ADVANTAGEOUS?

April 15

Bible Reading: John 16:1-7

John 16:7, “Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.”

Advantageous (adjective): “involving or creating favorable circumstances that increase the chances of success or effectiveness; beneficial.”

Imagine the shock of the disciples when they heard from Jesus that His departure would be advantageous for them!  How would His leaving be in any way beneficial?  They had been blessed by His presence and experienced many amazing things together.  Day after day, their hearts rejoiced in His teachings and marveled at His miracles.  They relied on Him and loved Him and couldn’t imagine life without Him.  The news of His pending departure had brought sorrow to their hearts.  But then He said they’d be better off without Him. How could that be?

Arno C. Gaebelein explained it this way: “The presence of the Holy Spirit is a greater comfort and advantage to us than the presence of Christ in the flesh.  Christ’s bodily presence was comfortable, but the Spirit is more intimately a Comforter than Christ in His fleshly presence; because the Spirit can comfort all believers at once in all places, while Christ’s bodily presence can comfort but a few, and that only in one place at once.  The benefit of Christ’s presence was great, but the advantage of the Spirit’s renovation and holy inspiration is much greater.”

Arno C. Gaebelein

As a believer, you now stand in this advantageous position.  Jesus is not physically present with you.  “Though you do not now see (Jesus)” (1 Peter 1:8), you are indwelt by the Spirit who is mediating His presence to you, in you, and through you (John 16:14)!  He is there no matter where you go and will be so always!  How blessed you are to have such a loving and patient helper!  His presence in you is most advantageous! Let Him lead in each step of the way!

“The Spirit of God indwells us because He wants to make Christ known to us” – John G. Mitchell

THE COMFORTER HAS COME
O spread the tidings ‘round
Wherever man is found,
Wherever human hearts and human woes abound;
Let every Christian tongue proclaim the joyful sound:
The Comforter has come!

Refrain:
The Comforter has come, the Comforter has come!
The Holy Ghost from heaven, the Father’s promise given;
O spread the tidings ‘round wherever man is found:
The Comforter has come!

The long, long night is past, the morning breaks at last,
And hushed the dreadful wail and fury of the blast,
As o’er the golden hills the day advances fast!
The Comforter has come! [Refrain]

Lo, the great King of kings with healing in His wings,
To every captive soul a full deliverance brings;
And through the vacant cells the song of triumph rings;
The Comforter has come! [Refrain]

O boundless Love divine! how shall this tongue of mine
To wondering mortals tell the matchless grace divine:
That I, a child of hell, should in His image shine!
The Comforter has come! [Refrain]