The Help We Need

Do you ever feel like living the Christian life is too hard?  You’ve put your faith in Jesus. You want to please Him and obey His commands.  But you go out the door in the morning and it’s not too long where you find yourself messing up.  You don’t love as you should.  You lose your patience with a friend.  You say or act in a way that you know doesn’t honor Christ.  And you get mad at yourself or frustrated with yourself that you’re not doing a better job at being the person Jesus has called you to be.  Do you ever feel that way?  Do you ever feel like it’s too hard to live this life on your own?

Well, if you do, you’re not alone.  Because Jesus never meant for any of us to live this new life on our own.  In fact, that’s one of the reasons Jesus spent so much time teaching His disciples about the help He was going to give them upon His departure.

And what He taught them then, we still need to learn today.  Jesus never meant for you to live the Christian life on our own.  So, as we return to the Gospel of John today, Jesus is going to tell us what He gives us to help us live the life of a Christ follower. And to discover this teaching, I want to invite you once again to open your Bibles to John 14:22-31, where Jesus reveals the help He gives us to live for Him.

Now while you are finding John 14, let me remind you of what we’ve been learning through Jesus’ teaching in the upper room. First, when Jesus washed their feet, He taught us how we are to live as servants. We learned that unless we humble ourselves and first let Jesus serve us, we will not be able to serve others like Jesus.

Secondly, when Jesus gave His disciples a new command to apply in their relationships with one another. We learned that if we love for one another like Jesus loved us, the world will know that we are His followers. This is the story Jesus calls us to write together as His people: to love one another as He has loved us.

Thirdly, when Jesus taught his disciples how to keep it together when their world’s falling apart; we learned that remembering who He is and what He is doing for us helps to steady us in the storm.  We need to keep remembering who Jesus is.  We need to remember, he’s preparing a home for us, and we need to remember and He’s coming back to take us to be with Him forever.  And when we remember these things, about Jesus, we won’t lose our confidence in Jesus when life is crumbling around us.

Fourthly, when Jesus taught his disciples that seeing Him was seeing the Father; we learned that we can ask Him anything in His name, and He promises He will do it.  In this way, we learned that we can accomplish His mission with His help.

Finally, when Jesus taught his disciples that if they love Him, they will show it by obeying His commands; we learned that if we love Jesus in the same way, He will give us His help, His life, and His love – and He will show Himself to us in our relationship with Him.

And as we’ve learned all this, we’ve seen a common thread to Jesus’ teaching: Jesus gives us what we need to live the life He calls us to live. He doesn’t want us to live this life out of our own strength. He doesn’t want us to do this out of our own abilities.  And He doesn’t want us to throw in the towel when it gets too hard for us.  So, now as we come to today’s passage, Jesus isn’t done helping His disciples. There’s more help He wants to give them.  So, we pick up His teaching where we left off with a question from another disciple: Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?” John 14:22

Notice who this Judas is. He is not Judas the betrayer, but Judas the son of James. He has just heard Jesus promise that He’s going to show Himself to them. But Judas didn’t get it. He’s still thinking like how most Jews were thinking.  If Jesus was really the Messiah, he’s going to show Himself to the world.  But what Judas failed to realize is that Jesus has already done this.  His teaching and His miracles had shown the world that He had come from God and had done the things the Messiah would do.  He had revealed Himself publicly, but what He is now teaching them is how He promises to reveal Himself privately, in a loving relationship with Him.

But this was all so new to them, so Jesus needed to repeat Himself and tell again how He was going to help them in His absence.  And the first way He was going to help them, and how He helps us today is this:  Jesus gives us His presence to live in us!  Listen again to Jesus’ words: 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. 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.” John 14:22-24

What is he promising us? Jesus is promising that both He and the Father will come and make a dwelling place within the inner being of those who love Him. Jesus promises to live within you. This is an amazing promise. This is how Jesus planned on helping us live like Him. He never intends for any of us to live the Christian life on our own.  No, He wants you to live out of His strength, His compassion, His mercy, His patience, His grace. Just like you could not save yourself by your own efforts, you can’t live the Christian life by your own efforts.  We need Jesus to help us.

This is why we so often struggle.  We try to live the Christian life by our own efforts, not by faith.  And this is why Paul asks God to strengthen us with power through the Holy Spirit in Ephesians 3.  Listen to this prayer:   I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.  Ephesians 3:16-17.  This is why the Christian live is a life of faith. This is why we must learn to depend on Jesus in prayer. We need Jesus to live through us. That’s what Jesus is teaching us here. To live the Christian life, we need Christ’s life.  We need to awaken to the power within that Jesus gave us when He gave us His Spirit. Too often, we forget about who is actually living in us.  You have the potential to live and love just like Jesus. But you can’t do this on our own. That’s why Jesus put His life in you. So, all you need to do is let the lion out of the cage!  To let the Spirit of Christ in you, live through you.

The disciples in the upper room had a hard time grasping what this meant for them.  But that would soon change.  For once they received the Holy Spirit, Jesus came and made His home in them and began living His life through them.

Read the book of Acts. Peter preached the gospel with Holy Spirit power and 3000 people repented and put their faith in Jesus in one day. The church came together and shared everything in common, so no one was in need. The Jewish rulers were astonished by the boldness of Peter and John and wondered how these common men could speak so clearly about Jesus. The church prayed and prison doors were opened. People were healed, idols were destroyed, lives were changed, and the gospel spread.

So, here’s the good news: We are still living in the age of Acts – the age of the Holy Spirit. Jesus is not absent. Jesus still lives in those who love Him. Jesus still lives in His children by His Spirit.  And if that is you, that means Jesus wants to live through you.  So, ask God to strengthen you with His Spirit and learn what it means to be led by the Spirit, and then live by faith. Let Jesus live through you. For He still wants us to rescue the perishing. He still wants us to heal the broken. He still wants to change lives. But we can’t do this on our own. But the good news is He’s already given us what we need to do this.  He’s given us His Spirit to live in us.

That’s the first thing Jesus gives us to live the Christian life. He gives us Himself. So, there’s hope this morning for anyone who’s been struggling to live this life on your own.  But that’s not all He gives us. Let’s look at the second way Jesus helps us live this life: Jesus gives us His Spirit to teach us!  

Again, Jesus brings up the Holy Spirit. He introduced us to Him in verses 15 and 16, but now He gets specific on how the Holy Spirit helps us.  He says, “All this I have spoken while still with you. 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.” John 14:25-26

Two things we need to grasp from these verses.  First, The Holy Spirit will continue the teaching ministry of Jesus.  The disciples were eyewitness of Jesus’ life and teachings.  Sometime later the Holy Spirit will remind Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John of all that Jesus said and did.  In Mark’s case, he will record what he has heard from Peter’s account of the life and teachings of Jesus.  In Luke’s case, he will go to Mary and the other disciples to get an accurate account of all that took place during Jesus’ life and ministry.  But in every Gospel, what we have today is the work of the Holy Spirit.

I like how Paul describes how all of God’s Word has its origin in the Holy Spirit.  He writes: All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness.  2 Timothy 3:16 In other words, all Scripture is the product of God’s Spirit: all the Old Testament History – all the Law and the Prophets, the four Gospels, the book of Acts and all the New Testament letters.  All that is called God’s Word is the product of God’s Spirit, who breathed the truth of God’s Word into existence using human authors to write what God wanted us to know and to learn.

Now, how does this apply to us today?  One of the main roles of the Holy Spirit in our lives today is to teach us God’s Word. The Holy Spirit helps us to understand and apply God’s Word.  Without the Spirit’s help, God’s Word would just go over our heads.  Again, listen to how Paul explains this for us: The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. 1 Corinthians 2:10-12

Today the Holy Spirit still teaches us.  The very fact that you believe Jesus is the Son of God and not some religious fanatic, is that the Holy Spirit and opened your eyes to see who He really is.  J.I. Packer put it this way: “The Holy Spirit’s role is to serve as a spotlight.  When a spotlight is functioning right, you don’t look at the spotlight.  You look at what the spotlight illuminates.  And the main function of the Holy Spirit is to illuminate Jesus.”  So, the Holy Spirit is still teaching today.

Secondly, the Holy Spirit still works in us to help us remember truth about Jesus.  I like this.  Over the last 35 plus years of ministry I may have preached over 1500 messages, and sometimes I can’t remember what I preached last week.  I’ve been recording my insights from private devotional reading and study for 40 years, and I know God’s given me some incredible encouragement, insights, and truths about who He is and how He wants me to live.  But if you were to ask me about an insight from 20 years ago, I would be at a loss to tell you.

But here’s the good news:  Because Jesus gave me the Holy Spirit to teach me and remind me… there’s been countless times when the Holy Spirit has given me just the right words to encourage someone, or the right truths to counsel someone, or the right words to witness to someone. The Holy Spirit helps to remind us when we need it!

That’s the help Jesus promises! He promises that the Holy Spirit will bring to mind truth to help you live for Him.  Sometimes it may be His still small voice whispering truth to you when someone wrongs you, saying: Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:32. Or sometimes He reminds of His truth you through the wounds of a friend. Or sometimes He reminds you of His goodness through the love of your spouse or the encouragement of a friend.

And I don’t know about you, but I’m so glad Jesus gave us His Spirit to teach us and remind us of Jesus and His love for us.  For we are so quick to forget sometimes.  That’s how Jesus helps us.  He gives us His Spirit to teach us.  But He also give us something the world can never give.

Jesus gives us His peace to comfort us:  I love this. Jesus didn’t say you’d be comfortable. He said you would need a Comforter.  And He provides our comfort. He says, “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.” John 14:27

Face it, the truth is everyone wants peace. But we can’t find peace in what the world offers. Sure, the world tries to give us some kind of peace with forms of escapism found in luxurious vacations or temporary amusements. But the world is powerless to give us the peace we need. The world cannot resolve personal battles, remove anxieties, or stop someone from hating you. The laws of man have no power to remove your selfishness, your uncertainties, or your fears.

But the peace Jesus offers different. It is His peace. The Hebrews had a word to describe this peace: Shalom:a state of well-being where you experience wholeness, health, security and even prosperity in the best sense. And yet the peace Jesus promises us is all this and more – for it is the perfect peace He experienced in His relationship with the Father: Complete acceptance, harmony, contentment in an intimate relationship with God.  The world can’t give this peace, because the world’s peace is based on favorable conditions and circumstances. The world can never fully remove your fears, your doubts, or your anxieties. But Jesus can.  For when He gives us His peace, He gives us Himself.

I mean, here’s Jesus on the eve of His crucifixion.  He’s about to be handed over to be mocked, beaten, and condemned to die a humiliating and horrific death. The circumstances of what He’s about to endure could not be worse.  But here He is, calm and in control, not worried, not fretting, not flipping out.  In fact, he’s not thinking about Himself at all, He’s thinking only what is best for His disciples.  And so, He gives them His peace to help them in endure their darkest hour.

And what Jesus offered them, He offers you.  This is why God sent Jesus to live among us.  This is why Jesus went to the cross to lay down His life for the sin of the world.  So that when He His blood shed for you on the cross, He made a way for you to receive peace with God.

For the moment you put your trust in Jesus, He gives you His peace!  His Spirit takes up residence in you and comforts you with His love, acceptance, and joy.  And you enter into a harmonious relationship with God as His beloved.  Jesus is our peace.

And now, with the peace of Christ within, we can have peace when the world frets; we can be calm and in control when our world goes out of control; we can be content and confident when others fret and fear. This is the help His disciples needed that night and it’s the help we need whenever life gets too hard for us. Jesus gives us His peace.

So, here’s the good news today: Jesus gives us the help we need to live the Christian life! Remember, Jesus never means for us to live this life on our own.  We can’t do it.  It’s impossible, we are not Jesus.  And if you are getting what He’s taught us here today, we are not meant to be Jesus.

That’s why Jesus gives us His presence to live in us.  That’s why He gives us His Holy Spirit to guide us, lead us and transform us – so we might begin to live this new life with His help!

That’s why Jesus gives us His Spirit to teach us.  The Spirit shines the spotlight on Jesus and makes Him known to us.  The Spirit helps us understand God’s will and God’s ways.  And the Spirit takes what He has taught us and reminds us with His truth so we might think like Jesus, serve like Jesus and even begin to love like Jesus.

And that’s why Jesus gives us His peace to comfort us.  So, when circumstances don’t go our way we can stay the course, knowing that God is with us no matter what’s happening around us. This is the help we need.  So let me ask you:

Are you letting Jesus help you or are you still trying to live for Him out of your own strength?

Are you letting Jesus teach you by His Spirit or you trying to figure things out on your own?

Are you letting Jesus comfort you with His peace or are you still trying to manufacture your own peace?.

We need help to live the Christian life.  Jesus knows this.  That’s why He gives His presence, His teaching and His peace to those who trust and follow Him.   He gives us the help we need.  The only question is this:  Will you trust Him to help you today.