Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.   John 16:7

 

I am not trying to get you to sit and compare which is better, Jesus or the Holy Spirit.  They are both vital to our lives. The question is not which is a better teacher.  God in the form of the Holy Spirit is more effective in motivating, moving, and leading millions of believers at the same time. And Jesus… Well, He is Jesus!

Lets get real here for just a moment.  Most of us have thought or said something along these lines in the past.  We have secretly believed the disciples had a great advantage over us because:

• They were able to sit and listen to the very words of Jesus.
• They were able to physically see Jesus’ face.
• They were able to physically hear Jesus’ words.
• They were able to witness how Jesus acted.
• They were able to walk with Jesus and bear witness to all His miracles.

What an advantage they had! How many of us have felt, “Oh, if only we could have been there, if only we could have seen what Jesus’ disciples saw! I know my walk with the Lord would be stronger.”  Yet, Jesus told His closest followers very plainly it was to everyone’s advantage He needed to leave.  He basicly communicated, “Look, it is going to be better for you when I leave. For when I go away, the Strengthener will come.”  It is the Strengthener, the Helper, and the Comforter who meets our needs from within. This was what these disciples needed and this same Holy Spirit is what we need today.

I know it is hard for us to grasp that we are better off with the Holy Spirit’s guidance. Did you ever notice in reading through the Gospels that when Jesus finished some of His greatest messages, the disciples still were clueless?  They never went away with their faces aglow, their minds full of understanding, their hearts committed, and ready to work? They were blown away, but not radically changed.  Instead, the record tells us that every time Jesus talked to them, He puzzled them. Those closest were perplexed. They couldn’t figure Him out. Many times the disciples went away arguing about what He had to say. Jesus’ actions produced more questions and on occasions created disputes within their ranks.

Now fast forward to the day after Pentecost, when the Spirit came. This same group was in unison, ready to face all of life’s challenges.  Their faces were radiant and joy was in their hearts. Before the Holy Spirit came, they all ran from death and persecution.  After the Spirit came, they welcomed persecution. This is what the Holy Spirit does in the life of a believer. It was indeed to their advantage and to ours that Jesus was not with them.

We have the same access to the Father and Jesus through the Holy Spirit. We are simply not taking advantage of what we have.

Does the church act more like Jesus’ disciples before or after the Holy Spirit descended on Pentecost?  If you answered before, then you and I need to get to know the Holy Spirit.  Maybe we don’t need anymore teachings, sermons etc.  What we may need is a reintroduction to what it means to walk in the power and anointing of the Holy Spirit. This was Jesus’ desire.

Blessings,

Pastor