2015.3.22 礼拝

Message: John 14:16-24 – “Walk with the Holy Spirit”
Kids: What is the Holy Spirit? Not as easily understood as Jesus Christ about whom we can read on picture books or God our Father who loves us dearly. However, we can understand if we read the Bible which explains very clearly. From the Bible, we know that the Holy Spirit is with us when we believed as Jesus promised; always with us and will not leave us on our own.
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Trinity, while not specifically termed in the Bible, is commonly known to mean God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit.. In other word, the Holy Spirit is God. However, rather than just accepting conclusions of what others have studied, we should get to know about the Holy Spirit from the Bible. If we rely only on what others have found out, we may be misled. We should not read the Bible with too much preconception.
Today’s points:
① The Holy Spirit is received through Jesus Christ.
John 14:16 – And I will ask the Father. Jesus Christ asked God for the Holy Spirit to be with us and without Jesus this would not have been possible.
② The Holy Spirit is the counselor (helper).
John 14:16 – and he will give you another Counselor. In a court, a counselor represents the defendant and helps the person. We may be able to have eternal life (by confessing our belief in Jesus Christ); however, the Holy Spirit helps us change and grow to be right in the sight of God.
③ The Holy Spirit is with us forever.
John 14:16 – Counselor to be with you forever. Christians believe in Jesus Christ and God. Meanwhile, the Bible says the Holy Spirit is with us. But that does not mean Jesus Christ is not with us because the Holy Spirit is God and Jesus Christ.
④ Those who do not believe in Jesus cannot receive the Holy Spirit.
John 14:17 – The world cannot accept him. Those who did not believe in Jesus and do not accept cannot receive the Holy Spirit.
⑤ The Holy Spirit is given to all who believe in Jesus Christ.
John 14:17 – But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. In contrast to point ④, those who believe will receive the Holy Spirit to be with them.
John 14:26 – 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. The Holy Spirit helps/strengthens us to do the work of Jesus’ command.
⑥ The Holy Spirit gives us “(eternal) life”
John 14:19 – Because I live, you also will live.
John 6:63 – The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.
We live because Jesus lives and because Jesus has asked for the Holy Spirit to be with us. We are given life to live with God’s blessing.
⑦ There is a close relation between “the Holy Spirit” and “to love Christ.”
John 14:23 – 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. Jesus is talking about the Holy Spirit and love at the same scene. There is a strong connection between the two. Last week’s message was about being driven by the love of God.. We should seek what does not change eternally, be affected by anything nor leave us. That is the Holy Spirit which brings the love of God.