An Enabling Relationship John 15:26-16:4

What is co-dependency? A type of dysfunctional helping relationship where one person supports or enables another person’s addiction, poor mental health, immaturity, irresponsibility… The most common theme is an excessive reliance on other people for approval and a sense of identity It helps to explain “enabling” patterns used to ease relationship tension...

We now tend to associate “enabling” with bad behavior Sometimes it is good to hear about someone “enabling” good behavior Our goal should be a positive inter-dependent relationship with others Jesus was concerned about enabling the disciples to be good witnesses for Him in the future

I. A Sure Word of Testimony Enables Confidence “But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me. And you also will bear witness, because you have been with Me from the beginning.” (Jn 15:26–27, NKJV)

A. We need the promised Spirit who will testify of Christ He is the promised helper He is associated with truth He proceeds from the Father He will testify of Christ

Ephesians 2:19-22 “Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.” (NKJV)

B. We need to be faithful disciples bearing witness of Christ The disciples will be indwelt by the Spirit The disciples will be taught by the Spirit The disciples will be guided by the Spirit The disciples will be empowered by the Spirit

II. A Sure Word of Encouragement Enables Stability “These things I have spoken to you, that you should not be made to stumble. They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service. And these things they will do to you because they have not known the Father nor Me.” (John 16:1–3, NKJV)

A. We need encouragement not to stumble when facing trials We have been given truth in order to stand firm We are very capable of falling in the face of pressure

B. We need encouragement for what is coming to threaten us We know that we face opposition to Christ’s mission We can expect ongoing opposition in Satan’s domain

C. We need encouragement to face the unbelieving world Unbelievers unwittingly serve the evil one Unbelievers indiscriminately resist the Holy One “but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness,” (1 Corinthians 1:23, NKJV)

III. A Sure Word of Remembrance Enables Perseverance “But these things I have told you, that when the time comes, you may remember that I told you of them. “And these things I did not say to you at the beginning, because I was with you.” (John 16:4, NKJV)

A. We need to remember our biblical warnings The commands of Scripture indicate expectations for behavior The warning passages of Scripture indicate accountability The predictive passages of Scripture provide warning of what is coming so preparations can be made

B. We need to recognize our privileged position Jesus was with the disciples for their preparation This warning was not needed at that time Jesus is with us now as well