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Power to live by – The Empowering presence of the Holy Spirit. John 14:15-17; 14:25,26; 15:25-27; 16:7-15. Goodbyes & Farewells. Physical absence of someone we love creates a hole that often, nothing else can fill. John 13 – Jesus prepares his disciples for his physical departure
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Power to live by – The Empowering presence of the Holy Spirit John 14:15-17; 14:25,26; 15:25-27; 16:7-15
Goodbyes & Farewells • Physical absence of someone we love creates a hole that often, nothing else can fill. • John 13 – Jesus prepares his disciples for his physical departure • To the Cross • After resurrection – To the Father.
Goodbye as a welcome • The Goodbye is also a welcoming. Welcoming the presence of the Triune God. • John 14:16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever. • John 14:18 I wil not leave you as orphans; I will come to you • John 14:23 Jesus replied, “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. • The presence of God for all believes, for all time.
One God in Three persons • From the very beginnings of Christianity, the Holy Spirit has been regarded as one of the persons of the Godhead- One God in three persons- Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
One God in Three persons • Story of St. Augustine and the little boy on the beach who was trying to fit the ocean in a little hole in the sand. Botticelli - Vision of Saint Augustine, c. 1488, Tempera on panel, 20 x 38 cm. Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence
One God in Three persons • The Trinity – Father, Son and Holy Spirit, is not a puzzle to be sorted out but a mystery that we are invited to enter in. • Mystery – Infinitely Knowable (Fr. Elton) • We are invited to participate in the life of God in whose image we have been created as persons capable of communion.
3 Roles of the Holy Spirit • 1. Advocate – Paraclete Ch 14 • 2. Witness – Ch 14, 15, 16 • Prosecutor – Ch 16
1. Paraclete • John 14:16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Paraclete… • John 14:26 But the Paraclete, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name… • John 15:26 When the Paraclete comes… • John 16:7 …If I do not go away, the Paraclete will not come to you… • 1 John 2:1 …if anyone sings, we have an advocate (Parakleton) with with Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. • In 1 John2 – Jesus is the paraclete – advocate.
1. Paraclete • Translated as Counseller, comforter, Helper, Advocate. • Greek meaning – “called alongside” “called to one’s aid” • 1 Cor 6:19, 20 – Holy Spirit in the believer • We can only live holy lives by the power of the Holy Spirit.
2. Witness • Teach and testify • John 14:26 …will teach you all things and reming you of everything I have said to you. • John 15:26 …He will testify to me • John 15:27 …you also must testify… • John 16:12 …He will guide you into all truth
2. Witness • Teach • The Holy Spirit becomes a lifelong teacher and guide in the life of the believer in Christ. • He teaches what Jesus taught. • The Holy Spirit opens our eyes to see Jesus in the Scriptures. • My testimony
2. Witness • Testify • The fearful disciples turn into bold witnesses after the day of Pentecost in Acts 2. • Are we depending on human rationalism or the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit. • Without the power of the Holy Spirit our witnessing will be ineffective. • 1 Corinthian 2:4 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power,
3. Prosecutor John 16:8 He will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgement. • Sin: Holy Spirit brings conviction of sin. Acts 2. • Righteousness: Sinful human beings have no hope except through the Righteousness of Jesus Christ. • Judgment: The redemptive act of Jesus and His resurrection – victory over sin, satan and all evil. • Evil and all who choose who align with it will be judged.
3. Prosecutor John 16:8 He will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgement. • Sin: Holy Spirit brings conviction of sin. Acts 2. • Righteousness: Sinful human beings have no hope except through the Righteousness of Jesus Christ. • Judgment: The redemptive act of Jesus and His resurrection – victory over sin, satan and all evil. • Evil and all who choose who align with it will be judged.
Application • The Gift of the Holy Spirit is the gift of empowering God’s presence and power for us to live by. • When was the last time you made a decision by seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit? • As a congregation here – What does the Holy Spirit want to do for, in and through University Chapel? • What does the Holy Spirit want to do in Vancouver ? • Have we give room for the work of the Spirit in our lives? • We may think of ourselves as a small group – but when the Spirit of God takes hold of even one of His people, there is no telling what He can do. • We need the Holy Spirit as our advocate, intercessor, one who witnesses through us and convicts the world of it’s error.