John 15 & 16 Study & Breakdown/The World's Hatred For Christ and Us/ The Work of The Holy Spirit!!!
OPENING PRAYER
"Man Shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God"- Matthew 4:4- "My mother and brothers are those who hear the Word of God and do it" - Mark 8:21
Having received this day as a gift, I (We) thank You Holy Trinity, for through Your goodness and patience You were not wrathful with me (Us), and idler (s) and sinner (s), neither have You cast me (Us) down in my (Our)sins...But You have shown Your love towards me (us) and have guided me (us) to keep my (our) daily watch to glorify Your power...Enlighten my (our) mind (minds) to study Your teachings in Scripture...Help me (us) to apply what I (we) learn and to praise You with all my (our) heart and glorify Your Holy Name, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and forever...Amen!!!
Shine within my (our) hearts, loving Master, the pure Light of Your Divine Knowledge, and open the eyes of my mind that I may understand Your teachings...Instill in me (us) also reverence for Your Blessed commandments, so having conquered sinful desires I (we) may pursue a spiritual way of life, thinking and doing all those things that are pleasing to You...For You, Christ my God, are my light, and to You I (we) give, glory, together with Your Father and Your Holy Spirit, now and forever...Amen!!!
CHANT PSALM 23
INTO YOUR HANDS LORD YESHUA (JESUS CHRIST) WE COMMIT OUR SOULS AND BODIES, BLESS US AND HAVE MERCY ON US AND GRANT US ETERNAL LIFE!!!
AMEN!!!
JOHN 15 & 16- STUDY & BREAKDWON STUDY GUIDE
UNION AND COMMUNION WITH CHRIST
JOHN 15:1-17
15:1-6: THE VINE IS A SYMBOL OF ISRAEL- (Isaiah 6:1-7; Jeremiah 2:21): In contrast to the disobedient and the unfruitful Israel, our Lord calls Himself the TRUE VINE, which together with THE BRANCHES is giving life to a new and fruitful people of God: (The Church- followers of Yeshua): At Divine Liturgy in the Orthodox Church, the bishop prays that the Lord will visit and confirm the vineyard, the local body of Christ, which He planted with His own right hand- (Psalm 79:15-16): TO ABIDE: in this vine is to abide in Christ, His Church and be a follower of His ways and Teachings: The figure of the vine and the branches shows (1) our union with Christ is intimate and real; (2): life flows from the vine to the branches-abiding in Christ is awesome and peaceful; and (3): the fruit we bear is good works and mission- (v. 16; and John 17:18):
15:10: One cannot LOVE God and disobey HIS COMMANDMENTS: To love God is to obey Him, His Teachings and inmate His Love to all- (John 14:15):
15:12: SEE MY NOTES ON JOHN 13:34
15:14-15: FRIENDSHIP IS HIGHER THAN SERVANTHOOD: SERVANTS: obey their masters out of fear or a sense of duty: FRIENDS: obey out of love and an internal desire to do what is good and right: Abraham was called a "FRIEND OF GOD"- (JAMES 2:23) because he obeyed God out of the belief of his heart: The disciples, and indeed all the saints, are honored as friends of Christ because they freely obey His Commandments out of love: Those who have this spirit of loving obedience are open to receive and understand the revelations of the FATHER:
THE WORLD'S HATRED
JOHN 15:18-27
15:18-25: THE TERM WORLD: is used in several ways in the Scriptures: Some cases, it refers to all that is glorious, beautiful, and redeemable in God's creation- (John 3:16): Other times, it refers to that which is finite in contrast to that which is eternal- (John 11:9; John 18:36): In other instances, as here, it indicates all that is in rebellion against God- (see- also John 8:23): The rebellion of the world against God reveals several things: (1): while union with Christ brings love, truth, and peace, it also brings persecution, because the world HATES- LOVE, TRUTH AND PEACE (v. 19): (2): The world hated Christ; therefore, it will hate all of us who try to live and walk Christlike- (v. 20): (3): The world hates Christ because it neither knows nor desires to know the Father- (vv. 21-24): (4): Hatred for Yeshua (Jesus) is irritational and unreasonable meaning there is no point for it, for Christ brings love and mercy, so Christ is hated WITHOUT A CAUSE- (v. 25):
15:26: WITH RESPECT TO GOD'S WORKING SALVATION IN THE WORLD: The Son sends the Holy Spirit FROM THE FATHER: with respect to the divine nature, the Holy Spirit eternally PROCEEDS FROM THE FATHER ALONE: (See and reference the Nicene Creed):
JOHN 16- STUDY & BREAKDOWN
THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT-
JOHN 16:1-15
16:6: SORROW: here is meaning "extreme grief leading to despondency or despair", which is a sinful passion: "Great is the tyranny of despondency" -(JohnChr): This sin is constantly referred to in the writings of the Desert Fathers: When the world persecutes the believer or when God seems to be absent, Christians are called to fight against this despondency, taking comfort from the presence of the Holy Spirit- (vv. 5-15):
16:7: HELPER: SEE MY NOTES- JOHN 14:16
16:8-11: THROUGH THE ILLUMINATION- brought by the Holy Spirit, the world will be convicted, that is, proven wrong: It will be convicted concerning (1): ITS SIN, the ultimate of which is denying Jesus Christ; (2): RIGHTEOUSNESS- (v. 10), which it failed to accept from Christ with faith and thanksgiving; and (3): JUDGEMENT- (v. 11), for all who reject Christ will receive the same penalty that Satan, the ruler of this world, has already received- (see- Matthew 25:41):
16:13: BECAUSE THE HOLY SPIRIT: is the SPIRIT OF TRUTH, and because this Spirit abides in the Church, the Church is the guardian of ALL TRUTH:
DEATH, RESURRECTION, ASCENSION FORETOLD-
JOHN 16:16-33
16:16: THE FIRST LITTLE WHILE: refers to Christ's arrest, death, and burial: The second is His time in the tomb until His Resurrection:
16:21: NO LONGER REMEBERS: does not imply the faithful are to forget the Passion and Cross of Christ, any more than A WOMAN "FORGETS" LABOR: Rather, we now see these sufferings in light of the victory of the Resurrection, and this victory transfigures our perception of sufferings: Christ's victory allows us to rejoice in ANGUISH because of the infinitely greater good that comes from it- (Romans 5:3-5; Philippians 3:10):
16:25: THE TIME: when Christ would speak PLAINLY ABOUT THE FATHER was during the 40 days following the Resurrection - (Acts 1:3):
16:26-28: WE KNOW PRAYER IS OFFERED: In the name of God the Father, for Christ taught us to pray the Lord's Prayer- (Matthew 6:9), and He Himself prayed to the Father -(John 11:41; John 12:28; John 17:1): In Christ, we have direct access to the Father, and so we pray in THE NAME of the Son as well- (see my notes at John 14:13-14): After Pentecost, we learn the Holy Spirit Himself, "makes intercession for us" -(Romans 8:26), and we are instructed to pray always in the spirit- (Ephesians 6:18): Therefore, as Orthodox Christians, we pray continually and with confidence to all Three Person's (Package of God) Trinity: "IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, AND THE SON, AND THE HOLY SPIRIT..."
"The Holy Spirit works like a mystery...Sometimes you can feel it's effect on you and sometimes it works without us knowing sometimes...The Holy Spirit is our greatest protection the gift given to us by Christ, the Spirit truly leads us, guide us, protects us and even seals us if we stay in Christ, we are His!!! Sometimes the Spirit works in ways that sometimes makes us unpopular, but what's important is the message the Father is trying to get us relay!!! How to strengthen our spirit through deification is done through prayer, confession and fasting!!! Pray with confidence and humility remember it's not our will that matters but the Will of our Father in Heaven!!! Lastly don't be discouraged if the world hates you, the world hated Christ first!!! Stand strong endure and keep the faith, do good and always shun evil, I love you all, and continue to pray the Lord blesses you all!!!
SHALOM!!!
"WE DEPART IN PEACE IN THE NAME OF THE LORD- MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST!!!
END WITH THE LORD'S PRAYER!!!
JPCE SPIRITUAL TALK
NEVER HOLD BACK
THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD
JEHOVAH SHALOM!!!