P’s and Q’s : John 14
“I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever.” (verse 16)
- What does scripture mean when it says that God will give us a “Helper?”
The Holy Spirit comes to reside in the heart of every sincere believer to give us courage, to guide us into truth, to comfort us and to make us brave when trials come to our life.
How does it feel to know you will have The Holy Spirit forever in you?
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“…that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.” (verse 17)
- How does the world define truth?
“If it feels good, do it.” What I believe to be truth is truth, and what you believe to be truth is truth. There is no absolute.
If indeed God’s Word is truth, and the Spirit leads us to the truth, how can you daily receive truth from God’s Word?
By reading, studying, memorizing and meditating day and night on His Word.
“He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him.” (verse 21)
- How do you display your love for Jesus?
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“Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.” (verse 23)
- How do we love God according to Jesus?
By following His teachings, obeying His Word and honoring Him in everything we do.
What areas of God’s Word are difficult for you to keep?
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“He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father’s who sent Me.” (verse 24)
- When is it difficult for you to obey God? Why?
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“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.” (verse 26)
- What does it mean that the Spirit “will teach you all things?”
One of the ministries of the Holy Spirit is to bring to your mind truth (i.e. to remind you of what the Word of God says when you need to make a decision, talk to someone, etc.)
Describe a time that would be important for the Spirit to remind you of God’s Word.
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“…that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.” (verse 17)
- In culture today, we are taught that truth is relative, meaning that what you believe is true is truth to you and what I believe is true is truth to me. This belief could not be further from the truth (forgive the pun). According to this passage, where does truth come from? Why is it that the world cannot receive the Spirit of truth? How do you feel knowing that after you accepted Jesus into your heart, you have the Spirit of truth within you?
Truth comes from the Holy Spirit. The reason the world cannot receive the Spirit of truth is because they will not accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior; the world lives in constant “pull” against Jesus and His commandments.
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“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives does I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.” (verse 27)
- What is the peace of God? How have you seen this in your life? The world does not understand and has not seen the peace of God. How do people in the world try to find peace without God?
The peace of God transcends all understanding; it is a feeling from God that relieves us of anxiety and fear produced by the world. You will see this in believers’ lives because they are able to experience peace in the middle of troubled times.
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People in this world, however, try to find peace in relationships, substances, and other worldly distractions.
Three Takeaways:
- Believers have a place in Heaven.
- Believers have power of Spirit in them.
- Believers have peace, help and truth from Spirit.
