Skip to main content

271. The Gift of the Helper

John 14:15-21 Romans 8:22-27
Key Verse: "In the same way, the Holy Spirit helps us in our weaknesses. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express."
Romans 8:26

How can sinful man and a Holy God truly become One? It's understandable that Jesus and God are One. After all, Jesus always was fully God and with the incarnation became fully man. He bridged the gap between us and made a way for us to have access to God the Father, but even a bridge cannot bring two separate sides of a river together. A bridge can join, but not meld two separate pieces of land.

Yet, now, we are introduced to the third part of the trinity who will do just that. It is the Holy Spirit who makes it possible for Jesus to live in our hearts. "Because I live, you also will live." (John 14:19B)

Remember, the disciples are still living in the Old Testament. They are familiar with stories of the Spirit of God coming upon certain people from time to time to enable them to do amazing things. The Spirit of God made Samson strong. It made even King Saul dance. It purified Isaiah, enabled Elijah and Elisha to do amazing things and enabled the prophets to declare amazing proclamations. It made the elders of Israel dance in the desert and wrestled with Jacob. The disciples understood visits of the Holy Spirit on certain, chosen people, but the idea of actually living with them, among them, within them, was not a concept easily understood. Change was coming. Jesus was preparing them for the change even though, as with so many things Jesus had attempted to prepare them for, they, as of yet, did not understand.

"The Holy Spirit will help you understand. He will give you wise counsel so that you will obey Me. The Holy Spirit will help you love Me and if you love Me, you will want to obey Me and keep My commandments. This is how you will show your love for Me, through your obedience." Remember, love is an action word, not a feeling.

In turn, the Holy Spirit will help God understand us. It is the glue that holds us all together. It is better than a bridge between two points. It is the glue that makes us One with Him and one with one another.

The Holy Spirit is our guide and conscience. It is the infinite God living in us, and in so doing, we are becoming His temple. "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your body." (1 Cor. 6:19-20) Remember, the bride price for you is Christ's blood. He paid more than any other groom could. When you obey Him, you honor Him and your groom is glorified by your obedience. It is in your obedience that you demonstrate to Him just how much you love and trust Him. Here, on this evening together, Jesus is planting a seed that He will nourish and someday soon, they will understand better, as will we. To be truthful, we will not understand completely perhaps, until eternity.

Hymn: "Come, Holy Ghost, Who Ever One"  (This song was written in the 1st Century! By a man named Ambrose)

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

211. The Sons of Thunder's Request

Matthew 20:20-28 , Mark 10:35-45 , Key verse: "Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all." Mark 10:43B-44 In our readings for yesterday, in which Jesus outlined what was about to happen to Him, for His disciples, the passage in Luke ends: "The disciples did not understand any of this. It's meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what He was talking about." ( Luke 18:34 ) Now, we see just how truly clueless they were. Jesus had laid out a plan before them of pain and suffering and death and now James and John are focused on a promotion. The disconnect is so obvious. It's really not important to know whether James and john came up with this request on their own or if their mother put them up to it. The request was made and James and John thought that they could handle the responsibility that would come with it. What is that saying, "Fools rush in where angels fe...
Post a Comment
Read more

174. Pleading for the Fig Tree

Proverbs 27:18 , Luke 13:6-9 Key Verse: He who tends a fig tree will eat its fruit, and he who looks after his master will be honored. Proverbs 27:18 We have here three main characters: a master, who acquired the tree in hopes of eventually enjoying its fruit, a servant, who looks to the tree to reflect his care and attention, and lastly, the tree itself. The master has the right to expect his investment to pay off. The servant, who has obviously put much effort into the tree, would also like to see fruit. The servant's interest is not only to show his own talent in gardening, but because he wants to please his master. Both the servant and the master are dependent upon the tree to do what it was designed to do. Their little parable is an interesting way for Jesus to finish off His exhortation to, "repent or perish."  God is the Master. He had a purpose for you before you were even born. ( Jeremiah 1:5 & Psalm 139:16 ) He planted you on this earth to ful...
Post a Comment
Read more

October 27 Save the Glaze for the Bunny

Like a coating of glaze over earthenware are fervent lips of an evil heart. A malicious man disguises himself with his lips. But in his heart, he harbors deceit. Though his speech is charming, do not believe him, for seven abominations fill his heart. His malice may be concealed by deception, but his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly. If a man digs a pit, he will fall into it. If a man rolls a stone, it will roll back on him. ~Proverbs 26:23-28 For there are many rebellious people, mere talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision group. They must be silenced, because they are ruining whole households by teaching things they ought not teach—and that for the sake of dishonest gain. Even one of their own prophets has said, “Cretans are always liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons.” This testimony is true. Therefore, rebuke them sharply, so that they will be sound in the faith and will pay no attention to Jewish myths or to the commands of those who reject the truth. T...
Post a Comment
Read more