Jesus said in John 16:7….
“Nevertheless 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 depart, I will send Him to you.”
Just before ascending to Heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father, Jesus assured those that were with Him a comforting word that ‘The Helper’ in the person of THE HOLY SPIRIT is coming to be WITH US FOREVER. (John 14:16)
Jesus, the God Incarnate, reveals yet another miracle of enjoying THE POWER and PRESENCE OF GOD even after He is no longer physically here on earth. Believing and receiving Christ in our hearts transforms us to become a living ‘temple’ where GOD, THE HOLY SPIRIT can be ONE with us! And Jesus says this is actually TO OUR ADVANTAGE.
How is that?
The Holy Spirit empowers us.
Jesus said in Acts 1:8, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
A God-given Power we need will come to us as we share the Love of Jesus and spread His Good News to the nations. This is our calling.
The Holy Spirit guides us into all truth and tells us of things to come.
Jesus said in John 16:13, “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.”
With the Holy Spirit’s guidance, we are able to interpret the Bible according to God’s intention and through Him, we can prophesy and operate in the other gifts of the Holy Spirit.
So now, “if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.” (Romans 8:11)
Knowing these ‘advantages’ given to us by God…the life that we lead right now should be Christ-like: loving, forgiving, prayerful, generous, humble, gentle, and joyful, to name just a few.
GOD HAS GIVEN US THE POWER TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OUR ADVANTAGE!
Immensely BLESSED and EMPOWERED by God with you,
Pastors Benjun & Malou and Your ROLICF Servant Leaders
This week’s devotional was written by Pastors Benjun and Malou for the River of Life Church at Baltimore, and we believe this same message is for our church family as well.