The Comforter and The Teacher

 

The Comforter and The Teacher

        We all have to answer to our call. Example:  Physicians and surgeons have a call to do the well-being of a sick; a minister had a call to full fill; a fire fighter has a call to answer to his emergency call; and many other professionals, teachers and ordinary people, have their own call in their life. We beleivers in Christ’s life within us cannot undo the perfect call to testify to the dying world!

And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Jn. 14:16.

        Jesus was with His disciples, and He knows the time has come for him to leave this earth and his disciples. The disciples would have the fear of lack of help when Jesus leaves. Jesus was saying the helper and the comforter will be sent to them after he leaves them.

Strong's Greek: 3875. παράκλητος (paraklétos) -- Advocate, …Original Word: παράκλητος Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: paraklétos Pronunciation: pah-RAH-klee-toss Phonetic Spelling: (par-ak'-lay-tos) Definition: Advocate,[i]

Greek word comforter means: an intercessor. Consoler, advocate, counselor, helper, and a guide.

       We know that when we accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour of our lives, the Holy Spirit comes and resides with us.  The word ‘para’ means something very close, and who walks alongside with us. This can be said, as the along side, ministry of the Holy Spirit. Part of the calling of the Holy Spirit is to be on our side, to encourage us, convict us,  teach us and comfort us. The beautiful thing that can happen to a believer in Christ is that the Holy Spirit seals us, is in our life and is with us always.

Strong's Greek: 2822. κλητός (klétos) -- Called, invited - Bible Hub

Usage: The word κλητός appears in the New Testament to describe those who are called by God, particularly in the context of salvation and divine purpose. It is used to denote individuals who …[ii] 

But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you; Jn. 14: 26.

This means that the work of the Spirit would be a work of continuation. His teaching would continue what Jesus already taught. The Spirit does not wipe clear the previous teaching of Jesus and begin again. “The Spirit will not dispense with the teachings of Jesus. The teaching to be recalled is His.” (Morris)     

     But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth; Acts 1: 8.

 (klétos)- means a call, or duty, of the Holy Spirit of God, to come alongside every believer to lead, guide, protect, teach and counsel. (paraklétos)- means Holy Spirit and He is our comforter.

   Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered; Rom. 8: 26.

The King James Version translates parakletos with the word Comforter. That translation made more sense understanding the meaning of the word in older English. “Wicliff, from whom we have our word Comforter, often used ‘comfort’ for the Latin confortari, which means to strengthen… Thus the idea of help and strength is conveyed by it, as well as of consolation.” (Alford)

        The essence of the calling of the comforter, and helper is mainly to help us in our intercession, not limited to our own knowledge and ability, to articulate and express our hearts before God.

         Holy Spirit; the greatest teacher, has a calling as well, and He has to answer to this call to God our Father. The natural result of receiving this promised power would be that they would become witnesses of Jesus, all over the earth.  

 One way to understand the work of the Helper is to understand the opposite of that work. “The devil is called the accuser, κατηγορος, in full opposition to this name and title given here to the Holy Spirit.” (Trapp)  

Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God; 1 Cori. 2: 12. 

      It is the work of the Holy Spirit who enlightens us; to diligent study of the Word either in the English or other languages or in the original languages, Hebrew and Greek. We shall never truly know the truth until we are taught directly by the Holy Spirit. No amount of human teaching, no matter who our teachers may be, will ever give us a correct and exact and full apprehension of the truth.

For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say; Lk. 12: 12.

        This is a promise of strength and guidance for the persecuted around the globe so that they have an opportunity to testify of Jesus.

It is the promise of God that when a man is on trial for his faith, the words will come to him.” (Barclay)

      This wisdom which comes by the Holy Spirit  is from God, and this is not from the spirit of this world; or the wisdom of the Spirit of darkness, and evil forces.  Every believer has  the Holy Spirit who is from God. So every believer has the access to this spiritual wisdom, which is from God, our Father in heaven who is our Perfect Teacher in all circumstances. This is not a justification for not enough preparation in teaching and preaching God’s Word.

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[i] Bible Hub https://biblehub.com › greek

[ii]Bible Hub https://biblehub.com › greek

Greater Loss vs. Greater Gain

 

Greater Loss vs. Greater Gain 

          We beleivers in Christ should not be surprised by this: our natural man is dead toward God ever since we are born. It is written that my mother conceived me in sin! Our precious Father in heaven, is still very active at work through the Spirit of Christ the Holy Spirit; Ruach Hakkadosh.

Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me; Psa. 51:5.  

          Our souls ever since the Garden of Eden, “Episode of Fall” are devastated. Peccatum Originale- Latin word means Original Sin. This affects all humanity, in various format. We have no inner spiritual life; and this means our life was endangered by the life giving Spirit of God. Good news is, The Spirit of God indwells in every believer in Christ.

It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life; Jn. 6: 63.

Biblical idea of original sin – the idea that all humans are born sinners, receiving a sinful nature as sons of Adam and daughters of Eve. “This verse is both by Jewish and Christian, by ancient and later, interpreters, generally and most truly understood of original sin.” (Poole)

For the Son of man is come to seek and to save. Therefore he went to lodge with the publicans and the sinner in order to save;  Lk 19:10.

       Lost Zacchaeus was seeking for Jesus. The reality was, Jesus came to seek him. When the transformation came because of Jesus,  in a sense, Zacchaeus was a loss to his parents; to the religious leaders, to his community, even to his friends he might have had. But,  Zacchaeus was not lost to God.

“As the story of his conversion unfolds, his seeking Jesus (Luke 19:3) turned out to be the result of Jesus’ first seeking him (Luke 19:10).” (Pate)

Strong's Greek: 622. ἀπόλλυμι (apollumi) -- To destroy, to perish, …

Word Origin: Derived from the preposition ἀπό (apo, meaning "from" or "away") and the base of ὄλλυμι (ollymi, meaning "to destroy" or "to lose"). • אָבַד (abad, ): Often translated as "to perish" …[i]

          Jesus is the only one who can restore our souls. Our hearts are hardened willingly to serve the enemy of our souls. By nature we serve ourselves, and that is idolatry of our hearts/self! With our own selfish desires we want to worship ourselves and serve the enemy. So, the joy of communicating with God, and worshipping God of The Truth is lost!

        This means our souls are in trouble with fear,  worry and anxiety. Depression, guilt, anger, bitterness and other issues, the maladies of the heart fills us because we lost our True Personal Identity!

         Soul is the intellectual property endowed to mankind at the Creation of Adam and Eve in the Garden. The breath of God, the wind of God, Ruach Hakkadosh, the Spirit of God breathed into the nostrils of  man, in our souls and gave life, i.e.; God’s image was parted to mankind. This image of God in us was lost at the colossal tragedy at the Garden! God’s breath is there with us, but His image in us was lost! So, here we are in the fallen image, and in the image and likeness of fallen Adam and Eve!

And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.  So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them; Gen. 1: 26-27.

And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, and after his image; and called his name Seth: Gen. 5:3.

Genesis 5:3 When Adam was 130 years old, he had a son in his …he had a son in his own likeness, after his own image. This phrase echoes the language of Genesis 1:26-27, where God creates man in His own image. Here, the transmission of the …[ii]

And begot a son in his own likeness, after his image, and named him Seth: Even as Seth was in Adam’s fallen image and likeness, so also is every one of us. We are all sons and daughters of Adam, born fallen even as Adam was fallen. It would be redundant to say it, but every other person has been born in Adam’s image and likeness except Jesus.[iii]

      Our precious soul consists of mind, will, intellect, and emotions; the metaphysical aspects of humanity, and that is very priceless and was given to us at the time of conception. We are all born in the image of man, as descendants of Adam and Eve. So, we had lost the priceless, precious image of God in us!

        So, the Son of man came to save that was ruined, devastated, destroyed, perished, smashed, fell, dismantled,  and lost! Scriptural references for soul health: Psa. 30: 2; 120: 7;  34: 15; 17 ; 41: 4; 46: 1; 103:1-2.

Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Psa. 103: 1-2.

David understood that true worship was something deeply inward, of the soul. It is not just about outward forms or expressions, but also about something real from the soul. “Soul music is the very soul of music.” (Spurgeon)

Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth; 3 Jn. 2.     

“Both verbs [for prosper and be in health] belonged to the everyday language of letter writing” This phrase was so common that sometimes it was condensed into only initials, and everyone knew what the writer meant just from the initials. (Stott). 

       Health of our soul is so important for our overall health. The third  Person of the Trinity, The Holy Spirit; Ruach Hakkadosh breaths life into our soul once a person becomes a believer in Jesus Christ.   

“It is a wicked wresting of Scripture to deny that original sin and natural depravity are here taught. Surely men who cavil at this doctrine have need to be taught of the Holy Spirit what be the first principles of the faith.” (Spurgeon)

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[i] Bible Hub https://biblehub.com › greek

[ii] Bible Hub https://biblehub.com › genesis

[iii]Enduring Word https://enduringword.com › bible-commentary Enduring Word Bible Commentary Genesis Chapter 5

It is Finished!

 

It is Finished!

Temple Veil rent in twain.....

When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost; Jn. 19: 30.

What does those word, “It is finished “ mean? Why was the veil of the Temple rent in twain from the Top to the bottom?

The events that occur: The Resurrection of Jesus, the Empty tomb; the appearance to the Disciples and the Easter are the most defining moment of our  Christian faith.

And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; Matt. 27: 51.     

Strong's Greek: 2396. ἴδε (ide) -- Behold, see, look - Bible Hub

Word Origin: Derived from the verb εἶδον (eidon), which is the aorist form of ὁράω (horao), meaning "to see" or "to behold." Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: The Hebrew …[i]

Strong's Greek: 2571. κάλυμα (kalumma) -- Veil, covering - Bible …

Word Origin: Derived from the Greek verb καλύπτω (kalyptō), meaning "to cover" or "to conceal." Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: The Greek word κάλυμμα corresponds to several …[ii]

             Behold, is an expression to say something, to look with astonishment, wonder and awe! This massive, heavy, veil renting, from top to bottom is not possible by mere earthquake: BUT, for the Hand of God, opening up for all we sinners, the direct access to God, through Jesus Christ.

             There are 2 veils at the Temple: One stood at the Holy Place; 2^nd veil was at the entrance of the Holy of Holies. Only the High Preist was allowed to pass through the Holy of Holies, during the festival of atonement. This second veil was massive; and heavy and looks like the barrier. This barrier was  because of the sinfulness of man, and the Holiness of God, inside the Holy of Holies.

Weight and thickness and height of Temple veil

The Temple veil, also known as the Temple Curtain, was a massive curtain that separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place within the Temple in Jerusalem. It was traditionally believed to be about 60 feet high, 30 feet wide, and several inches thick. The veil was made of fine linen and blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, with..[iii]        

       This massive, heavy, veil renting, from top to bottom is not possible by mere earthquake. But, for the Hand of God, opening up for we all sinners, the direct access to God. 

Strong's Greek: 5055. τελέω (teleó) -- To complete, to finish, to ...

Original Word: τελέω Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: teleó Pronunciation: te-leh'-o Phonetic Spelling: (tel-eh'-o) Definition: To complete, to finish, to fulfill, to accomplish. Meaning: (a) I …[iv]

        This Temple curtain was very thick, heavy, long and wide. This divided the Holy of Holies from the rest of the Temple, and is the innermost sanctum. It was believed that God’s presence was dwelling there from the rest of the Temple.

For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law: Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount; Heb. 8:4-5.

“As if shocked at the sacrilegious murder of her Lord, the temple rent her garments, like one stricken with horror at some stupendous crime.” (Spurgeon)

          The tearing of the Temple curtain symbolizes the Divine breaking down of the barriers between God and humanity. It signifies, the opening of the pathway to God directly for human beings. This path way was made very clear because of Christ’s crucifixion on the cross: through the blood of the Lamb that as slain!      

“It is not a slight rent through which we may see a little; but it is rent from the top to the bottom. There is an entrance made for the greatest sinners. If there had only been a small hole cut through it, the lesser offenders might have crept through; but what an act of abounding mercy is this, that the veil is rent in the midst, and rent from top to bottom, so that the chief of sinners may find ample passage!” (Spurgeon)[v]  

         The renting of the Temple veil, the wonder, the connection with the death of Christ, marks the beginning of spiritual wonders yet to come. These spiritual wonders includes the renting of hard hearts; the deep sin locked in deep graves of the hearts  can open. Many who are dead in the trespasses of sin, lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh, the pride of life, can be quickened through the Spirit of God; the Holy Spirit. Nature itself is shaken by the death of Christ.

It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life; Jn. 6: 63.

Those who have been dead in trespasses and sins, and buried in sepulchers of lust and evil, are quickened, and come out from among the dead, and go unto the holy city, the New Jerusalem.” (Spurgeon)

 

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[i] Bible Hub https://biblehub.com › greek

[ii] Bible Hub https://biblehub.com › greek

[iii]http://www.libertygospeltracts.com/question/prequest/veiloftemple.htm

[iv] Bible Hub https://biblehub.com › greek

[v] https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/matthew-27/

Reality of the Invisible

 

Reality of the Invisible

Strong's Greek: 517. ἀόρατος (aoratos) -- Invisible - Bible Hub

Context: The Greek word ἀόρατος appears in the New Testament to convey the concept of invisibility, particularly in relation to spiritual or divine entities. It is used to describe the nature …[i]

Strong's Greek: 3707. ὁρατός (horatos) -- Visible, seen - Bible Hub

Here, ὁρατός is used to refer to the temporary, visible world, encouraging believers to focus on the eternal, invisible realities of God's kingdom. The use of ὁρατός serves as a reminder of the …[ii]

           For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Rom. 1: 20.         

       The human race is guilty before God in our deed of ungodliness and unrighteousness. God created both the heavenly bodies and the earthly bodies. We begin to understand the heavenly things by seeing the earthly things. Earthly things are image of heavenly things.

The universal character of this revelation and the clarity of it leave man without excuse for rejecting it. “Men cannot charge God with hiding himself from them and thus excuse their irreligion and their immorality.” (Lenski)

And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Acts 1:10.

           These 2 men are the angels; and also many have reported they had seen angels in their lives and reported that they look like men. Here the point is, the invisible and the visible are very close and separated only by a thin layer. In fact, one can move from one to the other through a very thin corridor. God created the visible and the invisible world at the same time and the separation is only a very thin border!

         The cloud that received Him is suggestive of the cloud of glory (called the Shekinah) that is associated with the presence of God in the Old and New Testaments; (Ref. Lk. 24: 50-51).

And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven; Lk. 24: 51.

If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven; Jn. 3: 12-13.

“The ascension differs radically from Jesus’ vanishing from the sight of the disciples at Emmaus and similar happenings. There is an air of finality about it. It is the decisive close of one chapter and the beginning of another.” (Morris) 

         That is the reason, when people pass off, it is a quick transition from this world to the other world. That is the reason, the Lord can appear and disappear, and angels too. So, the humanity cannot deny the invisible, because both are very close to each other. We try to understand the heavenlies by looking at the visible, earthly things.

There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another; 1 Cori. 15: 40.    

        There are different kinds of bodies in God’s creation, including celestial bodies. Humans created in the image of God, at resurrection will have heavenly body. While our present bodies are adapted for the environment of time and earth, our resurrection bodies will be celestial for the environment of eternity and heaven. So our life does not end in this planet earth.  

There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in glory: Some take this to mean there will be different degrees of glory for believers in heaven. “Whether there are degrees of glory, as it seems probable, so we shall certainly know, when we come to heaven.” (Trapp)

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[i] Bible Hub https://biblehub.com › greek

[ii]I.Bid.; Bible Hub