YOU ARE NOT ALONE

 

John 14:12-31

 

As Jesus continues this time alone with His disciple, we see that a

period of leaving is always a painful time of life.

 

Leaving means: loss, and that stings, whether that be the death of a loved one, or you’re sending your child off to college, or kindergarten, or you’ve lost your health, or your job. All of these kinds of events, all of these leaving events, they bring uncertainty, they bring vulnerability, they bring pain into our life. When you’re separated or you leave something, it hurts. And you know that grief comes along with that.

 

But nothing makes the heart feel better than knowing that help is on the way; especially when you are alone, or you feel that you are all alone.

 

There is a sense of peace, joy, and a calmness, that overtakes the heart when help is on the way, or when what was leaving returns back. For example: The sound of sirens as they approach your burning house, a distressing call, or for medical health reasons. For many these sounds scare or annoy them; but for those who are in distress, the sounds of a siren are what calm the already troubled spirit. The mom and dad who rushes to care for their hurting child of any age, because there is a certain peace that overcomes them, because they are loved by their parents. If we were to go back to 2010, when 33 miners were trapped in a Chilean mine deep under the earth’s surface, for 69 days. A collapsed mine 2,300 feet (700 meters) underground. To put some perspective on this, these 33 miners were sealed inside the mountain by this "megablock" of stone, some 770,000 ton which is "twice the weight of the Empire State building." The miners staring at a flat, smooth wall, we are told that the crew's supervisor, thought: "It [was] like the stone they put over Jesus's tomb."

 

Can you imagine what they went through? The feeling of total hopelessness in being rescued. But all hope wasn’t lost, they received word from above that help was on the way. Can you imagine the excitement of relief when they got a message from above that the rescue team knew exactly where they were and that the process of getting them out had already begun! It took 17 days to drill to reach them.

There are times in all of our lives when we feel like we’re

stuck in a really bad place.

 

Anxious, all alone, living in despair, thinking that we are out of options, and that no one understands and they don’t know what I’m struggling with. But in such moments, we need to remember God’s promises and His comforting words, just as He speaks to His disciples here in the upper room. These men are so troubled, and felt alone, like the miners did before help came; even though the Lord Jesus, was present with them. The Lord comforts them we yet another truth; a truth that should seal the deal on all doubt and fear as you live out each day. What were His words of comfort? You are not alone; help is on the way! Our greatest hope for every day life is found here, a hope to continue each and every day through the mundane, by resting in the promises from God above.

 

I think one of the most encouraging things Jesus said to the disciples is that “I will not leave you orphans” (v18) “orphans”, can be translated, “comfortless” or better yet “fatherless” What Jesus promises is that, “I will never leave you fatherless and abandoned like so many people today”. Especially today with the breakdown of the family between husband and wife, and the information age of wandering youth, to adulthood. Jesus says that He would show them the kindness of a parent, and, though he was going away, he would provide for their future safety.

 

We get reference of this in the Scriptures…. As a parent we are told to love our children because Jesus demonstrates this love towards us in the gospel. “Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.” 1 Peter 4:8. 

Recognize Your Children As Blessings. “Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward.” Psalm 127:3

Jesus is the only one who can reveal God’s fatherly character to us, for He is one in nature and essence with the Father. “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” John 14:6-7

 

Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.” I and the Father are one.” John 10:27-30

 

Jesus is our everlasting Father. “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6

 

Once we become a child of Christ’s, we are His and He is ours forever. There will be no goodbyes with him. Nothing in all creation will be able to separate us from his love. Not even death itself, because it will only draw us nearer. Charles Spurgeon said, “There is no unfathering Christ, and there is no unchilding us, He is everlastingly a father to those who trust in him.” Praise God for our eternal security in Christ, our Everlasting Father.”

 

What is most beautiful about all of this, is that we can see all of these lived out in how Christ Fathers us.

He loves us.

He teaches us.

He sees us as blessings.

He disciplines us.

He is The Great Provider.

 

As a loving parent would, Jesus promises is that, “I will never leave you fatherless and abandoned like so many people today”. How? He does this by promising to send us a helper, a guide, a teacher, to show us the way home to His Kingdom. That place called in the Scriptures “Heaven” the place that Jesus spoke of in the opening remarks of chapter fourteen for those who truly follow Him. And He says “I will come again” (v18b) Here is the stamp, the icing on the cake, to that promise that He will never leave us as orphans. Never to leave us crying, and feeling alone, when others walk out of our lives to never to return. Why? Jesus, is the example every father should live and govern their lives by. That’s why we find comfort when the Hebrew writer penned these words “….For He Himself has said, "I WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU NOR FORSAKE YOU." So we may boldly say: "THE LORD IS MY HELPER; I WILL NOT FEAR. WHAT CAN MAN DO TO ME?" Heb 13:5-6

 

So who is this Helper?

 

John’s gospel is the only one who identifies the Spirit this way “Another Helper”. (v15) This word is better translated “Comforter”, “Advocate,” this is someone who helps another in court, whether as an Advocator, a witness, or a representative. The Spirit is promised as one who would supply Christ’s own place in His absence. That’s why Jesus continues to comfort the disciples in the upper room. “But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they do not believe in Me; of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.” I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.” John 16:6-14

 

The Spirit of truth will teach them, us, all the necessary truth pertaining to life and godliness. Paul tells us the Spirit will teach us and draw our attention to our sin, and to discern error from truth. 1 John 2:18-27. The anointing of the Holy Spirit is all you need to avoid this heresy and interpret correctly what was taught you from the beginning about the Messiah. John Piper wrote, “The purpose of this anointing is not to add new information to what they had heard from the beginning, but to give them such a clear and true sense of Christ and who he is in that teaching that they cannot be drawn away and swayed by the deceivers.”

How does this Helper comfort

my troubled heart?

 

THIS HELPER COMES ALONG SIDE US TO COMFORT AND STRENGTHEN OUR SOULS FOR HEAVEN. (V15-V18)

 

Having the Helper is the same as having Jesus physically, accessible but only better. Again, remember Jesus said he is going and we can’t follow right now, but you will in time. So, access to Jesus personally is impossible though our earthly life, but the Helper the Holy Spirit resides with us to comfort us until that glorious day when we stand before Christ physically. The Holy Spirit is not some force or essence that comes over us. It is the Third PERSON of the Trinity.

 

Why talk about the Holy Spirit here?

Why talk about the Holy Spirit now?

 

Pentecost is some 50 days away, and Jesus speaks of the Holy Spirit here because He knew that the promise of the Holy Spirit would mean comfort for their hurting and troubled hearts. And what a gift the Holy Spirit is to us. The Spirit, comes along side us, as father does his child, when he’s teaching to ride his bike for the first time without training wheels. Walking or running alongside your son or daughter, with one hand on the seat giving instructions “relax, keep your wheel straight and steady.” And when they fall or crash [and they will] you’re there to pick them up, and to encourage them to try again and never give up [to persevere].

  

Isn’t this the Christian life?

 

Every one of us started out with training wheels, some still need them to grow; because some need more comfort and encouragement to continue in the Christian life. But the wonderful blessing in all of this is that the Spirit doesn’t sit back and wait for an opportunity. He is always there to Help us, through the good, and bad times of your journey home. He was there in the beginning, and He will be there to help you through to the end of your Christian life. As Paul wrote when he was discouraged and had been disheartened “For indeed, when we came to Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were troubled on every side. Outside were conflicts, inside were fears. Nevertheless God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus,” 2 Cor 7:5-6

 

THIS HELPER DWELLS WITHIN OUR HEARTS AND BRINGS THINGS TO REMEMBERANCE. (V19-V26)

 

In (v23) we read "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.” Doesn’t this sound familiar to the opening statement Jesus made? “I go to prepare a place for you” (v2) See “place” in (v2) and “home” in (v23) is the same Greek word “mon-ay” which means: dwelling place, abode, room.

 

Jesus is preparing a dwelling place for us, but

He also says the Spirit is also going to dwell within us.

 

One of the most encouraging aspects to the Christian life, is to know that the Holy Spirit not only comes along side us, but that He dwells within us. Sadly though! One of the most troubling thoughts many feel today is that they’re all alone; there is nobody to help them in their time of struggle, temptation and so on. And that’s true for many people around the globe today who are defence and hostile to the things of God. Usually when a person feels they are all alone “self-pity” comes to visit and they usually end up saying, “Nobody cares about me” Again, these are common feelings, but unnecessary for the genuine child of God who finds everything they need in life in Him, through the Spirit. Paul wrote to the church in Rome “And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.” Rom 8:10-11 

The Holy Spirit teaches us, and prepares us, for ministry, how to life and respond to a broken world system, He prepares us for our eternal inheritance. He reveals things our lives that need to be changed, for our good and God’s glory. He produces those inward feelings of conviction, repentance, faith, hope, fear, and love, which will always produce an outward display of an inward changed life. For without the Spirit, we are hopeless, restless and lost without a home in Heaven. 

 

THE HELPER GIVES US THE ABILITY TO DO GREAT THINGS FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD. (V12-V13)

 

There is a true story of a submarine mate in World War II, who had an acute appendicitis and the nearest surgeon was thousands of miles away. The Pharmacist mate watched the soldier’s temperature rise to 106 degrees; the man’s only hope was an operation or he is going to die

 

So, the Pharmacist said “I’ve watched doctors do this, I think I can it”

The man who was in pain consented and so they prepared for surgery.

 

The cook boiled water in pots to sterilize the instruments

A tea strainer served as an antiseptic cone

A broken handled scalpel was the operating instrument

Alcohol was drained from the torpedo was the antiseptic

Bent table spoons served to keep the muscles open.

 

After cutting through layers of muscle, it took him 20 minutes to find the appendix. Two and half hours later, the last stitch was sewed just as the last drop of ether gave out.  Thirteen days later the man whose life hanged in the balance was saved and he returned to duty fully recovered.

 

That’s amazing! An untrained man under the most extreme conditions performed a miracle that saved this man’s life. Jesus said “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.” (v12) This doesn’t mean every believer will be put to extreme conditions as this, but what this means we are in capable of many things unknown when we rest in hands of a sovereign God who guide us through each situation whether the outcome is good or bad.

 

See, through the Spirit we are capable to… 

Love the unlovable, the outcast, the lost.

Forgive and seek the forgiveness of others when we have wronged them.

Comfort the broken-hearted in any circumstance.

Serve others and do it joyfully unto them.

 

What Jesus is specifically saying here is, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.” (v12)

 

This is in relation to the spreading of the gospel message as it reaches around the globe. When Jesus Ascended into the Heavens, He left them with one final charge. “So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:6-8. There is so much we can learn from this time in the upperoom, because the Spirit who dwells in us, gives us the wisdom, abilities, to perform great things for the Kingdom. Through the Spirit we are able to do the same as Jesus did when we are proclaiming truth to those who have ears to hear in the church and outside these walls. Jesus brought life and through His life-giving message in the gospel; and we have the privilege to continue in that ministry and to see the fruits of His ministry. What Jesus is saying here is that, “We are able to see God’s mighty power as it transforms millions of lives though our transformed lives and the proclamation of the gospel message.”

 

See, your ministry that you’ve been given is greater than Jesus Christ earthly ministry, even though His is the conductor and orchestrator and source of all things. He was here for a short period to display the love of the Godhead; but He is gone, and He will not return until an appointed time. In the time remaining we have been given the responsibility, the absolute joy to tell others, and proclaim for people come to Christ and find eternal life. This is how God uses us, the church, through the Spirit, uses simple, untrained people to do impossible things for His glory and His Kingdom.

Look at the life of a offshore fisherman named Peter, when the religious leaders were dumbfounded by his wisdom. “Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers of the people and elders of Israel: If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. This is the 'STONE WHICH WAS REJECTED BY YOU BUILDERS, WHICH HAS BECOME THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE.' Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.” Acts 4:8-13 

 

THE HELPER IS THERE TO SETTLE A TROUBLED HEART. (V27-V31)

 

A peace that world desperately needs, but unable to attain apart from Christ and the Holy Spirit indwelling. A person will never find genuine peace in this life or the next apart from the saving work found in the gospel. See this peace that Jesus gives us is not purchased at the store, or in today’s best-selling books, not even your neighbor or closet friend. It comes through Jesus Christ and the always present Helper in our lives. That’s why Jesus says “the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.” (v17) As John Gill said “The men of the world, who are as they came into the world, carnal and natural men, can neither receive the Spirit nor the things of the Spirit, the truths and doctrines of the Gospel; they can neither receive them into their understandings, nor into their affections; and indeed, because they cannot understand them, therefore they do not love them, but despise and hate them.”

 

That’s why Paul wrote “But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” 

1 Cor 2:14

 

Spiritually discerned is a person who is spiritually blind to see Christ, and not to see Christ is not to see God. This is why Paul says, “natural man does not” the natural man, relies solely on human wisdom and reasoning, and as a result, is unable to perceive or appreciate the things of God. Remember, we absolutely need the Spirit to discern anything spiritual in this life, we absolutely need the Spirit to find/keep genuine peace in a troubled world. We need this Comforter, because why would we need to experience the Comforter, if our lives are already comfortable?”

  

These are the promises that Jesus told His disciples and these are the same promises that have been made available through the finish work on the cross. The Holy Spirit is given to the church of all God’s called out ones, to abide with us until Christ calls us home. And what’s beautiful about this is He will never let go of your heart, even when you try to cash it in or forfeit. This is the peace that supersedes everything else in this troubled life. The gospel confession reveals the Spirit’s work in your life. “In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.” Eph 1:13-14. Again, let not your heart be troubled my weary untrained disciples! HELP IS ON THE WAY! 

HELP IS HERE and He’s going nowhere, He is here to come alongside, dwell within us, help us to great things for the Kingdom and give us a peace in the midst of our troubles and circumstances of life. Let not your heart be troubled! I’m with you always, so comfort one another with these truths, and live your life for the glory of His name. Remember “Man’s chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.” and that’s only possible, that’s only made available through the ministry of the Holy Spirit.