May 2013 Messenger Newsletter

December Annual Congregational Mtg & Council Mtg Minutes Posted

Day of Pentecost

"All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit"
(Acts 2:4)

The Father Revealed

John 14:8 Philip said to him, "Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied."
John 14:9 Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'?
John 14:10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works.
John 14:11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves."

The Answered Prayer

John 14:12 "Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father.
John 14:13 I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
John 14:14 If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it."

Jesus Promises Another Helper

John 14:15 "If you love me, you will keep my commandments.
John 14:16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever.
John 14:17 This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you."

The Gift of His Peace

John 14:25 "I have said these things to you while I am still with you.
John 14:26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you.
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid."

As in v. 7, the words of Jesus contain a mild rebuke. To fail to recognize and know God in Jesus is to fail to know Jesus. The phrase "you have not known" also means "have you not learned to recognize?" The perfect tenses ("has known," "has seen") denote that knowing and seeing Christ have abiding results, although one's knowledge and insight have yet to reach their full maturation. The extent to which we will see the Father is entirely dependent on what we see in Jesus (cf. 1:18; 10:30; Col. 1:15; Heb. 1:3). This is an additional claim on the part of Jesus that He is, in fact, Deity.

The Greek term parakletos, used of the Holy Spirit, is peculiar to John. It can be translated "comforter" or "advocate," signifying one who is "called alongside" (para, "alongside," kletos, "called") to give help and advice, and especially to give counsel for the defense. John also refers to Jesus as a parakletos in 1 John 2:1. In order to summarize the biblical teaching on the Holy Spirit, three indispensable truths must be affirmed, namely: (1) He is a Person, (2) He is God, and (3) He has specific functions in the economic triunity of God. Because He is represented by the symbols of fire, a dove, oil, and water, and because the Greek word pneuma (meaning "breath" or "wind") is neuter, the Holy Spirit is sometimes misconstrued to be a power or an influence and not a person. But the references to Him attest to One who has intellect, emotion, and will, and He is designated by personal pronouns (v. 17; 15:26; 16:7, 13). Christ refers to Him as a Comforter like Himself (note the word "another," implying another of the same kind). He is the Spirit of truth (16:13) and the Paraclete or Comforter (v. 16, 26; 15:26; 16:7) whom Jesus and the Father will send into the world. Because He is a Person, He can be grieved (Eph. 4:30), and sinned against (Mark 3:29). He reveals, searches, and knows (1 Cor. 2:10, 11). He evaluates situations (Acts 15:28) and inflicts punishment (Acts 5:3, 5). None of these verbs could rightly be used of a mere impersonal power or influence. Not only is He a Person; He is God. He is specifically called God (Acts 5:4; 1 Cor. 3:16; 2 Cor. 3:17, 18). God's attributes are present in Him (truth, 16:13; eternity, Heb. 9:14; omnipresence, Ps. 139:7-10; life, Rom. 8:2). He is associated as One with the Father and the Son in the baptismal formula (Matt. 28:19), in a Pauline benediction (2 Cor. 13:14), and in the administration of the church's gifts (1 Cor. 12:4-6). His word and His works are considered the word and works of God (Gen. 1:2, 26; Job 33:4; Acts 28:25-27; Heb. 3:7-9). The ministry or work of the Holy Spirit is not as visibly prominent as that of the Father and the Son, because His work is never to call attention to Himself (16:13, 14). Some of His specific works include teaching (v. 26), reproving and convicting (16:8-11), regenerating (3:5), praying and interceding (Rom. 8:26), comforting (v. 16), renewing (Titus 3:5), guiding into all truth (16:13), empowering (Matt. 28:19, 20), and testifying (15:26). The Holy Spirit Himself inspired the prophets and the writers of the Scriptures (Num. 11:29; Ezek. 2:2; 2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Pet. 1:20, 21). His presence in the believer constitutes a seal, a guarantee of salvation (Eph. 1:13; 4:30), and an initiation into the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:13). In the Christian's daily life, the Holy Spirit is the source of virtues (Gal. 5:22, 23), the dynamic for a life pleasing unto God (Rom. 8; Gal. 5:16), and is the equipper for service (cf. the gifts of the Spirit in Rom. 12:3-8; 1 Cor. 12:7-11; Eph. 4:7, 11-13). Although the baptism by the Holy Spirit is the initial experience of all believers, it is commanded that Christians keep on being filled ("controlled") by the Spirit (Eph. 5:18).

NSRV & Believer's Study Bible (BSB) Notes

Sunday Worship Services at 10:00am
Sunday School at 9:00am

Wednesday Bible Study (Library) 10:30 am
Holy Communion Service (Sanctuary) Noon