The Comforter: (God Near Us) By John Eicher

overview Content Type: Sermon Main Scripture: John 14 (with references to 2 Corinthians 1:21-22 and Ephesians 1:13-14)Core Passage (John 14:1-4, KJV)Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.Key Themes• Jesus’ Mission and the Holy Spirit:Jesus came not only to die and restore our relationship with God but also to prepare us as vessels for the Holy Spirit—the Comforter—to dwell within us.• The Comforter—God’s Nearness:The Holy Spirit is described as a Helper, Comforter, Advocate—God Himself present with and in us, not distant or separate.• Troubled Hearts and Eternal Assurance:Jesus’ words, “Let not your heart be troubled,” are rooted in faith in Him and in the promise of a secure place prepared for each believer in eternity.• Obedience and Love:Loving Jesus is deeply connected to keeping His commandments. Five times in John 14, Jesus links love for Him with obedience, which activates the promise of the Spirit’s indwelling.• The Holy Spirit’s Role:• Comforts and advocates for us.• Teaches and reminds us of Jesus’ words.• Brings peace unlike any the world can give.• Is the “down payment” or guarantee of our inheritance in heaven (2 Corinthians 1:21-22, Ephesians 1:13-14).• Oneness with God:Through the Spirit, believers are drawn into the oneness of the Father and the Son—“I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.”• Misrepresentation and Blasphemy:The sermon cautioned against misrepresenting the Holy Spirit, referencing the seriousness of blasphemy against the Spirit, and encouraged a biblical, reverent understanding.Practical Encouragements• Embrace the Spirit’s Presence:Believe and trust that the Spirit dwells within you. The reality of His presence brings comfort, guidance, and peace, especially in troubled times.• Seek the True Spirit:Don’t separate the Spirit from Jesus or the Father. Seek the Holy Spirit as the very presence of God, not as something apart from His holiness or His word.• Let Christ Overflow:Like a cup filled with water, when we are full of God’s Spirit, what comes out of us—especially under pressure—should be the life and character of Jesus: love, hope, encouragement.• Live as God’s Dwelling Place:Our lives are meant to manifest God’s presence to the world, being His hands and feet, and offering the life of heaven to those in need.Closing Thoughts• The Spirit’s indwelling is not just a future hope but a present reality—a foretaste of our eternal inheritance.• The measure of our peace and spiritual vitality is tied to our faith in this truth and our obedience to Christ.• The world desperately needs the life of Jesus flowing through His people.• “Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:27)Blessing:May you walk in the assurance of God’s nearness, filled with His Spirit, manifesting His love and life to a world in need.