Thursday, 01 October 2009

• Jesus' Words on the Holy Spirit (Part 1)

  All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to the risen King, Jesus Christ (Math 28:18).  Therefore I want to begin learning about the Holy Spirit of God from Jesus Christ, the ultimate authority. 

  Our Father in heaven is not the author of confusion (1 Cor. 14:33) and He has not left us to wander in foolishness but, instead, gives wisdom generously to those who ask it of him with faith (James 1:5). 

  Knowing that God has not left us ignorantly blind in confusion and chaos but has instead given the Spirit of Christ to all who ask (Luke 11:5-13), I am going to begin this journey by searching out the conditions of the Holy Spirit. 

  **Keep in mind that this is study is limited to the Words of Christ; my next (more comprehensive) study will cover what the Apostles have told us regarding the Holy Spirit and I will end my study on this topic by combining the two studies together with the Old Testament teachings on the Holy Spirit**  

  I’m not going to approach this topic lightly because of the sobering words spoken by Jesus in Matthew 12:25-32. The Holy Spirit cannot be blasphemed.  In our considerations of the Spirit of God it’s vital that we not transgress the Spirit.

  Within the Scriptures of John 14:15-31 Jesus begins to enlighten us regarding the heart of the one who will receive the Spirit of God; Philip asked Jesus to show them the Father—to this Jesus replied that He and the Father were one; a great statement of the deity of Christ is made in vv 8-14, and in v15 Jesus clarifies to whom he is talking about “If you love me, you will keep My commandments.” and then he gives the first clear picture of the Holy Spirit: “¹⁶I will ask the Father and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever;  ¹⁷ that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or Know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you. ¹⁸ I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” (John 14:15-18).

  I believe that we see a condition of the Holy Spirit; it resides within the one whose love for Jesus the Christ compels him or her into carrying out and fulfilling the words and instructions that Jesus has given.  For the one who loves Jesus like this, He will ask it of the Father and the Father will send the Spirit upon him. 

  One important note to keep in mind is that the Apostles have a lot to say about the result of obedience produced by love; purity.  Jesus cuts to the heart of the issue knowing that loving Him would result in obedience which would result in a pure dwelling place for the Spirit.  The Apostles, however, will repeatedly speak on the topic of creating a pure dwelling place for the Spirit.

   

   

  We would, of course, be remise if we let verse 17 go untouched; “that is the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know him... but he abides in you.” (John 14:17). To an unbelieving world our belief in the teachings of Jesus Christ and his followers will simply be considered just another worldview.  However, to the Christian, Jesus’ teachings are not reducible to just another “worldview”. 

  Truth and reality do not depend upon confirmation or popular vote; they’re absolute apart from belief.  Of course, this is moving off the topic towards a side-note (at best), but I feel it’s important to mention that faith does not create reality or truth it merely creates awareness and a perception of truth while the truth and reality remains unchanged.

  So for the Christian, being led by the Spirit which Jesus called “the Spirit of Truth”, we are being led into the truth that has for so long been hidden from the world, veiled by centuries of darkness and now revealed by the light of Christ.

  Indeed the Spirit of Truth is our Helper! Without him, we would still be lost in darkness, hidden from the truth.  Not only does the Spirit of God function in such a way that he reveals the long hidden mysteries of God to us; he also provides for us the words and power necessary to face daunting trials and situations; He is the promised provider that in Matt. 10:19 Jesus encouraged the disciples not to worry about their testimony to give when brought before the Sanhedrin.

  Just as much as the Spirit of God is our Helper, so are we in need of help!  The very name Jesus chose to give to the Spirit in this case means that we are inadequate and lacking in our own abilities.  Given the task that you and I have before us, as the Children of God, without the Holy Spirit to help us, I would be willing to wager that not a soul exists that could succeed in the matters of God apart from the empowerment and guidance of the Holy Spirit, directly working in our Lives.  In fact, the soul that has decided in his or her heart to undertake this task apart from the Helper is guaranteed to place his soul, and the souls of those whom he or she reaches out to, in great peril.  Without the Helper we would be hopelessly lost, even with the word of God available to us. It’s not unreasonable to assume that the depraved man could not fully and adequately understand Gods word without help; help that only comes from God.

  While the soul embraced by the Spirit of God is ready and equipped by the Helper to do the will of God, the soul void of the Spirit is found lacking in every way and without hope.

  The teaching of Christ makes clear that His Spirit will not abide in the world (John 14:17).  You might say that the world is foreign and hostile to the Spirit.  At this point the above-mentioned scripture provides to us an essential understanding for every seeker: the Spirit of God cannot and will not be found in worldly endeavors—within the parameters of this world, the Spirit cannot be gained.  This is not to say that the Spirit of God cannot be found working the Fathers will on earth, it is rather to say that those seeking to receive Gods Spirit should look somewhere else other than the world.

  Ask yourself, then, “Where should I look to find the Spirit of God?”

  Of course we know that the Spirit of God will not be found among the lowly dwellings on this earth; even the best of this earth is found lacking.

  One thing I think is gleaned from the teachings of Jesus is that apart from faith, apart from prayer, and apart from the submissive love for Christ, no one may find the Spirit!

  If the Spirit of God is not found or obtained within the boundaries of the world, then it also follows that the worldly will not be found within the parameters of heaven.  Apart from transformation from the Spirit there can be no venturing into Heaven.

  Jesus said “Truly, Truly, I say that no one enters the kingdom unless he is born of water and of Spirit” as well that “The wind blows where it wishes, you know not where it comes from or where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”  John 3:5-8

  I know there is a great deal of controversy involved with the Holy Spirit—beliefs are wide and varied—but as I have mentioned, beliefs and controversies do not change the truth, they only limit our perception of the truth.  Added to these controversies over the Spirit is it’s inseparable role in our salvation. 

  I have already mentioned that this is a Study on the Spirit of God as Jesus’ words direct us; therefore I will only mention at this point that Paul, in Romans 8:9, reaffirms that only those who have the Spirit belong to Christ.

  Satan is the Father of all lies and he has produced one of the greatest lies of all time; that Christianity is simply one of many “ways”.  Jesus made clear in the above scriptures that he is the only way—no other way is acceptable to God.  How many among the ranks of “Christianity” have refused to take part of the water covenant and re-birth of the Spirit?  And why?  Have they believe the lie from Satan that leads them into his trap (and away from Christ)?

  **note: I will return to this passage as the foundation of what the apostle Paul used in several of his teachings taken from Romans 7:14 and on through Romans 8.**

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