Opening Passage
John 16:13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak, and He will tell you things to come.
Jesus has so much to say about the Holy Spirit within John 14, 15 and 16 that it’s hard to really grasp the weight of it all as He talks about the Person of the Holy Spirit. Jesus knew so much more about the Holy Spirit than any other Person in human history and according to Him, it was for our benefit that He (Jesus) went away, because in His place He would send us the Holy Spirit.
It’s been a passion of mine over the past decade to learn more about developing a friendship with Holy Spirit. I remember praying in 2003 and saying, “I want to know you more in 2003 than I ever have before.” I would say that I have tried to pray that way in all the years that followed. It seems that the more I encounter Him and fellowship with Him, the more I realize that I hardly know Him. What I am reminded of is that He who dwells within me (The Holy Spirit) is omnipresent, omnipotent and omniscient. This means that He is eternal, having no beginning and no ending; He possesses all power, knows everything and is ever present! And what’s true about the Holy Spirit is also true about Jesus and the Father, for they are all One.
The Holy Spirit doesn’t only bring back to my remembrance all things that Jesus said, but He also tells me things to come. As Jesus started to talk about His departure from them, which He had said several times prior, they began to take His words to heart in a new way which actually filled them with sorrow. So much so that Jesus said to them “…now sorrow has filled your hearts.” But I believe they were rightly sorrowful. The One they came to love and loved them in a way they’d never been loved before was going to leave them through His death, resurrection and ascension to the Father. And because sorrow had so filled their hearts Jesus was unable to continue talking to them about the things in front of them, the things that would happen in His absence and the at the end of this age.
Beloved, when it comes to the end of this age, and Jesus’ return, the Holy Spirit knows more about this season and event than any other Person in world history. The very One who inspired the scriptures that speak of Jesus’ return (150 + Bible chapters), now lives in us. And because Jesus said that He would tell us about things to come, we are able to talk to Him, asking about those things, which are yet to come. The Holy Spirit must become our primary Teacher when it comes to Jesus’ return for two primary reasons. Firstly, is because He knows more about Jesus’ physical return than any other person. It’s the reality that God, who is eternal, having no beginning and no ending, is now living in us and is willing to tell us much about this unique season in human history. But we have to engage Him, not for a moment but as a lifestyle.
And secondly, because Jesus called the Holy Spirit the Spirit of truth. There are many teachers today that talk about eschatology. I have found some to be helpful and others I have found to be less helpful. But when it comes to God’s plan of global redemption and the restoration of all things the Holy Spirit must become our primary Teacher. Reading books and listening to teachers that believe many different ways is good and helpful. But Much of what Jesus said related to this unique hour in human history is shrouded in parables, riddles and things sometimes hard to understand. But when we become hungry for truth, you will press past the seemingly confusing subjects, asking the Holy Spirit to unlock the Bible for us just like He did for the disciples in Luke 24:45 as He touched their understanding so that they could comprehend the scriptures. God often wraps truth in mystery to keep the satisfied (full) out and draw in the hungry. Talk to Him about this time, and ask Him for revelation related to it. He’s eager and willing to give revelation!
Closing Prayer
Holy Spirit, You who know all things, I ask now, that you would fill me with wisdom and revelation about Jesus’ calling and His inheritance in me. I trust You to lead me into all truth. Help me to understand both things directly in front of me, and specifically at the end of this age. Would you open up my eyes and fill me with insight about this coming season. I trust You completely, and I love our relationship together!
I like that, great prayer, i am going to copy some and recite. This dove tail’s nicely with Sorge’s passion for knowing more and “abiding’, his key scripture. I enjoy the reminder that the Holy Spirit is waiting for me, i need to be hungry, crying out for Him, then He’s got somewhere to deposit His great Wisdom and love. Nicely done, Dad
Bob-Hey thanks for sharing those thoughts. He’s bigger than we know, but we’ve been invited to mine out His depths. Let’s do it!
Great article, Patrick. This goes hand-in-hand with the book we’ve been reading together by RT Kendall called, 40 Days with the Holy Spirit.” Today was day 40 and so your article dovetailed with it perfectly. I love the Holy Spirit and all He does to bring us closer to Jesus. What an amazing blessing! Keep writing and keep pursuing Jesus!
Jeff-How cool. I’m telling you, that R.T. Kendall is the man. I’m super impressed with his work and his passion to merge both the Word and Spirit into one reality, which God intended them to be. So great! Blessings on you guys!