We Believe In The Holy Spirit

You are listening to a message from Thrive Community Church, a church located in Southwest Florida. For more info, visit us at thrive-fl.org. You know what credo means? It's Latin. We believe. Not we know or think. Now, sometimes people say, I know, and it sounds like it's more important than believing. Actually, I think faith or believing is more important than knowing. And one of the differences between, we don't say I know or I think when we read a creed, is because, well, you can know and think a lot of stuff but not trust any of it. I know George Washington existed. Do I trust George Washington with anything? Not necessarily. He's dead, right? So, you can know a lot of facts, but whether you have a relationship. And so, the creed has always been about a relationship with the God of that creed. So, we are in the Nicene Creed we're celebrating here. And I know for some it's like, why do we need creeds? The creed was formed in 325 AD. So, in other words, 1,700 years ago, it's the anniversary of that creed. And it's one that was held by all Christians at that time universally. And it's trying to state in summary form what the New Testament and the life of Jesus states in longer form. So, it's really a story encapsulated in the creed. We're going to look at the Bible passages behind this section of the creed today. It's the section that reads this. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and Son he is worshipped and glorified. He has spoken through the prophets. I mean, we could go probably the entire year on different pieces of this. We're going to try to do this whole chunk. I'm not going to do a satisfactory job with some of these phrases by any means. But we're just going to look at who is the Holy Spirit today. You can get all these notes, even this, in the U version of the Bible with this QR code right there. And I do have it set up right today, okay? And so, we will be looking at 1 John, or excuse me, the Gospel of John chapter 14 when we get to it. And why this section? Jesus is in his last hours before the crucifixion. He knows he is going to go through cross and resurrection. He's not sure exactly what it's going to be like, but he knows what's before him. And he's with his disciples that night, Thursday night. He's washed their feet. He has given out the Lord's Supper. He has said, this is my last will and testament to you. When you know you only have a few hours left with people, and even you go like, well, he's going to rise from the dead. He only has 40 more days where he is bodily, like in physical form, showing up here and there with his disciples. He doesn't have much time with them. When you have just a few moments, you're not going to talk about the weather or what sports team is doing what. I'm sorry about the brewers, but, sorry. Man, showy, I mean, my goodness. Anyway, but we're not talking about him. We're talking about the Holy Spirit. What? Enough. I know. I've gone enough. OK. You're going to talk about what's most important. And he lays it out. He knows he has a short time with his disciples that he will physically, like, visibly be present. He's going to always be present. He said, Lo, I am with you always. But he's going to be physically, visibly present for a short time. He's trying to get them ready for all this. And he's going to share the most important things. And one of the most important aspects he shares about is the Holy Spirit. So in John, chapter 14, 15, 16 and 17, it's this long extended time when he is speaking to his disciples after the Lord's Supper, possibly in the Garden of Gethsemane, but right before his arrest. It's amazing. And we're looking at a section of it. We'll talk about other parts of it as well today. But we're going to turn in your Bibles or with on the screen or in the note to John, chapter 14, verses 15 to 26. Jesus says to them, If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the father and he will give you another helper to be with you forever. Even the spirit of truth whom the world cannot receive because it is 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 in 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 is it is who loves me and who he who loves me will be loved by my father. And I will love him and manifest myself to him. Judas, not the scariot, said to him, Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us and not to the world? And 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...