Do You Recognize the Spirit of Truth?
Good Morning Friends,
Today’s lectionary scripture is good news and hope and a model for us all. We continue to pair the historical work of Luke in the Book of Acts with the creative picture painting language of John. They combine to put our imagination into action. Do You Recognize the Spirit of Truth?
Scripture: We set sail from Troas and took a straight course to Samothrace, the following day to Neapolis, and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city for some days. On the sabbath day we went outside the gate by the river, where we supposed there was a place of prayer; and we sat down and spoke to the women who had gathered there. A certain woman named Lydia, a worshiper of God, was listening to us; she was from the city of Thyatira and a dealer in purple cloth. The Lord opened her heart to listen eagerly to what was said by Paul. When she and her household were baptized, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come and stay at my home.” And she prevailed upon us.
Acts 16:11-15 (NRSV)
“When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father, he will testify on my behalf. You also are to testify because you have been with me from the beginning.” I have said these things to you to keep you from stumbling. They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, an hour is coming when those who kill you will think that by doing so they are offering worship to God. And they will do this because they have not known the Father or me. But I have said these things to you so that when their hour comes you may remember that I told you about them. “I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. But now I am going to him who sent me; yet none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your hearts. Nevertheless I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will prove the world wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: about sin, because they do not believe in me; about righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will see me no longer; about judgment, because the ruler of this world has been condemned. “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
John 15:26-16:15 (NRSV)
When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, “Woman, here is your son.”
John 19:26 (NRSV)
Message: If we will listen, we will hear, and we too will know the things of God because Jesus has sent us the Holy Spirit! We are not alone, and we should never feel like we are. Sure, there are struggles but we have help and guidance. Like John and Mary at the cross. We have each other. Like Lydia we can be a model of good behavior and the work of the Spirit can be alive in us. Jesus promised that we would receive help and it comes in a way so that we might be convinced that the world’s ways are wrong. The work of the Spirit is to guide, convict and comfort. And the Holy Spirit is to be in us for a purpose. You see, Jesus promises us that the Holy Spirit will prove the world wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment. The world is wrong about sin, because the world does not believe in Jesus. The world is wrong about righteousness, because Christ is going to the Father and virtue will now be seen in the work of the Holy Spirit glorifying Christ in us. And finally, Friends, the world is wrong about judgment, because the ruler of this world has been condemned and that changes the rules.
Pray we have good role models that teach us about our need for mercy and help. Pray we realize the importance of Christian service, generosity and hospitality to set the stage for the Holy Spirit to do the work of glorifying Jesus. Pray we realize the importance of evangelism. Pray we have a deep conviction for God. Pray we are converted and committed to Christ through the work of the Holy Spirit.
Blessings,
John Lawson
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