Bible Text: John 16:12-33 | Preacher: Pastor Joe Ricchuiti | Series: John, Peace in a World of Hurt

Recap of 2/17/13 (John 16:12-33):
1.  Jesus would be taken away from the Disciples but they wouldn’t be left alone, so He tries to encourage them with four truths:
 
-The Holy Spirit would minister to them and be with them in Jesus’ stead (vv. 12-15)
 
-They had been prepared for what would come because Jesus told them in advance what was to come.  Their confidence in Jesus would be bolstered by His knowledge of the future (vv. 16-22)
 
-They would have access directly to the Father in prayer (vv. 23-28)
 
-They would have victory and peace despite their faltering faith and failure (vv. 29-33)
 
2.  The Holy Spirit, when He came, would glorify Jesus, not Himself.  “When a person claims to be filled with the Holy Spirit, look for the evidence of the heart and character of Christ in that person.” (Mitchell)
 
3.  In 16:13, Jesus, authenticates the yet to be written New Testament.  It would be the product of the promptings of the Holy Spirit in the lives of the Disciples and others. (2 Peter 1:18-21; 2 Timothy 3:16,17)
 
4.  Knowing the coming failure of the Disciples Jesus challenges them about their faltering faith.  G. Campbell Morgan comments:  “Two lessons of great importance may be learned here.  The first is that our faith is a poor foundation; indeed that it is no foundation.  We do verily believer to-day, but to-morrow may bring storms which will for the moment strain faith to the breaking-point, and make it of no value.  The other is that He is faithful, and that is the foundation.  In the fiercest hour of upheaval, He it is Who creates some possibility for our failing faith to gather strength.”