“When The Counselor Comes…!”

“When The Counselor Comes…!”(Jn.15:26-16:4).
After celebrating the Ascension into heaven of the Lord Jesus Christ, the next celebration is Pentecost. Next Sunday will be Pentecost day. Pentecost commemorates the descent of the promised Holy Spirit on the disciples.
The Lord assured the disciples: “When the Counselor whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me. And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning.”
We ars not to testify about the Lord Jesus Christ without having been empowered by the Holy Spirit.
And this has been the bane of evangelization. A lot goes out in God’s name but without empowerment from the Counselor, the Spirit of truth.
A test of faith is when we face persecution and other kinds of challenges. Since to be forewarned is to be forearmed, the Lord tells us these things beforehand so that we should not go astrsy when the time of testing comes through trials and persecutions. For “a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering a service to God. They will do such things because they have known the Father or me.”
Down memory lane let me pick one or two examples of the reality of those who “kill” as an act of service to God.
Today the Protestants are a Christian body to reckon with; thanks to the Reformers who staked their lives and stood firm against their persecutors.
English readers of the Bible owe it to Tyndale who translated the first English version. He was condemned for heresy, strangulated and burned at the stake. The infamous Spanish Inquisition led to the deaths of about 32000 Jews and Muslims.
French Protestant Huguenots were persecuted by Catholic Huguenots for following the teachings of John Calvin.
Over the years there are lots of flourishing Christian Churches and ministries brought about by people who rejected persecution or who were excommunicated. And the perpetrators thought they were offering service to God.
From the time of the early Church to the present the Church has expanded through persecutions.
On the day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, the Christians were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. And that is how they carried the goodnews to places and peoples who had not as yet heard about the risen and ascended Lord Jesus Christ(cf. Acts 8:1ff).
Dear friend, let your faith not waver when you face challenges as you testify about Jesus Christ. It is to be expected. It is done in God’s name by people who through their actions reveal that they know neither the Father nor the Son.
Again, if you hear a voice calling and asking to send you, do not just rush out for the assignment. Wait until you have received counsel from the Counselor, the Spirit of truth which comes from God.
Sunday prayer: Lord Jesus Christ guide me to always wait on the Counselor and to be ready to withstand persecutions for your name’s sake. Amen!
Have a blessed Sunday! Peace be with you!
Rev Babila Fochang.