John 15:23-27 KJV 23 He that hateth me hateth my Father also. 24 If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father. 25 But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause. 26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: 27 And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.

The Spirit of God has been talking to man longer then the book of John writting. God had turned his back on the children of Israel and sent them into exile. Children of Israel was still in exile at the time of Christ in the since of governmental power, not in the since of been exiled from their homeland. God was wanting to restore the children of Israel to himself through Christ Jesus. There is a problem the children of Israel had like their new leaders welling to except their freedom and government punishment if they over stepped their bounds. The Holy Spirit had not been with the people in demonstration in quite awhile. However from the time period of announcement of John the Baptist the forerunner of Christ and Mary was told she would have a child name Jesus, the ears of the priesthood was pricked and alert to the going ons. Now the announcement also came to the Roman government but time had passed that Jesus was more like a modern day guru in their opinion. They knew not He was the chosen Messiah or why He was a Messiah. Now Jesus is promising the Holy Spirit of all comfort was be given to the believers. The Comforter would come to teach all things. Jesus was also clear to explain that people that hated both Him and the Father did not know Him or HIs Father. Those that knew both the Father, Son and Holy Spirit would have enemies of those that hated God. A concept of hating God to Christians is something not understood. For the person that loves God the concept of hate is like what? Why hate God, he is all loving, merciful and a God of all comfort. It is true there are people that are enemies of God. That have no thought of what freedom for religious people are or care. Their way is right and their is no free choice beyond their own rational mind. These people are people that may never receive Christ has Lord, but will one day bow to the Lord. God does not want us to hate these people, but we are to testify to them of His grace, mercy and judgment to come. The operation of the Holy Spirit is still active today. He will teach all truths to each of us if we will only receive Christ has Lord and Savior. For new believers the idea of Holy Spirit still maybe a bit foreign to the believer. The truth is that the Holy Spirit speaks truth so you can trust Him and desire to obey Him. If someone tells you the stove is hot and you get burned once, next time the person says the stove is hot, I bet you don't touch it. Yet life is full of lessons on who to trust and who to value their word. God is trustworthy as well as truthful. He will speak to you about things to come. If you ever had something prophesied by the Spirit of God you will know it. However because of humanity it might be hard to fully grasp. If anything I learn after going through a period of rebellion was how much I missed listening to God speaking to my inner heart about all truths to come. No I am not a prophet and seldom do I realize something prophecy til after the fact. I think it God's way of protecting his people and allowing them to know He still in control at the same time. Yet there is time of prophesy that is spoken to everyone including non believers by individuals. Yet I can not imagine for the believers of Israel how individually that some still heard the prophesy of God as well as his direction for the nation. If they heard the prophesy of the coming of Christ, then it was heavy on their hearts and minds, as well as events to come while Christ walked among them. The Holy Spirit told Peter according to Jesus that He was the Christ in I think the book of Matthew. It is only proof the Holy was still in operation even at time of Christ. Yet we also can know that the power of the Holy Spirit to perform the miracles by the disciples existed. So what is going on with the empowerment of the Spirit as being a new thing in the book of Acts and John record of the coming of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit been a guide to all believers since the dawn of time. In fact the Holy Spirit calls you to himself. The Holy Spirit also spoke to gentile believers. God was not just for one tribe of people. Yet the record of God was kept by the children of Israel. They feel special as well as chosen by God to do so. Yet each believer has a story of a record in their life how the Holy Spirit spoke to them. What is going on that people are speaking in tongues and the power of the Holy Spirit is given to people. The Holy Spirit is being given to knew converts, People who knew not the Spirit of God. The events of the Holy Spirit filling the disciples is like ordination of His power in their life. It is enlightenment of the Spirit of God manifesting for the purpose of spreading the Gospel though signs and wonders. Imagine seeing your Lord killed and then resurrected. Then spending forty days with Him only to see him taken up into heaven. You might need a little encouragement to speak all that you seen. The ordination of the Spirit is given to the disciples to encourage them to press on and to be comforted knowing the hope of eternal life is yet to come with their Lord. The absence of Christ would of been fully felt among the disciples in the upper room. The sadness felt and lack of ability to press on perhaps existed, but not anymore as the disciple would be set a blaze for the Lord. They were lit by the fire of the Holy Spirit. Not a fire of actual flame but cloven tongues. Tongues of more then one language being spoken. If we can ever grasp the picture of pentecost in Acts 2 the picture becomes clearer and clearer and not just a image of men speaking and signs following. Jesus in the book of John is preparing them for the coming of the Holy Spirit. Preparing them to know he was not leaving them without help. How many times had Christ spoken words of comfort to the disciples after the crowd had left. How many times had Christ encourage them to go and testify. How many times had Christ spurred his own ministry by teaching His disciples how to be ministers and to teach others. How many times had the believers been quick to testify of the works of God without instruction. The man born blind had no trouble testifying but yet Jesus went to him and told him to go and sin no more. How much comfort then did Jesus bring the man born blind by just talking with him and telling Him about salvation. How much comfort was just the information about your own salvation to you in your own life. Comfort first comes by the Holy Spirit concerning salvation but we need more we need reassurance of faith and that what the Holy Spirit does by speaking all truths to our heart, soul and mind. When God speaks to your heart be blessed by it. Receive it as a blessing whether good or bad. Whether of strengthening or correction to do better. Dear Heavenly Father, today may this devotion speak to the believer about your Spirit of truth speaking to us as individuals to give understanding of these things in our life since believing. In Jesus precious name, Amen. Continual Scripture Study for Devotion: John 16:13-15 KJV 13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. 14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. 15 All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you. http://www.turtle30cshell.com