March 15 – John 14

March 15 – John 14

Lesson: He Helps

Dear Lord, bless our time with you today.  Meet us where we are at, guide our minds, and hold our hearts as we search for Your truth.

First, do your own quiet time with God and 4R journaling.  When you are complete, come back here for the lesson.

Request Gods’ help

Read John 14

Record a verse that stands out to you

Respond to God

“These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.  You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.  And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe.  I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me, but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here.”

John 14:25-31

Tell me why this lesson was the hardest to write?  So hard, in fact, that it was the very last lesson written, even though it’s not the last work assigned.  I am currently sitting at blank pages, a blank screen and with a blank mind.  It’s hard to write this, because the ministry of help has been covered, really, in each lesson.

I think I just want to take a moment and make this not a lesson. But a conversation.  This word ‘helper’ is huge. It makes me think of an event recently, one in which we had a top class leader.  And this fearless leader had a helper; a quiet, steady force, a fence post for resting, a cheerleader for encouragement, a provider of wisdom, a source of laughter.  A helper. It was unplanned, really, and unexpected.  But while we all watched it happen, it wasn’t unexpected at all. It made total sense that these two women would pair up and be an incredible force.  Watching God’s Spirit move is the most amazing and jaw dropping experiences.  The things the Spirit can do when we let Him are just… amazing.

Our fearless leader had everything all in hand: she is capable, intelligent, kind, with unbelievable foresight.  Could she have done it on her own?  Oh ya!  But would she have been able to do it with all joy and rest?  Probs not.  And not because she’s not super woman, because she super is!  But because her helper could see the in-betweens.  You know what I mean?  The Spirit allowed her to see what was unseen.  Hear what was unheard.  Things only she could do, or was meant to do in those moments.

God never leaves His children to flounder around on our own.  Have you tried that recently?  It’s no fun at all!  He loves us so much that thousands of years ago, when He left His home here on earth for His forever home in heaven, He left us the Spirit.  To see the unseen, hear the unheard, and all the in-betweens.  A helper who can do only what He can do.  There is no other entity that could come close to all that He can do. And He is within you.  You, a child of God, a lamb in His flock, you have His Spirit.  What an honor!  What a treasure!

There is no part of you or your life that He isn’t intricately and intimately aware.  An invisible thread winding His way through every part of you.  Like morning fog, thinly weaving His way through lush Kentucky mountains and weaving His way down into the valleys to hover over the waters of your soul.  Behind His watering trail leaves the dew of satisfaction.  Peace settles into even the rockiest parts of the ground and soon those rocky bits are turned into dark rich soil ready for planting season. And here come those wee seeds of faith dropping onto that soil.  And as the fog waters the earth, over time sprouts shoot up from the roots that have been slowly growing stronger every day.  And buds form and flowers burst in the warmth of the sunshine.  And as the sun looks down on these strong faith filled flowers, it sees critters lounging in the cool shadows they are casting.  And they find rest.

If you haven’t found that rest, go find it.  If you haven’t rested in the shadows of another’s strong faith so that yours can rest and grow… go do that.  If you aren’t the flower providing shade for another’s faith… go do that.  Let the Spirit work within you and  help you in ways you never thought possible.  You are not alone.  The Spirit is there, weaving His way through you and holding you together with His threads of hope.

Dear Heavenly Father, we praise You for You are the water for our thirst.  In You we find our rest.  We thank You for the Helper You have given us, You are so merciful, God!

What’s next?

As the Spirit leads, in the comment section below, share what He has laid on your heart.

Then join us again tomorrow to learn about the ministry of teaching.