The Lessons of Lent: The Promised Comforter!

The Lessons of Lent: The Promised Comforter

John 15:17-the end, John 16:1-22

As the Lord Jesus prepared His disciples for His departure, He reminded them of the persecutions that would come.

He reminded them that the servants cannot be greater than the master and so if they had persecuted the master, they'll do more to the servants.

It was glaring that after His departure things were going to be tough but God had His plan of succor.

Jesus Christ described the sorrow that was to come as the pain of childbirth which will turn to joy as soon as the child was born.

The pain and sorrow would be as a result of hatred. Hatred from the intolerant world. The world would love its own but because we aren't of the world we come under their persecutions.

If we would compromise, we would not be subject to the pains. If we would not stand by the truth, things might go easy. But since we won't love what they love and would shine light where they prefer darkness, we can expect our distinction to draw their eire and hatred.

When Jesus spoke about the world persecuting us, He meant more than those who outrightly do not believe in God: He had suffered more persecutions from the hands of the religious than from the irreligious. We should expect the same.

Some preach and pretend that the days of Christian persecutions are over. Only doctrinal compromise, refusal to live righteously as demanded and not standing publicly for the truth would present the world as if in love with true Christianity. Jesus said those who persecute us would even believe they were doing service to God through that!

So how do we respond?
If the world hates us, we must love each other. It becomes double jeopardy when you are crushed between the world and the brethren. We must love each other.

It is proven that believers love each other more under persecutions; believers have more time for infighting when they are devoid of the sense of external aggression.

At the comfort zone such phenomenon are not uncommon but isn't it woe to him that is at ease in Zion?

But in the midst of persecutions within and without...the Lord sends the Comforter!

He will testify of Jesus alongside the disciples. He is the Spirit of truth who will show the church things to come. He would take of Christ and reveal to us. He will reprove the world of sin, of righteousness and of judgment.

He will guide us into all truths. There were things that Jesus would have said but that the disciples couldn't handle back then which the Comforter would tell when He comes... this was evident reading through the epistles.

Now, that promise has been fulfilled. The Comforter has come, the Spirit of truth and now we don't have to face the persecutions and the void of Christ's departure alone. The Comforter comes alongside to represent Jesus carrying on the work Jesus left for us.

That's the reason why Jesus told them to wait until they received the Holy Spirit...

We need today, more than ever before, to explore the potentials we have in the Holy Spirit! We need to partake of all the graces God has released by sending the Holy Spirit to us beyond baseless arguements. We need to receive Him as who He is beyond a mere creative force or the harbinger of another religion opposed to Christ but as the Person of the Spirit of the Living God! In receiving Him as He is we become embolden to face whatever comes with the assurance of victory! The comfort He brings in unspeakable and His joy immeasurable!

We need to cultivate a cordial relationship with Him that would produce the power to prove the resurrection of Christ!

Have you received the Holy Ghost since you believed?

Good morning!

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We invite you to spend your good Friday with us at

Grace Missions International Teaching Center
Special Ministers' and Leaders' Conference

Theme: The Power of His Resurrection!

10am Friday 3rd April 2015

@
20 Oloruntimilehin Street
By Kemo Hospital
Federal Low Cost Housing (Shagari) Estate

If Driving pls come through B.O. and BOSORO streets into Oloruntimilehin street.

Mosan/Akinogun Area
Ipaja Lagos

Come with friends!