On Tuesday, March 5th, I posted the following
scripture:
“But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my
name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said
to you.” (John 14:26, The Holy Bible, New International Version © copyright
1984)
A friend asked in
response, “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Perhaps, you wondered the same thing. If so, read my answer to
that question below. Hope it might answer the same question you may have had
about that scripture.
Dear Mike,
John 14:26 is one of several promises that Jesus gave us before He died, which are recorded in the scriptures. He had The Holy Spirit in order for Him to heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils, walk on water, feed five thousand men by multiplying a few loaves of bread and a few fish, turn the water into wine and do all the other miraculous signs and wonders He performed. This scripture you're wondering about is a promise that we can also be given this Holy Spirit of the Father, as His followers.
Acts 1:8 promises, "...you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
The second chapter of The Acts of The Apostles, is about the day of Pentecost, when this promised Holy Spirit was given to Jesus' disciples in Jerusalem. If you have a Holy Bible, read Acts of The Apostles, Chapter 2. I would quote it to you now, but, you could go to Biblos.com, if you don't have a Bible, and read it on the internet. Just put in Acts Chapter 2. That should show it to you. I'll give you a few verses now.
"When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them." (Acts 2:2-4)
As believers in Jesus, The Holy Bible promises we can receive this same Holy Spirit. It is the same Spirit that gave Moses the Law. It is the same Spirit that spoke to the prophets. It is the same Spirit that resurrected Jesus from the dead. It is the Spirit of the Father, of which Jesus spoke in the gospel. The gospel writers had to recall Jesus' teachings after they received this promised Holy Spirit. They needed The Holy Spirit to help them write what is now considered scripture. The gospels were written years after Jesus resurrected. The Holy Bible promises that all scripture is inspired by God.
"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." (2 Timothy 3: 16- 17)
I prayed every form of prayer and petition for about three and a half years before The Holy Spirit started speaking to me. I had to knock off sin (I repented) so I could be on speaking terms with God. Jesus said to "watch and pray". I did that every day for years. At one point I became desperate to have God talk to me like He did to so many men you can read about in The Holy Bible. I recall getting so desperate one day in church, waiting for Mass to start, that I took my rosary, which I had been praying every day for over three years, and threw it across the church. (No one was in the church at the time. :-) I said to God, something like, "You've got to show yourself real to me or this just isn't happening."
I was ready to give up the faith. I would have, if God hadn't revealed Himself to me in the Person of The Holy Spirit. It happened within a few days after that point of desperation in my life. Don't know what to say other than it happened to me. My day of Pentecost happened in September of 1985. It was a very wonderful thing. I remember being ecstatic. I went into something of a state of bliss at that time.
Don't know what to tell you other than give you testimony that God loves you and cares about you and deserves to have all the glory, honor, praise, riches, power and blessing because, well, He's God! If I were God I'd want all the glory for being the Creator of everyone and everything. Life isn't about the Harlot, or the works of our hands. It's about God. He's Abba; Our Father Which art in heaven. He loves us. We need to love Him, too.
Mike, hope this helps you to have some idea of what the scripture you're wondering about as well as many other scriptures of that nature mean to me. I believe God wants you to know Him in a personal way like no one else does. I believe He know how many hairs are on each and every one of our heads, and gives us the desires of our hearts. I believe The Holy Bible tells us it is God Who sends us delusions if we don't follow Him. I believe it's God's way of punishing us as only God can.
"They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness." (2 Thessalonians 2: 10b, 11)
I sure know. I've had strong delusions which, for a brief time, I believed. I know I need to stay close to The Good Shepherd so I, hopefully, won't believe a delusion. I'm hopeful God will tell me when I have a delusion. I hate having delusions. I need to know the truth.
Jesus said, "...ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (John 8:32) "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." (John 8: 36) "Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6)
Peace and joy to you my friend,
Bill
John 14:26 is one of several promises that Jesus gave us before He died, which are recorded in the scriptures. He had The Holy Spirit in order for Him to heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils, walk on water, feed five thousand men by multiplying a few loaves of bread and a few fish, turn the water into wine and do all the other miraculous signs and wonders He performed. This scripture you're wondering about is a promise that we can also be given this Holy Spirit of the Father, as His followers.
Acts 1:8 promises, "...you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
The second chapter of The Acts of The Apostles, is about the day of Pentecost, when this promised Holy Spirit was given to Jesus' disciples in Jerusalem. If you have a Holy Bible, read Acts of The Apostles, Chapter 2. I would quote it to you now, but, you could go to Biblos.com, if you don't have a Bible, and read it on the internet. Just put in Acts Chapter 2. That should show it to you. I'll give you a few verses now.
"When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them." (Acts 2:2-4)
As believers in Jesus, The Holy Bible promises we can receive this same Holy Spirit. It is the same Spirit that gave Moses the Law. It is the same Spirit that spoke to the prophets. It is the same Spirit that resurrected Jesus from the dead. It is the Spirit of the Father, of which Jesus spoke in the gospel. The gospel writers had to recall Jesus' teachings after they received this promised Holy Spirit. They needed The Holy Spirit to help them write what is now considered scripture. The gospels were written years after Jesus resurrected. The Holy Bible promises that all scripture is inspired by God.
"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." (2 Timothy 3: 16- 17)
I prayed every form of prayer and petition for about three and a half years before The Holy Spirit started speaking to me. I had to knock off sin (I repented) so I could be on speaking terms with God. Jesus said to "watch and pray". I did that every day for years. At one point I became desperate to have God talk to me like He did to so many men you can read about in The Holy Bible. I recall getting so desperate one day in church, waiting for Mass to start, that I took my rosary, which I had been praying every day for over three years, and threw it across the church. (No one was in the church at the time. :-) I said to God, something like, "You've got to show yourself real to me or this just isn't happening."
I was ready to give up the faith. I would have, if God hadn't revealed Himself to me in the Person of The Holy Spirit. It happened within a few days after that point of desperation in my life. Don't know what to say other than it happened to me. My day of Pentecost happened in September of 1985. It was a very wonderful thing. I remember being ecstatic. I went into something of a state of bliss at that time.
Don't know what to tell you other than give you testimony that God loves you and cares about you and deserves to have all the glory, honor, praise, riches, power and blessing because, well, He's God! If I were God I'd want all the glory for being the Creator of everyone and everything. Life isn't about the Harlot, or the works of our hands. It's about God. He's Abba; Our Father Which art in heaven. He loves us. We need to love Him, too.
Mike, hope this helps you to have some idea of what the scripture you're wondering about as well as many other scriptures of that nature mean to me. I believe God wants you to know Him in a personal way like no one else does. I believe He know how many hairs are on each and every one of our heads, and gives us the desires of our hearts. I believe The Holy Bible tells us it is God Who sends us delusions if we don't follow Him. I believe it's God's way of punishing us as only God can.
"They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness." (2 Thessalonians 2: 10b, 11)
I sure know. I've had strong delusions which, for a brief time, I believed. I know I need to stay close to The Good Shepherd so I, hopefully, won't believe a delusion. I'm hopeful God will tell me when I have a delusion. I hate having delusions. I need to know the truth.
Jesus said, "...ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (John 8:32) "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." (John 8: 36) "Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6)
Peace and joy to you my friend,
Bill
No comments:
Post a Comment