Hope From a Companion
Are there troubling circumstances in life? Yes. Are there painful trials? Yes. But, in it all, for the child of God, there is peace. How? It comes from knowing our future home is in heaven; it comes from our present privilege of prayer, in the name of Jesus and for the glory of God; it comes from walking in step with our constant companion, the Holy Spirit. This supernatural peace brings hope to our troubled hearts.
John 14:16-26 (NASB)
16“I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever;17that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.
18“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.19“After a little while the world will no longer see Me, but you will see Me; because I live, you will live also.20“In that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.21“He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him.”22Judas (not Iscariot) *said to Him, “Lord, what then has happened that You are going to disclose Yourself to us and not to the world?”23Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.24“He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father’s who sent Me.
25“These things I have spoken to you while abiding with you.26“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.
John 16:5-15 (NASB)
5“But now I am going to Him who sent Me; and none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’6“But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart.7“But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.8“And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment;9concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me;10and concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father and you no longer see Me;11and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.
12“I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.13“But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.14“He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you.15“All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said that He takes of Mine and will disclose it to you.
Questions:
Based on what you read, what is the role of the Holy Spirit?
What are the Holy Spirit's responsibilities?
How does the Holy Spirit relate with the other 2 members of the Holy Trinity?
How does the Holy Spirit work in your life?
Where do you see the Holy Spirit working in your life?
Where do you see the Holy Spirit working in the life of your group?
The Holy Spirit is who we interact with in our spiritual walks, how do you interact with the Holy Spirit?
Prayer:
Adoration:
- Express your love that the Holy Spirit is a comforter and a counselor in your life
- Praise God that he would send the Holy Spirit to do His work in your life
- Praise Him for His work as a counselor
- Praise Him for His work as a teacher
- Praise Him for convicting you of your sins
Confession:
- Confess your need for the Holy Spirit in your life
Thanksgiving
- Thank God for what you have seen the Holy Spirit do in your life and the life of your group
Supplication
- Make your requests known to God