March 24, 2026 | Be Connected
Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit
Scripture: John 14:15-31(NIV)
15 “If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”
22 Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?”
23 Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 24 Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.
25 “All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
28 “You heard me say, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. 29 I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe. 30 I will not say much more to you, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold over me, 31 but he comes so that the world may learn that I love the Father and do exactly what my Father has commanded me.
“Come now; let us leave.
Devotional
The Holy Spirit is an amazing blessing given to us by God! Jesus promised the Holy Spirit to the disciples, “16And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever – 17the Spirit of truth” (John 14:16,17). In these beautiful words, Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would always help the disciples. We, too, are filled with the Holy Spirit when we repent and accept Jesus as our Savior. The Holy Spirit lives in us to guide, teach, and comfort us.
The importance, power, and work of the Holy Spirit are given throughout the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation.
-The Holy Spirit is first mentioned in Genesis: “2Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.” (Genesis 1:2).
-David prayed to God to have mercy on him and “11Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.” (Psalm 51:11).
-Seven characteristics of the Holy Spirit: “1A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. 2The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him-the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord-3and he will delight in the fear of the Lord.” (Isaiah 11:1-3).
-Ezekiel prophesied the new covenant: “26I will give you a new heart and put a new Spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.” (Ezekiel 36:26-27).
-Joel prophesied Pentecost, the pouring out of the Spirit, on the people of Israel. “28And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. 29Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days.” (Joel 2:28-29). These same words were repeated by Peter at Pentecost (Acts 2:14-18).
-“17The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’ And let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.” (Revelation 22:17).
How have you experienced the power of the Holy Spirit in your life?
Take a few moments now and pray to the Holy Spirit to work in your life.
