God Speaks
In His Farewell Address to His Disciples, Jesus Referred to the Father, the Spirit and Himself
Verse of the Day: “[The Spirit] will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you [disciples]. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.” (John 16:14-15 NIV 2011)
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We Respond
John 14
Reflection: In this chapter, John relates Jesus’s teaching at the end of His last meal with the Twelve. He said that since they trusted in the Father, they should trust in Him as well. He told them that He was going to prepare a place for His followers so that they could be with Him and the Father forever. When they asked how to get there, He answered, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” Jesus is the only way to Father God, the ultimate source of truth, and the reason we can enjoy eternal life. He also said, “I am in the Father and the Father is in me.” Wow, what a statement for a human being to make, unless He really was who he claimed to be, God in the flesh. Even more amazing, Jesus taught that He would send the Spirit who dwelt in Him to be in us. This is because He was about to take on Himself the sins of the whole world and pay the penalty for sin as He died on the cross. This promised, indwelling Holy Spirit would enable His followers to do whatever Jesus did and more. Because He loved the Father, Jesus willingly did all that the Father commanded Him to do. If we love and trust Jesus and the Father, by the inner working of the Holy Spirit, His followers will do so as well.
Prayer: Dear Trustworthy Father God, thank You that I truly can trust You and Jesus Christ Your Son. Thank You that Jesus is now preparing a place for me and Your other followers so that we can be with You both forever. Thank You that Jesus is the only way to Father God, the ultimate source of truth, and the reason I can enjoy eternal life. Jesus, You said, “I am in the Father and the Father is in me.” It amazes me, Jesus, that You sent the very Spirit who dwelt in You to be in me. You were able to do this because You took on Yourself the sins of the whole world (including mine) and paid the penalty for sin as You died on the cross. Holy Spirit, as You indwell us, You enable Jesus’s followers to do whatever He did and more. Because You loved the Father, Jesus, You willingly did all that the Father commanded You to do. If I love and trust the Father and You, Jesus, by the inner working of Your Holy Spirit, I will do so as well. May it be so. AMEN
Action: (Ask God, the Holy Spirit, which one of these He wants you to work on or something else more personal that He points out.)
- I will write out a list of at least ten ways in which I am trusting God, instead of my own self efforts.
- I will read the book Heaven by Randy Alcorn to learn more about the place Jesus is preparing for me and His other followers.
- I will ask God, the Holy Spirit, to use me to do the kinds of things that Jesus did so that I, too, can bring glory to Jesus and the Father.
- I will discuss with at least one person this week how Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.
John 15
Reflection: When Jesus said, “I am the true vine, you are the branches, and the Father is the gardener,” He was saying that we needed to stay connected to Him in order to be productive for the purpose of glorifying God. God would trim away unfruitful branches and shape fruitful ones to be even more fruitful. We who are Jesus’s disciples are to relate to each other in unselfish love, even to the point of laying down our lives for each other. The world apart from Christ will hate His disciples. After all, it hated Him first. His disciples must not return the hated, however, but overcome it with the truth and love that only the Holy Spirit can supply.
Prayer: Dear Father God who is the Gardener of my life, thank You that Jesus is the true source of life and vitality for this branch–me. Keep me firmly attached to You and growing the fruit of the Spirit even though at times the pruning hurts. I want to continue producing love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control for the benefit of others and for Your kingdom. Help me to be a good disciple of Jesus in relation to others, loving them as He would. You have chosen and appointed me for this situation. You will give me all I need to carry out Your purposes if I just ask and obey whatever You say. Holy Spirit, the world is hating me right now. My natural reaction is to defend myself and hate back. Instead, please help me to love those who are hating and hurting me, by telling them the truth about Your love for them.
Action: (Ask God, the Holy Spirit, which one of these He wants you to work on or something else more personal that He points out.)
- I will stay connected with Jesus, the true vine, by spending significant time reading the Bible and praying.
- I will thank God for the ultimately good purpose He has in mind as He is pruning me right now.
- I will look for ways to show Christ’s love to _______ (someone specific) who is hating and/or hurting me, then do it.
- I will pray for those who are being persecuted for their faith in Jesus. They most exemplify the people Jesus said that Holy Spirit would comfort.
John 16
Reflection: John chapter 16 begins with Jesus warning His followers of coming persecution. He did this so that they would not be surprised and discouraged but prepared and steadfast in continuing to trust Him. Jesus went on to discuss the work of the Holy Spirit. Even though Jesus would be leaving the disciples, He promised to send the Holy Spirit to be their counselor and remind them of all He had taught in the time He had led them. Jesus foretold of His death which would bring them sorrow, but that sorrow would be replaced and surpassed by the great joy of His resurrection. Jesus promised that from then on, their prayers would be answered whenever they prayed in His name, using His authority. Because He had overcome the world of sin and death, they could have peace of heart and mind.
Prayer: Dear Almighty Father, thank You that Jesus warned us, His followers, of persecution. Please help us have courage and be prepared whenever it comes, in whatever form. It is part of the work of the Holy Spirit to prepare us to handle each troubling situation with Your mercy and grace. Jesus, I admit that I don’t appropriately sorrow over the fact that my sin caused Your death on the cross; therefore, I don’t appreciate and rejoice over Your resurrection the way I should. Forgive me, Lord, and help me grow in this area. Thank You, Father, that You promise to answer my prayers whenever I ask in Jesus’s name. You do so to honor His loving sacrifice. He, in turn, will honor You. May I love and honor You both by striving to sin less. Thank You for the promise that despite (or even amid) the trials and troubles of this world, I can have peace of mind and heart because Jesus has overcome the world. AMEN
Action: (Ask God, the Holy Spirit, which one of these He wants you to work on or something else more personal that He points out.)
- I will watch the film Sabina, the story of Richard and Sabina Wurmbrand (the founders of Voice of the Martyrs), to see role models for how to deal with persecution in a godly manner.
- I will use a good concordance and other reference materials to study what the rest of scripture has to say about the Holy Spirit.
- [This author has recently considered this analogy: Holy Spirit is a person. He is also like a built-in communication device between the believer and the Lord. Like features on an advanced smart phone, He translates our prayers into language acceptable to heaven. He is the source of wisdom, like a wise talk-show host. He gives us all the facts and the truth, better than Google. He provides us more lasting support than a counselling hot line. He heals us of any ailment, better than any telemedicine connection. He guides us in the right direction, better than any GPS. Oh, that we would turn to and depend on Him as much as we do on our cell phones.]
- I will examine my prayers to be sure they truly can be prayed in Jesus’s name, under His authority.
- I will memorize John 16:33 in a version I can easily remember and repeat it to myself whenever I face a trial or tribulation.
John 17
Reflection: Reading John 17 is like listening in on Jesus’s private prayer time just before His arrest and crucifixion. It is so intimate that I feel it almost sacrilegious to try to summarize or apply it. I recommend that it be read slowly, contemplatively, and gratefully.
Prayer: Dear Holy and Righteous Father God, thank You for preserving this intimate interaction between Jesus and Yourself. His thoughts and words centered on only two things: His and His followers’ unity with You, with Himself, and with each other and bringing glory to Your name. During His ministry on earth Jesus had sought to display Your power and glory and to protect His followers from the Evil One. Shortly after this prayer, Jesus suffered, died, and rose again to provide the basis for us, the human beings You had created and given to Him, to be with Him and You forever. Thank You that I am included in this prayer, Jesus: when You prayed for “all who will ever believe in me through their message,”* You were praying for me. Please make me holy by Your word of truth. Come live in and through me so that my world may know that out of Your great love You sent Jesus to redeem us. All for Your glory, Father. AMEN
*John 17:20 NLT
Action: (Ask the Holy Spirit, which one of these He wants you to work on or something else more personal that He points out.)
- I will thank the Lord for the love for me and others expressed in this prayer of Jesus.
- I will tell ______ (someone specific) how much Jesus loves them using this prayer as an example.
- I will express my love for God by doing a specific act of love for someone today.
- I will send a note, email, text, or phone message to encourage someone who is suffering for their faith in Jesus.
Share: I plan to share what I’ve learned with ________.