Greater Works Than These (Part 2)
John 14:15-17
John 14:12-14 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. And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.
The greater works Jesus refers to are not more spectacular than the ones He performed while on earth – they are greater in reach throughout the world.
John 14:15 If you love Me, keep My commandments.
It’s BEAUTIFUL to experience an emotional love for Jesus – to CULTIVATE a passionate love for Jesus, lifting our hands and our hearts! But here in our text, we learn from Jesus that TRUE LOVE for Jesus is NOT measured by emotion or passion but by OBEDIENCE! Next week we will read this same truth repeated two more times (repetition emphasizes the truth).
Three Keys to Greater Works Than These
- Prayer
- Obedience
- Holy Spirit
John 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever.
Here we see the TRINITY!
“Another Helper” – the Greek word specifically means another of the same kind – in SUBSTANCE! The Holy Spirit is God!
Matthew 28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
John 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever.
The Greek word “Helper” here literally means “one called alongside to help.” Just as Jesus walked alongside the 12 apostles, the Holy Spirit now is alongside us! So exciting!
John 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever.
“He may abide with you forever”: the Holy Spirit is NOT a force, NOT an essence, NOT an it BUT a person! He is the third person of the Trinity.
2 Corinthians 13:14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.
You can’t have communion with a force, or an essence, or an it! But our communion is with the person of the Holy Spirit! He!
John 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever.
John 15:26 But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.
John 16:7-14 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.
The PERSON of the Holy Spirit
- He testifies of Jesus – John 15:26
- He convicts us – John 16:8
- He guides us into truth – John 16:13
- He speaks to us – John 16:13 / Revelation 2
- He tells us things to come – John 16:13
- He glorifies Jesus – John 16:14
- He loves us – Romans 15:30
- He has a will – 1 Corinthians 12:11
- He can be resisted – Acts 7:51
- He can be lied to – Acts 5:3
- He can be grieved – Ephesians 4:30
- He can be quenched – 1 Thessalonians 5:19
- He can be blasphemed – Mark 3:28-29
John 14:16-17 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever – 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.
“Spirit of truth“: He shows us the truth about God and about ourselves! He shows us the truth about our sin, our need for righteousness, and the judgment to come! He dwells with you and will be in you.
John 20:21-22 So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”
Ephesians 1:13-14 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.
Romans 8:16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.
Works of the Holy Spirit in our lives:
- Fruits of the Spirit – Galatians 5:22
- Help in all of our weaknesses – Romans 8:26
- Power to be victorious over sin – Romans 8:11
- Walking in the Spirit -Galatians 5:16
- His leading in our lives – Romans 8:14
- He speaks to us – Revelation 2
- We live in step with the Spirit – Galatians 5:25
Ephesians 1:13-14 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.
Final blessing:
2 Corinthians 13:14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.