The Bible is full of both warnings and promises. Today’s text also contains warnings to the believer to brace himself and prepare for tough times ahead. When we know tough times are coming then we won’t have our legs swept by surprise when the trouble comes. And fortunately for us we won’t have to face these coming trails alone. Jesus promised us the very Holy Spirit of God as a helper and counselor to carry us through the tough times ahead. As you read today’s text realize that the role of the Holy Spirit is not only to bring comfort in tough times but to also help us share the Gospel effectively with the lost world even in the midst of our trials.
“These things I have spoken to you, that you should not be made to stumble. “They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service. “And these things they will do to you because they have not known the Father nor Me. “But these things I have told you, that when the time comes, you may remember that I told you of them. And these things I did not say to you at the beginning, because I was with you. “But now I go away to Him who sent Me, and none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’ “But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. “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 depart, I will send Him to you. “And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: “of sin, because they do not believe in Me; “of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; “of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.” John 16:1-11, NKJV. Christian, Stay the course in the midst of the trials of life and remain steady and steadfast in sharing the Gospel with the lost.