2022-07-30
John 14:16 KJV
In the New Testament account, Jesus told his disciples, “I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever.” The Greek source for the word “Comforter” is Parakletos, which means “one who comes alongside” to strengthen, encourage, and advise you. How good is that?
When you feel discouraged, confused, and powerless, you have access to a wise, compassionate, competent helper who will show up to support you and supply you with what you need. So instead of struggling to go it alone, learn to lean on Him, draw on His power, and trust Him to do His mighty work in you. Paul also tells us, “He [the Holy Spirit] will tell you where to go and what to do… then you won’t always be doing the… things your evil nature wants you to” (Galatians 5:16 TLB).
The battle of the Spirit versus the flesh is unrelenting. And our fleshly nature can never be subdued by human thinking; that just produces defeat and discouragement. What’s the answer? The Holy Spirit “will tell you where to go and what to do.” And here is another wonderful benefit the indwelling Holy Spirit will bring you: “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God… are the sons of God” (Romans 8:14 KJV). Praying and taking your best guess isn’t God’s way. The Holy Spirit’s guidance – not our guesswork – should direct our lifestyle. So, the word for you today is – remember “it’s an inside job.”
Soul food: Acts 24-26; Mark 1:1-8; Ps 78:1-8; Prov 16:23-24
Johannes 14:16 NLV
Jesus het vir sy dissipels gesê: ‘En Ek sal die Vader vra en Hy sal vir julle ‘n ander Raadgewer stuur om vir altyd by julle te wees.’ Die Griekse bron vir die woord ‘Raadgewer’ is ‘Parakletos,’ wat beteken ‘een wat langsaan jou kom’ om jou te versterk, te bemoedig en raad te gee. Hoe wonderlik is dit nie? Wanneer jy moedeloos, verward en magteloos voel, het jy ‘n wyse, deernisvolle, bekwame helper wat sal opdaag om jou te ondersteun en jou van dit wat jy nodig het, sal voorsien. In plaas daarvan om dus alleen daarmee te sukkel, leer om op Hom te leun, put krag uit sy mag uit en vertrou Hom om sy magtige werk in jou te doen.
Paulus sê ook vir ons: ‘…Laat julle leefstyl eerder deur die Gees bepaal word. Dan sal julle glad nie aan die begeertes van julle sondige geaardheid toegee nie’ (Galasiërs 5:16 NLV). Die stryd tussen die Gees en die vlees is onophoudelik. Ons vleeslike natuur kan nooit deur menslike denke in bedwang gebring word nie; dit veroorsaak net mislukking en moedeloosheid. Wat is dan die antwoord? Die Heilige Gees sal vir jou sê waar om te gaan en wat om te doen.
Nog ‘n wonderlike voordeel wat die inwonende Heilige Gees vir jou meebring is: ‘Want almal wat hulle laat lei deur die Gees van God – hulle is God se kinders’ (Romeine 8:14 NLV). Om te bid en dan jou beste raaiskoot te neem, is nie God se manier nie. Die Heilige Gees se leiding – nie ons raaiskote nie – moet ons leefstyl bepaal. Die woord vir jou vandag is dus – onthou, dit werk binne jou.
Sielskos: Hand 24-26; Mark 1:1-8; Ps 78:1-8; Spr 16:23-24
2022-07-29
John 16:7 NKJV
Even as the disciples’ hearts ached about Jesus’ departure, He assured them it was to their advantage because it would bring them a new era of power and authority (See John 14:12). Being “under new management” wasn’t the end but a continuation of Christ’s ministry as the Holy Spirit took the baton from the Son’s hand and placed it in theirs. The Son would leave, but the Spirit would “abide with [them] forever” (John 14:16 KJV). This was their “advantage.” The Spirit would enter their human bodies and live permanently in them!
This is no tentative, vague connection. It’s God’s Spirit choosing us as His permanent dwelling place. Have you ever considered the advantage this gives you? For example, you might awake tomorrow feeling stressed, weary, and irritated, and, humanly speaking, these feelings could easily dictate your day. But because the Spirit lives in you, these things don’t have to control you.
Paul writes, “Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you?” (1 Corinthians 6:19 NKJV). Once you accept that promise by faith, you become God’s temple. You can be at work, driving the kids to school, walking the dog, waiting for biopsy results, or attending the funeral of your best friend, and as you go about your everyday life, God’s Spirit is living in you. Can you see now why Jesus told the disciples it was good for Him to leave and send the Holy Spirit? Whatever you do, don’t let this life-changing truth slide by you!
Soul food: Acts 22-23; Matt 28:11-20; Ps 46; Prov 16:20-22
Johannes 16:7 NLV
Selfs terwyl die dissipels se harte seer was oor Jesus se vertrek, het Hy hulle verseker dat dit tot hulle voordeel sou wees, omdat dit vir hulle ‘n nuwe era van krag en gesag sou meebring (sien Johannes 14:12). Om ‘onder nuwe bestuur’ te wees, was nie die einde nie, maar ‘n voortsetting van Christus se bediening, aangesien die Heilige Gees die aflosstokkie uit die Seun se hand geneem het en dit in hulle hande geplaas het. Die Seun sou weggaan, maar die Gees sou ‘…vir altyd by [hulle] wees’ (Johannes 14:16 NLV). Die Gees sou hulle menslike liggame binnegaan en permanent in hulle woon!
Dis nie ‘n tentatiewe, vae verbinding nie. Dis God se Gees wat ons as sy permanente woonplek kies. Het jy al ooit die voordeel wat dit ons gee, oorweeg? Jy kan byvoorbeeld more wakker word en gestres, moeg en geïrriteerd voel en, menslik gesproke, kan hierdie gevoelens maklik jou dag bepaal. Omdat die Gees egter in jou lewe, hoef hierdie soort dinge jou nie te beheer nie.
Paulus skryf: ‘Of verstaan julle dan nie dat julle liggame ‘n tempel van die Heilige Gees is wat in julle woon… nie?..’ (1 Korintiërs 6:19 NLV). Sodra jy hierdie belofte deur geloof aanvaar, word jy God se tempel. Jy kan by die werk wees, besig wees om die kinders skool toe te neem, met die hond gaan stap, vir die biopsie se resultate wag, die begrafnis van jou beste vriend bywoon of met jou alledaagse take voortgaan – God se Gees lewe in jou.
Kan jy nou insien hoekom Jesus vir die dissipels gesê het dat dit tot hulle voordeel is dat Hy weggaan en vir hulle die Heilige Gees stuur? Wat jy ook al doen, moenie dat hierdie lewensveranderende waarheid by jou verbygaan nie!
Sielskos: Hand 22-23; Matt 28:11-20; Ps 46; Spr 16:20-22
2022-07-28
John 14:16 KJV
Remember dinner without cell phones, voice mail, texts, and brain overload? Friends and family enjoying each other’s company, uninterrupted by technology? We’re a generation that’s losing the art of communication and intimacy – and it’s impacting the time we spend alone with God. Although Jesus preceded the high-tech age, He was in constant demand; multitudes pursued Him at all hours of the day and night. Nevertheless, the Scriptures tell us: “A great while before day, he… departed into a solitary place, and there prayed” (Mark 1:35 KJV).
Jesus made time to be alone with His Father. It requires spiritual discipline to eliminate life’s noise and racket and be still and listen. But if you practice it, you will discover a heart-satisfying intimacy and fellowship with God. Invest a few minutes reading John chapters 14-16, and let your spirit absorb Jesus’ message. Notice, He wants His disciples to have peace, and He comforts them with the assurance that they’re never left alone. These are blessings He wants you to share too.
So, how can you find this peace and comfort? Answer: “It’s an inside job,” because the Holy Spirit lives in you. Jesus told His disciples, “I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever.” It may be Christianity’s best-kept secret, that the Holy Spirit indwells every believer and is available to provide everything we need to handle life’s difficulties. The Comforter was promised by the Son, sent by the Father, and today He is ours by faith. Embrace Him, trust His power, experience His peace, and follow His unfailing guidance.
Soul food: Acts 20-21; Matt 28:1-10; Ps 42:6-11; Prov 16:17-19
