Gospel Outreach International

Have you ever wondered how Jesus prepared His disciples to face persecution and carry on without His physical presence? In this Bible study of John 16, we explore seven vital points (the “Seven Ps”) that Jesus taught His disciples in the Upper Room during His final week before the crucifixion. This passage reveals how Christ equipped His followers to stand firm in faith, face opposition with courage, and live in the power of the Holy Spirit.

And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment John 16:8

• Problem of Persecution: Christians will face persecution; it’s not a matter of “if” but “when,” as Jesus warned His disciples they would be outcasts and even killed by those who think they’re serving God
• The Promise of the Helper: Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit, who would convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, and would never leave believers alone
• The Holy Spirit as Identical Helper: The Greek word “alos” is used, meaning the Holy Spirit is identical to Jesus, not merely similar—creating a complete picture of the Trinity dwelling within believers
• Spirit’s Role in Conviction: The Holy Spirit does the work of convicting people of sin—it is not the evangelist’s job to save people, only to present the truth
• Four Commands Regarding the Spirit: Grieve not, quench not, forbid not, and be filled with the Spirit continually
• Prophecy and Truth: The Holy Spirit guides believers into all truth and teaches what He learns from the Father; only the Spirit can give true understanding of Scripture
• The Spirit Glorifies Christ: A key test of any spiritual movement is whether it glorifies Christ—if not, it’s not the right Spirit
• Prayer in Jesus’ Name: Jesus taught that asking the Father in His name brings results, and believers should pray according to God’s will
• Historical Persecution: Throughout history, from Roman times to modern Islamic and atheistic nations, Christians have been persecuted by those who believed they were doing God’s work
• Spiritual Warfare Weapons: Believers have only two weapons—the Word of God and prayer—to withstand the forces of evil Victory Over the World: Jesus has overcome the world, providing power and peace to believers despite tribulation

He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. John 16:14

What a comfort to know that Jesus doesn’t leave us to face this world alone! As we’ve seen in John 16, Jesus prepared His disciples—and us—for the reality of persecution while promising the incredible gift of the Holy Spirit. The Trinity dwells within us, giving us power to overcome. Jesus spoke plainly: yes, we’ll face trouble in this world, but He’s already won the victory. That’s the Jesus we serve—the one who overcame death, defeated the devil at the cross, and now offers us peace that the world can’t take away. The world to come will be filled with glory and grace, and until then, we have His Spirit as our Helper, Comforter, and Guide. There’s power in the blood of the Lamb, and that power lifts us out of the miry clay. What a Savior!

Bible References

• John 16:1-33
• John 16:1-4
• John 16:13-22
• John 16:22-23
• John 16:25
• John 16:26-32
• John 17
• Galatians 6
• Ephesians 6
• 1 Corinthians 13