Francis Chan: The Holy Spirit (Part 1)

Sermon Summary

Main Message

This message is a powerful reminder of the importance of cultivating a deep desire for God's presence in our lives. The speaker emphasizes that it's not just about having a good life or enjoying material possessions, but about being deeply in love with Jesus and longing to be with Him. This desire should be so strong that we feel like prisoners in this world, eager to escape and be with Him.

Key Scripture References

• John 14:1-3 - In these verses, Jesus comforts his disciples by telling them that He is going to prepare a place for them in heaven. He also promises to come back for them and take them to be with Him. This passage sets the tone for the rest of the chapter, which emphasizes the comfort and encouragement that Jesus offers to His followers.
• John 14:5-6 - In this passage, Thomas asks Jesus how they can follow Him to heaven, since they don't know where He is going. Jesus responds by saying that He is the way, the truth, and the life, and that no one comes to the Father except through Him.
• John 14:12-14 - These verses emphasize the importance of faith in Jesus. Those who have faith in Him will do what He has been doing, and they will even do greater things than He did because He is going to the Father. Jesus also promises that He will hear their prayers from heaven and do whatever they ask in His name.
• John 14:16-17 - In these verses, Jesus tells his disciples that He will ask the Father to send another counselor to be with them forever. This counselor is described as the Spirit of Truth, who will come alongside them and guide them in their walk with God.
• John 14:18-20 - These verses emphasize the importance of the Holy Spirit's role in our lives. The speaker notes that Jesus is not trying to confuse us by saying that He is going away, but that He will send another counselor who is just like Him.

Key Takeaways

• The desire for God's presence should be the greatest longing in our lives.
• Jesus promises to prepare a place for us in heaven and to come back for us.
• Faith in Jesus is essential for following Him to heaven.
• The Holy Spirit is another counselor who will come alongside us and guide us in our walk with God.

Application

This message encourages us to cultivate a deep desire for God's presence in our lives. We should be like the disciples, who were deeply grieved by Jesus' departure but were comforted by His promises of return and preparation of a place for them in heaven. We should also trust in Jesus' promise that He will hear our prayers from heaven and do whatever we ask in His name. Finally, we should recognize the importance of the Holy Spirit's role in our lives and seek to be guided by Him as we walk with God.