The Spirit of Heaven
LIFE TO LIFE
PART 4 – THE SPIRIT OF HEAVEN
John 14:1-26 NLT
14 “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me.2 There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? 3 When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.”
5 “No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. 7 If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!”
8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.”
9 Jesus replied, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who I am? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking me to show him to you? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I speak are not my own, but my Father who lives in me does his work through me. 11 Just believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Or at least believe because of the work you have seen me do.
12 “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. 13 You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. 14 Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!
Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit
15 “If you love me, obey my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. 17 He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. 18 No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you. 19 Soon the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Since I live, you also will live. 20 When I am raised to life again, you will know that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.”
22 Judas (not Judas Iscariot, but the other disciple with that name) said to him, “Lord, why are you going to reveal yourself only to us and not to the world at large?”
23 Jesus replied, “All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them. 24 Anyone who doesn’t love me will not obey me. And remember, my words are not my own. What I am telling you is from the Father who sent me. 25 I am telling you these things now while I am still with you. 26 But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative, that is, the Holy Spirit, he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.
1. THE HOLY SPIRIT DRAWS US TO THE FATHER
John 14:6
“No one can come to the Father except through me.”
Jesus is the way, but the Holy Spirit is the One drawing hearts toward Him.
John 16:8 AMP
And He, when He comes, will convict the world about [the guilt of] sin [and the need for a Savior], and about righteousness, and about judgment:
Romans 8:15
“You received God’s Spirit when He adopted you as His own children.”
Jesus said: “I will not abandon you as orphans…” (v.18)
2. THE HOLY SPIRIT GUIDES US THROUGH LIFE
John 14:17
“He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth.”
The word Advocate (Parakletos) means:
Helper
Counselor
Defender
One called alongside
The Spirit guides:
When we do not know what to do…
When we are weak…
When life is confusing…
Romans 8:14
“Those who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.”
God, through Jesus, doesn’t just did save you, He sent guidance for your journey.
3. THE HOLY SPIRIT HELPS US IN OUR WEAKNESS
John 14:16
“He will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you.”
The Advocate stands with us.
Romans 8:26
“The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness…”
4. THE HOLY SPIRIT PREPARES US FOR HEAVEN
Jesus prepares Heaven for us.
The Spirit prepares us for Heaven.
John 14 opens with:
“I am going to prepare a place for you.”
Then closes with: “The Holy Spirit… will teach you everything.” (v.26)
The Spirit is forming Heaven inside us before we ever arrive there.
Galatians 5:22–23 NKJV
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
The Holy Spirit starts working in us now for Heaven.
2 Corinthians 5:5 NLT
“God himself has prepared us for this, and as a guarantee he has given us his Holy Spirit.”
Takeaway:
The Holy Spirit prepares us for the place Jesus is preparing for us.
5. THE HOLY SPIRIT GIVES US A FORETASTE OF HEAVEN
The closest thing to Heaven on earth, is a life filled with, and lived in and by the Holy Spirit.
Jesus says in John 14:23 “We will come and make our home with each of them.”
Think about that.
Jesus is preparing a home for us there, while through the Spirit, God makes His home with us here.
The Holy Spirit is also the deposit guaranteeing our retrieval.
Ephesians 1:13–14
“The Holy Spirit is God’s guarantee that He will give us the inheritance He promised.”
Romans 8:11
“The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you…”
Invitation Thought:
Have you welcomed the Spirit of Heaven into your life, or have you been trying to make the journey alone?