We all need Help

Hello fellow partaker in life!  I hope you're having a wonderful day full of joy and hope.  I am continuing in Acts chapter 1.  We move on to verse 4 (Gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, “Which,” He said, “you heard of from Me). 
So far we learned that Luke is reminding Theophilus that he wrote the Gospel of Luke.  We learned that Jesus presented Himself to the disciples and to over 500 others AFTER His resurrection.  He presented Himself for a total of 40 days and spoke of the Kingdom of God during this time. 
Now we are learning that Jesus told His disciples to remain in Jerusalem to await a promise from the Father, a promise Jesus has already told them about.  Sounds intriguing, right?  Let's get in to it.

In Luke 24:49, Luke talked about this very topic as well.  In John 14:16-17, however, it gives us a hint as to what this promise is.  "I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of Truth."  In John 14:26 is actually tells us Who that Helper is, the Holy Spirit.  So the disciples needed a "Helper" for what they were about to do.  What's exciting is the Helper is from the Father.  This must be immensely important!
Back to John 14.  This gospel is, obviously, written by John, one of the disciples.  In it, he tells us what Jesus told them BEFORE He was killed.  Jesus described to them in detail Who the Holy Spirit is.  Let's discuss.

• Someone who will be with us forever (vs 16).  Isn't that encouraging?  Seriously, think about this.  Who, on this earth, will ever be with us forever?  Not one single person.  No one will live forever on this earth to be there for us, help us, encourage us, teach us, or even love us.  We will all die eventually.  We can count on no one for this.  It's amazing to me that God thought of this way before we were born. 
• The world cannot receive Him because they don't know or see Him (vs 17).  This one is immensely important to all of us.  To get this Helper...forever...we need to get right with God, and live right for Him.  More on this topic as we delve deeper into Acts.
• If we love Him and keep His word, He abides with us (vs 23).  We cannot just believe that Jesus is there.  We have to love and obey what the Bible says.  No getting around this one, folks.  The Bible is very clear.  
• He will teach us all things (vs 26).  
• Jesus had to die for the Helper to be able to come to us (John 16:7).  Jesus' death fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies.  During His final moment of life, Jesus said, "It is finished!"  Jesus was the final...and most perfect...sacrifice for our sins.  He freely, and in love, took all the sins of the earth upon Himself, and made atonement for them.  This should make us truly appreciate this gift.
• The Holy Spirit will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment (John 16:8).  The Spirit will convict us, and we need to pay very close attention to this so we don't grieve the Holy Spirit (Eph 4:30, 1 Thess 5:19).
• Will guide us into all the Truth (John 16:13).  I love truth.  Knowing the truth truly has made life so much easier.  
• Will glorify God (John 16:14).

I gather you all here today, as well, in hopes that one person reading this will opt to listen to their conscience and come to the knowledge of Christ ultimately getting right with God.  It is an amazing life.  It truly is.  I want that for you.  If you are already right with God, YAY!!  You know what I'm talking about then.  Let's, together, strive through that narrow gate, walk on that narrow path, and see our Heavenly Father one day.  Until next time...toodles!!  <3