FIRST OF ALL, READ THIS INSTALLMENT OF THE 13TH DISCIPLE
The 13th Disciple
I squeezed into the room along with over a hundred other Followers. It wasn't exactly quiet outside of this house, because the celebrations had begun. This was the festival known as Shavu'ot, which you might know as the feast of weeks but I like its other name: Yom HaBikurim, which means the day of the first fruits. I don't suppose you know what this big national occasion is, you being from outside and all, so let me explain that it it when we celebrate giving of the Mosaic law after the Great Exodus. The authorities say it was about 50 days to the giving of the law and while the Pentecost wheat harvest festival is enjoyed we also celebrate the Law of Moses given to us. Big time, especially here in the Holy City.
I sit in my seat as comfortably as possible, but I still feel restless.
The disciples have called us to gather. Jesus has gone back to His Kingdom and has given instruction to these students of His. They want us to meet, and they've rented out this room, plenty big because there are at least a hundred people - men and women - shoulder to shoulder and seated, waiting. I hang around the Disciples as close as possible (that's why they call me the 13th Disciple) and I am sitting up next to the Twelve. The raw memory of Judas' betrayal is still fresh in our memories. Who would have thought it was him who would be the traitor? The eleven remaining men have prayed and chosen Matthias to make their solid dozen in number. I am not jealous; I know my place.
But back to the house: we are all seated and in a great spirit of togetherness, despite the empty feeling of losing Yeshua here on Earth. We Believers are on the path on our own; will we do right? I think this is what the Twelve want to talk about.
I am sitting near Nathaniel. He's a good sort of fellow, always ready to listen. he hears what people have to say, then he sits back and blinks while he's measuring his words. I know that he gives me full attention, and I know that he will give me a good responsible answer every time. Like I said, a good fellow. I lean over to ask him a question, but as i open my mouth to speak, for the first time since I've known him, he pulls away and ignores me.
And I don't blame him.
As I was starting to speak, there was a sharp and quick sound coming from above - Heaven? - that shocked everyone. It was a tearing, ripping, rushing sound of deep thick wind racing around the room. it sounded like a coastal hurricane. I panicked and grabbed the table next to me to steady myself, but even as I did, i looked around and saw nothing moving by a wind's force. No curtains rippled. No woman's shawl even fluttered. No parchment lifted off of the tables. It was a sound and only a sound. But was it ever terrifying. Louder and louder. I tried to shout to Nathaniel, but i couldn't make myself heard. i looked at him.
To my amazement, he was completely calm. Almost happy, believe it or not. He was looking slowly about, and his eyes met Judas Alphaeus'. They both smiled slowly.
I saw through a nearby window that people outside could hear it. They were running toward our house.
The sound was deafening, but how do I explain the next part? I felt a peace amidst the noise. A real contented, peaceful feeling. It was indescribable, all the way down into my innermost being - my soul, I guess you could say.
I looked down and smiled. So this is what Yeshua said would happen? My ears were full of God.
I looked up to talk to Nathaniel, but now my eyes were seeing God. Yes, I mean God was moving in the room through using fire.
No, no, I didn't say the room was on fire. Each person was on fire - no, that's not right. Each person was crowned with a ... well, a bit of fire. Like each person was an oil lamp and had their very own flame. Nathaniel had one over him. So did Andrew, and as i looked down the line I saw one over James, one over Thomas...
Thomas leaned forward and laughed heartily with a deep joy. He pointed at me.
"Look! My friend seems to have a fire as well!" Nathaniel turned and laughed in delight as well. He was looking over my head.
I had a tongue of flame over me as well. Could it mean that God was blessing me with His own divine blessing?
Nathaniel leaned his arm on the windowsill - almost poking a man who had thrust his head in the window - and spoke to me, but i could not understand the dialect. I squinted and stared. Nathaniel turned toward the man and spoke.
The man's eyebrows raised in shock. "You speak Egyptian? I thought I was the only one from my homeland in this festival. How did you know Egyptian?" I stared at him. I knew Nathaniel and shook my head. He didn't know Egyptian. Yet here was Nathaniel talking freely. The man smiled widely and grinned raising his hands towards God. Nathaniel was pointing up and talking about God.
My heart felt full and I wanted to thank God as well. I opened my mouth and began to praise the Father, but I was not sure what I was hearing. A man shouldered his way next to the Egyptian and pointed directly at me. "you know the Parthian tongue!"
No, I didn't. Nor do I now. What was happening? I noticed that others were speaking in distinct dialects and languages, and the people outside the window were shouting in surprise and delight. Some yelled in confusion. There was a lot of happy noise.
The second man in the window nudged the Egyptian over and spoke in Parthian back to me ... and I understood.
"Oh! This is miraculous. What is Yahweh doing here?" He shouted to me in Parthian.
In his language I replied as God would allow:
"He is beginning a new chapter of history. And we, my brother, are privileged to be a part of it!"
I sit in my seat as comfortably as possible, but I still feel restless.
The disciples have called us to gather. Jesus has gone back to His Kingdom and has given instruction to these students of His. They want us to meet, and they've rented out this room, plenty big because there are at least a hundred people - men and women - shoulder to shoulder and seated, waiting. I hang around the Disciples as close as possible (that's why they call me the 13th Disciple) and I am sitting up next to the Twelve. The raw memory of Judas' betrayal is still fresh in our memories. Who would have thought it was him who would be the traitor? The eleven remaining men have prayed and chosen Matthias to make their solid dozen in number. I am not jealous; I know my place.
But back to the house: we are all seated and in a great spirit of togetherness, despite the empty feeling of losing Yeshua here on Earth. We Believers are on the path on our own; will we do right? I think this is what the Twelve want to talk about.
I am sitting near Nathaniel. He's a good sort of fellow, always ready to listen. he hears what people have to say, then he sits back and blinks while he's measuring his words. I know that he gives me full attention, and I know that he will give me a good responsible answer every time. Like I said, a good fellow. I lean over to ask him a question, but as i open my mouth to speak, for the first time since I've known him, he pulls away and ignores me.
And I don't blame him.
As I was starting to speak, there was a sharp and quick sound coming from above - Heaven? - that shocked everyone. It was a tearing, ripping, rushing sound of deep thick wind racing around the room. it sounded like a coastal hurricane. I panicked and grabbed the table next to me to steady myself, but even as I did, i looked around and saw nothing moving by a wind's force. No curtains rippled. No woman's shawl even fluttered. No parchment lifted off of the tables. It was a sound and only a sound. But was it ever terrifying. Louder and louder. I tried to shout to Nathaniel, but i couldn't make myself heard. i looked at him.
To my amazement, he was completely calm. Almost happy, believe it or not. He was looking slowly about, and his eyes met Judas Alphaeus'. They both smiled slowly.
I saw through a nearby window that people outside could hear it. They were running toward our house.
The sound was deafening, but how do I explain the next part? I felt a peace amidst the noise. A real contented, peaceful feeling. It was indescribable, all the way down into my innermost being - my soul, I guess you could say.
I looked down and smiled. So this is what Yeshua said would happen? My ears were full of God.
I looked up to talk to Nathaniel, but now my eyes were seeing God. Yes, I mean God was moving in the room through using fire.
No, no, I didn't say the room was on fire. Each person was on fire - no, that's not right. Each person was crowned with a ... well, a bit of fire. Like each person was an oil lamp and had their very own flame. Nathaniel had one over him. So did Andrew, and as i looked down the line I saw one over James, one over Thomas...
Thomas leaned forward and laughed heartily with a deep joy. He pointed at me.
"Look! My friend seems to have a fire as well!" Nathaniel turned and laughed in delight as well. He was looking over my head.
I had a tongue of flame over me as well. Could it mean that God was blessing me with His own divine blessing?
Nathaniel leaned his arm on the windowsill - almost poking a man who had thrust his head in the window - and spoke to me, but i could not understand the dialect. I squinted and stared. Nathaniel turned toward the man and spoke.
The man's eyebrows raised in shock. "You speak Egyptian? I thought I was the only one from my homeland in this festival. How did you know Egyptian?" I stared at him. I knew Nathaniel and shook my head. He didn't know Egyptian. Yet here was Nathaniel talking freely. The man smiled widely and grinned raising his hands towards God. Nathaniel was pointing up and talking about God.
My heart felt full and I wanted to thank God as well. I opened my mouth and began to praise the Father, but I was not sure what I was hearing. A man shouldered his way next to the Egyptian and pointed directly at me. "you know the Parthian tongue!"
No, I didn't. Nor do I now. What was happening? I noticed that others were speaking in distinct dialects and languages, and the people outside the window were shouting in surprise and delight. Some yelled in confusion. There was a lot of happy noise.
The second man in the window nudged the Egyptian over and spoke in Parthian back to me ... and I understood.
"Oh! This is miraculous. What is Yahweh doing here?" He shouted to me in Parthian.
In his language I replied as God would allow:
"He is beginning a new chapter of history. And we, my brother, are privileged to be a part of it!"
The Holy Spirit is God.
"Pneumatology" means the study of the Holy Spirit
pneuma = spirit logos = study of
1. The Holy Spirit is a Person
For example, in John 16:13:
But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all truth. For He will not speak on His own authority, but will speak whatever He hears, and will tell you what is to come.
2. As a Person, the Holy Spirit can be grieved.
Here is an example written by Paul in Ephesians 4:30:
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
3. Believe it or not, the Holy Spirit can be insulted.
You don't believe me? Read here in Hebrews 10:29:
How much greater punishment do you think that person deserves who has contempt for the Son of God, and profanes the blood of the covenant that made him holy, and insults the Spirit of grace?
4. A person can lie to the Holy Spirit.
We read of when Ananias lied about how much money he was actually giving to the church. Acts 5:
But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back for yourself part of the proceeds from the sale of the land?
For example, in John 16:13:
But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all truth. For He will not speak on His own authority, but will speak whatever He hears, and will tell you what is to come.
2. As a Person, the Holy Spirit can be grieved.
Here is an example written by Paul in Ephesians 4:30:
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
3. Believe it or not, the Holy Spirit can be insulted.
You don't believe me? Read here in Hebrews 10:29:
How much greater punishment do you think that person deserves who has contempt for the Son of God, and profanes the blood of the covenant that made him holy, and insults the Spirit of grace?
4. A person can lie to the Holy Spirit.
We read of when Ananias lied about how much money he was actually giving to the church. Acts 5:
But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back for yourself part of the proceeds from the sale of the land?
What does it mean when it says that the Holy Spirit "regenerates the Believer?"
You get an idea when you read John 3:3-5 where is says we must be "Born of ... the Spirit" in order to become a Christian and go to Heaven. This means that it is more than just someone saying, "oh, yeah, I believe in God" or "Sure, I'm a Christian" just by mouthing something and not really taking the salvation experience seriously. Tit.3:5 also says that when someone truly makes a life decision for Jesus they receive "The... renewing of the Holy Ghost."
Understand this serious truth: membership in the kingdom of God can come only through the regenerating of the Holy Spirit. John 6:63 makes it very clear: "It is the Spirit that gives life." We read that Jesus was begotten of the Holy Ghost, and must we. Every person must be regenerated by the Holy Spirit who is to be an heir to the kingdom.
Re = again generate = born
Understand this serious truth: membership in the kingdom of God can come only through the regenerating of the Holy Spirit. John 6:63 makes it very clear: "It is the Spirit that gives life." We read that Jesus was begotten of the Holy Ghost, and must we. Every person must be regenerated by the Holy Spirit who is to be an heir to the kingdom.
Re = again generate = born