March 28, 2017 - Jesus said to his disciples; "If you love me you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the World cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you." (John 14:15-17)
When one accepts Jesus as Lord he receives the Holy Spirit as a gift from God the Father.
"And Peter said to them; "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." (Acts 2:38) This free gift is given by the Father as the Helper to be with us forever.
Peter gives more information as to why baptism is to be in the name of Jesus; "Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified." (Acts 2:36) God has restored Jesus to his former glory which he enjoyed before the Father sent him to earth to die for our sins.
Why show these verses referring to Jesus when we are studying the Holy Spirit?
"When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. (John 16:13) The Holy Spirit will convey to us what the Lord tells him to say. All inspiration comes from God through the Holy Spirit to us. He will tell us what Jesus wants us to know. "He will declare to you the things that are to come".
The Spirit of God is also here to convict sinners and try to push them to repentance.
"Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, if I do not go away the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged." (John 16:7-11) Jesus sent him and instructed him that he should be the Helper for every saved person and the one who convicts the worldly of their sins.
The Holy Spirit of God, for the saved, is our comforter, our guide, our Helper, the one who guides our steps each day as we navigate this cruel world.
For the sinner, he is that troublesome inner voice that speaks every time one sins against God. He is the judge of wrong doings.
Listen to his voice as he speaks to you each day, do as he says for he will guide you to the cross of the Lord and salvation.
May the Lord bless you and keep you, the Lord make his face to shine upon you each day.
