May 7, 2017
Scripture:
Hymn 338 - I love my Saviour
Prayer
John 16:7. As we saw before, Jesus was going away, and that scared the disciples. However, Jesus said that it was better for them that He leave, because He could then send the Comforter to them.
John 16:13-19. Here, Jesus talks more about the Comforter, the Holy Spirit. He calls Him the Spirit of Truth. In Greek, the word for “comforter” is also translated “advocate” in 1 John 2. He has several different names. It’s amazing to think that a person of the Godhead lives inside of us. Jesus had already come to earth, but He was about to die, rise, and ascend back to heaven. He is no longer here in bodily form. That’s why He sent us the Comforter on the day of Pentecost.
Pentecost was one of the Old Testament feasts given to Moses. They must have celebrated it often, but in Acts 2 it says that the day of Pentecost had “fully come.” In fact, it came so fully that they never had to celebrate it again. God sent the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, the Holy Spirit to the believers. It was an exciting day in Jerusalem. We can be thankful that we now have Him watching over and caring for us!
Out of all God’s creatures, only man is able to receive the Holy Spirit. We have a body soul, and spirit. Things like trees only have a body, no soul or spirit. Animals have a body and a soul, but no spirit. When God made man, though, He installed the necessary “plumbing connections” for a relationship with Himself.
Long before we thought of wifi, God had a wireless connection. He gave His Spirit to people. It’s wonderful to have fellowship with God, and that is made possible through the cross. Now we have the Comforter; we have an Advocate taking up our cause before God the Father, so that we can live in joy and peace.
We don’t know how blessed it is to be connected with God. We can call God “Father”, and relate to our Saviour because of the cross. Those unsaved can’t do that. These things seem foolish to them, because they aren’t connected to God. God said in the Bible that that’s how it would be. We don’t have a Bible study with animals, they would understand it! It’s almost like that for an unsaved person.
There were 120 people that received the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, and it has bubbled over into more and more people until today. Jesus’ promise has come to pass. It’s a precious privilege; may use it. We are connected to God, and He speaks to us through His word and as we wait before Him in prayer.
1 Thessalonians 5:24-28
Every chapter of this book has more or less mentioned the Lord’s coming. The reference in chapter five is talking about the rapture. Verse twenty-three also mentions our behaviour. Paul prayed that they would be preserved. May the Lord keep us, so we can go on blameless for His glory.
Verse twenty-four continues the prayer. We’ve been called out of darkness into light, and He who called us will keep us faithfully. God is faithful, but may we also be faithful in the path.
The Apostle Paul asks the Thessalonians to pray for him. We can pray for each other as well. We unite in prayer meeting, but we don’t just pray then. We were told in verse seventeen to “pray without ceasing”.
We were found in darkness, and God called us out; now we have wonderful communication with Him. There is nothing foolish about this. We need this communication, but the connection can become weak through sin.
1 John 1:7
If the communication is fuzzy because your heart is not in the right place you’re going to have to fix it. The same blood that saves us also restores us. The Lord found a lamb that He could lead up Calvary’s hill, and shed His blood as a sacrifice for. We didn’t have to find an animal to offer to Him. God gave and sees the blood; we must put it on the door posts and claim it.
Paul is usually seen as strong and bold, but he talked about himself being in much weakness and trembling. Everyone needs prayer.
Some say, that for a holy kiss, a good hand shake will do in this day. Did Judas give Jesus a holy kiss? His was counter fit. But the meaning of the verse is what is important. It shows the atmosphere of love and concern. “By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another.”
This epistle is part of the holy scriptures. Did Paul know that this epistle was a divinely inspired document? But this verse emphasizes Bible reading. We need to go on in the scriptures. It is written here as if someone was going to read to others like in a meeting setting. But it is also precious to have our own copy to read when ever we want. God has given us His Holy Scriptures. May we glean and find the truth in them.
Grace is unmerited favour. We see grace in Jesus well He was here.
2 Peter 3:18
Paul began the epistle with grace. It is the first item mentioned and the one he leaves us with. He felt the importance of it, and how the Lord had blessed him with it.
Hymn 200 - ‘Tis the hope of His coming
Prayer