Thursday, June 9, 2011

EMMDEV 2011-06-09 [Pentecost Week] Counsellor, Comforter - PARACLETOS

16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever-- 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you...
25 "All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 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. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John14:16-27

If I could quote only one passage about the Holy Spirit, it would be this one.

The disciples are frightened because they have learned that Jesus intends to return to the Father. They are unsure of the way ahead, they have become used to the presence of the Lord and are afraid they will not know what to do.

Jesus comforts them with the promise of the coming of the Spirit. He uses a Greek word "Paracletos" which literally means the "one who walks beside." We translate this as counsellor, comforter, guide and advocate.

Jesus promises us that:
* The Spirit will lead us into truth

* Although we cannot see Him, the Spirit will ensure that we are not orphans (Paul says that the Spirit helps us call God "Abba" (Daddy) He will live _in_ us. Giving us even more closeness to God than the disciples had with Jesus.

* He will teach us and remind us of Jesus' teachings.

* He will give us lasting and meaningful peace, not simply the absence of trouble, but peace that outlasts trouble.

The Holy Spirit is the third person of the God family and He connects us to the Father and the Son so that we can experience God's closeness and love deeply and intimately.

Traditionally the church has shied away from the Holy Spirit because of confusion about the miraculous and sensational (tongues, healing, etc) but when we look at the core business of the Holy Spirit, why should we be afraid?

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Theo Groeneveld theo@emmanuel.org.za
You can see past EmmDevs at http://emmdev.blogspot.com/