Mutual encouragement and assignment

When Jesus was on earth, He was Immanuel, “God with Us.” Although the disciples didn’t fully realize His presence, many of the things He did could only be explained by Him being the promised messiah. These men were overwhelmed, as we would be, today. When Jesus went back to heaven, they felt the gap His absence left. Even though they followed the guidance of the Holy Spirit, they continued to learn more about all that God desired each day. They encouraged each other as the opportunities presented themselves. Paul, likely the most educated of the group, came along later. He had a dual focus, Jews and Gentiles. When agreement was needed, Paul conferred with those in Jerusalem (Act 15), when there were difficulties, Paul challenged Peter directly (Gal. 2). There were also disagreements between Paul and Barnabas regarding Mark. Despite the disagreements, the Holy Spirit bound them together with a common goal to share Jesus with the world. This is the goal of all Christians, today. Some years after all the apostles had died, there were struggles to completely and accurately define who was Jesus, who was the Holy Spirit, and how they existed together, but exercised different actions. After Jesus was accepted as a real person and not some imagination, scholars struggled with how to view this invisible, though powerful Holy Spirit. They were mostly confused by whether or not He should be considered another personality. There are scriptures that describe His qualities as those a person would have, such as one who “testifies”, “intercedes”, or “interprets.” Additionally, the Holy Spirit could be “resisted”, prevented,” “grieved”, or even “blasphemed.” These leaders struggled to understand the source and identity of the three parts of the Trinity. On leader concluded the relationship was described as, “The Father decides and commands, the Son executes and models, the Spirit nourishes and grows.” (Irenaes, Against Heresies 4.38.3). This provides a reasonable description of a relationship we will only understand fully at the end of our unique individual spiritual journey, heaven. Until then, we are to serve the guidance of the one left in Jesus' place, the Holy Spirit, as best we understand.