Sermon Guide: John 14:15-27 “The Promise of the Holy Spirit”
Date Preached: February 23, 2025
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Key Passages
John 14:15–27
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?” Jesus answered him, “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. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me. “These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
John 16:7–15
Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
Sermon Overview
Jesus is not physically present on earth at this time, but he is really, truly with us by his Holy Spirit, who he sent to dwell in all who love and trust him. The ministry of the Holy Spirit in our lives is our sweetest comfort on this side of the resurrection. He gives us love, produces obedience, he advocates for us, and declares to us the peace that Jesus has with the Father. Praise God for his gift of the Holy Spirit!
Sermon Structure
Three things that are true of all who trust Jesus as their Lord and Savior:
1. You have obedience-generating-love (vv. 15, 21, and 23)
God’s gifts are not transactional
The Holy Spirit produces love and obedience in us
2. You have another Advocate (v. 16)
The meaning of “advocate”
Jesus is our advocate; the Spirit is another advocate
You have an accuser
3. You have Jesus’ peace (v. 27)
Jesus’ peace is not just emotion
You have Jesus’ peace with the Father
The Spirit declares to us what belongs to Jesus
Definitions & Resources
Covenant
A covenant is a deep, robust relationship-agreement between two parties — more loving than a contract, and more binding than a mere relationship.
Advocate
Sometimes translated as “Helper” or “Comforter,” the Greek word is paraclete. It’s found in John 14:16, 26, 15:26, 16:7, and 1 John 2:1.
An advocate is someone who bears witness on someone’s behalf, coming alongside them and defending them against accusations.
Trinity
The word “trinity” comes from “tri-” (three) and “unity.” It is used for the biblical teaching on the nature of God. There is one God, in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. They are co-equal, co-eternal, of the same substance, and all worthy of our worship.
Questions for Discussion & Reflection
1. Do you see the relationship between love and obedience elsewhere in your life (i.e. in other relationships)?
2. How do you experience the enemy’s accusations in your life? How do you handle it?
3. If Jesus’ peace is more than emotion, how can we get ahold of it in the turmoil of daily life? What practical steps can we take to rely on and — even experience — that peace?
