Dear Beloved Carson & Mount Hope UMC Family,
This month of June and July 2025, I want us to reflect on the promise/work of the Holy Spirit the Bible covers in the gospel of John 14:23-29. Why is this important for us, especially our faith? What is the mystery behind this promise? Why did Jesus give this promise? What are the things we really need to know about this promise? What does Jesus mean when He says ‘My Father is greater than me? How do we maximize the benefits of this provision of the work of Jesus?
The promise of the Holy Spirit was and is still important because Jesus was about to leave his disciples. Jesus needed to go to His Father. It is also important to note that this does not mean that Jesus is different from the Holy Spirit. Rather, Jesus and the Holy must be viewed equal per our belief in the Trinity. We believe in the Trinity, which is One God in three persons: God the Father, God the Son/Jesus, God the Holy Spirit. In this scripture, Jesus is viewed as the first Counsellor, whereas the Holy Spirit is the second Counsellor.
Like Jesus’ disciples, this important for us and our faith as God is relational and we need divine help for understanding and continuous spiritual growth. This notion teaches us how to relate with Spirits. God’s relational nature is a call to contribute to our relationships with Him and what He does here on the earth.
The mystery behind the promise/work of the Holy Spirit is an open window to unending revelations about God, people and things. That is why we see God telling Jeremiah ‘Call to me and I will answer you and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known (33:3).’ This implies that there are many things we know nothing about until God reveals them to us. Another mystery hidden in this mystery is the openness to the knowing’s beyond scripture and what pastors teach. The knowing’s are things that only the Holy Spirit teaches us. I will answer other questions in future.
Thank you.
Love, Peace, and Grace,