Lose Everything...Gain Even More!

Have you ever had to lose one thing in order to have something else in exchange?

Do you remember the old “Let’s Make A Deal” TV game show? People would dress up in the craziest costumes imaginable just to make it into the studio audience. Once in the audience, however, you were more than a spectator…you were a potential contestant! If the game show host chose you from amongst the turbulent crowd, he might ask you to trade a bauble you’d brought for what’s in one of his pockets. If you chose correctly, you got the $100 bill instead of the pair of old dentures. Then he might offer to trade that newly acquired $100 bill for what was in the red box or the green one. Again, if you chose correctly, you would receive the Console Color TV instead of the life-sized plastic poodle. Then, if you were really lucky, the host would invite you to give up that TV for a chance to see what was behind one of three doors. Behind two of those doors was sure to be a real stinker! But, behind one of those doors was certain to be a new self cleaning kitchen, or a trip to Hawaii, or, dare I say it, a new car. Torn between the guarantee of the new TV and the chance at a new automobile, the contestant would inevitably be torn and not know for certain how to choose.

In the Gospel of John, Jesus views himself in much the same way. The disciples wanted desperately to hold on to Jesus. Even as he neared his final hours of freedom, the disciples were overly consumed with the misunderstanding that Jesus was someone other than who he claimed to be. In Jesus, they had seen miracles and heard teachings not ever proffered by another man. As long as they had Jesus with them – or so they thought – they could do anything, beat anyone, and overcome any obstacle.

But Jesus knew quite better, for he told the disciples that in his absence, they would do even greater things than he had done! “How could this be?” one might inquire…by the power of the Counselor. In fact, Jesus told the disciples that if they were to trade the known quantity of the physical Messiah for the coming of the Holy Spirit of God, the most amazing things would occur! And it wasn’t but a few weeks after they let Jesus go that Pentecost occurred and the Spirit of God was given.

In turn, what are you holding on to today that keeps you from enjoying the fullness of the Spirit that comes by partnering with Christ? In your worship this week, examine your own life in the Spirit and test to see if it’s been all it can be/all you’d hoped for. Meditate on the power of the indwelling Spirit and what role it plays in the life of a believer. Be thankful to Christ for both His presence and departure, that the fullness of God might be revealed to all humankind.

Resounding Themes:

The Reign of the Spirit
Clean, Open Hearts
Glorious Jesus

Getting READY to Worship

Ready, Set, READ

John 15:26-16:16

Ready, Set, MEDITATE

- How does Jesus first refer to the Holy Spirit? What does that term make you think of? What is one of first things the Spirit will do when he appears? Why is this important and of great comfort to the disciples? What other words/phrases does Jesus use to indicate who the Spirit is?

- Why are the disciples down-hearted? What does Jesus tell them about their misplaced grief? Why is it ‘good’ that Jesus leaves them? What is the three-fold function of the Spirit that Jesus explains?

- Jesus indicates that there is much more to be said about his departure – much more than the disciples can bear…what do you think he’s referring to? How is what will happen to the disciples a parallel to what happened to Jesus? How will the Holy Spirit assist them through these times? Does the Spirit still function in this way? If so, explain from your own experiences.

Ready, Set, PRAY

Lord, we do not know You as You are. For even as You reveal Your majesty before our eyes day after day, we lack the proper conduit necessary to take You all in. Yet, You continue in patience toward us while You methodically unveil Your worth before our senses in the creation, the giving of Your Son, Jesus, and the gifting of the Holt Spirit into the hearts of every believer. And yet we still do not know You, O God!

Lord, open our eyes to the full life that comes by living in step with the Spirit. Make know to our faculties Your power that dwells within. And righteous Father, grant us the constancy enjoyed only by having an attentive ear to the leadings and utterances of Your Spirit.

God, just as we are powerless to live without the Vine, so too are we impotent against the evil one without Your promised presence via the Spirit. We acknowledge that it took a great sacrifice of Jesus’ appearance and departure from this world for Him to be made known to us. Thank You, O Father, for giving us Your Son, and in turn, leaving Your Spirit as a deposit of our inheritance until all things have been fulfilled. In Christ, AMEN.

Ready, Set, WORSHIP!