"I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you." John 14:18
When I was a young believer I was on a boat crossing the Sea of Galilee as the disciples had done with Jesus. In the midst of this incredible experience I cried out to Jesus from the depth of my being:
" If only You were here with me as You were the disciples!"
I immediately heard a response from deep within saying:
"I Am more with you than I was with them. I was physically present with them, but I live inside of you. I Am always present with you through the Holy Spirit."
What an epiphany on the Sea of Galilee that afternoon to never be forgotten!
Perhaps we need to be reminded after just celebrating the resurrection of Christ that He did not leave us as orphans. He foretold His disciples in John 16:7
"But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you’ but if I go, I will send Him to you ."
Have you received the Helper Jesus defined as the Holy Spirit to His disciples? May I encourage you to read the book of Acts in the Bible. This book is the acts of the Holy Spirit fulfilled as Jesus promised and comforted His disciples with before the crucifixion and resurrection. In the first chapter we read how Jesus presented Himself alive for forty days before being taken up to heaven. He gave orders by the Holy Spirit to the disciples not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised which He said, you have heard from Me;
"For John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."
May I encourage you to read for yourself what followed in the book of Acts. If you have not received the baptism in the Holy Spirit as Jesus spoke of, pursue the fulfillment of His promise made to His followers. The Trinity is made up of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. Three in One and equally important. We know the Father throughout scripture, we know Jesus primarily from the gospels, and we know the Holy Spirit primarily from Acts and the epistles.
He is our Comforter, Helper, Teacher, and enables us to remember all things. {John 14:26) He is the Spirit of Truth, and will lead us into all truth. (John 16:13)
In Acts 4:8 we are told we shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon us. He intercedes for us according to the will of God, and teaches us how to pray and intercede for others. (Romans 8:26-27) These are only a few of the many accounts in scripture concerning the Holy Spirit.
Many believers today stop at the cross with salvation, but Jesus promised more. Do not neglect, or be robbed of the third person in the Trinity. I can honestly say I would not have survived some of the storms in life without the very present help of the Holy Spirit, and knowing He indwells my being, and I will never be separated from Him – ever.
In His love.
Teresa Roberts
Masterpiece Fitness
276-237-6680
These photos were taken on a mission trip in Guatemala caring for the orphans. As I held these precious children in my arms, God held this child in His arms. It was a time in life I too felt very much an orphan . True to His promise He cared for us all through the Holy Spirit.
