I have told you this so that you may not fall away. John 16:1 NABRE
Jesus has been speaking to His disciples about His leaving, the coming of the time of His persecution. He has been giving them final instructions and some final words. He has been telling the disciples about the Holy Spirit, an Advocate who will guide, lead and remind them of what Jesus has taught them when necessary. Jesus begins to speak to His disciples about the coming persecution. Jesus tells them they will likely be pushed out of the synagogues because of Him. They will be martyred because of Him. There will be various troubles for the disciple’s because of Him. This persecution of His disciples originated in the spiritual root of a fallen world, which is the rejection of Jesus and the Father. Jesus tells them about these troubles that are ahead of them and the advocate helping them so that they do not fall away, they won’t abandon their relationship with Him on account of persecutions. Jesus reveals the persecutions prior to there occurring, so the disciples know these persecutions are within God’s knowledge, in others words, God is aware of what will happen to them. So when Jesus’ passion and execution occur the disciples can remember that Jesus prophesied persecution and they will have confidence in His power.
We too can suffer persecution on behalf of our work for Jesus. We should not be deterred because of hardships that will be ahead of us. God is aware of the persecution we will face and as the disciples, we can count on the Holy Spirit for assistance. But we cannot expect a journey without struggle. Be ready for these persecutions, call on God, and depend on the Holy Spirit. You should never pull back from serving Christ who gave His all for all.
Do you rely on the Holy Spirit? Are you able to withstand persecution in the name of Jesus?
We cannot expect a journey without struggle. Be ready for persecutions, call on God, and depend on the Holy Spirit. You should never pull back from serving Christ who gave His all for all. Click To Tweet#bible’#godisgreat #jesus #christianity #dailybibleverse @youversion #BeAnEncourager #fallaway #known #John #everybodyalways #god #jesuschrist #jesussaves #godisgood #dailydevotion #biblestudy #scripture #bibleverse #verseoftheday #pray #prayer #goodnews #loveeachother #godisgreat #thisVineyard #youversion #everythingalways