The One Sent to Guide Us

Prayer-Soldier · Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2014 10:05 am Post subject: The One Sent to Guide Us

The One Sent to Guide Us

Scripture:

And when the days of the Pentecost were accomplished, they were all together in one place: And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a mighty wind coming: and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them parted tongues, as it were of fire: and it sat upon every one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit: and they began to speak with diverse tongues, according as the Holy Spirit gave them to speak.

Now there were dwelling at Jerusalem, Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. And when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded in mind, because that every man heard them speak in his own tongue. And they were all amazed, and wondered, saying: Behold, are not all these that speak Galilean? And how have we heard, every man our own tongue wherein we were born? Parthians and Medes and Elamites and inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Judea, and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews also, and proselytes, Cretes, and Arabians: we have heard them speak in our own tongues the wonderful works of God. (Acts 2:1-11)

Wherefore, I give you to understand that no man, speaking by the Spirit of God, says Anathema to Jesus. And no man can say The Lord Jesus, but by the Holy Spirit. Now there are diversities of graces, but the same Spirit. And there are diversities of ministries. but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but the same God, who works all in all. And the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man unto profit.

For as the body is one and has many members; and all the members of the body, whereas they are many, yet are one body: So also is Christ. For in one Spirit were we all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Gentiles, whether bond or free: and in one Spirit we have all been made to drink. (1 Corinthians 12:3-7, 12-13)

Now when it was late the same day, the first of the week, and the doors were shut, where the disciples were gathered together, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst and said to them: Peace be to you. And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples therefore were glad, when they saw the Lord. He said therefore to them again: Peace be to you. As the Father has sent me, I also send you. When he had said this, he breathed on them; and he said to them: Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them: and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained. (John 20:19-23)

Reflection:

Could we imagine if we were the ones there who heard the sound from heaven? Could we imagine if we were the ones there where His Word was shared in the tongue of the one who listened, so that nothing spoken would be lost in translation? In the time of Pentecost, His promise to send an advocate was fulfilled, for through the Holy Spirit, every heart fills with His Word.

The Lord sent to the children of His creation a power greater than any army; the power of the Holy Spirit, the power which need not conquer anyone, but is there to guide everyone to the Son, and through Him, to the Father. Can we imagine the blessings to be witness to such power? Can we imagine the feeling of the Holy Spirit descending upon us?

We need not imagine, for through prayer, we may invite the Holy Spirit within us; therefore, we may receive the One sent to be with us and to help us understand His Word. Though the evil one may attempt to deceive us, if we ask the Holy Spirit, we shall be guided to the truth. No matter the translation of scripture, if we pray to Him, He will reveal to us the message He has always intended for us to receive and understand. No matter who preaches, if we pray to the Holy Spirit, we will be guided to the prophet of truth and twisted words shall be revealed for what they are.

Though the Holy Spirit is there to guide us, He has still left to our choice whether we shall listen and the path we choose to walk. If we choose to go where the Holy Spirit leads us, we will join the body of the One who guides us to share of our diversities of talent for the blessings of all. Through prayer, the Holy Spirit will guide our soul to the truth of His Word and how by living the Word we may share many blessings.

It is difficult for one to survive alone, but together, in community, many hands may work together to do what one set of hands may not do alone; sharing their diversities of gifts and talents, sharing in service of one another. It is through selfless love of Him and one another that many great things may be done. It is through selfless care of one another that the sick and the weak may find hope and the people grow, nurtured by the love which is shared and the blessings of the Holy Spirit.

How is it, then, we find so many divisions among us? Many argue, for they do not listen, they do not heed, they do not open themselves to be guided by the Holy Spirit. They may go through the motions as the Pharisees and the Sadducees, but they do not listen for the truth the Holy Spirit reveals to the heart. They look at scripture as a lawyer parsing legalities of words for personal agendas, but fail to see the truth intended to guide us to share our love of Him and caring for one another. So many use scripture from which to judge and manipulate, but do not use it from which to see their own failings and the blessings of the forgiveness which is theirs. So many are confounded, for it is the trap set by the evil one to set the children of His creation against one another.

The foot does not do the same as the hand nor does the hand have the same purpose of the foot; while it is possible that one can do much of the other, the body is best served when the foot and hand do not seek to exclude one another, rather, they work together according to the purpose for which they were created.

Though the foot is beneath the body and the hand may be raised above the body, it does not determine their importance, for each serves a critical purpose to the body. The body is diminished if either the hand or the foot is lost. When both work together, great things are done; and when many hands and feet are joined together, even greater things may be accomplished. Blessed are those who understand and join in their diversity of gifts and talents to work for His glory and in blessings of one another.

As He commissioned His disciples, He gave them the Holy Spirit to lead them and through which others may find the path of truth. As the Father had given Him the power to forgive, so too, did He give the responsibility of forgiveness to those He charged. The power of the Holy Spirit, the power to forgive, He brought to the children of His creation; it is but up to them to accept the gifts He has given. Through the generations, this has passed to the moment we experience today. The question, then, remains for each of us, do we truly accept Him; are we truly willing to follow Him?

May the peace and blessings of the Lord be with you always,
Prayer Soldier