Brothers : The Holy Spirit and Jesus
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Holy Spirit Church
The Spirit's Personality
The Holy Spirit is a person, just as Christ is a person and the Father is a person. There is equality in the Godhead. Just as kettle mist passes a window and we automatically glance over thinking someone was passing by outside, so we sense the presence of the Holy Spirit.
Spirit Teacher
Donald Coggan writes, "He (the Holy Spirit) has a way of annihilating the barriers of time and distance and making Jesus our great contemporary." 1 Jesus himself instructed his disciples that "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." 2
The Holy Spirit personally teaches us the mind of God. 2 Corinthians 2.7 may be loosely translated, "The Holy Spirit leaks things from the mind of God." In the same vein, we read elsewhere, "We have received the Spirit sent by God, so that we may know all that God has given us." 3
Spirit Speaks
In the Early Church, the Holy Spirit spoke to the Apostles, just as Jesus had spoken to the Apostles. The evangelist Philip was commanded to look for an Ethiopian official in a chariot. Luke recorded, "the Spirit told Philip, 'Go to that chariot and stay near it.'" 4 The Spirit tells the disciple what to do and what not to do.
Spirit Guides
During Paul's missionary journeys, the Holy Spirit was there to guide and direct him. Luke recorded, "Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to." 5 The Holy Spirit does not permit certain things if he does not wish it.
Spirit Appoints
The Holy Spirit appoints leaders in the church who are variously called bishops, overseers or elders. A church may fancy the idea that theirs is a democratic process, but it is not! The Holy Spirit and not the church is totally responsible for this task.
Luke writes, "Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood." 6 The Holy Spirit appoints those with the necessary qualities and characteristics to lead God's people. The church's job is to be guided by that unseen yet powerful hand. What if God was one with us?
Meditation
Does the Holy Spirit lead and guide you, like he did St Paul?
Notes
1The Christian Faith p 10 2John 14.26 31 Corinthians 2.11 4Acts 8.29 5Acts 16.6,7 6Acts 20.28
The Holy Spirit has made you overseers of his Church
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