August 25, 2024 - How God's Spirit Works in Our World Today - Pastor Paul Vallee

John 15:26 - John 16:33 One of the most painful experiences in life is the loss of someone we love and trust, and we have come to depend upon. A child loses their parents or a young person loses a key mentor in their life, it can create disorientation, fear, and apprehension about what tomorrow holds. The emotional pain is one thing, but the deeper question is how to survive moving forward in their absence. In this context, we need to look at the words of Jesus, here in John 15 and 16. Jesus has been telling the disciples that he is about to leave. The confusion over their messianic expectations was part of the apprehension in their situation. Why would Jesus be leaving? If Jesus left, what would happen to them? How would the work happen or continue? Human effort alone would not be able to accomplish such a great task. The spiritual opposition to the work of God would now be faced alone with Jesus’ absence. Jesus had been their advocate. He had protected these early followers from the antagonism that had been primarily directed at him, but in certain moments, it was aimed at Jesus’ followers, but Jesus had defended them. Jesus now explains how that work would be empowered and effective. Jesus would not leave them to manage on their own, but the Holy Spirit would come and enable his followers to testify about Jesus. What was true then is equally true today. So, what is the role of the Holy Spirit in the believer's life according to Jesus here in His upper room discourse?