John 14:12-17

1. We have a striking promise about the works that Christians may do.
2. We have a striking promise about things that Christians may get by prayer.
3. We have a striking promise about the Holy Spirit.

"He can help forward His cause on earth quite as much by sitting at the right hand of the Father and sending forth the Holy Spirit, as by being in the world."

"Weak and imperfect as their supplications may be, so long as they are put in Christ’s hands and offered in Christ’s name they shall not be in vain. We have a Friend at Court, an Advocate with the Father and if we honour Him by sending all our petitions through Him, He pledges His word that they shall succeed."

"Any doctrine about the church, the ministry or the sacraments which obscures the Spirit’s inward work or turns it into mere form, is to be avoided as deadly error."

Questions:

1. We hear Jesus say that his followers will do greater things than Himself. Ryle understands this to be referring not to miracles, but to conversions. No disciple raises a dead person after 4 days being dead or walks on water, but one sermon by Peter sees 3000 souls saved! Do we see the conversion of souls, of men and women being born again, as the greatest miracle?
2. Jesus gives a striking promise, namely that whatever we ask in His name He will do. Ryle warns against those who apply this to material wealth or worldly prosperity as if God is in the business of giving us idols that would take our hearts away from Him. Yet, if we would make a mark in this world, we must bring our requests to the Father through Jesus Christ. If Jesus only did the things that we asked for in the past 24 hours, what could we expect to happen? Is it significant or minute?
3. Jesus promises to send the Helper, the Holy Spirit to his people. Ryle points out a number of truths about the Holy Spirit that he says we should grasp firmly and never let go of. As I list them again, can we say we are holding fast to these truths? First, the Spirit is a Person. Second, he is the Spirit of truth that leads us in all truth. Third, the world cannot receive Him and simply cannot understand how He works. Fourth, the Spirit dwells in believers and fifth, the Spirit is given to supply all their true needs while Christ's physical presence is removed. Do we know the work of the Spirit in our lives?