I like these words of Jesus, spoken as a prayer to His Father, from John 17:20-26 (NIV): “My prayer is not for them (the apostles) alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”
Notice the number of times that Jesus keeps repeating, in a number of ways: “I in them and You in Me.” We, who have been chosen by God – have God within us – we have no excuses, not to proceed with those tasks allocated to us, by Jesus - who can defeat us – with God’s Spirit within us?
Earlier in John’s gospel, we read these words (Jesus, praying to His Father) John 17:13-19 (NIV): ‘“I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.” ‘
In the same way, Jesus is not going to take us out of this world, when times become difficult – it is during the difficult times that we can fully demonstrate the truth and strength of our faith.
I’ve used the above verses to give some background, to today’s study – in regard to the fact that our lives are not always going to be easy – and God is fully aware of how difficult, life can be. That’s why His Spirit is always with us – to teach, to assist, and to comfort us, on our daily journey, as we follow Him with our cross.
Selwyn writes: “Let’s face it, some of the problems we encounter are not going to go away however hard we pray. So what sort of help can we expect to receive from the divine Counsellor? Great help, for we can be sure that He will be there for us – empowering us with His comforting presence, sharing our pain and entering into all our sorrows. …
The Greek term for the Holy Spirit is parakletos, derived from para (beside) and kaleo (call), and means ‘one who comes alongside to help’. I wish the word could be translated ‘Counsellor and Comforter’ – a phrase which would convey the fuller idea that the Holy Spirit is not just someone who gives advice but someone who feels for us and with us also.”
I suppose, one way to summarise this study – is to say, that we have God with us – who knows everything about us because He created us. Who always cares for us – because He always loves us. Our suffering, is His suffering – just think of the cross – and know, He did it for you. What took Him to the cross – keeps Him by your side – every moment of your life!
You can face any difficulty – with God by your side – just follow the example, set by Jesus.
Counsellor and Comforter
I like these words of Jesus, spoken as a prayer to His Father, from John 17:20-26 (NIV): “My prayer is not for them (the apostles) alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”
Notice the number of times that Jesus keeps repeating, in a number of ways: “I in them and You in Me.” We, who have been chosen by God – have God within us – we have no excuses, not to proceed with those tasks allocated to us, by Jesus - who can defeat us – with God’s Spirit within us?
Earlier in John’s gospel, we read these words (Jesus, praying to His Father) John 17:13-19 (NIV): ‘“I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.” ‘
In the same way, Jesus is not going to take us out of this world, when times become difficult – it is during the difficult times that we can fully demonstrate the truth and strength of our faith.
I’ve used the above verses to give some background, to today’s study – in regard to the fact that our lives are not always going to be easy – and God is fully aware of how difficult, life can be. That’s why His Spirit is always with us – to teach, to assist, and to comfort us, on our daily journey, as we follow Him with our cross.
Selwyn writes: “Let’s face it, some of the problems we encounter are not going to go away however hard we pray. So what sort of help can we expect to receive from the divine Counsellor? Great help, for we can be sure that He will be there for us – empowering us with His comforting presence, sharing our pain and entering into all our sorrows. …
The Greek term for the Holy Spirit is parakletos, derived from para (beside) and kaleo (call), and means ‘one who comes alongside to help’. I wish the word could be translated ‘Counsellor and Comforter’ – a phrase which would convey the fuller idea that the Holy Spirit is not just someone who gives advice but someone who feels for us and with us also.”
I suppose, one way to summarise this study – is to say, that we have God with us – who knows everything about us because He created us. Who always cares for us – because He always loves us. Our suffering, is His suffering – just think of the cross – and know, He did it for you. What took Him to the cross – keeps Him by your side – every moment of your life!
You can face any difficulty – with God by your side – just follow the example, set by Jesus.