26c)

(2)                 To help the believer remember (v.26d)