Our Counselor
We have now concluded Luke and have started reading the book of Acts.
These two books are a “unified, two-volume work” (see blog-Jesus’ Work Continues Today) and you can now begin to see why. Luke ends with the words of Jesus telling His disciples of a promise from the Father, but they must wait in the city to receive it (24:48). Likewise, Acts begins with Jesus commanding the disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the promised gift from His Father (1:4).
So, what is this wonderful gift/promise? We have a clue from Jesus’ words “which you heard me speak about.”(Acts 1:4) Jesus often said he was not going to be with the disciples for very long and would send another “Counselor”. Let’s look at what the Apostle John says….
“And I will ask the Father and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever-the Spirit of truth.” John 14:16-17a
“But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name…” John 14:26a
“When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father….” John 15:26a
“…Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go I will send him to you.” John 16:7b
This promise was the coming of the Holy Spirit to live with and live in believers. On the day of Pentecost “all of them where filled with the Holy Spirit…” (Acts 2:4a) This event was the formation and the beginning of the Church, the body of Christ. As promised, after Jesus ascended into heaven, the Holy Spirit came to indwell the disciples in the city of Jerusalem.
Counselor literally means “one who is called to come alongside to help.” Jesus said He must leave, but promised to the Church His Spirit. The words “I will never leave you or forsake you” are really true. What comfort we have knowing we have One who is always with us; a Helper in times of need!!
These two books are a “unified, two-volume work” (see blog-Jesus’ Work Continues Today) and you can now begin to see why. Luke ends with the words of Jesus telling His disciples of a promise from the Father, but they must wait in the city to receive it (24:48). Likewise, Acts begins with Jesus commanding the disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the promised gift from His Father (1:4).
So, what is this wonderful gift/promise? We have a clue from Jesus’ words “which you heard me speak about.”(Acts 1:4) Jesus often said he was not going to be with the disciples for very long and would send another “Counselor”. Let’s look at what the Apostle John says….
“And I will ask the Father and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever-the Spirit of truth.” John 14:16-17a
“But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name…” John 14:26a
“When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father….” John 15:26a
“…Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go I will send him to you.” John 16:7b
This promise was the coming of the Holy Spirit to live with and live in believers. On the day of Pentecost “all of them where filled with the Holy Spirit…” (Acts 2:4a) This event was the formation and the beginning of the Church, the body of Christ. As promised, after Jesus ascended into heaven, the Holy Spirit came to indwell the disciples in the city of Jerusalem.
Counselor literally means “one who is called to come alongside to help.” Jesus said He must leave, but promised to the Church His Spirit. The words “I will never leave you or forsake you” are really true. What comfort we have knowing we have One who is always with us; a Helper in times of need!!
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