I visited a Messianic Jewish congregation a few weeks ago and came out of the service very disappointed. During the service the pastor, or "Rabbi" as he was called by the congregation gave a sermon on the Holy Ghost. He was trying to tell his congregation that the disciples were full of the Holy Spirit because they believed that Jesus was the Messiah. He went on to say that it is the Holy Spirit who gives us the faith to believe in Jesus and that this fact is the marker by which we know if someone has the Holy Spirit or not.
As the "Rabbi" was saying this, John 14:16-17 was projected up on the front wall of the sanctuary, for everyone to see. As I was reading this verse I was astonished on how he didn't see what the scripture was actually saying! Here is the following verse, John 14:16-17 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
Now as we read verse 16, we clearly can see that the comforter is referring to the Holy Spirit. If you are not sold that Jesus is talking about the Holy Spirit here, you need to read the entire 14th chapter of John. The entire chapter is actually all about the Holy Spirit and it's very interesting to hear what Jesus tells us about the Spirit. Now as we further analyze this scripture, Jesus is speaking to the disciples about an event that was to take place in the future. Jesus is telling his disciples that the Father SHALL GIVE you another comforter. Being that I am an English teacher, it's easy to understand that Jesus is speaking of a future event as SHALL GIVE is future tense. Clearly the Holy Spirit is NOT in them yet, and the very next verse, verse 17 confirms this fact.
In verse 17, Jesus refers to the Holy Spirit as "the Spirit of truth." He tells them that this Spirit dwells WITH them presently. It's interesting to note that Jesus tells his disciples that he, himself is "THE TRUTH," just a few verses earlier in John 14:6! Not only that, but Jesus is also telling his disciples that they KNOW THIS SPIRIT and that HE DWELLETH WITH THEM! Is it not evident that Jesus is talking about HIS OWN SPIRIT here?
The majority of verse 17 is describing the present state of things, it's in the "present tense." Now take a look at the last few words of this verse. The last five words of this verse are key, and are no longer speaking about the present, but the future. The words, SHALL BE give this away as they are in the future tense. This verse confirms that the disciples DO NOT have the Holy Spirit in them but in the future, the Holy Spirit will dwell inside of them.
If we continue reading the rest of John 14 and get to John 14:26, we understand that this Holy Spirit is not only our comforter but also our teacher. The Holy Spirit is to be our "Rabbi!" This Spirit is the very Spirit of TRUTH and that TRUTH is Jesus himself! If we are truly filled with the very Spirit of Jesus, and have the real Rabbi in us, then we will be able to understand all the things Jesus said! All Jesus words will come to our remembrance and we will make the connection that the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Jesus! This is why he could not send his Spirit while he was here, as he tells us in John 16:7.
Matthew 23:8 tells us that Jesus Christ is our only Rabbi, so if we are truly filled with this very Spirit, then we have the Rabbi in us. This passage in Matthew also tells us not to call any man teacher or "Rabbi." This was one of the markers how I knew this man was not a Rabbi. The confirmation came when he was speaking something that God himself would disagree with, telling the congregation that the disciples had the Holy Spirit INSIDE THEM, when Jesus was on earth!
If we truly have the Spirit of Jesus inside us, then we speak the very same thing. Revelation 22:17 is a verse that shows perfect unity with the church (bride) and the Spirit (Jesus) are both saying the same exact words. So if we are speaking the same thing, then we should be in agreement in how we receive salvation and the Holy Spirit in the first place, right?
So what is the salvation message? The message is that Jesus is the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost. We will know that the only way to apply what this ONE God did for us, is to be baptized in HIS revealed name, JESUS. We are to do this FOR the remission of our sins and if we obey, we are promised to receive HIS very Spirit inside us! Just like the day of Pentecost we will be speaking in other tongues, and living waters will be coming out from our belly! (Acts 2:38 and John 7:38)
This promise is for ALL who God will call! (Acts 2:39) This promise is not just for certain people, this is for EVERYONE. Everyone can reach God and get close to him, as long as they repent and seek his face! It doesn't matter how unlearned you are, what race you are, where you came from, what your job is, what sins you committed in your past, what your socioeconomic status is. Absolutely none of this superficial stuff matters! The only barrier is yourself and the wolves in sheep's clothing who try to keep you down so that they have a flock and a job at the end of the day. These are the same men telling their congregations that they do not need to speak in tongues, or that tongues is not for everyone.
The religious leaders of our day are just as...if not more corrupted as the religious leaders in the days when God himself walked the earth in flesh. What did Jesus call them? "Whitewashed tombs full of dead people's bones!" They only exist to to tell you what you should believe and how to interpret the Bible, when the only thing you need is the Holy Ghost!
Now if you have the Spirit of God in you, (With the Biblical evidence of speaking in tongues.) it is good to have a guide or someone mature in Christ that can assist you on your walk. Please note that you have to walk your own walk with Jesus, your pastor cannot walk it for you. Now if your pastor is being called a priest or a Rabbi by people in your congregation you should get out of that church. God warns us of using these "flattering" titles for men, because these titles only belong to Him! So now I ask you, who is your Rabbi?
As the "Rabbi" was saying this, John 14:16-17 was projected up on the front wall of the sanctuary, for everyone to see. As I was reading this verse I was astonished on how he didn't see what the scripture was actually saying! Here is the following verse, John 14:16-17 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
Now as we read verse 16, we clearly can see that the comforter is referring to the Holy Spirit. If you are not sold that Jesus is talking about the Holy Spirit here, you need to read the entire 14th chapter of John. The entire chapter is actually all about the Holy Spirit and it's very interesting to hear what Jesus tells us about the Spirit. Now as we further analyze this scripture, Jesus is speaking to the disciples about an event that was to take place in the future. Jesus is telling his disciples that the Father SHALL GIVE you another comforter. Being that I am an English teacher, it's easy to understand that Jesus is speaking of a future event as SHALL GIVE is future tense. Clearly the Holy Spirit is NOT in them yet, and the very next verse, verse 17 confirms this fact.
In verse 17, Jesus refers to the Holy Spirit as "the Spirit of truth." He tells them that this Spirit dwells WITH them presently. It's interesting to note that Jesus tells his disciples that he, himself is "THE TRUTH," just a few verses earlier in John 14:6! Not only that, but Jesus is also telling his disciples that they KNOW THIS SPIRIT and that HE DWELLETH WITH THEM! Is it not evident that Jesus is talking about HIS OWN SPIRIT here?
The majority of verse 17 is describing the present state of things, it's in the "present tense." Now take a look at the last few words of this verse. The last five words of this verse are key, and are no longer speaking about the present, but the future. The words, SHALL BE give this away as they are in the future tense. This verse confirms that the disciples DO NOT have the Holy Spirit in them but in the future, the Holy Spirit will dwell inside of them.
If we continue reading the rest of John 14 and get to John 14:26, we understand that this Holy Spirit is not only our comforter but also our teacher. The Holy Spirit is to be our "Rabbi!" This Spirit is the very Spirit of TRUTH and that TRUTH is Jesus himself! If we are truly filled with the very Spirit of Jesus, and have the real Rabbi in us, then we will be able to understand all the things Jesus said! All Jesus words will come to our remembrance and we will make the connection that the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Jesus! This is why he could not send his Spirit while he was here, as he tells us in John 16:7.
Matthew 23:8 tells us that Jesus Christ is our only Rabbi, so if we are truly filled with this very Spirit, then we have the Rabbi in us. This passage in Matthew also tells us not to call any man teacher or "Rabbi." This was one of the markers how I knew this man was not a Rabbi. The confirmation came when he was speaking something that God himself would disagree with, telling the congregation that the disciples had the Holy Spirit INSIDE THEM, when Jesus was on earth!
If we truly have the Spirit of Jesus inside us, then we speak the very same thing. Revelation 22:17 is a verse that shows perfect unity with the church (bride) and the Spirit (Jesus) are both saying the same exact words. So if we are speaking the same thing, then we should be in agreement in how we receive salvation and the Holy Spirit in the first place, right?
So what is the salvation message? The message is that Jesus is the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost. We will know that the only way to apply what this ONE God did for us, is to be baptized in HIS revealed name, JESUS. We are to do this FOR the remission of our sins and if we obey, we are promised to receive HIS very Spirit inside us! Just like the day of Pentecost we will be speaking in other tongues, and living waters will be coming out from our belly! (Acts 2:38 and John 7:38)
This promise is for ALL who God will call! (Acts 2:39) This promise is not just for certain people, this is for EVERYONE. Everyone can reach God and get close to him, as long as they repent and seek his face! It doesn't matter how unlearned you are, what race you are, where you came from, what your job is, what sins you committed in your past, what your socioeconomic status is. Absolutely none of this superficial stuff matters! The only barrier is yourself and the wolves in sheep's clothing who try to keep you down so that they have a flock and a job at the end of the day. These are the same men telling their congregations that they do not need to speak in tongues, or that tongues is not for everyone.
The religious leaders of our day are just as...if not more corrupted as the religious leaders in the days when God himself walked the earth in flesh. What did Jesus call them? "Whitewashed tombs full of dead people's bones!" They only exist to to tell you what you should believe and how to interpret the Bible, when the only thing you need is the Holy Ghost!
Now if you have the Spirit of God in you, (With the Biblical evidence of speaking in tongues.) it is good to have a guide or someone mature in Christ that can assist you on your walk. Please note that you have to walk your own walk with Jesus, your pastor cannot walk it for you. Now if your pastor is being called a priest or a Rabbi by people in your congregation you should get out of that church. God warns us of using these "flattering" titles for men, because these titles only belong to Him! So now I ask you, who is your Rabbi?