I am reposting yesterday's page of the blog.  For some reason it did not go out.

Learning DAILY

 

John 14:15-18, “If you love me keep My commandments.  And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever – the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.  I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. “   Jesus

 

Jesus has been telling His disciples that the purpose for His coming is about to be fulfilled and He would be returning to His Father in heaven; they did not understand.   You are leaving?  What do we do then?  There are many who have a fear of being left alone.  Dependency on another person can cause many emotions to surface when they are gone.  Questions regarding what, where, when, why, and how can quickly fill the mind of the person left behind.  Jesus promised He would not leave His disciples “as orphans”; He would send them another Helper or “one who comes alongside” when He left this earth.  By sending this Helper, the Holy Spirit, Jesus would be with His disciples permanently.  I wonder if they understood what He was talking about.

 

When Jesus Christ becomes one’s Savior through faith and redemption of their sins, the Holy Spirit comes into their life.  The person is not left to try to figure out the Christian life on their own and by their own means.  No, the Father knows how easily it is to get lost among the teachings of the world and being “tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine and by the trickery of men: (Ephesians 4:14).  Jesus began His statement by using the present tense “if you love Me” to emphasize a continuing attitude of love and obedience!  That can only happen by the presence of the Holy Spirit in your life.

 

What does all this mean for you and me?  The Holy Spirit was not just a Helper for the disciples that were with Jesus at this time.  The Holy Spirit is given to all who believe today.  Let me explain.  The Holy Spirit is given to Believers to help and strengthen us (Matthew 14:30-31) and to teach us the things of God, including the true direction for our lives (John 14:26).  The Holy Spirit is also called the Comforter (verse 26) because He gives comfort in difficult times. Romans 8:26-27 tells us He will help Believers comfort others and to know how to intercede in prayer for them.  And, verse 17 above reminds Believers that the Holy Spirit will never leave them.  I believe it is important to emphasize the Believer’s responsibility is to be serious about their love for the Lord and to be devoted to His Word.

 

Jesus called the Holy Spirit the “Spirit of Truth” because He is the Spirit of Jesus who is the truth!  There will be more teaching on the Holy Spirit in the future. But, for now, know that the Holy Spirit testifies to the truth (John 18:37), educates concerning the truth, exposing that which is not true (John 16:8) and guides the Believer into all truth (John 16:13).  “Those who are willing to sacrifice truth for the sake of unity, love or any other reason deny the Spirit of Truth, whom they claim lives in them.” (Life in the Spirit Study Bible). 

 

Jesus makes Himself known to us through the Holy Spirit.  In the last page of the blog, verse 21 was discussed.  Obeying the commandments of Christ is not an option.  When Believers are obedient, the Lord reveals Himself to us.  That revelation is through the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit makes Believers aware of the nearness of Jesus, His love and blessings and His help. The Believer’s response should be one of worship and devotion!

 

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