A Strengthened Heart Part 1

Run with endurance the race is looking to Jesus and perfecter of our running the race of life takes strength and the strength we need is more than natural energy. Jesus knew we would need supernatural strength and promised to send the Holy Spirit to provide spiritual energy for every child of God. Even today stay with the church in Chicago. This is running to win with Dr. Sir, whose clear teaching helps us get across the finish line. Estimates are as we look again at the John chapter 14 to learn about what happens when Jesus has your heart, tell us what today's focus will be Dave you know when I contemplate the words of Jesus. I have to say that I pray that I'll be able to get my mind around the wonderful promises that he has made. Just think of is he saying I'm going to depart, but I'm sending the blessed Holy Spirit of God and he will take my place. Think of the advantage Jesus could be only at one place at one time, and now the Holy Spirit was going to be everywhere in every single believer around the world. Jesus did not leave us alone. He didn't leave us as orphans. I've written a book entitled prepare your heart for an uncertain future final words of warning and comfort from Jesus to his followers. I think you'd be very encouraged reading this book, especially at a time when our hearts are divided they are being torn into so many different directions. Simply go to RTW offer.com for gift of any amount. The book can be yours or call us at 1-888-218-9337 and now for some words of comfort want to begin today with a question when you're growing up as a child, did you feel love and accept cure or did you feel abandoned. I believe it's Bruce Wilson, who was abandoned on the part banished by his mother when he was five or six years old and he said that he stayed on the bench for two days before anyone came by to ask him whether he had a problem never saw his mother again as a ministry today in New York just three children. I remember being in that orphanage in Romania and seeing those little children. Fortunately, it was a Christian orphanage that they were well taken care of. But I do remember a little boy who at Christmas said I can't eat this chocolate bar because my sister is in a different orphanage and she needs to get at least half of it. I know that they were grown man, but the disciples during the time of Christ really were beginning to feel abandoned when Jesus kept telling them I'm going to go away. I'm going to leave you and they they began to think you know this is the one who was there. We were there with him when he stilled the storm and when the multitude and we were there. When he answered his critics with whips and with logic and when ever we were with Jesus. Somehow we knew that anything would be okay now. He was saying I'm going. So Jesus had to give them some reassurance and he said in the 14th chapter of the Gospel of John.

The passage that I want you to turn to.

He said in chapter 14 verse 15 if you love me you will obey what I command. And I will ask the father and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever and now I'm going to skip for the moment to verse 18 I will not leave you as orphans, I will come to you, no chance that I'm going to leave you on a park bench and then walked away and you never see or hear from me again, to treat you that way I will come to you.

Jesus is referring to the second coming when he's going to come now know he is referring actually to the coming of the Holy Spirit you see is the responsibility of the Holy Spirit to substitute for the physical presence of Jesus in our lives is a habit.

Pastor Luther that's easy to say that it's not the same.

It's not like being there when he was feeding the multitudes and stilling the storm and walking in Nazareth. Not like oh yeah it's not exactly like it all agree with that but it is certainly much like The ministry of the Spirit. You'll notice that Jesus said in verse 16 and now I shall refer to verse 16. I will ask the father and he will give you another Counselor in Greek. There are two ways to use that word. Another one word means that I will give you another one which may only be similar. A let's suppose, for example, I happened to drive a Chevy Chevy car and not a motorcycle but a Chevy car and that let's suppose that it isn't working and it's in the garage and I say to somebody, you know, I need another vehicle. I would give you a lot of latitude you could give me any car that worked could be afforded could be one of these sports utility vehicles. I really look good tooling around in one of those but not could be any one of those because all that I'm asking for is another vehicle, but there is in Greek. Another word for the word another which means identical if I used that word if I said I want you to get me another one. You have to get me another Chevy. That's the word that Jesus uses here is what I do part I will send you another helper who is like I am perhaps not identically like because the Trinity must constantly be distinguished, but but he is going to substitute for my presence in your life.

In fact, this comforter is going to be with all of you simultaneously and didn't dwell one and I think we overemphasize sometime the desire that all of us have to walk her Jesus walked in Israel or as pastor Schwartz always says to run walked all of us. I remember studying there. In 1968, and in those days there wasn't a lot of archaeological work and it was difficult to say Jesus walked on the stone.

There were a few places where you could say that today there are many places you can say with authority where down here now to that. Of Christ, and he walked on that the stone and the steps in. We all want to say I was right where Jesus was back my wife and I were in Stratford England not too long ago and we went to where Shakespeare was and I remember hearing about a man it was so in love with Shakespeare that there was a bench there where he apparently would sit with his girlfriend that this man sat on every part of the bench, inch by inch, inch by inch, inch by inch. He wanted to say I want to sit where Shakespeare sat. I suppose this guy was normal in other ways.

I don't know we'd all like to be able to say I sat where Jesus sat, my dear friend, may I remind you today that Jesus said it is good for you that I go away, because if I don't go away.

I cannot send the Holy Spirit to you but when I send the Holy Spirit to you. You will find the continuation of my presence by the spirit simultaneously multiplied and he was here on earth. He couldn't be in Galilee and Jerusalem.

At the same time. Today he's in Jerusalem he's in Namibia he's in Chicago and Atlanta and all over the world in his believers simultaneously and he could not do that with the body so he said it's good for you that I go away because I don't go away.

The new ministry of the Holy Spirit can happen because the ascension was necessary for the coming of the spirit as we shall see in a moment. So Jesus is saying, I will come to you. The spirit will take over right left off. So here's my agenda in the next few moments with.

We'd like to do is to look at those ministries of the spirit that Jesus did and continued in the life of his disciples, and how those ministries continue and multiply.

Now that he is not with us physically, but has meant another helper who is like unto him, to be with us and to be in us, and what were going to do at the end of the message is talk to you about experiencing this Holy Spirit so that you will not only know this intellectually, but you'll be able to leave today and you'll be able to face Monday a little differently than you faced last Friday. That's what were going to do first of all I want you to see that the first ministry that continues is that the Holy Spirit is to us a living helper. Now I'm back again in verse 16. I will ask the father and he will give you another counselor and if you are acquainted with the King James version where I did most of my memory work. It will be another comforter. Another translation says the NASB says I will send you another helper. Another translation says, I will send you an advocate and you say these scholars get together and figure out what the meaning of this word is, and finally translated right which word is it that's what you want is that I can see you shaking your head and your thing. Yeah, that's why you come to church keep coming all right filled answer is it's all the above, the word Paraclete parent means alongside of collectible means to call the noun. This Paraclete that means somebody who is called alongside of someone else and that person that companion had many different functions and ministries.

That's why bless God the ministry of the spirit can't be limited to one word.

It is really all of these words and none of the translations is incorrect and all of them have truth in them. What Jesus is saying is in your need.

I am sending you the spirit who is called alongside of you so that he might be able to represent me and being me in your life if you please, and in so doing we had the privilege of being able to walk this life with Christ by means of the presence and the ministry of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus knew that there was no way these disciples could to world evangelism without the ministry. The spirit you can do evangelism in Israel or in North Africa or in Chicago without the presence and the ministry of the Holy Spirit and Jesus said, he who is in you is greater than he who is outside of you, he who is in the world and as a result of that, the spirit of God is going to come along and to be a helper to stand with us to teach us to pray because he sometimes prays for us and in us with the groanings that are too deep for words. And whenever you need help. This is a companion who is already standing beside you. He is the helper. Let me say also that let's make this more personal is not only a helper.

He is a living companion. I want you to notice what Jesus says in verse 17. This is the spirit of truth. He says the world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him or knows him. But you know him. Now notice and he lives with you but will be in you that little phrase, which I hope you're looking at in the text.

That little phrase is one of the best shorthand explanations for the difference between the ministry, the Old Testament Holy Spirit's ministry and the New Testament in the hole in the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit of God was with people. There were some people that he indwelt but not all believers were involved in the Old Testament. Sometimes the Holy Spirit came upon people for specific ministries and then he left them was a different kind of work of the Spirit. Jesus said he's with you, but when I ascended to the father. I will send him with a new ministry of being in you. Now keep in mind that the Holy Spirit was here before he came because he is God and he will be here after he leave because he's got it the occupies the whole universe and will explain the Trinity in just a moment. But keep this in mind what Jesus is saying is it's going to be a brand-new ministry of the spirit, the spirit of God is now going to dwell within you have to ask your theological question. Is it possible to have the Holy Spirit of God dwell in you without the father dwelling in you and without the sun dwelling.

Actually not because there is only one spirit that pervades the whole universe if there were three spirits that would be three God so you can't have the Holy Spirit of God in you without having Christ in you, without having the father and you look at what Jesus Christ says to Judas, not Iscariot, but Judas asks the question why he in verse 22. But Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world. Jesus replied if anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching, my father will love him, we will come to him and underline the phrase we will make our home with him on the test your memory. Those of you been here in the series of messages when I was preaching on John chapter 14 verse two I pointed something out that when it says in my father's house there are many dwelling places.

The only other place that that word appears in all the New Testament is right here in verse 23 we will make our dwelling place with him.

I find this remarkable that first of all when we go to heaven. We are going to be dwelling with God. But now until we get to heaven, God comes to dwell with us.

We are going to be in that dwelling place but he says until you get there. I'm going to be in this dwelling place, namely with you and Jesus said my father will come to him and I will come to him and together the Trinity will make their food in him. What a statement. What a statement you have God in you. If you're a believer second Corinthians chapter 6, I love to quote these kinds of verses when I'm under the stars, you know, when you see places you know there are places in the world work is very dark and it looks as if the stars are just out there like that. And by the way, did you know that there are trillions and billions.

The other day I was sitting on a plane next to a guy who makes the lenses for the Hubble telescope and he said that recently they pointed the Hubble telescope in one direction only for 11 full hours without moving it into what they thought was basically black space and they discovered 1500 new galaxies that they did not know existed. I said to him you don't God just threw a party when he created the stars. I think I just said hey trillion here a couple trillion there all 10 trillion over there just threw a party. Now listen to this.

I'm not making this up. Second Corinthians as God had said, I will dwell in them and I will walk in them, and I shall be their God and they shall be my people how Jesus said by the ministry of the Spirit spirit will come. Father will come I will come, we will make our abode with him.

Where does he dwell right here in me in you dwelling place of God and God is personal. I mean I'm talking about living companionship. I mean how personal is the spirit. He's as personal as a friend whom you might invite to go with a shopping mall that personal yet he is with you at all times.

He's with you when you ride the subway he's with you when you drive in a Chevy a better day and is even with you. Yeah I'll finish it when you drive a motorcycle but could I remind you bikers that are here that angels the guard you when you drive officially retire at 65, could I remind you of that spirit is with us. I know that you may think that this was strange, but when I went to seminary the first time. When I arrived in Dallas coming from. You know the hinterland of Canada. I was very lonely.

I know I shouldn't of been because I was in my 20s, but just accept the fact that I got there early, before anyone else. And for those first few days, and even the first couple of weeks. I was lonely later on. Of course I make tons of friends okay but but I would just be so lonely, I finally learned that loneliness is a terrifying thing where you think that you know you're kind of alone here and you don't have anyone who really cares about you, because nobody knows you and you don't connect so sometimes and I had a roommate and he and I just never really bonded. He was on a different trajectory altogether, but sometimes I would come into the room when he wouldn't be there and I just throw myself down in the presence of God, and I would just pray and still at my heart to God and I had such an overwhelming sense of the presence of God that I said to myself I could live alone all my life. If God were always this real time not lonely anymore since that time I had the good sense to marry a lovely wife. We three children. We have a grandchild and another one on the way. So I'm not lonely the ministry. The spirit now takes on a different character. Now the spirit ministers to be in terms of guidance in terms of wisdom in terms of dealing with hidden sins and and protection from the enemy, but the same Spirit, but he's back to me because that's what I need. That's the helper I now need to be alongside of me.

Listen up for those of you who are grieving. Maybe because of a lost partner or because of a lost marriage or a lost child, listen up the spirit of God to you is what he is, as the King James says he is a comforter to you. Those of you are seeking guidance you say I don't know what to do with my life.

The world is so confusing and my choices are so few or my choices are so many to you. He is the counselor to those of you who aren't sure of your salvation. You're not sure whether you excitingly believed on Christ.

When you saving lead believe the Holy Spirit.

This is with your spirit that you are a child of God, the Spirit of God takes on the ministry of Ms. Singh to you and to your spirit. And if you're fearful and you want to face tomorrow.

Because there are all kinds of things that you don't want to deal with and you're just saying I'm tired of this life. Holy Spirit of God comes along side he is your companion. He walks with you and the issue is not how much courage you have, but the companion that fans with you and walks with you through the darkness. That's what the spirit does different ministries Holy Spirit is our helper, the Holy Spirit is a companion is also a teacher, my friend. I don't know where you're happy today but I need to hear these troops and even though I've heard them before. And of course preach them.

I need to hear them again and again reminding my own heart of the promises of Jesus. The very fact that the blessed Holy Spirit of God is within us to guide us to be our counselor to be a replacement in a sense if we could say it this way for Jesus to take his place in our lives. We often think to ourselves, if only I could have been back there when Jesus was on earth well we have something better. We take Jesus where ever we go because his blessed Holy Spirit of God is with us.

What a marvelous Savior. You know, in this day of anxiety when there is so many unanswered questions. I've written a book that I think speaks especially to our hearts. It's entitled prepare your hearts for an uncertain future final words of warning and comfort from Jesus to his followers. As you might guess, this book is based essentially on the last words of Jesus in the upper room. I believe that it will bring calmness to your heart. Use it as a devotional read a chapter a day and I think that each time your heart will be quickened with encouragement and faith for a gift of any amount.

It can be yours. Here's what you do go to RTW offer.com that's RTW offer.com or call us at 1-888-218-9337 escort prepare your heart for an uncertain future subtitle final words of warning and comfort from Jesus to his followers take the time to remember what Jesus had to say and he said these words with us in mind.

What I'd like to give you that contact info again go to RTW offer.com or if you prefer you can call us at 1-888-218-9337.

As a matter fact you can pick up the phone and you can call right now: 1-888-218-9337 thanks in advance for helping us. You can write to ask that's running to win 1635 LaSalle Boulevard Chicago, IL 60614 running to win is all about helping you understand God's roadmap for your race of life as a Christian, you need never feel alone. Next time more about the ministry of the Holy Spirit in your life and in mind and why Jesus made sure we'd have his continuing presence as we carry out the ministry God has for us. Thanks for listening for Dr. Erwin lutes are this is Dave Alister running to win is sponsored by the church