Learning with Jesus  about the Holy Spirit

 

DAY 1—Our heart has no reason to remain  upset after we have learned to trust the Lord. John 14:1-3 —¹"Don't be troubled. You trust God, now trust in Me. ²There are many rooms in my Father's home, and I am going to prepare a place for you. If this were not so, I would tell you plainly. ³When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with Me where I am. ^{New Living Translation}

DEAR LORD, I must confess that my heart gets upset much too often. When I cannot understand what’s happening,  please help me to simply trust You.  Help me understand Your ways so I can grow up to become mature for Your Kingdom.

My heart has no reason to be troubled.

Psalms 42:1-11

 

DAY 2—Jesus explains how we can get to know the Father.

John 14:4-6 — ⁴ “And you know where I am going and how to get there.” ⁵”No, we don't know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We haven’t any idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?” ⁶Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” ^{New Living Translation}

LORD JESUS, I thank You—Oh, how I thank You for making it possible for me to reach the Father! I praise You for drawing me on when I really didn’t know the way.  And, I thank you for holding on to me when I didn’t know how to hold on to You. Please keep a tight hold on me, —and these.

It is time for us to grow up spiritually.

Hebrews 5:11-14

 

DAY 3—If anyone knows Jesus, he will know the Father also.

John 14:7-9  — ⁷”If you had known Who I am, then you would have known Who My Father is. From now on you know Him and have seen Him!"  ⁸Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and we will be satisfied.”  ⁹Jesus replied, “Philip, don't you even yet know who I am, even after all the time I have been with you? Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father! So why are you asking to see Him.” ^{New Living Translation}

LORD JESUS, You have brought me to know Your Father. What a friend You have been! Through You, Your Father has become a  friend to me also.  I love You both.  LORD, I thank You for taking my sin upon Yourself so that now there is nothing between Your Father and me. Oh, what love I am finding in this blessed communion!

We are blessed to know God the Father through Jesus His Son.

Luke 10:21-24

 

DAY 4—The very works Jesus performed gave evidence that the Father dwelt in Him. John 14:10,11 — ¹⁰Do you not believe that I am in the Father and that the Father is in Me? What I say to you, I do not say by My own power. The Father Who lives in Me does His work through Me. ¹¹Believe Me that I am in the Father and that the Father is in Me. Or else believe Me because of the things I do. ^{New Life Version}

LORD JESUS, what a marvel that You, the King of the Universe, have introduced me to Your Father. What grace! What mercy! What amazing love!  Please let this grace, mercy and love that You have shown me shine through me to others.  As You have brought me to Your Father, help me bring others to You.

To those who receive His grace, Jesus will manifest  His Father’s Name.

John 17:6-11

 

DAY 5—Jesus makes the most amazing promise ever made by anyone.

John 14:12,13 — ¹²I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, if anyone steadfastly believes in Me, he will himself be able to do the things that I do; and he will do even greater things than these, because I go to the Father. 13 And I will do [I Myself will grant] whatever you ask in My Name , so that the Father may be glorified and extolled in (through) the Son. ^{Amplified Bible}

GRACIOUS LORD, the faith that You are giving me is changing my whole life. What a gift it is! I could never have come up with a faith like this on my own.  May this faith grow in me till it touches and changes the people around me. And then, LORD, let Your faith come forth in these whose names I now call before You.

An example in Peter of the kind of faith Jesus was telling about.

Acts 3:6-8

 

DAY 6—When Jesus went back to His Father, He asked Him to send the Holy Spirit to remain with the disciples.

John 14:14-17 — ¹⁴If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it. ¹⁵If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. ¹⁶I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper (Comforter, Paraclete), 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. ^{New American Standard Bible}

LOVING LORD, I praise You for the concern You continue holding for us who have believed in You. Thank You for asking the Father to send us the Holy Spirit. He has come. I know Him and I rejoice. Oh, may His presence be powerful with us today, —especially in my family where there are so many in need. And please send Him to work powerfully in the Arab nations.  Anoint the Gospel ministers who are there. Please protect them.

GRACIOUS LORD, please strengthen the ministers in the countries that were hit by the tsunami. Let the power of miracles become manifest in their midst. Please let them know Your healing presence.

We have an advocate with the Father.

John 17:20; Romans 8:34; Hebrews 7:25; I John 2:1

 

DAY 7—Jesus told how the Father, and He, and we would all live together as one. — John 14:18-20 —¹⁸I will not leave you like (orphaned) children who don't have parents. I will come to you. ¹⁹Before long, the world will not see me anymore. But you will see me.  Because I live, you will live also. ²⁰On that day you will realize that I am in my Father. You will know that you are in Me, and I am in you. ^{New Int.Reader's Version}

DEAR LORD, what a powerful promise You have given!  Even when the world can’t see You, we know You.  Please make this real in us, particularly in the fellowship of believers where we worship. And, LORD, make this real in the people who live in these countries I now call before You: —Sri Lanka, Malaysia, India, Indonesia, Somalia, Kenya, Thailand…

People in all nations will know the Lord.

Psalms 72:17;  Ps 82:8; Ps 86:9; Ps 113:4

 

DAY 8—Those who love Jesus will do what He wants. They will know what it means to live in union with both Him and His Father.

John 14:21-24 — ²¹He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me.  And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.   ²²Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, “Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?”   ²³Jesus answered and said to him, ÒIf anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. ²⁴He 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.” ^{New King James Version}

PRECIOUS SAVIOR, I want to live today, and everyday, aware of Who You are, and where You are.  I want to live in an abiding communion with You.  Oh, please cause Your Spirit to move on the people around me who know You.  Anoint them to spread the Word of Your Truth.

God is drawing us to live in the way He has ordained for us.

Psalm 119:4-8

 

DAY 9—The Holy Spirit will teach us and remind us of what Jesus said.

John 14:25-27 — ²⁵All this I have spoken while still with you.  ²⁶But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My Name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. ²⁷Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. ^{New International Version}

GRACIOUS LORD, I thank You for the revelation of truth Your Spirit has brought us.  Oh, what wonderful lessons He continues teaching!  I thank You for how He opens Your Word to us, especially the Words of the Prophets, and the Words You spoke for us.  I praise You for the revelation You have given us through Paul and the other Apostles. Please let our hunger for Your Word increase. Let it become our life and light as You help us walk in its precepts.

The Law of the Lord is perfect. It continues giving us new strength.

Psalms 19:7-14

 

DAY 10—Jesus drew near to the end of what He could tell His disciples.

John 14:28-31 — ²⁸You heard me say, “I am going away.  And I am coming back to you.” If you loved me, you would be glad I am going to the Father.  The Father is greater than I am. ²⁹I have told you now before it happens. Then when it does happen, you will believe. ³⁰I will not speak with you much longer. The prince of this world is coming. He has no power over me. ³¹But the world must learn that I love the Father.  They must also learn that I do exactly what my Father has commanded me to do.    “Come now. Let us leave.” ^{New International Reader's Version}

DEAR LORD JESUS, I know the ruler of this world wanted to stop You.  I praise You that You overcame Him and that You are the One in control of our lives.  Lead on, O King Eternal!  Let the power and glory of Your Kingdom become known in this nation, —and in this one, —and in this one… Let Your Kingdom come in Your people. Let its dominion spread till the whole earth knows Your power and authority. Oh, rule in my life! …and in these I call before You!

In Jesus” very last conversation with His disciples, He told them to wait for the Holy Spirit.—Acts 1:4-9

 

John 14,15 and 16 together are the last things Jesus taught His disciples. Oh, how important these lessons are for us today! 
In John 16 we learn more from Jesus about the Holy Spirit.

 

 

 

DAY 11—Jesus told His disciples things that would keep them on the right path.  John 16:1-4 — ¹I have told you all of this so that you will not go down the wrong path. ²You will be thrown out of the synagogue. In fact, a time is coming when those who kill you will think they are doing God a favor. ³They will do things like that because they do not know the Father or me. ⁴Why have I told you this? So that when the time comes, you will remember that I warned you. I didn't tell you this at first because I was with you. ^{New International Reader's Version}

LORD, thank you for not shielding us from trouble or persecution.  All this has helped us grow up in knowing You. And thank You for sending Your Spirit to stay with us through all the pain we’ve had.  Please help these who are going through trouble and pain right now. Let them know the power of Your Spirit with them. Please give them inner strength to face what is so heavy on them. Guide them through their confusion.

Jesus told His disciples clearly that they would suffer for His Name’s sake.

Luke 9:23,24;  Luke 14:27

 

DAY 12—Jesus told His disciples that when He went away the Paraclete would come.  John 16:5-7 — ⁵Now I am going to the One who sent me. But none of you asks me, “Where are you going?” ⁶Because I have said these things, you are filled with sadness.  ⁷But what I'm about to tell you is true. It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Friend (the Paraclete) will not come to help you. But if I go, I will send Him to you.^{New International Reader's Version}

LORD JESUS, please help us trust You more, especially in these times of trouble. So many of the things You have done have been for our good, even when we didn”t understand what was happening. Help these I now hold before You.  Help them understand that they need to seek the fullness of Your Spirit. Increase their spiritual thirst.

Jesus gave very strict instructions regarding waiting for the Holy Spirit.

Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4; Acts 2:33

 

DAY 13—Jesus told His disciples what the Holy Spirit would do when He came.

John 16:8-11 — ⁸When He comes, He will prove that the world's people are guilty. He will prove their guilt concerning sin and godliness and judgment. ⁹The world is guilty as far as sin is concerned.  That is because people do not believe in me. ¹⁰The world is guilty as far as godliness is concerned. That is because I am going to the Father, where you can't see me anymore. ¹¹The world is guilty as far as judgment is concerned. That is because the devil, the prince of this world, has already been judged. ^{New International Reader's Version}

FATHER, please send Your Spirit into the deep parts of us who know You. Let there be no sin left in our fellowship to grieve You. Make us into clean vessels. Fill our hearts with pure desire, especially to know Your Word and do Your will.

What happens when the Lord convicts people of   their sin?

John 8:3-11; Acts 2:37; Acts 16:25-31

 

DAY 14—Jesus told His disciples that when the Holy Spirit would come He would bring them Truth they had never known.

John 16:12-15 — ¹²I have much more to say to you. It is more than you can handle right now. ¹³But when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on His Own. He will speak only what He hears. And He will tell you what is still going to happen. ¹⁴He will bring Me glory by receiving something from Me and showing it to you. ¹⁵Everything that belongs to the Father is Mine. That is why I said the Holy Spirit will receive something from Me and show it to you. ^{New International Reader's Version}

PRECIOUS LORD, I open my heart to listen to what Your Spirit will say to me today.  I will listen even to the things that are hard to receive.  I give You my heart to respond to what You say. Please cause Your Spirit to reach into the deep parts of me that I have closed off from You. I want my whole heart, mind and spirit to be clean for You and for Your Kingdom’s purposes.

Spiritually unstable people will twist the Scriptures.  

II Peter 3:16; Mark 8:17-21

 

DAY 15—Jesus told His disciples things they could not understand, apparently things about His death and resurrection.

John 16:16-20 — ¹⁶In just a little while I will be gone, and you won't see me anymore.  Then, just a little while after that, you will see me again. ¹⁷The disciples asked each other, “What does He mean when he says, ‘You won't see Me, and then you will see Me’? And what does He mean when He says, ‘I am going to the Father’? ¹⁸And what does He mean by ‘a little while’? We don't understand."        

 ¹⁹Jesus realized they wanted to ask Him, so he said, ”Are you asking yourselves what I meant? I said in just a little while I will be gone, and you won't see Me anymore. Then, just a little while after that, you will see Me again. ²⁰Truly, you will weep and mourn over what is going to happen to Me, but the world will rejoice. You will grieve, but your grief will suddenly turn to wonderful joy when you see Me again.” ^{New Living Translation}

DEAR FATHER, I thank You for the anointing You brought on men like Peter and Paul. Thank You for the Epistles they wrote and the unveiling of  truth You gave them for us today.  I am ready to open my heart to receive the light and truth You gave them. By Your Spirit, bring that light into the depths of my soul.  Cleanse me.  Renew my love for You, for Your Kingdom, and for Your Word.

After Jesus went away and the Holy Spirit came, the disciples began to understand.—John 16:21-30

 

It was really more a matter of believing than it was of understanding. Jesus was asking His disciples to believe Him. When the Holy Spirit came, He would bring the understanding they needed. It is still that way with us. First, we are asked to believe. Then, when the Holy Spirit comes upon us, our understanding begins to grow

John 16:31-33.31 Jesus asked, “Do you finally believe? ³²But the time is coming--in fact, it is already here--when you will be scattered, each one going his own way, leaving me alone. Yet I am not alone because the Father is with me. ³³I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” ^{New Living Translation}

© Berean Ministries