Category: Holy

God’s P.H.D. Parts 1-8+conclusion- taking a quiet look, slowly digesting God’s Word, and waiting upon God.

The Apostle Paul gives us a ‘look’ into eternity past in the first chapter of the Epistle to the Ephesians.

This section of scripture is a ‘mother lode’ of theology.

Ephesians 1:3-14, NKJV, reads, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence* (understanding), having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to the His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth–in Him. In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. In Him you also trusted after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.” (*insert mine, marginal note) (emphasis mine)

What an incredible amount of understanding is found in the opening of this letter.

In this passage of scripture, the Five Solas of the Reformation can be found within the text: Scripture Alone, Grace Alone, Faith Alone, Christ Alone, God’s Glory Alone.

Also present in this passage is the eternal interaction of the Trinity: God the Father; God the Son, Jesus Christ; and God the Holy Spirit.

There are also many prominent theological words, i.e.: Blessed, ‘in Christ’, spiritual blessing, heavenly, chose, holy, without blame, love, predestined, accepted, redemption, blood, forgiveness, sins, grace, wisdom, prudence(understanding), mystery of His will, dispensation, inheritance, His will, word of truth, gospel, salvation, believed, Holy Spirit of promise, guarantee, purchased possession, praise of His glory. (insert mine)

What ‘nuggets’ of gold in this ‘mother lode’ of words ‘sparkled’ in your mind?

If I missed your ‘nugget’, I hope you understand my point.

I want to begin, focusing on this ‘nugget’, found in Ephesians 1:4, “before the foundation of the world”. (emphasis mine)

In the eternal past, before the creation of the world, there was something pulsating in the heart of the Father.

Is it too simple to say, that Father God desired a family.

I do not believe so.

END OF PART 1.

The Godhead, the eternal Trinity: God, the Father; God, the Son; and God the Holy Spirit is a ‘relational community’ of perfect agape love for one another.

Genesis 1,2 details for us what God created.

‘Creation’ is the interaction of all three Persons of the Godhead: God, the Father; God the Son; and God the Holy Spirit.

Creation is the beginning point of the revelation of the desire of the Father’s heart.

I submit that the Godhead’s desire to “let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness” (Genesis 1:26, NKJV) was to be in fellowship with a created humanity that would be in their ‘relational community’, not as God, or even gods, but in a living relationship with them.

Therefore, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” was that moment in time when God’s heart began to become reality.

In Ephesians chapter 1, Paul, explains what God knew before the creation of the world; that the first two humans, male and female, created in the ‘image and likeness’ of God would disobey His word saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you ear it you shall surely die.” and fall willfully short of His heart’s desire. (Genesis 2:17 NKJV)

Adam and Eve did partake of the fruit of the ‘tree of good and evil’. (Genesis 3:6)

They disobeyed God’s Word.

Their disobedience is called sin.

The result of sin is death.

Death is two-fold.

Death is both spiritual and physical.

Adam and Eve each died in their spiritual relationship to God because of their disobedience.

They were no longer in a right relationship with God spiritually because God is Holy, in Whom there is no sin.

Their internal death broke communion with God spiritually; and it initiated the physical death of their bodies.

However, their sin did not eliminate His love for them.

END OF PART 2.

Reading Ephesians 1 shows us explicitly that God’s love for humanity is strong; so strong, that before the creation of the world, “God chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love…”. Ephesians 1:4 NKJV. (emphasis mine)

How does that happen?

Paul continues in this text recounting Christ’s sacrifice, the shedding of His blood, the forgiveness of sins, all according to the riches of His grace.

Stop. Please re-read Ephesians 1:3-14.

All of this was foreknown before the creation of the world.

What love!

What grace!

What mercy!

To repeat…all of this was put into motion, when “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”

There are numerous scriptures that speak of the redemptive plan and purpose of God.

There is one verse, that many believe clearly explains the heart of God for fallen humanity.

John 3:16 NKJV (Let me emphasize this verse progressively)

“For God – so loved – the world – that He gave – His Only Begotten Son – that whoever believes in Him – should not perish – but have everlasting life.”

(Stop! I encourage you to re-read these words as they are divided; and think about each set of words between the hyphens.)

I want to encourage you as a believer that in order to more fully understand God’s P.H.D., we must have it settled in our hearts and minds what God, the Father purposed in His heart before creation.

God’s P.H.D. is His Prophetic. Historical. Document.

END OF PART 3.

God’s P.H.D. is the Word of God.

The Word of God is God’s redemptive thoughts, expressing the fullness of Father’s heart.

It is an unfolding of His interaction with the human race, from the first ‘tick’ of the redemptive clock to the final ‘tick’ of the redemptive clock.

Throughout the history of mankind, God has made Himself known to His creation.

Psalm 19:1-6 tells us that “The heavens declare the glory of God…”

Psalm 19:3,4 NKJV says, “There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard. Their line (*tent) has gone out through all the earth and their words to the end of the world.” (*marginal note, insert mine)

Creation speaks to us.

Psalms 19:7-13 describes the unfathomable riches of the written Word of God.

Psalm 19:14, is David’s heart cry to be rightly related to God, his strength and his redeemer, based upon the written Word of God.

God’s Word speaks to us.

Paul, writing to the church in Rome, expresses God’s judgement that will come upon humanity who reject God and His Word.

Romans 1:18-21 NKJV, “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.”

But God, Himself, came into this world and brought His Light to shine in the midst of this darkened world and upon the darkness of the human heart.

John 1:1-4, NKJV, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the life shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend (*overcome) it.” (*marginal note, insert mine)

Jesus said of Himself, John 8:12, NKJV, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”

John 1:14, NKJV, “And the Word became flesh dwelt among us, and beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”

The Word, the Son of God, became the Son of Man, who lived here in the midst of His creation and among His chosen people.

Hebrews 1:1-4 NKJV, says of the Son of God/Son of Man:

“God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the Father by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become so much better than the angels, as He by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.” (emphasis mine)

This passage tells us forthrightly that God’s Son, Jesus Christ, is the central message of God’s Prophetic.Historical.Document.

Three things have been emphasized: 1. Creation speaks to us. 2. The Word of God speaks to us. 3. The Son of God has spoken to us.

The writer of The Epistle to the Hebrews, gives us this warning:

Hebrews 2:1-4, NKJV “Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him. God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?

END OF PART 4.

Returning to The Epistle to the Ephesians, there is no question what is the central message of Paul’s letter?

The Person of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Let us return to Ephesians 1:3-14.

I encourage you to go back to the beginning of this post and re-read these verses.

Notice in Ephesians 1:10, God has always purposed in Himself that at the right time, “He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on the earth–in Him.” (NKJV) (emphasis mine)

These words parallel what is written about Christ in Hebrews 1:1-4.

Jesus Christ is the One in whom all things are to be gathered. (emphasis mine)

Ephesians 4:10-13, NKJV, “He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things. And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ…” (emphasis mine)

The centrality of this passage is the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul tells us that we are being matured (teleios-perfected) as sons and daughters of God, in the Lord Jesus Christ. (insert mine)

We are coming “to the unity of the faith” – a ‘oneness’ in the faith, as we grow in our ‘knowledge of the Son of God'( who is our standard of ‘perfection/maturity’) that Paul says, is “the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.” (emphasis mine)

Paul is telling the Ekklesia to ‘grow up'( Ephesians 4:14-16 NKJV) “…that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head-Christ-from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.” (emphasis mine)

To ‘grow up’ is to become mature.

END OF PART 5.

Would you believe that the words the ‘Lord Jesus Christ’ are used 42 times in the Ephesian Epistle?

When I first read that; my thought was, it that true?

It is true.

Not only did I read that information once; but twice.

However, the title, Son of God is used only once, and we read that in Ephesians 4:13.

Why are the words, ‘Lord Jesus Christ’ used so often by Paul in this letter?

AI overview gives a very concise and accurate answer; and it expands its answer to give a more detailed explanation.

[I am sure you understand that this is a ‘machine’s’ answer.]

Therefore,

I would like to share a Pastor’s comment.

This comment is from his blog dated February 8, 2014.

It was shared with his parishioners telling them that “Tomorrow morning I am preaching on Ephesians 4:29-30”.

His sermon topic was about the third Person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit.

He also shared this. “The Son of God is used only once in 4:13. However, the title, Lord Jesus Christ, is used 42 times (Eph 1:1 ff, 5, 9, 12, 17, 20; 2:5 ff, 10, 12f, 20; 3:1, 4, 6, 8, 11,17,19, 21; 4:12f, 15,20, 32; 5:2, 5, 14, 20f, 23ff, 29, 32; 6:5f, 23f. Paul used this title more often than the Son of God to show the divine power of the God man, Jesus Christ (the resurrected man Jesus is God) and to distinguish the Son from the Father. Again, I am not counting all the pronouns referring to the Son.”

(note: I have been unable to find the name of the Pastor. The church is the Redeemer Church in the Champaign-Urbana Illinois area.)

END OF PART 6.

Recently, I was reading a devotional, by T. A. Sparks, and was challenged with this thought: ‘the Christ who was resurrected from the tomb was greater than the Christ who was buried in the tomb.’

Jesus, Son of God/Son of Man was buried in a human body in a tomb. (emphasis mine)

Hebrews 10:5-7, NKJV(quote from Psalm 40:6-8), “Therefore, when He came into the world, He said, “Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, But a body You have prepared for Me. In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You had no pleasure. Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come–In the volume of the book it is written of Me–To do Your will, O God. ‘ ” ” (emphasis mine)

Jesus lived in the same type of body as we live in; but without sin. (Philippians 2:5-11; II Corinthians 5:17) (emphasis mine)

Therefore, He is the perfect sacrifice for sin.

God’s Sacrificial Lamb.

“Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! (John 1:29b, NKJV)

I Corinthians 15:42-49, Paul explains the reason why the resurrected Christ in His resurrected body is greater than the body of Jesus that was buried in the tomb. (emphasis mine)

The entirety of I Corinthians 15 addresses the message of the Gospel, the hope of the Gospel, the power of the resurrection, and what is the fullness of resurrection with respect to the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ. (boldness mine)

I recommend that you read I Corinthians 15.

I want to point out that Paul’s words explain God’s principle of resurrection.

verses 42-49, NKJV, “So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. It is sown in a natural body, it is raised in a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. And so it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being.“ The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual. The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven. As was the man of dust, so also are those who are made of dust; and as is the heavenly Man, so also are those who are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man.”

The principle is that ‘what is resurrected’ is greater than ‘what is buried’.

Q: Do you believe that?

That is what took place with Jesus’ bodily resurrection.

That is what Paul is talking about in the above passage.

END OF PART 7.

Paul also describes this in Romans 8:18-25.

I encourage you to read this passage.

Continuing in Chapter 15:53-56, NKJV, ” For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” “O death where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?” The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Simply put, Jesus was sown in a natural body, and He was raised in a spiritual body.

In I Corinthians 15:20-28, NKJV, Paul addresses the issues surrounding the validity of the resurrection.

He explains, “But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep (died). For since by man came death, by Man also came resurrection from the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming. Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. the last enemy that will be destroyed is death. For “He has put all things under His feet.” But when He says, “all things are put under Him,” it is evident that He who put all things under Him is excepted. Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all.” (insert mine)

Then the end of time will come; the last ‘tick’ of the redemptive clock will occur; and time will be no more; everything will have been carried out that was purposed in the heart of God, the Father, before the creation of the world. (emphasis mine)

The Word of God, God’s Prophetic.Historical.Document, in The Revelation of Jesus Christ, chapter 21, verses 1-8 NKJV, gives us this prophetic vision,

“Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John (Apostle John), saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the Tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” Then He who sat on the throne said, ” Behold I make all things new.” Write, for these words are true and faithful.” And He said to me, “It is done!” I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be His God and he shall be my son. But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the Lake which burn with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”” (insert mine)

Paul said it this way, in II Corinthians 5:1-11 NKJV

“For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. For we walk by faith, not by sight. We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. Therefore we make it our aim, whether, present or absent to be well pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences.”

Remembering the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ that was shared earlier in this post:

John 3:16 says, “For God-so loved -the world-that He gave-His only Begotten Son-that whosoever believes in Him-should not perish-but have everlasting life.”

Paul reminds us, in II Corinthians 5:17, NKJV:

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold all things have become new.”

END OF PART 8.

Conclusion-W.R.A.P.-wrapping it up!

God’s P.H.D., the Word of God, tells us what was ‘purposed’ in Father’s heart before the creation of the world in eternity past. (emphasis mine)

Many believe that we are very close to the second coming of Christ of that we are certain.

Our task, now, is to be Watchful, be Ready, be Alert, and Praying-looking up for our redemption draws near (context Luke 21:20-28).

What God purposed in His heart before the foundation of the world will be fulfilled just as He desired it to be completed. (emphasis mine)

I trust that you have been encouraged with these passages.

Jesus said in Luke 21:25-28 NKJV, verse 28, “Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up you heads, because your redemption draws near.”

What things?

Please read, reflect, and recall Matthew 24, 25.

Until the moment of Christ’s return, we are to: be Watching; be Ready; be Alert; and be in Prayer.

blessings, your brother in Christ, deo

Pentecost-50 days After Passover, Part 2

In Part 1 of this post, we were focused upon the Passover Meal celebrated by Christ and His disciples in an Upper Room during the Feast of Unleavened Bread in which the Jewish nation remembered their deliverance from the land of Egypt when the blood of a lamb was applied to the doorposts of their homes.

John 16:28-33 are the closing words of Jesus to His disciples. He says to them, “I have come from the Father and come into the world; again, I am leaving the world and going to the Father. His disciples said, “Ah, now you are speaking plainly to us and not in figures of speech! Now we know that You know all things, and have not need for anyone to question You; because of this we believe [without any doubt] that you came from God.” Jesus answered them, “Do you now [at last] believe? Take careful notice: an hour is coming, and has arrived, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, leaving Me alone; and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace. In the world you will have tribulation and distress and suffering, but be courageous [be confident, be undaunted, be filled with joy.” [My conquest is accomplished, My victory abiding.] {Amplified Version}

Jesus closes the Upper Room discourse with a prayer (John 17) to His Father.

This prayer is referred to, as His ‘High Priestly Prayer’.

I recommend that you read John 17.

Having considered all of this, is there something that stands out as being more important than the coming of the Holy Spirit?

END OF PART 1.

_______________________________________________

50 days after Jesus’ resurrection, Jerusalem is celebrating Pentecost.

PART 2.

During the forty days between Christ’s resurrection and His ascension back to the presence of His Father, Christ revealed Himself to His followers.

On the morning of His resurrection, “…after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdelene and the other Mary, came to see the tomb. {Mark 16:1-8; Luke 24:1-10; John 20:1-8} And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.”…”the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold I have told you. So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy and ran to bring His disciples word. And as they went to tell His disciples, Jesus met them, saying, “Rejoice!” So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me.” (Matthew 28:1-10 NKJV) {insert mine}

We are witnessing the fulfillment of the Upper Room discourse unfold and take place just as Jesus said.

The Apostle Paul recounts these events in I Corinthians 15:1-8, NKJV.

“Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you-unless you have believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas (Peter), then by the twelve. After that He was seen by over 500 brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. After that He was seen by all the apostles. Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.” (insert mine)

Luke, writing his treatise about the life of Christ shares in Acts 1:1-3 NKJV,

“The former account account I made, O Theophilus, all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.”

Luke has written about Jesus Christ the Lamb of God, who took away the sin of the world (John 1:29); justified the wrath of God (Romans 5:6-11); conquered death, hell, and the grave (I Corinthians 15:55-57; Revelation 1:18); dethroned Satan of his authority (Colossians 2:15; Hebrews 2:14-15;) and has accomplished a total victory through His death on the Cross.

For forty days, Jesus has been interacting with His disciples; and now the day has come for His departure back to His Father.

Luke writes, Acts 1:4-11 NKJV,

“And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which He said, “you have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken away up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”

Jesus ascended into heaven.

Now what?

Do what He had commanded them to do?

Acts 1:4, Do not depart from Jerusalem; wait for the Promise of the Father; “which He said, “you have heard from Me.”

Acts 1:5, “for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

I wonder if they pondered what that meant?

Is the coming of the Holy Spirit important?

Absolutely.

However, there is something else taking place that preempts its importance.

What can be more important than the coming of the Holy Spirit?

Let’s find out.

Jesus is ‘prepping’ them for the Day of Pentecost reminding them of what He had shared with them.

Acts 1:12,13a, 14- NKJV, “Then they returned to Jerusalem from the Mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey (less than one mile). And when they had entered, they went up into the upper room where they were staying”…”These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.” (insert mine) (boldness mine)

Acts 1:15-26 records the events that took place from the day of Christ’s ascension to the Day of Pentecost.

Some noteworthy thoughts.

Vs 15-Peter (petros*) stood up in the midst of the assembled disciples that numbered around 120.

Vs 16-Peter (petros*) addressed them, regarding the fulfillment of the Scripture that was previously spoken by the Holy Spirit through David regarding Judas Iscariot’s betrayal of Jesus.

Vs 21-Peter (petros*) told those in the upper room that it is necessary to fulfill the Scripture found in Psalms [Psalms 69:25; 109:8] to choose another to fill Judas’ vacancy.

Vss 21,22-give to us the qualifications for the persons to be considered. The timeline begins with the baptism of John and concludes with the ascension of Christ.

Vss 23-26, two people are chosen; they pray to the Lord for guidance; and in vs 26, they cast lots. This way of making the selection is not wrong. It was a common method used in the Old Testament.

What is the significance of including this?

There is a new ‘governing’ coming.

The Old Covenant has come to an end; and there is a New Covenant.

Something new is about to happen.

In an upper room, things are in ‘order’; the disciples have been ‘obedient’; and the Day of Pentecost has arrived.

In an upper room, “…they were all with one accord in one place” (Acts 2:1)

They were where Jesus had commanded them to be; and there was ‘order’ and there was ‘obedience’.

These two words are critical for a healthy Church, the Body of Christ.

‘order’ and ‘obedience’ allows the God’s Kingdom to come and God’s will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. (Matthew 6:10)

Jesus lived His earthly life in a human body governed by the Holy Spirit carrying out whatever His Father asked Him to do. That is ‘order’; and He did it with perfect ‘obedience’.

Wherever Jesus went His Father’s Kingdom came and His Father’s will was done on earth just as it is in heaven.

In God’s Presence, everything is about ‘order’ and ‘obedience’.

This is not legalism; this is the Essence of Who God is.

Reflect upon these words, “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” (John 14:15)

His commandments are His ‘order’; keeping them is our ‘obedience’; our reason for doing so is because we love Him.

Q: Where did Jesus say these words?

A: In the Upper Room to His disciples at the Passover Meal.

Acts 2:2 NKJV, “And suddenly”, the words that Jesus shared with His disciples in the Upper Room, when they were celebrating the Passover Meal, are fulfilled in an upper room on the Day of Pentecost.

{Note: All of this happened, most likely, in the same Upper Room where the disciples waited for the Promise of the Father, in the city of Jerusalem.}

Being redundant.

The words regarding the coming of the Holy Spirit are fulfilled.

The promise of the Father has come in the Person of the Holy Spirit.

The words spoken by John the Baptist have been fulfilled.

John the Baptist said that Jesus is the baptizer in/with the Holy Spirit.

Again, I would like to encourage you to set aside your doctrinal teaching surrounding what took place on the Day of Pentecost, and continue with me as I proceed.

On the day of Pentecost, after the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, Peter stood up with the other eleven and explained what was taking place to those assembled. (Acts 2:14-36)

Peter told them that what they had seen and heard had been prophesied by the prophet Joel.

Acts 2:17-21 NKJV,

Peter said, “And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams. And on My servants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; and they shall prophesy. I will show wonders in heaven about and signs in the earth beneath: Blood and fire and vapor of smoke. The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord. And it shall come to pass whoever calls on the name of the Lord Shall be saved.”

Q: In the above passage, what is ultimately most important?

A: “whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved”

The Holy Spirit has come.

Q: What do you associate with the coming of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost?

Q: What have you been taught?

Q: What has been the emphasis of the teaching that you have received?

Q: Are you comfortable with Pentecostalism? Charismatics? Spirit-filled believers?

Q: Are you doctrinally a ‘cessationist’ or a ‘continuationist’?

(Big words but important regarding the coming of the Holy Spirit and His ministry in the Church.)

I want to make a bold statement.

There is a lot of teaching, division, and misunderstanding regarding the purpose and work of the Third Person of the Trinity in the church today.

Please understand my heart.

I want to challenge you with a thought that I am understanding to be more significant and more important than all of the teaching surrounding the coming of the Holy Spirit.

Do I believe in the importance of the Holy Spirit?

Absolutely.

I am not a cessationist; but a continuationist.

Setting aside my theology…

All theology, belief, and personal experience,regarding the Person of the Holy Spirit is extremely important.

However all of our objective and subjective understanding of the truth that is taught in the Word of God regarding the Holy Spirit, is secondary, I believe, to this truth.

What truth is that, you ask?

Let us read carefully Peter’s closing words on the Day of Pentecost.

Acts 2:32-36 Amplified Version

“God raised this Jesus [bodily from the dead], and of that [fact] we are all witnesses. Therefore, having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured out this [blessing] which you both see and hear. For David did not ascend into the heavens, yet he himself says, “The Lord [the Father] said to my Lord [the Son], sit at My right hand, until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.” [Psalms 110:1] Therefore let all the house of Israel recognize beyond all doubt that God has made Him both Lord and Christ (Messiah, Annointed)–that Jesus whom you crucified.

Peter said that God (the Father) has made Him (Jesus) both Lord and Christ–this very Jesus who you crucified. (inserts mine)

Peter declared that Jesus, who was crucified has been made by God, both Lord and Christ.

My question was, Is there something that stands out as being more important than the coming of the Holy Spirit?

The answer is yes, Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified, is both Lord and Christ.

The Head of the Body of Christ is the Lord Jesus Christ. (See Ephesians 1:18-23; Colossians 1:13-20; Ephesians 5:17-33; I Corinthians 12:12-14)

It is important to understand Christ as the Head of the Church.

Jesus Christ, the Head of the Church, is the One who said, I will build My Church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. (Matthew 16:18)

Ephesians 1:22, everything is put in ‘subjection’ to Christ’s Headship. (emphasis mine)

Colossians 1:17-18, Christ existed before all things, and in Him all things are held together; Christ is the Head, the [life-source and leader] of the body, the Church; and He is the beginning the firstborn from the dead... (emphasis mine)

Ephesians 5:21, be “subject to one another out of reverence for Christ”; verses 22-33 discuss the living out of being ‘subject’ to one another.

I Corinthians 12:12-14, we are all members of the Body of Christ.

Verse 12, says “For just as the body is one and yet has many parts, and all the parts, though many for [only] one body so it is with Christ.”

It is interesting to note, that when Paul talks about the Body of Christ, and each of us having our unique placement in the Body, there is no mention of any of us being the Head.

Why?

Christ is the Head.

In order for the Body of Christ, and each of us, as members in particular, to function properly we must be submitted to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

In order for the Church to be an authentic representation of Jesus Christ, the Body of Christ, here on earth, the members of the Body must be submitted to the Head of the Body, the Lordship of Jesus Christ; then the Body of Christ will be ‘governed’ by the Holy Spirit, walking after the Spirit and not after the flesh.

In order to be ‘governed’ by the Holy Spirit, as a believer in Jesus Christ, you personally must be submitted to the Lordship of Jesus Christ in your life.

Everything that surrounds the coming of the Holy Spirit; and everything that the Lord Jesus Christ wants to accomplish through the members of His Body will only take place orderly and obediently if the members of the Body, believers in Jesus Christ are submitted to Him and governed by the Holy Spirit.

Pentecost has come.

On the church calendar, Pentecost is remembered 50 days after celebrating the resurrection of Christ.

Q: Is the Body of Christ, the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ submitted to Christ, as the Head of the Church, committed to living according to His Lordship ‘orderly’ and ‘obediently’, manifesting His life, governed by the Third Person of the Trinity, Holy Spirit?

Or is the Church not fulfilling living the life of the Body of Christ that it should be because it is not submitted to the Lordship of Jesus Christ; and therefore not governed by the Holy Spirit?

Strong questions, but they need to be asked.

The Church began proclaiming the Lordship of Jesus Christ, submitted to Him, ‘governed’ by the Holy Spirit, fulfilling what the Spirit of God, living in ‘order‘ and ‘obedience‘.

Acts 2:40-47 shows us the first fruits of that ‘order’ and ‘obedience’.

Is this lifestyle still happening today?

If the Church is not living in ‘order’ and ‘obedience’, then the Church is not being ‘governed’ by the Holy Spirit.

If the Church is not being ‘governed’ by the Holy Spirit, then it is not submitted to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

Therefore, If the Church is not living in ‘order’ and ‘obedience’, then it is not submitted to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

Strong words, but, are they true? (Transitive Property of Congruence)

The Church only functions properly when it is ‘governed’ by the Holy Spirit.

{Q: Why did Paul write letters to the churches that he had founded? They had departed from the Lordship of Jesus Christ; they were embracing another gospel; they were focused on the wisdom of the world; they had left their foundation of ‘Christ crucified’; in short, they were not following the Lord in ‘order’ and ‘obedience’; therefore, they were not ‘governed’ by the Holy Spirit but governed according to the wisdom of the world; the words of false teachers; and the whims of their own souls. They were not submitted to the Lordship of Jesus Christ-yet they were Christians; those who had called upon the name of the Lord and were saved. Paul wrote the letters to the Churches so that they would come into doctrinal alignment , and ‘for reproof’, ‘for correction’, and ‘for instruction in righteousness’. (2 Timothy 3:16)}

The Holy Spirit ‘governs‘ those that are ‘submitted‘ to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

I want to close returning to Matthew 16:13-18.

Jesus said that He would build His Church upon the confession of faith(petra-immovable rock) that was spoken by Peter(petros-small stone).

What was Peter’s(petros) confession of faith(petra)?

Matthew 16:16, Peter (petra) said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Those words are the ‘petra’(the solid rock) upon which Christ will build His Church.

Go back and reread Acts 2:32-36, what is the ‘petra’ of Peter’s sermon on the Day of Pentecost?

What did Peter communicate under the anointing of the Holy Spirit?

Peter’s ‘petra’ was ,“Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” (NKJV)

What is the Godhead doing on the Day of Pentecost?

The coming of the Holy Spirit got everyone’s attention.

B.U.T. (Believers Understand This) the centrality of the message is Jesus, and Him crucified, who God made both Lord and Christ.

In Matthew 16, Jesus responding to Peter’s confession of faith, told Him that flesh and blood had not revealed what he said to him, but that it was God the Father. I believe that revelation came by the Holy Spirit.

On the Day of Pentecost, Peter stood, filled with the Holy Spirit, the promise of the Father, and preached the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

Acts 2:37-39 records the response of those that heard the anointed words of Peter.

“Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said to them. “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.” (NKJV)

Acts 2:40-47 tells us what happened and how the Church was birthed into existence on the Day of Pentecost under the Lordship of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Head of the Body of Christ, ‘governed‘ by the Holy Spirit.

This is a time when believers in the Lord Jesus Christ need to examine themselves and see if they are in the faith.(2 Corinthians 13:5)

Strong words: I want to encourage you as a believer to examine yourself.

I am not questioning your salvation.

I am asking you to stop and ask yourself, does my life reflect the Lordship of Jesus Christ?

Am I seeking to live in ‘order’ and ‘obedience’ to the Word of God?

Am I ‘governed’ by the Holy Spirit?

Or am I doing my own thing, saved, waiting to go to heaven?

Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life shall lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if gains the whole world and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? (Matthew 16:24-26, NKJV)

This challenge follows Christ’s interaction with His disciples asking them what men are saying about who He is?

Peter said that Jesus was the “Christ, the Son of the Living God.

Jesus’ response to Peter’s words was that upon this confession He would build His Church.

In effect, Jesus’ words to deny oneself, take up your cross and follow Me , is His ‘order’ that requires your ‘obedience’ if you want to be His disciple.

The follower of Christ, who responds ‘obediently’ to His ‘order’ acknowledges the ‘Lordship‘ of Jesus Christ, and will be ‘governed’ by the Holy Spirit.

That disciple will learn to walk by the Spirit and not fulfill the desires of the flesh.

That disciple will experience ‘God’s Kingdom come’, and ‘God’s will be done’ in their life on earth as it is in heaven.

Impossible?

No, that is what it means to be conformed to the image of Christ.

This is the life that the Apostle Paul, saw before him, cried out for, and pressed forward to obtain (Philippians 3), and wrote letters to the churches he had founded to focus their attention upon; specifically ‘Christ crucified’, the Lordship of Jesus Christ and to be ‘governed’ by the Holy Spirit.

The hour in which we are living necessitates our diligence to focus on the Lord, to study His Word, and to walk in the Spirit.

This comes from submitting to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, being ‘governed’ by the Holy Spirit, learning to walk after the Spirit ‘orderly’ and ‘obediently’.

Be blessed in your walk with the Lord, a brother in Christ, deo

Pentecost-50 days After Passover, Part 1

June 8, 2025 on the Church calendar was Pentecost Sunday.

In the Old Testament, the Feast of Pentecost was the second of three feasts established by God that the nation of Israel would observe annually.

Exodus 23:14-17 (Amplified Version), “Three times a year you shall celebrate a feast [dedicated] to Me. You shall observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread; for seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, as I commanded you, at the appointed time in the month of Abib, for in it you came out of Egypt. No one shall appear before Me empty-handed [but you shall bring sacrificial offerings]. Also [you shall observe] the Feast of Harvest [Weeks, Pentecost, or First Fruits}, acknowledging the first fruits of your labor, or what you sow in the field. And [third] the Feast of Ingathering [Booths or Tabernacles] at the end of the year when you gather in [the fruit of] your labors from the field. Three times a year all your males shall appear before the Lord GOD.”

The first feast is to remember the Lord’s Passover when “…I [the Lord] will pass through the land of Egypt {Exodus 12:12,13} on this night, and will strike down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and animal; against all the god’s of Egypt I will execute judgments [exhibiting their worthlessness]. I am the LORD. The blood shall be a sign for you on[the doorposts of] the houses where you live; when I see the blood I shall pass over you, and no affliction shall happen to you when I strike the land of Egypt. [I Corinthians 5:7; Hebrews 11:8]” (Amplified Version) {insert mine}

The remembrance of Passover (the feast of Unleavend Bread) is a foreshadowing of the Cross of Christ; where the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ (God’s Passover Lamb), shed His blood for the sin of the world. (John 1:29) (inserts mine)

Let us read the testimony of John the Baptist written by the Apostle John.

“The next day he (John the Baptist) saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! [Exodus 12:3, Isaiah 53:7] “This is He on behalf of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who has a higher rank than I and priority over me, for He existed before me.’ I did not recognize Him [as the Messiah]; but I came baptizing in water so that He would be publicly revealed to Israel.” John gave [further ] evidence [testifying officially for the record, with validity and relevance], saying, “I have seen the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and He remained upon Him. [Matthew 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:22,23] I did not recognize Him [as the Messiah], but He (God) who sent me to baptize in water said to me, ‘He upon whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this One is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ “I myself have [actually] seen [that happen], and my testimony is that this is the Son of God!” ” {John 1:29-34 Amplified Version} (insert mine)

Prior to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, Jesus met in an Upper Room to celebrate the Passover Feast with His disciples.

Can we even begin to understand the magnitude of the internal conflict in Jesus that is pulsating through every fiber of His being?

The outworking of that internal struggle affecting His body,soul, and spirit was manifested in the Garden of Gethsemane the night before His arrest, trial, and crucifixion. (Matthew 26:36-46)

Recounting the events of Jesus’ life, we know that His internal unrest had been increasing in intensity since He set ‘His face’ toward Jerusalem (Luke 9:51) to participate in the Feast of Passover, and die on the cross.

Jesus knew why He had come incarnated to earth and took upon Himself a human body.

Jesus celebrates His last Passover meal with His disciples in an Upper Room of someone’s household.

In the Upper Room, Jesus tells His disciples that His time to ‘leave’ has come.

‘leave’, what is He talking about?

The disciples are unable to grasp what this means.

In His discourse with them, Jesus shares that even though He is personally leaving He will not leave them alone.

This, too, are difficult words for them to comprehend.

Things are becoming ‘muddled’.

The context of what Christ is sharing and what transpires in the Upper Room is recorded in John 13:1-16, followed by prayer to His Father in chapter 17.

The Upper Room account in the Gospel of John plus what is recorded in the Synoptic Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke gives us an understanding of what took place between Christ and His disciples during their celebration of the Passover Meal.

In the Upper Room (Gospel of John), one of the many important moments between Jesus and His disciples centers on the following question.

Q: What is the importance of Jesus repeatedly assuring them about the coming of the Third Person of the Trinity, Holy Spirit?

Remembering what John the Baptist had said, “He upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him is the One who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.” (John 1:33, NKJV)

Q:Who is John the Baptist referring to?

A: Jesus.

Jesus, the Lamb of God ,who takes away the sin of the world is recognized as the One who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.

At this time I am asking you to lay aside your doctrinal positions regarding Jesus and the baptism in/with the Holy Spirit.

I want us to focus on this?

What is Jesus’ purpose for telling His disciples that the Holy Spirit is coming?

or,

Why is it important for us to understand the importance of Jesus telling His disciples that the Holy Spirit will be coming ? (emphasis mine)

It unlocks the meaning of Jesus’ words to Peter after his confession of faith in Christ.

{This will be the emphasis of Part 2 of this post.}

The context of Peter’s confession of faith is found in Matthew 16:13-28.

Reading, Matthew 16:13-18…20-23 Amplified Version:

“Now when Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is? “[Mark 8:27-29; Luke 9:18-20] And they answered, “Some say John the Baptist; others, Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah, or [just] one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed), the Son of the living God.” Then Jesus answered him, “Blessed [happy, spiritually secure, favored by God] are you, Simon son of Jonah, because flesh and blood (mortal man) did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I say to you that you are *Peter, and on this rock** I will build My Church; and the gates of Hades (death) will not overpower it [by preventing the resurrection of the Christ]. [Ephesians 1:22; 4:15; 5:23; Colossians 1:18]…Then He gave the disciples strict orders to tell no one that He was the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed) {emphasis mine}

{*Gr petros, a small or detached stone. **Gr petra, bedrock or a huge rock. Jesus uses a simple play on the Greek words petros and petra in this verse.}

Please follow along with me.

Understanding the coming of the Holy Spirit is critical to the continuation of the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ following His crucifixion, death, burial, resurrection, and ascension back to His Father.

At this moment in the Upper Room, Jesus’ words, regarding the coming of the Holy Spirit, will assuage (ease) the disciples’ experience of being separated from Him.

What did Jesus tell His disciples regarding the coming of the Holy Spirit?

In the Gospel of John (Chapters 14,15,16) there are three main discourses spoken by Jesus. (insert mine)

{The following passages are from the Amplified Version, unless so noted.}

Please read the account in John 14.

Chapter 14 is divided into three sections: John 14:1-6 is entitled “Jesus Comforts His Disciples”; John 14:7-15 is entitled “Jesus’ Oneness with the Father”; John 14:16-28 is entitled “Role of the Spirit”.

The sequence is progressive.

First of all, Jesus, knowing their present and future emotional state; comforts them; telling them where He is going; and assuring them that one day, they, too, will be with Him in the Presence of the Father.

Second, He explains to them the Oneness between Himself and His Father. He forthrightly says, I am so ‘One’ with the Father that if you have seen Me, you have seen the Father.(Matthew 14:9) They didn’t know how to process that thought. (insert mine)

That Oneness is beyond us too! {See Hebrews 1:1-4}

Third, He focuses their attention on His care for them; telling them that He, Himself, will ask His Father, to send a Helper for them, since He is leaving them. He reiterates that the Helper is the Holy Spirit.

It is here that He explains the ‘Role of the Spirit’.

Jesus says in verse 16-19…26; “And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper (Comforter, Advocate,Intercessor-Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), to be with you forever–the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive [and take to its heart] because it does not see Him or know Him because He(the Holy Spirit) remains with you continually and will be in you. “I will not leave you as orphans[comfortless, bereaved, and helpless]; I will come back to you. After a little while the world will no longer see Me, but you will see Me; because I live, you will live also….But the Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor–Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name [in my place, to represent Me,and act on My behalf, He will teach you all things. And He will help you remember everything that I have told you. [Matthew 5:7, 13, 24,25; Luke 24:59; John 14:16; Acts 1:4] {emphasis mine}

{Did you see the interaction between the Trinity, the Godhead?}

Please read the second account in John 15

This sequence is progressive.

Chapter 15 is divided into three sections: John 15:1-11 is entitled, “Jesus is the Vine-Followers are Branches”; John 15:12-17 is entitled, “Disciples’ Relation to Each Other”; John 15:18-27 is entitled, “Disciples’ Relation to the World”.

First, the disciples are told about their relationship with Him as a vine and branch.

Jesus is the Vine; we are the branches.

Second, the disciples are told what Jesus expects from them as His disciples. Verse 17 says, “This [is what] I command you: that you love and unselfishly seek the best for one another.”

Third, the disciples are told what to expect from the world as followers of Him.

In this section, Jesus assures them again about the Holy Spirit and His role in their lives.

John 15:23-27 says, “The one who hates Me also hates the Father {remember John 14:7-15, Jesus told His disciples about His Oneness with the Father}. If I had not done the works (attesting miracles) which no one else [ever] did, they would not have [the guilt of their sin]; but now [the fact is that ] they have both seen [these works] and have hated Me [and continue to hate Me and My Father as well. But [this is so] that the word which has been written in their Law would be fulfilled, ‘THEY HATED ME WITHOUT A CAUSE.’ [Psalms 35:19; 69:4] “But when the Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor-Counselor, Strengthener, Standby] comes whom I will send to you from the Father, He will testify of Me and bear witness about Me. But you will testify also and be My witnesses from the beginning.” {inserts mine} {emphasis mine}

Please read the account in John 16.

This sequence is progressive.

John 16 is divided up into four sections: John 16:1-4 is entitled, “Jesus’ Warning”; John 16:5-15 is entitled, “The Holy Spirit is Promised”; John 16:16-22 is entitled “Jesus’ Death and Resurrection”; John 16:23-33 is entitled, “Prayer Promises”.

First, Jesus warns His disciples of what will be the natural consequences of following Him as a disciple. He tells them what to expect “so that you will not stumble or be caught off guard and fall away.” (John 16:1 )

Jesus is warning them not to be offended by how they are treated for following Him. Don’t allow the words hurled at you on My account become an offense or (personal) stumbling block and fall away from the faith.

Second, Jesus reiterates (verse 7) the promise of the coming of the Third Person of the Trinity, Holy Spirit.

Jesus has been preparing them for His literal, physical departure back to His Father.

He knows that this is going to devastate them.

He is assuring them, even though they do not understand it yet, that His physical departure will result in His Spiritual return to them.

How can this be?

Quoting the MacArthur Study Bible, pg 1614, regarding the Promise of the Holy Spirit’s coming, it reads (verses 14:18,19 NKJV) “I will come to you…you will see Me. First, He was referring to His resurrection, after which they would see Him (20:19-29). There is no record that any unbelievers saw Him after He rose (1 Corinthians 15:1-9). In another sense, this has reference to the mystery of the Trinity. Through the coming and indwelling of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, Jesus would be back with His children. (16:16; cf Matthew 28:20; Romans 8:9; I John 4:13)”

Jesus ascended back into heaven in ‘bodily’ form; and He will ‘spiritually’ descend into those who accept Him as their Savior.

Christ dwells in us through the Holy Spirit.

Please read John 16:14-18.

Third, to backup His previous comments about returning to His Father, Jesus elaborates on His death and resurrection.

Throughout this passage, Jesus, knowing their internal emotional state, continues to reassure them that He will come to them again after His death, burial, and resurrection.

In John 16:22, He pinpoints their ’emotions’ with these words, “So for now you are in grief; but I will see you again, [then] your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take away from you your [great] joy.”

(This is not referring to His second coming.)

In the fourth section, Jesus closes His final words sharing the privileges that await for them in prayer.

Consider the following assurances: verse 23, “in that day”, “I assure you”, “whatever you ask in My name”; verse 24, “Until now”, “ask…keep on asking”; verse 26, “In that day”, “I will ask”.

We must understand this, that these privileges of prayer are conditional upon our obedient relationship to Him.

Summarizing our thoughts.

What has been the purpose of Jesus gathering together with His disciples during these last few precious hours He had with them?

It was a time to celebrate the Passover Feast according to the Law.

The keeping of this Feast became a gathering place for Jesus’ final words to prepare His disciples for what is about to take place.

Our emphasis has been that He is leaving and the Holy Spirit is coming.

But we know that much more than this has been taking place.

What are the implications?

This is happening just hours before His betrayal, arrest, trial, and crucifixion.

This Passover has had many dramatic moments; it has a dramatic ending: but it also initiates an incredible new beginning.

There is much that is talked about, modeled, and set in motion in John 13:1-17, that is very significant, revolutionary, sobering, and crucial for the on going work of the ministry of Jesus Christ, and the building of His Church.

The Passover Meal has been an instructional time to lay the foundation for the ‘major change curve’ facing the lives of His disciples; the religion of the Jewish nation; the salvation of humanity; the victory over sin and death; and the dethroning of Satan’s authority.

All of this is made possible through Christ’s death on the C.R.O.S.S.

C.R.O.S.S. – Christ Reconciled Our Sinful State

And it has been accomplished by God”s G.R.A.C.E.

G.R.A.C.E – God’s Redemptive Activity Changed Everything

This post has been focusing on one significant aspect of Jesus’ final remarks to His disciples.

His remarks centered on the coming of the Holy Spirit.

John 16:28-33 are the closing words of Jesus to His disciples. He says to them, “I have come from the Father and come into the world; again, I am leaving the world and going to the Father. His disciples said, “Ah, now you are speaking plainly to us and not in figures of speech! Now we know that You know all things, and have not need for anyone to question You; because of this we believe [without any doubt] that you came from God.” Jesus answered them, “Do you now [at last] believe? Take careful notice: an hour is coming, and has arrived, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, leaving Me alone; and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace. In the world you will have tribulation and distress and suffering, but be courageous [be confident, be undaunted, be filled with joy.” [My conquest is accomplished, My victory abiding.] {Amplified Version}

Jesus closes the Upper Room discourse with a prayer (John 17) to His Father.

This prayer is referred to, as His ‘High Priestly Prayer’.

I recommend that you read John 17.

John 18:1, Amplified Version, “HAVING SAID these things, Jesus left with His disciples and went across the ravine of the Kidron. There was a garden there, which He and disciples entered.”

Part 2 asks this question:

Is there something more important for us to understand and to embrace than the coming of the Holy Spirit that we need to give our attention to?

Yes.

END OF PART 1.

50 days after Jesus’ resurrection, Jerusalem is celebrating Pentecost.