GOD'S SPIRIT SIMPLIFIED
Jesus' teachings simplify our understanding of God's Spirit. Jesus describes the "HOLY SPIRIT" as "ANOTHER HELPER, COUNSELOR, OR COMFORTER"… "THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH". A very descriptive term Jesus also uses is "THE SPIRIT OF YOUR FATHER". We are to worship and seek guidance from God, not His Spirit as Jesus tells us His Spirit "WILL SPEAK ONLY WHAT HE HEARS" from God. Jesus says God will "WILL GIVE" His Spirit to us because Jesus asked Him to. Jesus refers to himself as "THE TRUTH" which may help in understanding why He calls God's Spirit "THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH" and tells us the Spirit will not come "IF I DO NOT GO AWAY". 1
When Jesus was baptized at the beginning of His ministry the "Spirit of God" descended upon Him. Previously we have record of God's Spirit being upon or in individual people like Gideon and King David, etc., yet after Jesus' ministry on earth God's Spirit is now available to everyone including non-Jews or "Gentiles" as God said, "I WILL POUR OUT MY SPIRIT ON ALL PEOPLE". This is a major transition in man's relationship with God. 2
To receive God's Spirit, Jesus tells a story how fathers give good gifts to their children and then states, "HOW MUCH MORE WILL YOUR FATHER IN HEAVEN GIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT TO THOSE WHO ASK HIM". All of the many gifts that are enabled through God's Spirit such as casting out "DEMONS", communicating with and from God, healing the "SICK", "POWER" to be "WITNESSES" etc. are found in Jesus ministry on earth. All gifts from God's Spirit are encompassed in Jesus statement, "ANYONE WHO HAS FAITH IN ME WILL DO WHAT I HAVE BEEN DOING". God Spirit that was in Jesus is available to believers who ask enabling us to do everything Jesus did. Simple summery: At Jesus' request God now gives His spirit to all believers who ask, enabling us to do what Jesus did. 3
1. Jn 14:16-17; Mt 10:20; Jn 16:13; 14:6; 16:7 (IC)
2. Mt 3:16; Jdg 6:34; 1 Sa 16:13; Ac 10:45; 2:17 (NI)
3. Lk 11:13; Mk 16:17-18; Ac 1:8; Jn 14:12 (NI)
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