Lessons from John 14: Proof of the Holy Spirit

The Proof of the Holy Spirit~John 14:20-26

Well, after our last lesson we see that Jesus taught His disciples that those who love Jesus and are indwelt by the promised Holy Spirit will live in obedience to His Word and its commands out of a heart of love.

You see, the more we learn about God and His precious plan of redemption through the indescribable gift of His Son, the more the Holy Spirit leads us to love and obey the precious words of God in the Bible.

So, instead of doing what we have always done, we find that we want to lay down our old life. We want to embrace the new life we have been given through faith in Jesus Christ and His empowering Holy Spirit!

Paul instructs believers in Romans 12:1 to offer our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God. He says this is our spiritual act of worship. He calls us to no longer follow the pattern of this world, but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. Then we will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing, and perfect will.

What are those things that we are to put off?

Ephesians 4:22-5:2 instructs followers of Jesus Christ:

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. ‘In your anger do not sin’: do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Those who truly love Jesus not only hide His words in their hearts and minds but they also live them out in their daily lives.

You see, when you become a part of God’s family, your life will reflect to whom you really belong. And though the world may not be able to see Him, we who are indwelt by His Spirit see Him in and through our everyday lives.

We see His hand in the rising and setting of the sun, moon, and stars. We see evidence of His power over life in the face of a newborn baby and we see His sovereignty in a world full of chaos and confusion.

So when, Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?” Jesus answered by stating that He would show Himself to those who loved Him and obeyed His teachings. And because their obedience not only pleased Jesus but also pleased His Father, they both would come and live through the believer’s life in the person of the Holy Spirit.

Believers are not only filled with the Holy Spirit, but they are to be a reflection of His presence.

This is living proof of who we have become in Christ Jesus! We live our lives in acts of obedience out of our great love for God and all that He has done and continues to do for us! His love compels us!

We know that we are not redeemed by our efforts, but our efforts reveal our hearts. Hearts that have been changed from self-centeredness to God-centeredness.

And though this is not an easy task and one we cannot fulfill on our own, Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would teach us His ways. He will remind us of everything Jesus said.

Aren’t you grateful for the enabling power of the Holy Spirit? He not only lives within us as believers today, but He also teaches us and reminds of what Jesus said in His holy and precious Word.

If it were not for the enabling power of the Holy Spirit we would not have God’s Word before us today!

We have a lot to be thankful for, don’t we?!

Terri Hamman

Faith & Fitness Coach