The “now” moment that changed everything...

“Instead of understanding the full benefits of the new covenant in Christ, most in the church live in a no-man’s land between Jesus and Moses” Jim Cymbala

Jesus introduces them to a better farewell gift. The Holy Spirit is...

Better than Jesus BESIDE us. (vs. 5-7)

“Jesus claimed that having the Holy Spirit in them would be better than having Jesus beside them.” J.D Greear

Better than our MANIPULATIONS. (vs. 8-11)

Better than religious LEARNING. (vs. 12-13)

“The Word without the Spirit can be deadly and the Spirit without the Word can be deceptive. Just as a bird cannot fly with only one wing, so likewise we also need to maintain a balance between the Word and the Spirit and the Spirit and the Word if we are to avoid deception.” David Ravenhill

“If you have the Word without the Spirit, you will dry up. If you have the Spirit without the word you will blow up. But if you have the Spirit and the Word, you will grow up.”

“Our cravings for more of God’s word aren’t hunger pains we work up. A holy appetite grows inside of us through the work of the Holy Spirit that causes us to crave truth.” Jim Cymbala

Better than our AMBITIONS. (vs. 14-15)

“The ultimate criterion for the Spirit’s activity is the exaltation of Jesus as Lord. Whatever takes away from that, even if they be legitimate expressions of the Spirit, begins to move away from Christ to a more pagan fascination with spiritual activity as an end in itself.” Gordon Fee

“A sure sign of the Holy Spirit’s working is that Christ is magnified, not people...The Spirit is here to accomplish God’s purposes, not ours.” Francis Chan

“I have been very deeply impressed with one thought. It is that our prayer for the mighty working of the Holy Spirit through us and around us can only be powerfully answered as His indwelling in every believer is more clearly acknowledged and lived out. We have the Holy Spirit within us;”
“Only he who is faithful in the lesser will receive the greater. As we first yield ourselves to be led by the Spirit, to confess His presence in us; as believers rise to realize and accept His guidance in their daily lives, God will entrust to us larger measure of His mighty working.”
“If we give ourselves entirely into His power, as our life, ruling within us, He will give himself to us, take more complete possession of us, and work through us…It is as an indwelling life that Holy Spirit must be known. In a living, adoring faith, the indwelling must be accepted and treasured until it becomes part of the consciousness of the new men: The Holy Spirit possesses me.” Andrew Murray

THIS WEEK:
- Have you ever observed in your own life, or witnessed anything in a gathering of Christians, that caused confusion about the real purpose of the person and work of the Holy Spirit? Describe these moments and the questions you may have had.
- Do you believe the Holy Spirit is working in your life to give glory to Jesus? If so, how? No matter how you answered, what needs to happen for you to continue growing in a passion to glorify Jesus?
- As you think of this coming week, consider specific situations or relationships where you need to be especially careful to reject self-glory and trust the Holy Spirit to work in you to glorify Christ? As you surrender to the Holy Spirit’s purpose in you, what will this look like – in your thoughts words and reactions?