John 14:26-27
Sunday Morning Bible Study
August 18, 1996
Introduction
We are on the Thursday evening before Jesus is crucified, at the event known as "the Last Supper".
Jesus is alone with His disciples in the upper room.
:26-27 Holy Spirit Peace
:26 he shall teach you all things
One of the Holy Spirit's jobs is that of being our "teacher".
He's able to teach us what we need to know:
Illustration:
About a decade after his Expedition, Christopher Columbus wrote: "It was the Lord who put into my mind (I could feel His hand upon me) to sail to the Indies. All who heard of my project rejected it with laughter, ridiculing me. There is no question that the inspiration was from the Holy Spirit, because He comforted me with rays of marvelous illumination from the Holy Scriptures. Our Lord Jesus Christ desired to perform a very obvious miracle in the voyage to the Indies."
-- Christopher Columbus, The Book of Prophecies (New Leaf Press, 1992).
John wrote:
1Jo 2:27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. (AV)
The "anointing" is another name for the Holy Spirit.
Throughout the Bible, oil is used as a symbol for the Holy Spirit.
When the priests were given their ministry, they were "anointed" with oil, symbolizing the Holy Spirit upon their ministry.
John is saying that we don't have to be completely dependant upon human teachers to learn about the Lord, because the Holy Spirit can do a great job as our teacher.
I enjoy watching how the Holy Spirit teaches you.
Sometimes when we talk after the service, I hear about what the Lord might have said to you during the service.
I have to laugh sometimes at how the things that you received from the Lord weren't really what I thought I was speaking about, yet the Holy Spirit was still able to get through to your mind, despite me, and get His message across.
Lesson:
Learning from the Holy Spirit.
Do you need some instruction by God?
Do you need some direction from Him?
Here's some of the most important things I've learned about letting God be your teacher.
1. Set aside some time.
My biggest problem is I often wait until I don't really have too much time before I sit down to spend time with the Lord.
And then I have to rush off, you know, things to do ...
Illustration:
Daniel was a man who had been taught great things by the Lord, but he was also a man who set aside time to pray three times a day:
Da 6:10 ... he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime. (AV)
2. Open up your heart.
Are you open to hearing what God might be wanting to say to you?
Or are there only certain things God has permission to say?
Will you listen if He says He wants you to win the lottery?
Will you listen if He says to turn off the TV?
Are you teachable?
3. Ask Him to teach you.
David prayed:
Ps 86:11 Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name. (AV)
Pray before you start reading your Bible.
4. Read the Word.
The clearest, purest way that the Holy Spirit will teach you is through the Word of God.
2Ti 3:16-17 All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. (AV)
inspiration of God
- literally "God-breathed", or "God-spirited". The word for "breath" is related to the word "Spirit".Peter tells us:
2Pe 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake [as they were] moved by the Holy Ghost. (AV)
The Word of God is a work of the Holy Spirit.
It's the main way that He will teach us.
5. Shut up and listen.
Learn to be quiet before the Lord.
Ps 46:10 Be still, and know that I [am] God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. (AV)
Meditate on the Word.
After you've read it, let it sink in.
Think about what it's saying.
Listen.
Psalm 1:1-3 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
Illustration:
It's kind of like using a modem to "download" information or files from another computer.
You hook up your computer to the telephone line using a device called a modem.
You call up the other computer and ask it so send the file to your computer.
And then you wait for it to happen.
If you disconnect too quickly, before it's finished downloading, you'll have NOTHING!
Stay connected and just wait!
6. Obey.
Peter wrote:
2Peter 1:5-11 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. 10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: 11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
We are to add to our "knowledge" "temperance.
"Temperance" means "self-control".
It's having the strength to do what you're supposed to do with what you know.
And if you practice doing these things, applying what you know ... "you'll never fall"! WOW!
It's important to be taught of the Lord, but unless you turn around and obey, it's worthless.
Illustration:
I had a friend once who was given an expensive BMW when he graduated from school.
It was a one of a kind, classic car.
He drove it a few times, then put it in his garage to keep it safe.
But what's the use of having a car if you never drive it?
If we know lots of things about the Lord, yet never put them into practice in our lives, the only thing it does for us is make us good at Bible trivia games.
:27 and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you
Those poor disciples!
How did they ever get along without tape recorders, video cameras, and computers?
How would they ever remember it all?
In fact, it would be a miracle if they ever would remember, considering how dense they seemed at times when Jesus spoke.
John 12:16 These things understood not his disciples at the first: but when Jesus was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written of him, and that they had done these things unto him.
The Lord does this with us as well:
We might talking to someone about the Lord when all of a sudden we find ourselves quoting some Scripture, even though we've never memorized it.
We find ourselves face to face with an awful big temptation, when some Scripture verse pops into our head.
But ...
Lesson:
You can't remember what you haven't learned.
Spend time at His feet.
Jesus said:
Matthew 11:28-30 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Illustration:
Some people get the idea that if you just buy a computer, it will solve all your problems for you.
If you just buy a computer with Bible programs, then it will do your Bible Studies for you, all you have to do is press the button.
WRONG!
It takes a lot of work to make a computer useful to you.
If you don't work at it, you'll never benefit from it.
If you want to experience more of the Holy Spirit's work of remembrance, then put some time into studying God's Word.
:27 Peace I leave with you
Jesus has been talking about going away to heaven, and leaving the disciples.
And now He says that when He leaves, He's going to leave His peace with them.
The ancient world had a custom of greeting each other with a blessing.
When they'd meet each other, they'd say "shalom", or "peace".
When Jesus was teaching His disciples how to go out and preach to the people out in the world, He took this idea of the greeting/blessing, and said:
Luke 10:5-6 "When you enter a house, first say, 'Peace to this house.' 6 If a man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; if not, it will return to you. (NIV)
In other words, if the person in the house is receptive to them, then their greeting of "shalom" wasn't going to just be a bunch of words, but would be an actual blessing of peace that would come upon that person.
Jesus has spent the last three years with His disciples, and is now about to leave them.
But He's not going to be shaking the dust off His feet.
He's going to be leaving His blessing of peace to rest on them.
:27 my peace I give unto you:
The peace of Jesus starts when we make ...
Peace with God.
Ro 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: (AV)
Without Jesus Christ, man is in a state of "war" with God.
You're on opposite sides.
The Holy Spirit is trying to draw you closer to Jesus, and Satan and your flesh want to run as far as possible away.
God wants to take care of your sins, but you just want to keep doing them.
The biggest issue, the guilt of your sins, is something that God offers to pay for.
He sent His Son to pay the price for your sins.
And when you come to the point where you say, "Okay, I want you to pay for my sins", then you have become "justified" before God.
Your record has become erased in heaven.
Illustration:
A friend was telling me about how he has had a record with the police, and that the judge has put him on a program and if he follows through, his record will be wiped clean.
Jesus has completed the program for you, paying for your sins, and you have become "justified" before God.
Once we have been justified, there is no longer a state of "war" between us and God.
Peace has now been declared.
Lesson:
Stop fighting God.
Stop your struggling.
Illustration:
It's dangerous for a lifeguard to try to rescue a drowning person whose still struggling.
They may end up fighting the lifeguard and both drowning!
But when the drowning person stops fighting and just gives up, then they can be rescued.
God wants to save you.
Stop fighting Him.
:27 not as the world giveth, give I unto you
Jesus said that the peace that He was going to give would be different from the kind of peace that the world has to offer.
The world doesn't do "peace" very well:
Illustration:
On the basis of the computation in the Moscow Gazette (1861), Gustave Valbert in his day could report that "From the year 1496 B.C. to A.D. 1861 in 3358 years there were 227 years of peace and 3,130 years of war, or 13 years of war to every year of peace. Within the last three centuries, there have been 286 wars in Europe. He added that from the year 1500 B.C. to A.D. 1860 more than 8000 treaties of peace, meant to remain in force forever, were concluded. The average time they remained in force was two years.
Of course, some times were better than others for world peace.
Illustration:
The best time was around 1850.
The telephone was invented in 1875.
The bathtub was invented in 1850.
In 1850, you could have taken a bath for 25 years without being interrupted with the phone ringing!
Isn't that real peace???
His peace vs. Their peace
1. An inner peace.
We often think of peace as being an absence conflict, an absence of problems.
As parents, when the kids get too rowdy, we call out, "Can't I have a little peace and quiet for a few minutes?"
When we go through crisis situations, we want to "escape" our problems to get some peace.
Some people escape with drugs and alcohol.
Others go to the river or Disneyland.
Quote:
Peace is not the absence of trouble, but the presence of God.
-- J. Oswald Sanders
But the peace that Jesus offers is an inner peace.
Jesus said
The peace that He gives us is one that comes from the inside of our heart, despite whatever the circumstances may be.
Paul wrote:
2Corinthians 4:16-18 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; 18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
2. Peace beyond understanding
In the world, we have to have life figured out before we can relax and have any peace.
But Paul described God's peace as:
Phil.4:7 "the peace of God, which passeth all understanding"
We might say, "It blows your mind, man."
It passes our ability to understand because:
a. It is too hard to describe.
I could try to describe it, but every time I'd try to tell you just what it was like, I'd fall far short of really describing it.
Illustration:
Just try describing Jamocha Almond Fudge to someone who has never tasted ice-cream, coffee, nuts, or fudge!
The best way of explaining it, is just to stick some in their mouth!
b. I can't figure out why I have it.
Illustration:
The other day I was talking to a precious sister on the phone who was describing to me some difficult circumstances in her life, when she stopped and said, "But in the middle of it, I can't figure out why I have such a peace about all this ..."
3. Peace from a true security.
The world's peace is based on false promises.
Jeremiah wrote about the false prophets who encouraged the people that peace was coming, when it wasn't:
Jer 6:14 They have healed also the hurt [of the daughter] of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when [there is] no peace. (AV)
It's like your friends in the world that say, "Relax man, it's going to be okay ..."
Well who says it's going to be okay?
What kind of guarantee is that?
And what happens when it gets worse?
Illustration:
It's when your customer tells you that "the check's in the mail ..."
Do you think to yourself, "Gosh, then there's nothing to worry about ..."
The world's peace is based on false promises.
It's based on the idea that if I can just solve all the problems in my life, then I'll have "peace".
The problem is that I'll never accomplish that task.
I might get 90% of my old problems solved, but within an hour I have a whole new set of problems.
Our peace and security is based on God, not upon our circumstances.
Psalm 46:1-5
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; 3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah. 4 There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High. 5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.Our world may be falling apart, but if God is the one we look to for shelter and strength, we can make it.
He still loves us.
He never changes.
He's going to work it all out for the good.
Illustration:
Off the coast up past Malibu you can see the offshore drilling platforms.
They aren't floating rafts with drilling machinery on them.
They're platforms that rest on the ocean floor.
If you tried drilling for oil from a ship, you wouldn't get anywhere with the ups and downs of the waves.
But if the platform is firmly anchored to the ocean floor, you can drill into the ocean bottom and tap into the wealth of the oil.
Are you building your life on top of the waves, or is your platform built on firm ground?
Lesson:
How do I get this peace of Jesus?
1. The Holy Spirit is the force behind it.
It's no coincidence that in the previous verse Jesus said:
Joh 14:26 But the Comforter, [which is] the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. (AV)
Paul wrote:
Ro 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. (AV)
Peace that comes from the Holy Spirit is one of the very basic things that being a part of the kingdom of God is all about.
When we learn to walk in the power and ability of the Holy Spirit, He begins to produce His fruit in our lives, including peace.
2. Prayer is the way to receive it.
A month ago, I taught on this principle.
I felt bad at first that I was going to be repeating myself.
But perhaps we all need to hear it again.
But Paul said:
Php 3:1 ... To write the same things to you, to me indeed [is] not grievous, but for you [it is] safe. (AV)
But perhaps sometimes we just need to hear the same things over and over again.
Prayer with thanksgiving is the key to receiving God's peace:
Philippians 4:6-7 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (AV)
Peter writes:
1Pe 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. (AV)
We are to be placing all our anxieties upon Jesus because He cares so very, very much for us.
Ps 55:22 Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved. (AV)
Do you think God loves you enough to handle your problem?
Do you think God is big enough to handle your problem?
Do you think you could let Him worry about it for a little while, instead of you?