It’s Good For You That I Am Going Away

26 “When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me. 27 And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning. 1 “All this I have told you so that you will not fall away. 2 They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, the time is coming when anyone who kills you will think they are offering a service to God. 3 They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me. 4 I have told you this, so that when their time comes you will remember that I warned you about them. I did not tell you this from the beginning because I was with you, 5 but now I am going to him who sent me. None of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ 6 Rather, you are filled with grief because I have said these things. 7 But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. JOHN 15:26-27, 16:1-7 NIV

GOD, THE HOLY SPIRIT, IS CLOSER TO YOU THAN YOU THINK

But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless, I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. JOHN 16:7 NIV

THE HOLY SPIRIT’S PRESENCE MEETS ME IN MY CHAOS

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. GENESIS 1:1-2 NIV

THE HOLY SPIRIT’S POWER MEETS ME IN MY WEAKNESS

He said to me, “This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah, where it enters the Dead Sea. When it empties into the sea, the salty water there becomes fresh. 9 Swarms of living creatures will live wherever the river flows. There will be large numbers of fish, because this water flows there and makes the salt water fresh; so where the river flows everything will live. EZEKIEL 47:8-9 NIV

On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” 39 By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. JOHN 7:37-39 NIV

…the Spirit helps us in our weakness. ROMANS 8:26 NIV

THE HOLY SPIRIT’S PRESENCE INVITES MY PARTICIPATION

…Be still, and know that I am God; PSALM 46:10 NIV

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, 3 though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. 4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. PSALM 46:1-4 NIV

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? 1 CORINTHIANS 6:19 NIV

My Notes

Discussion Questions

Choose a couple questions from each section to discuss and reflect on the sermon as a group:

  1. START HERE: When life gets chaotic or overwhelming, is your natural response to: take control, shut down, distract yourself, or reach out to someone else? What helps you find solid footing again?
  2. START HERE: Think about a time when someone’s presence made a difficult situation feel more manageable. What about having them with you made a difference?
  3. KEEP GOING: Read John 15:26-27 NIV and John 16:7 NIV. What do you learn about who the Holy Spirit is and what He does? How does seeing the Holy Spirit, not as a force or feeling, but as a person from the Father and sent by Jesus, change the way you think about His presence in your life?
  4. KEEP GOING: Read John 7:37-39 NIV and Romans 8:26 NIV. According to these passages, how does the Holy Spirit meet you in your weakness? What does knowing the Holy Spirit is present to help mean to you?
  5. KEEP GOING: Read Genesis 1:1-2 NIV and Romans 8:26 NIV. Where in your life are you experiencing chaos, uncertainty, or weakness? How are you most tempted to rely on yourself or others rather than trust the Holy Spirit to help?
  6. KEEP GOING: Slowly read Psalm 46:1-4, 10 NIV out loud, then pause for a few moments to reflect. Do you find it difficult to slow down and notice God’s presence? Why or why not?
  7. LIVE IT OUT: “Your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit” (1 Corinthians 6:19 NIV). Think of one specific space or situation this week where you could intentionally make room to notice the Holy Spirit’s presence and power within you. How would you like to participate with His presence instead of trying to fix or figure things out on your own?