Day 7

Scripture to Read: John 16:1–4

Jesus knew the time of His arrest was drawing near, so He continued to share with the disciples to prepare them for what was coming. Jesus said in John 16:1–4, “These things I have spoken to you so that you may be kept from stumbling. 2 They will make you outcasts from the synagogue, but an hour is coming for everyone who kills you to think that he is offering service to God. 3 These things they will do because they have not known the Father or Me. 4 But these things I have spoken to you, so that when their hour comes, you may remember that I told you of them. These things I did not say to you at the beginning, because I was with you.” Jesus did not want His disciples to stumble and fall, so He shared with them what they needed. Jesus does the same thing with us every day through His Holy Spirit living in us and through His Holy Word. He gives us everything we need to keep us from stumbling. God even used Peter to write this in 2 Peter 1:10, "Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble." The things God wants us to apply and live out daily are shared in 2 Peter 1:5–7. Just as Jesus prepared the disciples for the persecution they would face, our Lord prepares us daily to live fully for Him no matter the test, trial, or temptation.

Challenge & Application

• What did Jesus do for His disciples and also do for us daily so that we do not stumble? • How are you living each day and applying God’s Truth so that you don’t stumble?

Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!

Devotionals from this week

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Day 1

In John 15:12–17, Jesus really focused on how all of His followers are to love as He loves us. But then, Jesus shifted and began to discuss the hatred of the world toward His followers. Jesus said in John 15:18, “If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you.” No one wants to be hated by anyone, but Jesus’ warning ...

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Day 2

Jesus gave the disciples further explanation for the hatred the world would have for them, and this is the reason the world hates all Christians. Jesus said in John 15:19–20, “If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you. 20 ...

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Day 3

Jesus knew His eleven disciples would face some incredibly difficult days once He ascended into heaven. Over the last two thousand years, there have been many followers of Christ who have faced incredibly difficult persecution for their walk with Him. The persecution in the USA is light compared to other parts of the world. Therefore, we must...

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Day 4

Jesus made it perfectly clear in John 15:23, “He who hates Me hates My Father also.” Jesus left no doubt with His disciples that to hate Him was to hate God the Father too. God led the Apostle John to write it like this in 1 John 2:22–23, "Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one who den...

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Day 5

Jesus finished His talk about the people who hated Him and who would hate Him by quoting from two Messianic prophecies in Psalm 35:19, "Do not let those who are wrongfully my enemies rejoice over me; Nor let those who hate me without cause wink maliciously," and in Psalm 69:4 "Those who hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of my he...

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Day 6

Jesus laid the foundation for the disciples (and for all believers since that time) to understand the hatred of the world. But then, Jesus shared the encouraging words about His Holy Spirit. Jesus said in John 15:26–27, “When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, H...

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Day 7

Jesus knew the time of His arrest was drawing near, so He continued to share with the disciples to prepare them for what was coming. Jesus said in John 16:1–4, “These things I have spoken to you so that you may be kept from stumbling. 2 They will make you outcasts from the synagogue, but an hour is coming for everyone who kills you to think t...

Read