Takeaways

We often want to live responsible lives, and while there’s nothing wrong with that desire, we can have a much fuller experience with God by living responsive lives.

In this passage, Jesus shares further heartfelt words before His crucifixion. He encourages the disciples to understand how a life of abiding with God is experienced, this time focusing on the Holy Spirit. 

One way to understand this well is to think of the Father drawing people to Jesus, Jesus doing what the Father asks, and the Holy Spirit being the “produce manager,” ensuring that there is fruit from the relationship.  

The Holy Spirit has roles with both unbelievers and believers. 

He convicts unbelievers:

1. Of sin – knowledge of wrongdoing

2. Of righteousness – i.e., noticing others who may be godly and controlling their behavior around them

3. Of judgment – a knowledge of needing a savior because of their wrongdoing

He guides believers

1. We often focus, even as believers, on the conviction of the Holy Spirit. But for believers, it is more about guidance.

2. It’s not just about what we do, but how we live – responding to Him and not focusing only on being responsible people

3. It’s a highly relational experience in which the believer feels led and guided in daily actions and decisions.

The Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit have a relationship of abiding with each other. We are invited into that same meaningful relationship with them.  Abiding involves asking, listening, doing, waiting, resting, and trusting.  We don’t have to be responsible for everything; we are just to be willing to respond to the guidance we receive from this deeply meaningful relationship.

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Reflection Prompters

1. How have you typically viewed the role of the Holy Spirit in your life – as One who convicts or One who guides?

2. Have you observed the Holy Spirit’s work in the life of an unbeliever?

3. Have you been experiencing a growing relationship with the Father, Son, and Spirit as we have journeyed through John?

4. Think about the relationship of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit produces fruit in believers and also implants gifts in them.  Sometimes, we focus only on one or the other – wanting to see fruit but not trying to practice our gifts. Or concentrate so much on opportunities to practice our gifts but not demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit in how we act on those gifts.  Which have you tended to focus on?

5.  Next Sunday, we will pause John and begin an Advent series. What messages/passages have been most meaningful to you in this series in John so far?