No Longer Orphans: Diving Deeper
See Jesus
"I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you."
John 14:18
Grace and peace to you, Family, from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Whatever circumstance you find yourself in today, may God's abundant grace be sufficient (enough) for you. May the peace of God govern your heart and mind and keep your thoughts on the love of Jesus for you. We love Him because He first loved us.
Family, this is an important series, The Comforter Comes. Having endured the cross, God the Father raised Jesus from the dead. God the Father exalted the Lord Jesus, rewarding Him for His obedience. Jesus has been given the name which is above every name, the Lord Jesus Christ.
The penalty of sin (death & curse) has been paid in full by the precious Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. Now to anyone who believes in Him, to that person shall be given the right to become a child of God!
Though our sins were once as scarlet, now they have been cleansed by the Blood of Jesus and we are found to be white as snow. When we believe in Jesus, our past, present and future sins and mistakes are removed from us as far as the east is from the west.
All of this is a gift of God, not of works. We have been saved by grace, not by our works. This is by faith, which is a gift of God so none of us can boast.
In John 14:15-20, Jesus makes some promises to those who believe in Him. He promises:
The Helper, the Holy Spirit
Adoption
Home
In verse 15, Jesus says "if you love me, keep my commands". A better way to understand what Jesus is saying here is 'if you love me, my commandments you will keep'. Jesus says that in this new covenant with Him, obedience flows out of love.
In Christ Jesus' love, we are given a new nature that wants to be obedient to Him. Jesus goes on to promise a Helper, the Holy Spirit! Not only do we have a new nature that desires obedience, we will be given a Helper to help us obey and live this new life of faith in Jesus.
This Helper is the Holy Spirit of God! Verse 17 says that the Holy Spirit will be with the believer and in the believer. He is a "forever" gift. The Presence of the Holy Spirit isn't with you now and gone tomorrow. He is a forever gift from your Heavenly Father, sent to you by Jesus.
Jesus says in John 14 that He will not leave us as orphans, He will come to us. As Adam's children we were all orphaned from God. Each one of us turned from God. Lost. The finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ is to reconcile us back to God.
When we believe in the Lord Jesus. When we receive His salvation by faith, then we are given the Holy Spirit who is the seal, the Guarantor, of our adoption into the Family of God!
"The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." The Spirit himslef testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs - heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory."
Romans 8:15-17
Those who hear the Good News of the Lord Jesus Christ and believe are brought Home to the Father. Jesus says, "My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them."
The believer is brought Home to communion with God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The believer dwells in the Perfect Love and Perfect Home of God.
Such a thought is too great for us, but praise the Lord we have been given the mind of Christ. Father, we pray you help us to understand.
Remarkably, this is not the fullness of the gift of the Holy Spirit yet. We go on to read in the Book of Acts that not only is the Gift of Holy Spirit to be with us and in us, but also upon us!
The upon gift of the Holy Spirit is known as the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. This is a gift that is subsequent, in addition to, salvation.
Family, we believe in the Holy Spirit with us, the Holy Spirit in us and the Holy Spirit upon us.
Here are some ways you can participate in this series:
Read the Book of Acts or Listen to it on audio Bible
Read The Baptism of Holy Spirit by G.S. McLean
Attend the Sunday services
I know that this is a busy time of year. I am praying that the Lord Himself creates margin for you to seek Him.
WIth Much Love,
Pastor Merodee
Know Jesus
This week, you can dive deeper into the message through one or all of the following:
Discovery Bible Study
TO BEGIN
Pray and ask Holy Spirit to teach you about God from His word.
Next, read the verse a couple of times.
Now, ask these questions:
What does this tell me about God/Jesus?
What does this tell me about people?
How can I respond to what I just read?
When you’re done asking these questions, it’s a great idea to pray and thank God for teaching you more about who He is and who you are!
Discovery Bible Study (DBS) is a way for anyone, anywhere to read God's word! You can dive deeper into this week's message by doing a DBS one any one or all of these scriptures. DBS is a great tool to use for your own devotions, as a bible study with friends, or as an evangelism tool!
"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. 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, John 14:26-27
Prayer Prompt
Heavenly Father, we praise you today. You are holy. There is none like you. You are unique. You are One God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Once we were orphans. We were without You. Thank you that you sent your Son to redeem us. Thank you that you sent the Word of Christ to increase faith in us. Thank you that you sent Holy Spirit to teach us.
Because of Your help, we believe and we confess that Jesus is Lord for the forgiveness of our sins.
Thank you, Father, that Holy Spirit is with us, in us and desires to be upon us. We receive the upon work of Holy Spirit as we see recorded in the Holy Scriptures.
We desire to bring glory to you in all we do. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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