Last week we looked briefly at some of the sayings of Jesus about the Spirit's work, from John 14 and 15. Now we'll take a brief look (after all, these are brief messages) at some events in Acts, seeing how the Spirit was at work.
Jesus used the Greek word "parakletos" in John 14:16, translated "comforter" in the King James, and "helper" in some other translations. It's used to mean 'someone who comes alongside to help' or 'a witness for you in court' among other uses in the New Testament and other literature. Personally, I like comfort, so it would be handy for me to just hang on to that idea, but that's not much help when we read Acts. There, the Spirit helps and directs and corrects and leads, sometimes in ways they didn't expect.
Take for instance Acts 10, where we see Peter having an ecstatic vision, brought by the Spirit, while he was praying. The lesson for him and the church was to welcome Gentiles into the body without making them become Jewish in practice first. Peter was reluctant (v. 14) at first, but the vision came three times, and then when Gentiles showed up at the gate, the Spirit told Peter "accompany them without hesitation, for I have sent them.” So he followed them to Cornelius's house, as instructed.
This was all highly unusual for Jews -- traveling and eating with, and visiting the house of, Gentiles (v. 28). Peter must have been wondering a lot about why this was happening, even though the Spirit had told him to go, and still didn't know (v. 28-29,"God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean. So when I was sent for, I came without objection. I ask then why you sent for me.” So he still didn't know the surprise in store, but summarized the message of the gospel (v 34-43). Then the Spirit once more surprised everyone, while they were hearing the message of salvation, by falling on the whole household as he did to the disciples at Pentecost. There wasn't much left to do but baptize them all!
When he returned to Jerusalem, (Acts 11) Peter had to answer to the 'conservatives' who were following the Jewish ways more strictly (v. 3-4). But once he explained, they fell silent, then praised God. They didn't have much else to do but recognize God's providence!
It wasn't 'comfortable' for Peter to follow Gentiles to another city, or to preach to Gentiles in their own home, but the Holy Spirit was leading, and Peter just had to 'get over himself,' as the saying goes. It wasn't long before others were preaching to Gentiles also (11:20 and onward) so the whole church got to be a little less comfortable.
And we're still getting uncomfortable sometimes, following the Spirit and doing his will in the church. Welcome to the Gospel and the church of Jesus Christ! I believe one of the biggest lessons we have to keep learning, is that we aren't nearly as smart as God, and need to keep listening in order to know his will and do it. Even if it's uncomfortable. But our reward is great (Luke 6:22-23, 32-36), so it's best to pick up and keep moving, isn't it?
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