Recently looking at the life of failed King Saul, it suddenly hit me that his failure started from inattention to and a lack of understanding of Prophet Samuel as expressed in 1 Samuel 15:1—Samuel also said unto Saul, The LORD sent me to anoint thee to be king over his people, over Israel: now therefore hearken thou unto the voice of the words of the LORD.
 
If he was attentive and understood Samuel, he would not have fallen into the error that cost him the kingdom! viz. vs.18-21—And the LORD sent thee on a journey, and said, Go and utterly destroy the sinners the Amalekites, and fight against them until they be consumed. Wherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of the LORD, but didst fly upon the spoil, and didst evil in the sight of the LORD? And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and have gone the way which the LORD sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God in Gilgal. Did he ever understand who the boss was?
 
How much like Saul are believers of today? In the days of His earthly ministry, the Lord often repeated certain statements that bear serious lessons for us, but alas, we miss them!
 
Let’s examine a few examples from the gospel of John.

1. Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work (John 4:34). His focus and priority was the Father’s assignment and to finish it!
2. I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me (John 5:30). Focus and priority was the pursuit of the Father’s will.
3. For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me (John 6:38).

Clearly, we see unparalleled humility, submission and a sense of responsibility to the One who sent Him. This is the same one of who Paul wrote in Philippians 2:5-7a—Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant,

Have you thought of your life as a disciple, how well do you fit this pattern? Where is the evidence of your humility, submission and focus? Let’s take another set of scriptures from the same gospel of St John.

1. And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him (John 8:29),
2. Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me (John 16:32)

 And there we see the certainty of unfailing protection for all who will prioritise and make the Father’s will the focus of their sojourn here, no matter the antagonism and rejection they are surrounded by or faced with.

Going back to our main text of today in John 16:7-15—Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they believe not on me; of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.

I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

With all certainty we know that:

• The Helper is here. Take advantage of His presence, ask, wait and yield to His help,
• The Helper’s remit is to convict of
  • Sin (that’s not your responsibility, yours is to let those you meet know what sin is) and
  • Righteousness (how they can get help like you did); and let them know
  • That the power of the dark ruler of this world over them has been broken and his judgment secured,
• It is the Helper’s remit to also:
  • Guide and point the disciple to the will of Christ alone,
  • Glorify Christ and
  • Tell us of the things to come. 

Can you let these words be a mirror to you, o beloved saint and make the changes that will make you conform to the image of His son as Romans 8:29a demands of us.