SCRIPTURE: John (NIV) 16:7 But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counsellor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you….
13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you.
OBSERVATION: Jesus was preparing the disciples for His departure. After His crucifixion and resurrection, He only remained on earth for 40 days, and then returned to heaven. He told them that it was good for them that He was going! That must have been hard for them to accept, but He told them why it would be good for them. When He left, the Holy Spirit would sent to them.
It would be good for them because God the Holy Spirit would not have the limitations that God the Son had to accept in order to be crucified for our sins. The Holy Spirit would not be limited by a physical body. He would remain omnipresent and could be with each disciple 24 hours of every day.
They did not have to wait until Jesus arrived, or go find his location, the Holy Spirit would make each believer’s heart His home! Through the ministry and presence of the Holy Spirit, Jesus is always with us!
APPLICATION: When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit comes to live in our hearts. Jesus spoke of Him as “another counsellor.” (John 14:16) Jesus was leaving, but He was not going to leave the disciples without someone like Himself to walk with them through this world. He had been with them when they were together, but the Holy Spirit would be IN them! Really, this was so much better.
PRAYER: Holy Spirit, I need you to guide my thoughts as I write these SOAPs. And I pray for each reader. Speak to them so that they learn to hear your voice in their heart and mind. Reveal truth to them so that they may grow stronger each day. Amen
Pastor Leon
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