City Life Starter

I. The Word: John 14:25-27

²⁵ “These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. ²⁶ But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. ²⁷ Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

II. Study Questions

1. What is “Paraclete?”

2. What is the role of the Holy Spirit based on the text we read?

3. Why does knowing the Bible important to the life of believer?

Additional Audio Resource

In the Gospel of John, there are five direct references to the Holy Spirit as “Paraclete,” a Greek word which means “helper,” “advocate,” or “comforter.”  In yesterday’s blog, we have learned that the primary role of the Holy Spirit is enable believers to love God and obey His commandments (John 14:15).  Our Lord reiterates the seriousness and importance of our single-minded devotion to Him by saying:

“If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make our home with him.  He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me.” John 14:23-24

In today’s reading, we find that the Paraclete or Holy Spirit has another important role in the life of the believer but the emphasis is not the gifts or power but in relation to Father and the Son, as a Teacher.

Emphasis in Jesus Teaching

If you have read the four gospels, the twelve disciples, though they have been with Jesus for three years didn’t fully understand who Jesus was (Judas Iscariot really didn’t get it) and disciples constantly made trouble because of it.  The main task of the Holy Spirit after Jesus’ resurrection & glorification is to remind the disciples of Jesus’ teachings.  Though they have been with Jesus, it is the role of the Holy Spirit to 1. teach, & 2. bring to remembrance “all things” as they took the Gospel to the world.  It is important to note here what “all things” entails.  Here are two quotations of my favorite theologians on this topic:

“All things, is comprehensive and probably means ‘all that you will need to know.’  The Spirit is to be the guide and teacher of the church.  This does not mean that he will make new revelations; rather he will bring back to the disciples’ memory all the things that Jesus had told them… The things of which he will remind them are the things that Jesus has spoken to them.  In other words, the Spirit will not dispense with the teaching of Jesus.  The teaching to be recalled is his.” (Leon Morris)

“John’s purpose in including this theme and this verse is not to explain how readers at the end of the first century may be taught by the Spirit, but to explain to readers at the end of the first century how the first witnesses, the first disciples, came to an accurate and full understanding of the truth of Jesus Christ.  The Spirit’s ministry in this respect was not to bring qualitatively new revelation, but to complete, to fill out, the revelation brought by Jesus himself.” (D.A. Carson)

Knowing God’s Word

As many of you know, Arie Bar-David is great friend to City Life Church and and his teachings enlightened many of our members during his study tour in Israel.  I have been fortunate enough to be part of his life and family and consider him both a mentor and great friend.  When you are part of our study tour, you realize quickly how much he knows the Bible and understands it.  What many of you don’t know is that Arie neither attended Bible college nor earned seminary degrees, his Bible teachings have greatly impacted numerous Christian leaders, mega church pastors, scholars and theologians.  You might wonder, how did he become an expert in the Bible without formal education or training?  He credits his devotion to God’s Word.  I will never forget…

“Bible is a map and your consciousness is your compass.  If you know where you are from and where you are going, you will never find yourself lost.”

It is difficult for me when I find that the Word of God is not the priority in the life of believers.  Today, we have seen in the text that the role of the Holy Spirit is to “teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.”  Let me raise two issues, 1. How can He teach you all things when you are not in the Word, and 2. How can He bring to your remembrance all things that Jesus said, when you don’t know what He said?  In essence, we are placing limits not only on ourselves but also on the Holy Spirit.

Throughout history, men and women of faith have done great things for God.  To a person, you will find that devotion and commitment to God’s Word was the first priority in their life.  The challenge to us and all believers lies in what we will do with the truth we have received.  I hope and pray that we will commit our lives to becoming student of God’s Word so that we may experience the same passion that drew these believers to surrender their lives to His mission.  JY