Dr Paul Allen

Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.“If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. - John 14:13-17 Have you ever been with someone as they were dying? When someone is near death, the final things they say to those they love are the things that matter most to them. In such moments, there is no time for idle chatting. Each word is measured because it matters. On the brink of his death on the cross, Jesus gives a glimpse into the Trinity. Jesus says that as the “Son” He will be returning to the “Father” after His resurrection. Furthermore, they will send the “Spirit” to live in God’s people as their “Helper”. Jesus’ point is that we can

John Piper writes: Dark shadows fall over the closing pages of John’s Gospel. For our Lord himself, there is the shadow of the cross; for the disciples, the shadow of his imminent departure. He is leaving them to return to the Father, and they are utterly distraught. It is to this distress that Jesus addresses the words of John 16:7: “It is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.” The words make two remarkable points. First, unless he goes away “the Helper” will not come. There is a divine order in the work of redemption, and in terms of that order there can be no Pentecost before Calvary. It is not simply that without the cross neither the disciples nor the Helper would have any witness to bear. There is a deeper reason: Only when Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law can we receive the promised Spirit (Galatians 3:14). Before there can be communion, there must be reconciliation. B

Holy Spirit dove window (Photo credit: hickory hardscrabble ) “By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit.” 1 JOHN 4:13 In John 14:26, Jesus described the Holy Spirit as “ the Helper .” One of the most important ways He helps us is by assuring us that we belong to God . Several works of the Holy Spirit, if present in our lives, give evidence of the genuineness of our salvation. In 1 Corinthians 12:3 Paul writes, “No one can say, ‘ Jesus is Lord ,’ except by the Holy Spirit.” Apart from the convicting work of the Holy Spirit, you would not know who Christ was, nor would you confess Him as Savior and Lord. If you have experienced that work of the Holy Spirit, that is evidence you are a true child of God. Another essential ministry of the Spirit is that of illuminating Scripture. First John 2:27 says, “The anointing which you received from Him abides in you … His anointing teaches you about all things.”  Do you understand the

Icon of the Pentecost (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) There is still another vital aspect to the "why" of Jesus' departure. He said, "If I do not go away, the Helper ( Paraclete ) will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you." Jesus' departure was tied to Pentecost . There is no Pentecost without ascension. As the invested King of kings , Jesus had the authority together with the Father to send His Holy Spirit in a new and powerful way upon the church. Jesus spoke of a certain necessity of His leaving in order Receiving Joy and Strength There is still another vital aspect to the "why" of Jesus' departure. He said, "If I do not go away, the Helper (Paraclete) will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you." Jesus' departure was tied to Pentecost. There is no Pentecost without ascension. As the invested King of kings, Jesus had the authority together with the Father to send His Holy Spirit in a new

Icon of the Pentecost (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) There is still another vital aspect to the "why" of Jesus' departure. He said, "If I do not go away, the Helper ( Paraclete ) will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you." Jesus' departure was tied to Pentecost . There is no Pentecost without ascension. As the invested King of kings , Jesus had the authority together with the Father to send His Holy Spirit in a new and powerful way upon the church. Jesus spoke of a certain necessity of His leaving in order for the Spirit to come. Herein was another great advantage. He declared, "Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost has come upon you" ( Acts 1:8, KJV ). Two remarkable things happened to the disciples after Jesus departed. The first is that they "returned to Jerusalem with great joy" (Luke 24:52). They were not despondent over the departure of Jesus. Obviously they finally understood why He was leaving. Th