Day 31 - Jesus Makes A Promise

Video Host: Sean Silverii - Oregon DYD

Big Scripture: John 14:15–18,27–29 (NLT)

15 “If you love me, obey my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. 17 He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. 18 No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you.  

27 “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. 28 Remember what I told you: I am going away, but I will come back to you again. If you really loved me, you would be happy that I am going to the Father, who is greater than I am. 29 I have told you these things before they happen so that when they do happen, you will believe.  

Big Idea:

In this passage, Jesus is preparing His followers for His own departure, but He wants them to know they don’t have to be discouraged. They are not being abandoned and they are not alone! Jesus promises the Father will send the Holy Spirit. From the words of Jesus, we learn three important things about the Holy Spirit:

    The Holy Spirit is an “Advocate.” An advocate is someone who looks out for you and speaks up for you. The Holy Spirit is always working in ways that help you. He is looking out for you and speaking up for you. How?

    The Holy Spirit looks out for you by leading you into truth. The Holy Spirit helps you understand God’s Word and character. He gives you the desire and ability to read, understand, and apply the Scriptures. Without the Holy Spirit, you and I can’t experience the truth that is found in Jesus.  

    The Holy Spirit also speaks up for you. To understand how He does that we need to notice that the Spirit is ANOTHER advocate. That means we have a first advocate: Jesus. Jesus stands before the Father where He makes the case for you based on what He has done, not based on what you’ve done. The Holy Spirit is different. While Jesus speaks to the Father for your good, the Holy Spirit speaks to YOU for your good. The Spirit is always reminding you of truth and His main message is there is a first advocate! The Holy Spirit wants to point you to Jesus so that you can experience His love and know His truth.

You are not alone. You have the Holy Spirit!  

Big Questions:

    How do you feel when someone keeps their promise to you?  

    How does the Holy Spirit lead us into truth?  

    Jesus is our advocate and so is the Holy Spirit. How are they different in the ways they advocate for us?  

    What does it mean to you that Jesus has not abandoned you?  

Big Prayer:

God,  
Thank You that You always look for ways to help us. Thank You for sending our first advocate, Jesus. Jesus, thank you for living in my place and dying in my place. Thank You for being a faithful high priest who prays for me, making a case for me based on Your goodness and not my own. Holy Spirit, thank You for pointing me to Jesus. Thank You for leading me into truth. Help me to be more sensitive to Your voice and more responsive to Your leading. In Jesus’ name, Amen.