Take Time With God #108 – Inside information from the Holy Spirit

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Take Time With God #108 – Inside information from the Holy Spirit

THE HOLY SPIRIT, OUR COMPANION (Inside information from the Holy Spirit)

By Grace Brown

 SCRIPTURE: John 14:15-26  ¹⁵ “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. ¹⁶ And I will pray the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, to be with you forever, ¹⁷ even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him; you know him, for he dwells with you, and will be in you.

 ¹⁸ “I will not leave you desolate; I will come to you. ¹⁹ Yet a little while, and the world will see me no more, but you will see me; because I live, you will live also. ²⁰ In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. ²¹ He who has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me; and he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” ²² Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?” ²³ Jesus answered him, “If a man loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. ²⁴ He who does not love me does not keep my words; and the word which you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me.

 ²⁵ “These things I have spoken to you, while I am still with you. ²⁶ But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.

Ben E. King, wrote a song titled, ‘Stand by Me.’ Maybe you remember it.

When the night has come
And the land is dark
And the moon is the only light we’ll see
No I won’t be afraid, no I won’t be afraid
Just as long as you stand, stand by me

 Oh darlin’, darlin’, stand by me, oh stand by me

Oh stand, stand by me, stand by me

 If the sky that we look upon

Should tumble and fall

And the mountains should crumble to the sea

I won’t cry, I won’t cry, no I won’t shed a tear

Just as long as you stand, stand by me

 And darlin’, darlin’, stand by me, oh stand by me

Oh stand now, stand by me, stand by me

 I think we all want the same thing as Ben E. King, someone to stand by us, to be there for us, regardless of what happens, but especially when things are dark and hard, when what is happening is frightening, and when we feel helpless. That is when we really want someone by our side.

 In 1942, blinded servicemen returning from World War II were given guide dogs to help them. The first Veteran to receive a guide dog was Sergeant Leonard Foulk, who was paired with a Guide Dog named Blondie. Leonard’s niece, Bonnie Cursey related some stories about her uncle and Blondie in guidedogs.blogspot.com

 When Blondie came to live with Leonard, trust wasn’t exactly easy for Leonard. He had to learn to trust her. The defining moment was when Leonard was walking in a familiar place in San Francisco. Blondie indicated Leonard should move over. But he ignored her directions. Blondie became more and more intent on guiding him to the side. Leonard was insistent, that is until he ran right into a light pole, hitting his head. That was the only time he ignored Blondies’ signals.

Adjusting to being blind was still difficult, Blondie was Leonard’s constant, loyal companion. She gave him full independence that he would not have had otherwise. Blondie was a wonderful gift and a blessing. Blondie traveled with him, ate with him, slept by him. She was ready at any moment to do the job for which she was trained. She was always there for him. Blondie also gave Leonard something to get up for, to care for, and a reason to start a new day. You see, she was his responsibility and he made sure his care of her was always helpful. Leonard didn’t work, he became an accomplished wood worker, learned to play the banjo, and spent many hours listening to books on tape. He lived a full rewarding life, enjoying his family, friends.

 As the years passed, Leonard needed Blondie less and less for mobility than he had in the beginning of their partnership. By the time Blondie was 9 or 10 years old she was having trouble going up and down stairs. Then she was no longer a working Guide Dog, but until the day she passed away, she was Leonard’s wonderful companion. Blondie had stood by Leonard’s side through thick and thin, always there, always ready, always looking out for Leonard to the best of her ability.     http://guidedogs.blogspot.com/2012/06/gdb-history

 Blondie came along side Leonard to be with him and help him in his life. The word used in the classical Greek Bible meaning, ‘to come alongside someone’ is the word Paraklatos, the same word translated ‘counselor’ or ‘advocate’ in the scripture above. Paraklatos includes thoughts of encouragement, assistance, care, and supporting or promoting the interests of another. We could say Blondie was Leonard’s paraklatos. She supported and promoted Leonard’s interests by directing him so he wouldn’t run into another pole. She gave him independence, freedom he could never have had without her. She gave him a reason to get up in the morning. She was someone he loved and cared for, who brought richness to his life. She gave Leonard constant companionship, love, and support. He returned it. She enabled him to move forward in life despite his blindness.

 Would you like to have a wonderful companion like Blondie? everyone I’ve spoken to who has a guide dog or a dog for a disability or illness has a very close and loving with their dog.

 It’s not possible for most of us to have a dog like Blondie. I hope you never need one but, it is possible to have an even better companion. There is Someone who will be with you every day of your life; One who always looks out for you to keep you from hitting your head on a pole. Knowning we’re going the right because our guide always knows the right way gives us freedom. It is possible to have someone who will take every step with you, eat with you, and watch over you when you sleep; One who is with you through thick and thin, in every problem, every celebration, and every sorrow. Of course you can still insist on running into a pole, just like Leonard did if you choose to.

 Jesus said, ¹⁶ …I will pray the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, another Paraklatos, to be with you forever.” Our Paraklatos is the Holy Spirit, whom Jesus gives to all who seek Him. Jesus died on the cross taking all the punishment for all the wrong things we have done or the right things we haven’t done sp we can be forgiven.  And He rose again from the dead gaining for us eternal life. When we accept He did these for us, for me, for you and commit our life to Him as our Lord, He sends the Para’klatos, the Holy Spirit to live with us, in us. He becomes our close, loving companion. He gives us encouragement, support, assistance, and care. He sees the poles and will lead us in the right path, always looking out for our best interest. He is faithful.

Will you give your life to Jesus and receive the Holy Spirit? Will you let the Holy Spirit keep you from hitting the poles and trust He is looking out for you, regardless of what you think is or is not in front of you?

PRAYER: Jesus, thank you for dying to pay the penalty for our wrong actions or inactions.  We believe you rose from the dead giving us new life. We ask you to send the Holy Spirit to guide us and be our constant loving companion. Give us grace to trust and follow His direction. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Take Time With God #108 – Inside information from the Holy Spirit

Take Time With God #108 – Inside information from the Holy Spirit

Acts 28:11-31 Paul"s final days of ministry

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Acts 28:11-31 You and I are meant to be Acts 29

The apostle Paul finally arrives in Rome as God had promised. He is a prisoner without charges against him. He isn’t put in prison, but is given a house to live in with a Roman guard where he can minister to those who come there. This is the final video from Ray on the book of Acts. His two-year project is complete with this teaching.

Acts 28:11-31 You and I are meant to be Acts 29

¹¹ At the end of three months we set sail on an Alexandrian ship which had wintered at the island, and which had ^[a]the Twin Brothers for its figurehead.¹² After we put in at Syracuse, we stayed there for three days. ¹³ From there we sailed around and arrived at Rhegium, and a day later a south wind sprang up, and on the second day we came to Puteoli. ^14 [b]There we found some brethren, and were invited to stay with them for seven days; and thus we came to Rome.¹⁵ And the brethren, when they heard about us, came from there as far as the^[c]Market of Appius and ^[d]Three Inns to meet us; and when Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage.

¹⁶ When we entered Rome, Paul was allowed to stay by himself, with the soldier who was guarding him.

¹⁷ After three days ^[e]Paul called together those who were the leading men of the Jews, and when they came together, he began saying to them, “Brethren,though I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our ^[f]fathers, yet I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.¹⁸ And when they had examined me, they were willing to release me because there was no ground ^[g]for putting me to death. ¹⁹ But when the Jews^[h]objected, I was forced to appeal to Caesar, not that I had any accusation against my nation. ²⁰ For this reason, therefore, I ^[i]requested to see you and to speak with you, for I am wearing this chain for the sake of the hope of Israel.”²¹ They said to him, “We have neither received letters from Judea concerning you, nor have any of the brethren come here and reported or spoken anything bad about you. ²² But we desire to hear from you what ^[j]your views are; for concerning this sect, it is known to us that it is spoken against everywhere.”

²³ When they had set a day for Paul, they came to him at his lodging in large numbers; and he was explaining to them by solemnly testifying about the kingdom of God and trying to persuade them concerning Jesus, from both the Law of Moses and from the Prophets, from morning until evening. ²⁴ Some were being persuaded by the things spoken, but others would not believe. ²⁵ And when they did not agree with one another, they began leaving after Paul had spoken one parting word, “The Holy Spirit rightly spoke through Isaiah the prophet to your fathers, ²⁶ saying,

‘Go to this people and say,
“^[k]You will keep on hearing, ^[l]but will not understand;
And ^[m]you will keep on seeing, but will not perceive;
²⁷ For the heart of this people has become dull,
And with their ears they scarcely hear,
And they have closed their eyes;
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
And hear with their ears,
And understand with their heart and return,
And I would heal them.”’

²⁸ Therefore let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will also listen.” ²⁹ [^[n]When he had spoken these words, the Jews departed, having a great dispute among themselves.]

³⁰ And he stayed two full years ^[o]in his own rented quarters and was welcoming all who came to him, ^31 [p]preaching the kingdom of God and teaching concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all openness, unhindered.

Footnotes:

1. Acts 28:11 Gr Dioscuri; i.e. Castor and Pollux, twin sons of Zeus


2. Acts 28:14 Lit Where


3. Acts 28:15 Lat Appii Forum, a station about 43 miles from Rome


4. Acts 28:15 Lat Tres Tabernae, a station about 33 miles from Rome


5. Acts 28:17 Lit he


6. Acts 28:17 Or forefathers


7. Acts 28:18 Lit of death in me


8. Acts 28:19 Lit spoke against


9. Acts 28:20 Or invited you to see me and speak with me


10. Acts 28:22 Lit you think


11. Acts 28:26 Lit with a hearing


12. Acts 28:26 Lit and


13. Acts 28:26 Lit seeing you will see


14. Acts 28:29 Early mss do not contain this v


15. Acts 28:30 Or at his own expense


16. Acts 28:31 Or proclaiming

Acts 28:11-31 You and I are meant to be Acts 29

Acts 28:11-31 Paul"s final days of ministry