In youth on Wednesday night, we were talking about Jesus promise of the Holy Spirit to the disciples in John 16:5-7. “But now I am going away to the one who sent me, and not one of you is asking where I am going.6 Instead, you grieve because of what I’ve told you. 7 But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate won’t come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you. “ (NLT)
Jesus was trying to tell the disciples that his leaving and sending the Holy Spirit was a GOOD thing, but they were feeling the exact opposite. Why was that? We discovered that Jesus told the disciples in the previous four verses that they would be persecuted, and then he told them he was leaving. Jesus was trying to tell them all the Holy Spirit would do through them, but the disciples couldn't hear it. Often times, we respond the same way. When we are CONSUMED with our own problems, we cannot see anything else. The disciples completely missed Jesus good news!
Another point we observed was the Holy Spirit was sent to help us. We seem to be better at understanding this part that God wants to help us...or do we? God definition of helping us, through the Holy Spirit, is to take over and CONSUME us. Then the Holy Spirit is in charge and we are equipped to share the Gospel (as laid out in John 16:8-11)
The fact that we have the Holy Spirit living inside us and His power is available to us every day is GOOD news. Lord, help us to be CONSUMED by you and not ourselves!
Blessings, Pastor Rob
No comments:
Post a Comment