The Holy Spirit Teaches Us All Things

Without the Holy Spirit we will not be overcomers in Christ Jesus!

In John chapter 14 we find Jesus talking to his disciples and telling them that he would soon be leaving them. Now reading between the lines of this chapter I sort of detect that the news of Jesus leaving them has made them more than a little bit nervous and has scared them somewhat, as he says to them, “Do not let your hearts be troubled.”

The Lord tells the disciples that he is going back to the Father but that he would come back to fetch them – although He gives them no indication of the timing of when His return will be. And he goes on to tell them not to worry about his departure from the world because he is going to ask the Father to send them the Comforter, the Helper, the Holy Spirit who will teach them all things and lead them in all truth.

Now the Greek word for comforter used in verse 16 is ‘parakletos’ (pronounced paraklaytos) and its full meaning besides comforter is: advocate, helper, the one who draws alongside us, consoler, and intercessor. So here we see that the Holy Spirit is everything one could ask for and more. He is our advocate and advisor, he helps us to complete our God-given purpose, he is there to console us and see us through difficult times, and he is our intercessor and continually prays to the Father for us just as Jesus does.

From verses 15 to 31 in the table below I will attempt to explain, verse by verse, just how much we need the Holy Spirit as believers and just how, like Jesus, it is absolutely necessary for us to allow the Holy Spirit to permeate every aspect of our beings and in all that we do in our daily lives. But please remember that my words are fallible – the Word of God is not!

John 14:15-31 (NIV)

15. “If you love me, keep my commands.

In this verse love here is the agapé love of God that expects nothing in return. We can only appropriate this kind of love in its full measure through the power of the Holy Spirit living in us. We have a direct connection to God through the Holy Spirit alive within us. It is the Holy Spirit who regenerates our spirit and as such we are to follow the commands of Jesus. This means living according to His Word – the Bible. Every born-again Christian’s life-manual. Know the Word = know Jesus = know the Holy Spirit = know God = a changed me, a good and faithful servant of the Lord! If we don’t keep his commands, we move ourselves out of His perfect will for our lives.

16. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—

Here Jesus is saying to his disciples (and to us today) that when he is gone, he will ask the Father to give us another Comforter and He shall give us the Holy Spirit who will live within us for ever. It is also interesting to note here that Jesus says that the Father will send another Comforter – Jesus being the first, somebody just like him with all His characteristics who will live within us for ever. The Holy Spirit in us is how Jesus lives in each one of us.

17. the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.

Here Jesus refers to the Holy Spirit as the Spirit of truth. The Greek word here for truth is ‘aletheia’ (a-lay-thi-a) and its full definition is: truth, but not merely truth as spoken; truth of idea, reality, sincerity, truth in the moral sphere, divine truth revealed to man, straightforwardness (ref: Strong’s 225). This is the truth that is God’s and that He wants us to have, and we will only have if we have the Holy Spirit living and working in us and through us. Jesus says that the world does not know the Holy Spirit only those that truly belong to Him will know the Holy Spirit.

18. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.

Here Jesus again reassures us that he will not leave us alone, but he will be with us always through his Holy Spirit until he comes again! The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Jesus. A Holy Spirit filled Christian is never alone!

19. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live.

Jesus assures all believers that even though he is no longer with us in the flesh we can still see him in the spirit. Our spirits are alive and connected to him by the Holy Spirit. And when we remain in Him, not deviating from His commands, our reward is eternal life!

20. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.

Here the Lord gives us a word picture of how it is the Holy Spirit that connects him to the Father and us to him and through him we are connected to the Father which enables us to enter the Holy of Holies into the direct presence of God! And through the Holy Spirit all believers are connected to each other, the same spirit is in all of us – God’s Holy Spirit! We, as born-again Christians, are God’s children and family, therefore we are brothers and sisters to each other through Christ Jesus!

21. Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”

Jesus states here that those that keep his commands (the teachings of the Bible) are the ones who truly love him and as a result of this we will be loved by the Father. 

The Lord tells us quite clearly that it is the ones that know the Bible and keep His commands are the ones that love Him. This suggests that if we don’t know His word and keep His commands then we don’t truly love Him! This is a warning to the Church! Do you still wilfully use bad language, get drunk, lie, cheat and steal, etc?? 

It is through this cycle of God’s agape love that the Holy Spirit reveals Christ to the believers. Those that love Jesus truly from the heart are those that keep his commands – the Bible – Jesus is the Word! The Word is the sword of the Spirit!

22. Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?”
23. Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.

The answer to Judas’ question in verse 22 is of course that through the Holy Spirit being alive within us, Jesus will be revealed to others. Through the Father’s agape love emanating from the Holy Trinity (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) to us and us loving Jesus in the same way, provides a channel by which Jesus will live within our hearts. The conduit and connection is through the Holy Spirit – spirit speaks to spirit.

24. Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.

If we do not love Jesus, we will not obey his teachings in the Bible. Our disobedience to the truth of the Word is sin! When we are disobedient and unrepentant we have to face the consequences for God disciplines the ones He loves!

25. “All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Advocate, 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.

In these two verses the Lord tells us that even though He is not with us physically, when the Holy Spirit comes upon us, he will come in the name of Jesus and will teach us all things and he will also remind us of what Jesus has already said, that is he will remind us of what is in the Word – remembering of course that Jesus is the Word in flesh. The Holy Spirit will also reveal to us the Father’s will for our lives in what lies ahead – this will enable us to bring glory to Jesus, the Name above all names.

27. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

Jesus is saying here that because he has sent the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, to us and we follow His guidance, we will have peace of mind and we need not be afraid of anything.

Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV) 

 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

28. “You heard me say, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.

Here I believe that Jesus is telling us as modern-day believers that although he is not with us in the flesh we can still rejoice because he is with us in spirit once we are born-again and have the infilling of the Holy Spirit – we should be joyful that he is with the Father because the Father is greater than Jesus in the flesh and everything that the Father has belongs to Jesus and He gives it to us through the Holy Spirit!

John 16:12-16 (NIV) 

12 “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.”

 .29. I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe.

Jesus is telling the disciples that what is about to happen, his betrayal and crucifixion, so that when it does happen, they will believe it!

30. I will not say much more to you, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold over me, 31. but he comes so that the world may learn that I love the Father and do exactly what my Father has commanded me.

Jesus is telling us that the Devil, the prince of the world, is coming in the guise of Judas’ kiss of betrayal. Jesus is also telling us that the Devil has no hold over him and that He loves the Father completely and is completely obedient to the Father. It was the Father’s command that Jesus should suffer and die for our sins, and because of His great love (agapé) he is going to the cross willingly so that we might live! Amen! Thank you, Jesus!

When we, His Church, love Jesus as He loves the Father and when we are completely obedient to Him and The Word, the devil has no hold over us! Yes and Amen! 

When we are disobedient to Jesus and The Word we allow the devil to get a foot in the door of our lives where he will sow evil into our lives through lies and deception! If we are unrepentant in anything, things will not go well! Do not try and hide your sin, God sees you always!

James (talking to the Church) 5:16 (NIV)

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

Hebrews 4:13 (NIV)

Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, in Jesus’ name, I pray that you would fill me with your Holy Spirit and keep on filling me. Lead me in all truth, Holy Spirit, and teach me all things, that my lifestyle would be such that in all I do, I will bring glory to the name of Jesus my Saviour. Lead me on the path of righteousness and let me not go astray. Lead me on the path that the Father has willed for my life. Lead me on the path of obedience to your Word, Father. Bless me, Lord, so that I may be a blessing to others. Protect me from the evil one, Lord Jesus, I pray. Amen.

To Jesus belongs all glory, honour and praise!

Jesus, the Name above all names!

Remember: Reading this article is no substitute for reading and studying the Bible for yourself! I am flawed the Bible is not!

Are You Plugged in to God's Power Grid?

In the above picture we see the power grid of the Holy Trinity – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – one God, three persons. The Church, as born-again Christians both as individual people and as a corporate entity, are able to join God’s power grid by plugging in to the power of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus, when asked by one of the teacher’s of the law what the greatest commandment was, responded in this way:

Mark 12:29-30 (NIV)

29 “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’[Dt 6:4-5]

And just before He ascended into heaven, He left us with these encouraging and comforting words that shows us that He will live within us and empower us to do greater things than He if we love Him and keep His commands!

John 14:12 (NIV)

Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.

John 14:15-17 (NIV)

15 “If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.

How do we plug in to God’s Power Grid?

First and foremost, ask Jesus to become Lord of your life and turn away (repent) from your sinful life, confess before Him that you are a sinner in a simple prayer just as I have said it in this sentence.

Once we become born again (repent and give our lives to Jesus) and are baptised, there is a ‘power’ that God makes available to us in order for us to become effective ministers within His Kingdom and to fulfil His purpose in our lives and to help us be conformed to His image.

Acts 2:38 (AMP)

And Peter said to them, “Repent [change your old way of thinking, turn from your sinful ways, accept and follow Jesus as the Messiah] and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ because of the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

We have all been predestined to do the works that God has prepared for us to do, but we need to be moving in the power of the Holy Spirit in order to fulfil them. In Romans 8, Paul calls this ‘Life in the Spirit.’

Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Romans 8:6-9 (NIV)

6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.

9 You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ.

Dear Reader, I would encourage you to read and study Romans 8 for yourself. It will change your life!

Let’s have a look at what happened with Jesus just before he began his ministry amongst us.

Matthew 3:13-17 (NIV)

13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. 14 But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented.

16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

So, here Jesus is baptised in order to fulfil all righteousness (verse 15) and we see that he was filled with the Holy Spirit (the descending dove) and this was pleasing to God.

Directly after his baptism Jesus was led into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit to be tempted by the devil and by the Word of God the ‘tempter’ was defeated – this was Jesus moving in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 4:10-11 (NIV)

10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”

11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

It was directly after this battle with Satan that Jesus began his Spirit filled ministry to the people!

Luke 4:14 (NIV)

Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside.

Here we see that Jesus was connected into the power of the Holy Spirit in order to fulfil his predestined ministry on earth. This is the example that the Church needs to embrace both individually and corporately to be effective ministers in the world and to be overcomers of the world.

Just as a country is connected into a power grid in order to run effectively so the Church needs to be connected into God’s power grid to be effective ministers in Jesus’ name.

Luke 24:49 tells us to wait, before we do anything, to be clothed with power from on high. This is what happens when we wait and get plugged in to His power!

Pentecost was only the beginning of the power that God has for His Church moving in the Holy Spirit. When we do this Church, we bring glory to the name of Jesus!

Acts 2:1-4 (NIV)

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

Look what happens when we are plugged in to the Holy Spirit!

We receive power from on high, we speak the Word, boldly, miracles, signs and wonders follow us wherever we go, and the Lord adds to the number of those being saved!

The Holy Spirit empowers us to bring glory to Jesus!

John 16:14-15 (AMP)

14 He will glorify and honor Me, because He (the Holy Spirit) will take from what is Mine and will disclose it to you. 15 All things that the Father has are Mine. Because of this I said that He [the Spirit] will take from what is Mine and will reveal it to you.

How do we plug in to the Holy Spirit both as individuals and corporately as an entire congregation?

With loving (agape) devotion and obedience to:

• God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit

• and to His Word

• and to each other

Matt 22:37-39

37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’

Acts 2:42

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

1 John 4:20

Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.

1 Cor 13:1 (NIV)

If I don’t have love: I am a clanging cymbal; I am nothing; I gain nothing!

Colossians 3:12-14 (NIV)

12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Romans 8:5-8 (NIV)

5 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.

Romans 8:12-14

12 Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. 13 For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.

14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.

Luke 11:28 (AMP)

But He said, “On the contrary, blessed (happy, favored by God) are those who hear the word of God and continually observe it.”

Are you plugged in to the Holy Spirit?

Is your congregation plugged in to the Holy Spirit?

Do you live according to the flesh or according to the Spirit?

Do you need to make changes in your life to be conformed to the image of Christ?

Do you live and walk in full obedience to the teachings and commands of the Bible in Christ Jesus?

If you and/or your congregation are not, then you will never reach your full potential in Christ Jesus!

Jesus has so much he wants to reveal to us and this he does through the Holy Spirit. As his disciples we are only able to glorify the name of Jesus when we are plugged in to the Holy Spirit and walking in full obedience to His Word – NOT PARTIAL OBEDIENCE OR OBEDIENCE WHEN IT SUITS YOU!

John 16:12-15 (NIV)

12 “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.”

“The Christian’s obedience to the Word (Jesus) opens the channel through which the Holy Spirit will move in, upon and through you! The true Baptism in the Holy Spirit”

When we, as Christian’s, are not in full obedience to the Word – walking in the flesh - we are in willful sin which hampers our Christian walk to maturity!

Ephesians 5:18 (AMP)

Do not get drunk with wine, for that is wickedness (corruption, stupidity), but be filled (continually) with the [Holy] Spirit and constantly guided by Him.

Are you plugged in to the Holy Spirit?

Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father
I pray in the name of Jesus that you would continually fill me with your Holy Spirit that I may live my life in the Spirit and not according to my flesh. Help me, I pray, in all I do to bring glory to Jesus! Amen

To Jesus belongs all glory honour and praise!

Jesus the Name above all names!

Remember: Reading this article is no substitute for reading and studying the Bible for yourself! I am flawed the Bible is not!