My very good friend, Gene Redlin, likes to write about Heaven as though he has been there, which may well be for all I know. Paul got a glempse (II Corinthians 12:2-5) , maybe Gene did too. He used the following text as part of his most recent blog, so I wanted to clear things up for his benefit and perhaps others.
Hebrews 6:4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, 5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again to repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
The people of whom the writer of Hebrews was speaking were the same people John described in the prologue to his Gospel of Jesus as “sons of God” (John 1:12).” Matthew calls these people the “chosen” (Matthew 20:16). These are the most fortunate of all human beings, who are born of the spirit and who live every moment of every day with God, the Creator of the World, living within them. As John went on to point out, these people did not obtain this marvelous status by jumping through some man made hoop. They were chosen by God for reasons known only to God and in God’s own time.
The Holy Spirit was always available to them as The Spirit was to the people in the Old Testament, from a distance, but when The Spirit entered into their body and became their life time companion, the relationship became much more intimate. The Spirit of necessity does what these people do and goes where they go. The Spirit is therefore taking a great chance.
It is of little wonder that God would make no attempt to bring them back into the fold, if they choose to depart. As Hebrews 6:6 points out, “they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.” The issue is not Heaven or Hell. The issue is fellowship with the Spirit and The Abundant Life. Chances are that the end will be unpleasant, but what is worse than that is that a life of joy, service and contribution to the Kingdom of God will be lost.
Keep the Faith,
Earl
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
The Excitment of The Spirit of God
I am reacting to a blog by one of my favorite people, Gene Redlin . You can read Gene's blog at http://northerngleaner.blogspot.com/
The last two days Gene has written about the need to attract men (all people of course but especially men) to the gospel. I made a comment which you can read on Gene's blog to the affect that excitment attracts men. The Gospel of Jesus should be exciting because Jesus brought to us the Holy Spirit, God, to live within us and do for us and through us exciting things, maybe not big things except as they are appropriate but exciting things, personal things that most people will not even recognize as gifts from God.
Keep the Faith,
Earl
The last two days Gene has written about the need to attract men (all people of course but especially men) to the gospel. I made a comment which you can read on Gene's blog to the affect that excitment attracts men. The Gospel of Jesus should be exciting because Jesus brought to us the Holy Spirit, God, to live within us and do for us and through us exciting things, maybe not big things except as they are appropriate but exciting things, personal things that most people will not even recognize as gifts from God.
Keep the Faith,
Earl
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
One Way to Communicate with The Spirit of God
When good things happen it is reasonable to assume that God was involved. God has a vested interested in your progress and is therefore always willing to do things to assist, some large and some small. As with any relationship small things are important, but small things are particularly important when the there is a communications barrier. I know there are some people who say they can communicate directly with God anytime, and actually hear God’s voice in English, and I don’t doubt this. God does as God so chooses and all people are different so it makes sense that some people have a more open and more verbal relationship than others. In my case however, I have never heard God speak in the English language, which is the only language I understand. God and I communicate every day in various ways, but the communication is not verbal, and is therefore more difficult, which makes the little things that God does for me even more important. They keep me aware of God’s presence.
In response, it is very important that I be grateful. There again, the response of gratitude is a way to communicate. When some good thing happens and I thank God for it, the doors of communication are opened, and the light of God can come through. As God lives within me in the form of the Holy Spirit, it is very important that we talk - a lot. In my case this non-verbal conversation can sometimes begin with a good thing that happens and a sincere thank you to my friend and constant companion, the Holy Spirit.
Keep the Faith,
In response, it is very important that I be grateful. There again, the response of gratitude is a way to communicate. When some good thing happens and I thank God for it, the doors of communication are opened, and the light of God can come through. As God lives within me in the form of the Holy Spirit, it is very important that we talk - a lot. In my case this non-verbal conversation can sometimes begin with a good thing that happens and a sincere thank you to my friend and constant companion, the Holy Spirit.
Keep the Faith,
Monday, June 25, 2007
The Promise - Hebrews 11:39 - 40
If the “better thing” promised in v. 40 has to do with eternal life, the implication would be theat the Old Testament Heros did not make it to heaven, because they did not receive the promise, but that just can not be the case. These were people of God and the kind of people Jesus would certainly want to be around through-out eternity. It seems more reasonable to me that the promise had to do with The Holy Spirit. Jeremiah made reference to the promise (31:33), and it seems to me that his comment also had to do with the Holy Spirit.
We had a marvelous Sunday School class yesterday discussing the concept of the Promise. Some class-members made some amazing comments about their personal experience with God. I think that we made some progress.
Keep the Faith,
Earl
We had a marvelous Sunday School class yesterday discussing the concept of the Promise. Some class-members made some amazing comments about their personal experience with God. I think that we made some progress.
Keep the Faith,
Earl
Saturday, June 23, 2007
The New Testament Advantage
There is a text in the book of Hebrews that offers for those of us seeking spiritual power both a challenge and an opportunity. The writer of the Book of Hebrews speaks of the Heros of the Faith in Chapter Eleven. These were people of power. The writer then implies that we too can be people of power if we will but walk in faith as these people did. Actually, the writer points out that the work these people started could never be completed except by us and only then because we have an advantage I have recorded below the two very significant verses from Hebrews; 11:39 & 40.
And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.
The issue that can provide great help to us in our search for the Abundant Life is, what advantage do we have? What is the “promise?” What is the “better thing” that God has provided for us? There can be no way that we can fully understand the Old Testament, nor can we complete the work that these people started until we undersand and utilize this New Testament Advantage.
And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.
The issue that can provide great help to us in our search for the Abundant Life is, what advantage do we have? What is the “promise?” What is the “better thing” that God has provided for us? There can be no way that we can fully understand the Old Testament, nor can we complete the work that these people started until we undersand and utilize this New Testament Advantage.
Thursday, June 21, 2007
A Bad Day
I had a bad day yesterday. waisted time, spent money foolishly, made some poor decisions and and confused some people who were looking to me for leadership. How can this happen? How can one who is filled with the Spirit of God and who lives in, continual fellowship with God have a bad day?
Monday, June 18, 2007
The Question
It is not God’s intent to run the world. God created human beings to do that and God has no desire to remove from them that responsibility. God will however, through the Holy Spirit, help out. The Holy Spirit came to support, encourage, protect, comfort, teach and even make believers aware of opportunities to contribute. The question every human being should ask themself and God is “how can I best position myself to take full advantage of the support the Holy Spirit freely gives to those The Spirit lives within?
Monday, June 11, 2007
A Unique Relationship
Yesterday our pastor, Dr. David Benson, preached a great sermon on I Kings 17:8-16. There can be no doubt that Elijah, the prophet, had a unique and powerful relationship with God. I am convinced that the reason Jesus came to this earth to live and die as he did, was to make possible a similar type relationship to all believers, at least the ones whom God chooses.
The Christian Religion is about a relationship. The first thing that Jesus did when he began his ministry was recruit some people. It is obvious that Jesus wanted people around him and he spent the next three years training and grooming these people so The Holy Spirit could bring this relationship into fruition at the Feast of Pentecost. From then on the world has never been the same, at least not potentially. This unique, powerful and productive relaitonsip, open only to the few in the Old Testament became available to all.
Keep the Faith,
Earl
The Christian Religion is about a relationship. The first thing that Jesus did when he began his ministry was recruit some people. It is obvious that Jesus wanted people around him and he spent the next three years training and grooming these people so The Holy Spirit could bring this relationship into fruition at the Feast of Pentecost. From then on the world has never been the same, at least not potentially. This unique, powerful and productive relaitonsip, open only to the few in the Old Testament became available to all.
Keep the Faith,
Earl
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
The Spirit of The Living God
Most Christians use the term God interchangeably between God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. God is a one size fits all title that can refer to any or all members of the trinity, and a lot of other things as well. Jesus in John 14:26-27 is trying to get the people to see The Spirit as unique, one who would pick up where he would leave off, and one who could come into your life and enable you to see the big picture and live your life “more abundantly.” Jesus after all was human. He could only reach the people who were within the sound of his voice. He actually had very few people (12, 20, 100 ?) with whom he could talk and council and be close to. The Holy Spirit on the other hand has no limitations. The Spirit can be close to any individual The Spirit chooses, any time, any where and all at the same time. .
Note again the words of Jesus:
“Nevertheless I tell you the truth: It is expedient for you that I go away; for if I go not away, the Comforter (The Holy Spirit) will not come unto you; but if I go, I will send him unto you” (John 16:7).
The Holy Spirit is much more qualified to add God’s one on one presence to the world, because of The Spirit’s very nature, that of Spirit. The Holy Spirit can actually live within those believers with whom The Spirit chooses. The Holy Spirit is real, just as real as was Jesus, and The Spirit is approachable. Wherever you are, the Spirit is, and the Spirit is always available. The fact that one can not see The Spirit is irrelevant.
The Holy Spirit has always been present in this world, but at the Jewish Feast of Pentecost shortly after Jesus had ascended into heaven, The Spirit took on a new role. The Spirit actually entered into the heart and life of Human beings, and became available to live within believers and to assist believers to live successfully and progressively in this society. Remember the words of Jesus from John 14:16, “You know him, (The Holy Spirit) for he abideth with you and shall be in you.”
Recorded below is the complete story of The Spirit’s initial actions in the Spirit’s new role. We pick the story up with the words Jesus spoke to his disciples just before he ascended into heaven. Carefully consider this story from the book of Acts. This was without a doubt the most important event in human history, at least potentially. `Remember, Spiritual Power, the power available to live within you by faith, trumps all other forms of power.
Acts 1:4 And, being assembled together with them, [Jesus] commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, said he, you have heard from me. 5 For John truly baptized with water; but you shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
And it happened just as Jesus said that it world.
Acts 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared to them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat on each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. 5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. 6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.
The Holy Spirit entered into the hearts of human beings and from that day forward, human potential has never been the same. The Book of Acts records several other incidents where believers were filled with The Holy Spirit. On one occasion Peter and John made a short trip to Samaria to extend the power of the Spirit.
Ac 8:14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John: 15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:
Right after Paul met Jesus on the Damascus Road and Jesus turned his world around, The Holy Spirit entered Paul’s life.
Acts 9:17 And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared to you in the way as you came, has sent me, that you might receive your sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.
On one occasion, Peter was used by The Spirit as a means to enter the lives of believers who were also Gentiles. Notice below that this was a shock to Jewish Christians, but as we know now, the Spirit of God is available to all people.
Ac 10:44 While Peter yet spoke these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. 45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Paul introduced The Spirit to some believers he just happened to run across in Ephesus.
Ac 19:1 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, 2 He said to them, Have you received the Holy Ghost since you believed? And they said to him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
Acts 19:6 And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spoke with tongues, and prophesied.
The Holy Spirit was a major part of the early church as were miracles, conversions, the laying on of hands, large crowds, etc. One can just feel the excitement. The church was on fire. Life was good.
The Holy Spirit is for you, however you might have to wait awhile. The Spirit knows things about you that you don’t know about yourself and the Spirit will come and occupy a place in your life only when the time is right. There is nothing that you can do to force the issue. God wants to know for sure that you are real. When the Spirit comes inside you and takes up residence The Spirit is making a major commitment. From that moment on, the Spirit goes where you go and does what you do. The Spirit will never leave nor back away under pressure. The only way to get rid of the Spirit is through blasphemy, which by the way is the one sin that will never be forgiven.
While you tarry as did the disciples, take comfort in the knowledge that the Spirit is always with you and can do good things for you even though The Spirit may not be in you as of yet. And you can relax. If you truly want the Spirit to be apart of your life, it will happen, and the Spirit’s presence will make your life complete. Jesus relates a story below in which he makes the point that God in the form of the Holy Spirit very much wants to be a part of your world.
Luke 11:11 If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? 12 Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? 13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
Keep the Faith,
Earl
Note again the words of Jesus:
“Nevertheless I tell you the truth: It is expedient for you that I go away; for if I go not away, the Comforter (The Holy Spirit) will not come unto you; but if I go, I will send him unto you” (John 16:7).
The Holy Spirit is much more qualified to add God’s one on one presence to the world, because of The Spirit’s very nature, that of Spirit. The Holy Spirit can actually live within those believers with whom The Spirit chooses. The Holy Spirit is real, just as real as was Jesus, and The Spirit is approachable. Wherever you are, the Spirit is, and the Spirit is always available. The fact that one can not see The Spirit is irrelevant.
The Holy Spirit has always been present in this world, but at the Jewish Feast of Pentecost shortly after Jesus had ascended into heaven, The Spirit took on a new role. The Spirit actually entered into the heart and life of Human beings, and became available to live within believers and to assist believers to live successfully and progressively in this society. Remember the words of Jesus from John 14:16, “You know him, (The Holy Spirit) for he abideth with you and shall be in you.”
Recorded below is the complete story of The Spirit’s initial actions in the Spirit’s new role. We pick the story up with the words Jesus spoke to his disciples just before he ascended into heaven. Carefully consider this story from the book of Acts. This was without a doubt the most important event in human history, at least potentially. `Remember, Spiritual Power, the power available to live within you by faith, trumps all other forms of power.
Acts 1:4 And, being assembled together with them, [Jesus] commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, said he, you have heard from me. 5 For John truly baptized with water; but you shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
And it happened just as Jesus said that it world.
Acts 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared to them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat on each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. 5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. 6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.
The Holy Spirit entered into the hearts of human beings and from that day forward, human potential has never been the same. The Book of Acts records several other incidents where believers were filled with The Holy Spirit. On one occasion Peter and John made a short trip to Samaria to extend the power of the Spirit.
Ac 8:14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John: 15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:
Right after Paul met Jesus on the Damascus Road and Jesus turned his world around, The Holy Spirit entered Paul’s life.
Acts 9:17 And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared to you in the way as you came, has sent me, that you might receive your sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.
On one occasion, Peter was used by The Spirit as a means to enter the lives of believers who were also Gentiles. Notice below that this was a shock to Jewish Christians, but as we know now, the Spirit of God is available to all people.
Ac 10:44 While Peter yet spoke these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. 45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Paul introduced The Spirit to some believers he just happened to run across in Ephesus.
Ac 19:1 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, 2 He said to them, Have you received the Holy Ghost since you believed? And they said to him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
Acts 19:6 And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spoke with tongues, and prophesied.
The Holy Spirit was a major part of the early church as were miracles, conversions, the laying on of hands, large crowds, etc. One can just feel the excitement. The church was on fire. Life was good.
The Holy Spirit is for you, however you might have to wait awhile. The Spirit knows things about you that you don’t know about yourself and the Spirit will come and occupy a place in your life only when the time is right. There is nothing that you can do to force the issue. God wants to know for sure that you are real. When the Spirit comes inside you and takes up residence The Spirit is making a major commitment. From that moment on, the Spirit goes where you go and does what you do. The Spirit will never leave nor back away under pressure. The only way to get rid of the Spirit is through blasphemy, which by the way is the one sin that will never be forgiven.
While you tarry as did the disciples, take comfort in the knowledge that the Spirit is always with you and can do good things for you even though The Spirit may not be in you as of yet. And you can relax. If you truly want the Spirit to be apart of your life, it will happen, and the Spirit’s presence will make your life complete. Jesus relates a story below in which he makes the point that God in the form of the Holy Spirit very much wants to be a part of your world.
Luke 11:11 If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? 12 Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? 13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
Keep the Faith,
Earl
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
The Arm of God
Jesus came that we might have a personal relationship with the Creator of the World. It was that relationship that could turn the world around and make it work. The Holy Spirit is the Arm of God which can for some whom God chooses make that relationship functional and of course productive. There are people in the world who can invent great things and do great things, but it is only those filled with the Spirit who can move the world forward.
When one is filled with the Spirit they will never be alone. There is someone readily available who will be closer than any human being ever could, someone who will give comfort, strength and courage. The Holy Spirit will teach The Spirit's chosen people all things and provide them with the supernatural power necessary to keep their life under control. It is the Holy Spirit who is the Prime Minister of God's Kingdom and the administer of God’s Program of Abundance.
The Holy Spirit can be a remarkable companion. The Spirit brings no baggage and will make no demands. The Spirit will never attract attention to itself and never be intrusive. The Spirit will not interfere with any other relationship. Actually, The Holy Spirit will make all other relationships better.
When John the Baptist introduced Jesus to the world, he made the statement, “I baptize you with water; but he (Jesus) shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit” (Mark 1:8), and that is exactly what Jesus proceeded to do. It didn’t happen immediately, and he did other things along the way, but some three years later during his final days on this planet, Jesus made it plain to his disciples that there would be someone to take his place, someone who would assist them to do for themselves and for the world the same types of things, that he did during his three years of ministry and actually as Jesus pointed out a lot more.
Note below some words taken from the Gospel of John that Jesus spoke about the Holy Spirit. Notice too, that there is no caveat against miracles. These people were expected to utilize the power of the Holy Spirit to do for the world the things that Jesus would have done had he chosen to stay.
“And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter (The Holy Spirit), that he may be with you for ever, whom the world cannot receive; for it beholdeth him not, neither knoweth him. Ye know him; for he abideth with you, and shall be in you” (John 14:16)
The Holy Spirit has existed on this planet since the beginning of time or even before. It was The Spirit that divided the waters of the Red Sea so Moses and his people could avoid the Egyptians. It was the Spirit that caused the walls of Jericho to fall down. It was The Spirit that directed the flight of the stone that David slung to destroy Goliath, the Philistine warrior. It was the Spirit that kept the Lions away from Daniel. The Spirit has always been available to do things to move the world forward, but in the Old Testament the relationship was not personal. The Spirit was available but always at a proverbial distance. The Writer of the Book of Hebrews wrote it very succinctly. Hebrews 11:13 These (the heros of the Old Testament, i.e. Able, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Jacob, Moses, etc.) all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off...The promises to which the writer referred include the promise of personal relationship with the Spirit of God. Jesus made it plane that The Spirit was coming to take his place and thus relate personally to believers.
Note again the words of Jesus. “These things have I spoken unto you, while [yet] abiding with you. But the Comforter (helper), [even] the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said unto you” (John 14:25-26).
Jesus is pointing out that He and The Holy Spirit are on the same team. They are actually one in the same, both part of the mind of God. “I and my father are one.” Jesus said. The same could be said for The Holy Spirit. The only difference between the two is form. Jesus is flesh and blood and The Spirit is spirit. Another difference of course was that Jesus was leaving and The Spirit is coming into a new role, to live in believers and provide the help, protection and supernatural power to make you and other believers successful.
One can recognize from the words of Jesus above just how important it was to him that his disciples and others make the transition from the confrontational, in your face type person to person relationship, that Jesus had with the disciples and others, to a relationship with The Holy Spirit. Jesus’ time on earth was over. He would lead them no more. He would heal no more disease, calm no more storms, preach no more sermons or tell no more teaching stories. The time had come for Jesus’ followers to move out and do good things on their own. They could no longer rely on the leadership of a person with whom they could walk and talk and have fellowship. Soon the only resources the disciples would have at their disposal would be their own strength and ability plus their relationship with The Holy Spirit, whom they could neither see nor touch nor talk to, at least not in the same way they had talked to Jesus.
The transition was not easy for the disciples nor is it easy for most believers today. It is much simpler to pray to Jesus as one we can visualize than to attempt to communicate with The Holy Spirit for the obvious reason that The Spirit is Spirit, unable to be seen, heard or even imagined.
Keep the Faith,
Earl
When one is filled with the Spirit they will never be alone. There is someone readily available who will be closer than any human being ever could, someone who will give comfort, strength and courage. The Holy Spirit will teach The Spirit's chosen people all things and provide them with the supernatural power necessary to keep their life under control. It is the Holy Spirit who is the Prime Minister of God's Kingdom and the administer of God’s Program of Abundance.
The Holy Spirit can be a remarkable companion. The Spirit brings no baggage and will make no demands. The Spirit will never attract attention to itself and never be intrusive. The Spirit will not interfere with any other relationship. Actually, The Holy Spirit will make all other relationships better.
When John the Baptist introduced Jesus to the world, he made the statement, “I baptize you with water; but he (Jesus) shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit” (Mark 1:8), and that is exactly what Jesus proceeded to do. It didn’t happen immediately, and he did other things along the way, but some three years later during his final days on this planet, Jesus made it plain to his disciples that there would be someone to take his place, someone who would assist them to do for themselves and for the world the same types of things, that he did during his three years of ministry and actually as Jesus pointed out a lot more.
Note below some words taken from the Gospel of John that Jesus spoke about the Holy Spirit. Notice too, that there is no caveat against miracles. These people were expected to utilize the power of the Holy Spirit to do for the world the things that Jesus would have done had he chosen to stay.
“And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter (The Holy Spirit), that he may be with you for ever, whom the world cannot receive; for it beholdeth him not, neither knoweth him. Ye know him; for he abideth with you, and shall be in you” (John 14:16)
The Holy Spirit has existed on this planet since the beginning of time or even before. It was The Spirit that divided the waters of the Red Sea so Moses and his people could avoid the Egyptians. It was the Spirit that caused the walls of Jericho to fall down. It was The Spirit that directed the flight of the stone that David slung to destroy Goliath, the Philistine warrior. It was the Spirit that kept the Lions away from Daniel. The Spirit has always been available to do things to move the world forward, but in the Old Testament the relationship was not personal. The Spirit was available but always at a proverbial distance. The Writer of the Book of Hebrews wrote it very succinctly. Hebrews 11:13 These (the heros of the Old Testament, i.e. Able, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Jacob, Moses, etc.) all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off...The promises to which the writer referred include the promise of personal relationship with the Spirit of God. Jesus made it plane that The Spirit was coming to take his place and thus relate personally to believers.
Note again the words of Jesus. “These things have I spoken unto you, while [yet] abiding with you. But the Comforter (helper), [even] the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said unto you” (John 14:25-26).
Jesus is pointing out that He and The Holy Spirit are on the same team. They are actually one in the same, both part of the mind of God. “I and my father are one.” Jesus said. The same could be said for The Holy Spirit. The only difference between the two is form. Jesus is flesh and blood and The Spirit is spirit. Another difference of course was that Jesus was leaving and The Spirit is coming into a new role, to live in believers and provide the help, protection and supernatural power to make you and other believers successful.
One can recognize from the words of Jesus above just how important it was to him that his disciples and others make the transition from the confrontational, in your face type person to person relationship, that Jesus had with the disciples and others, to a relationship with The Holy Spirit. Jesus’ time on earth was over. He would lead them no more. He would heal no more disease, calm no more storms, preach no more sermons or tell no more teaching stories. The time had come for Jesus’ followers to move out and do good things on their own. They could no longer rely on the leadership of a person with whom they could walk and talk and have fellowship. Soon the only resources the disciples would have at their disposal would be their own strength and ability plus their relationship with The Holy Spirit, whom they could neither see nor touch nor talk to, at least not in the same way they had talked to Jesus.
The transition was not easy for the disciples nor is it easy for most believers today. It is much simpler to pray to Jesus as one we can visualize than to attempt to communicate with The Holy Spirit for the obvious reason that The Spirit is Spirit, unable to be seen, heard or even imagined.
Keep the Faith,
Earl
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