As Jesus was wrapping up His conversation with the Apostles, He gave another promise. He was going back to the Father. His death and return were absolutely vital to the continuing of restoration of men to God. He was going to release the Holy Spirit to the world so that the Holy Spirit could convey the truth of the Gospel to people across the globe.
At this point, there was no way to sugar coat the battle that faced these men. The attacks upon them would be from the very people that should be thrilled to hear the truth. Instead, they would actually believe that the persecution of the Apostles was doing God a favor. Jesus wanted the troop to know, however, that the Spirit would provide all that they needed to both spread the truth, and keep the communication between Jesus and them alive.
Jesus promised them that what the Spirit taught them would be the actual lessons from God the Father and from Jesus, Himself. As they moved forward, they would be glorifying God by simply following the lead that the Spirit provided. The Spirit would be their reminder that Jesus was always with them.
That same promise remains with us today. As with the Apostles, when we surrender our lives to the Lord, the Spirit comes and lives within us. He will comfort, teach, and guide us through our personal journey with the Lord. We can remain confident as we walk in submission to God’s lead, that the Spirit will reveal His truth to us and will stand with us through the great times and the difficult times.
In addition, the Spirit will lead us to share the truth of the Gospel with others and He will draw them to the Lord. He will actually stir people’s hearts to a saving knowledge of Christ. Our responsibility will simply be to go where He leads and speak the truth of Christ in love. We can rest assured that everything else will be provided.
We know now that the mission of Jesus was only the beginning of the restoration, so while the days ahead were dark for these men, they would soon become extremely bright. That brightness would spread from them to the ends of the earth and provide light that would change the world.
God Bless You
“These things I have spoken to you so that you may be kept from stumbling. 2 They will make you outcasts from the synagogue, but an hour is coming for everyone who kills you to think that he is offering service to God. 3 These things they will do because they have not known the Father or Me. 4 But these things I have spoken to you, so that when their hour comes, you may remember that I told you of them. These things I did not say to you at the beginning, because I was with you.
The Holy Spirit Promised
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; 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10 and concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father and you no longer see Me; 11 and 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.
Walking With God 