The disciples time of sorrow will be short, and then their sorrow will be turned to joy. 7:38-39 ). 2 My goal is that their hearts, having been knit together in love, may be encouraged, and that they may have all the riches of full assurance in their understanding of the knowledge of the mystery of God, namely, Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. In context, Jesus is speaking to His eleven disciples, but the scope of His promises is broader than that. The Holy Spirit also helps Christians in their weakness and intercedes for them. It was first communicated through the Lord and was confirmed to us by those who heard him, 4 while God confirmed their witness with signs and wonders and various miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will (Hebrews 2:1-4). I confess, we turned on the air conditioning and lit a fire in the fireplace, just to try it out.) Indeed He sought out His disciples after the resurrection, but the context implies He was speaking of something more: His spiritual presence in every believer through the agency of the Holy Spirit. 4 Through these things he has bestowed on us his precious and most magnificent promises, so that by means of what was promised you may become partakers of the divine nature, after escaping the worldly corruption that is produced by evil desire (2 Peter 1:3-4). Please contact the publisher to obtain copies of this resource. Many wish to have joy, but they want to have it without sorrow. They don't want to obey His words. I would like to suggest that we often wish God would tell us all that He is doing, or is about to do, at the time we wish to know it. They are embarrassed at their ignorance, and they want to look good in His eyes. Being filled with the Spirit and letting the Word dwell in you are synonymous because they produce the same results: a song in your heart, a thankful attitude, and loving relationships at home and at work (Ephesians 5:196:9; Colossians 3:164:1). Leon Morris therefore issues a sober warning: Believers should be very careful here, for from time to time through the history of the Christian church, people have arisen who have said that they had new revelations and they have led people astray. Why do the Scriptures contain many prophecies which we do not understand at the time? 3, p. 546. He may become confused at times, but he will always abide in Christ. 33 I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. 27 For the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. Jesus withheld information from His disciples for their own good. 3, p. 554. However Jesus assured them that they would not be left to fend for themselves; they would have a supernatural Helper. First, Jesus is in heaven, exalted and glorified, and magnificent, so that one like John, who used to recline on His breast, falls before Him as a dead man (Revelation 1:17). Over 25 years ago, Jeannette and I moved into our first home. He possesses intellect (John 14:26), will (1 Corinthians 12:11) and emotions (Ephesians 4:30). with His presence and power. Those who were to be regarded as true apostles were accredited by the signs of a true apostle: 1 Therefore we must pay closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. We begin to get the idea that this is an important concept. I take it that the disciples are now winding their way through the narrow streets of Jerusalem, making their way toward the Mount of Olives and the Garden of Gethsemane.73 Judas has long since left the group and is at this very moment making arrangements to hand Jesus over to the authorities (Jewish and Roman). In Christian theology, the word commonly refers to the Holy Spirit and is translated as 'advocate', 'counsellor or 'helper'. Let me illustrate what I am saying by calling your attention to the Book of Revelation. Web473 pisodes. The world seeks for a joy that is rooted in the absence of trials and suffering, that delights in the promotion of self-interest, and often in the downfall of ones rivals. An unsaved person doesn't have spiritual perception (1 Corinthians 2:12-14), so only those who love and obey Christ can comprehend the manifestation He was talking about. 3, p. 557. Why did Jesus tell the disciples things that they could not understand at the moment? You do well if you pay attention to this as you would to a light shining in a murky place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. This message is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified (Acts 20:18-21, 25-32). And because we now see this clearly, we believe that You have truly come from God.. If every one of them were written down, I suppose the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written (John 21:24-25). 11. WebThe Holy Spirit's ministry in the Old Testament differs from his ministry in the New Testament not so much in kind as in degree. They have not repeated any of the content of Jesus latest words. 20 I tell you the solemn truth, you will weep and wail, but the world will rejoice; you will be sad, but your sadness will turn into joy. We will not be those through whom the gospel was defined and by whom the New Testament Scriptures were written. But the strong expression you will ask me nothing is against this. The power is in you; it just needs to be released. (1 Corinthians 3:16). They don't love Him. The possession of the Holy Spirit by the believer was not permanent in every case. The term weep is frequently employed for the mourning that occurs due to the death of someone (see Mark 5:39; Luke 7:13; 8:52; John 11:31, 33). I would say this is particularly true of things to come: Dear friends, we are Gods children now, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. Everything that the Father has is mine; that is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what is mine and will tell it to you (John 16:14-15). They did not understand what He was talking about, and what they thought they understood, they did not like. We sent you an email. We dont need to know the details of what He has for us in the future. Joy is not a minor part of New Testament Christianity but something that runs through and through the whole. As he reads, he will share key insights and application points, to help you better understand what is being said, but also to apply it to your life. Christian joy is not to be found in having everything youve ever wanted. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, believers are saved, filled, sealed, and sanctified. The Upper Room Discourse contains a significant portion of our Lords preparatory teaching. Any ministry that centers on the Holy Spirit is dangerous because the Spirit's ministry is to point to Christ. The Holy Spirit gives us the wisdom and discernment when we need it. The seven ministries of the Holy Spirit are wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord. Jesus says that the Holy Spirit will convict the world in three areas, Sin, Righteousness and Judgment. 84 It is important to note that in the NET Bible, the first word translated ask in verse 23 is erwtaw, while the second ask is a translation of the Greek word aitew. The Holy Spirit's ministry is to show us Christ. An unbeliever cannot get saved unless they are first convicted by the Holy Spirit. It was these suffering saints who experienced Gods gracious hand, and many of them came to saving faith. He indwells believers and seals them until the day of redemptionthis indicates that the Holy Spirits presence in the believer is irreversible. Some Christians feel they are lacking in power. Indeed, the signs of an apostle were performed among you with great perseverance by signs and wonders and powerful deeds (2 Corinthians 12:12). 26 Therefore I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of you all. A preacher friend of mine used to say, All false teaching is either the Bible plus, or the Bible minus. False teaching either seeks to add to or to take away from Scripture. And what they think they do understand, they dont. In that hour of turmoil, they feared being left alone. How different it should be for us, looking ahead from the cross and the empty tomb! 11 For if what was fading away came with glory, how much more has what remains come in glory. By yielding yourself totally to the Word of God and letting it permeate your life, you'll be controlled by the Spirit's desires. That is the mystery of the Trinity: the Holy Spirit abides in us (v. 17), Christ indwells us (Colossians 1:27), and God is in us (1 John 4:12). Bob is a pastor/teacher and elder at Community Bible Chapel in Richardson, Texas, and has contributed many of his Bible study series for use by the Foundation. This is the office of the Holy Spirit as Judge. 1 Samuel 16:13-14; Ps. All believers have two paracletes: the Spirit of God within us and the Son of God in heaven. Jesus gave the disciples several key points related to the way in which He would disclose this new revelation: Verses 23-24 repeat the same truth: "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My wordHe who does not love Me does not keep My words.". Together these promises constitute a legacy left by our Lord to all who love Him. He guards and guarantees the salvation of the ones He indwells ( Ephesians 1:13; 4:30 ). Far from it, their lot was often a very hard one indeed. He guards and guarantees the salvation of the ones He indwells ( Ephesians 1:13; 4:30 ). Jesus promises that a time is coming when His obscure speech will be replaced by very clear teaching. WebThe work of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament differed somewhat from His work in the New Testament. I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; 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. We have a supernatural Helper, not just with but in every one of us who believes. He moves in immediately, without delay, the moment you believe in Jesus. The Cross And Unjust Suffering (1 Peter 2:19-25), 5. Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him. They brought no certainty of divine help, and people were conscious that their efforts did not measure up. How can He manifest Himself to someone who is disobedient? He indwells believers and seals them until the day of redemptionthis indicates that the Holy Spirits presence in the believer is irreversible. Carson forcefully defends the view that this is, indeed, what our Lord is saying: There are, however, several indications which argue strongly that the passage refers simply to Jesus departure by the death of the cross and his return by resurrection. And He was right. He moves in immediately, without delay, the moment you believe in Jesus. The things which the Spirit teaches them are the things which Jesus will be teaching them. You cannot study the New Testament long without seeing that there is a dichotomy between what we are responsible to do as Christians and what has already been done on our behalf. He possesses intellect (John 14:26), will (1 Corinthians 12:11) and emotions (Ephesians 4:30). 1988 by John MacArthur. It appeared that Howard was keeping us from something we really wanted, but in truth he was preparing us for something even better (they surprised us with a new refrigerator). What a blessing it is for a woman to be able to bear a child and, what a pain! Jesus answered, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him" (v. 23). First John 2:1 says, "If anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." His promise is that He will never leave them nor forsake them (Hebrews 13:5). No wonder the disciples could not yet grasp what Jesus was saying about the future. To convict is to reprove, or to show someones error. Christ was saying, "I'm going away to My Father, yet I'll come to you in the form of My Spirit to dwell within you." 18 And we all, with unveiled faces reflecting the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another, which is from the Lord, who is the Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:7-17, emphasis mine). 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