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TRUST JESUS TODAY

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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Our Mutual Friend (not about the book) (09/15/11)
The Holy Spirit whom I call GUS (God of my UnderStanding) is my friend. He came into this world anew at Pentecost for one purpose, to befriend believers. I am a believer, and the Spirit is my very personal friend. He may also be your friend. I hope he is. If so, the world is a better place. If he is not your friend, you are missing a lot, and it is not the Spirit’s fault (Luke 11:13).
The Holy Spirit is the most powerful force in the universe (Matthew 28:18). The key verse is John 14:16: And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever. The word “comforter” can mean helper, friend, one who encourages and supports. The word “another” implies someone just like me. In other words, Jesus was saying that God was going to send someone just like himself in the form of a spirit to take his place, be his replacement. We have to assume that Jesus meant that the Spirit was coming to do for believers today the same kinds of things that he did for his friends during his sojourn on this earth some two thousand years ago.
So we should from time to time remind ourselves of some of the things Jesus did for Peter, John, James and the others: he provided for them (Matthew 16:8-9); he protected them (John 17:12); he challenged them (Matthew 10:7-8; 28:19-20); he used supernatural power to help them solve their problems (Mark 4:39). he taught them how to relate to each other (Matthew 5 – 7); and he gave them time for conversation and fellowship (Mark 6;30-31). Jesus was the personal friend of his followers, but we have to acknowledge that this marvelous relationship was not available to everyone, only to those who were the friends of Jesus.
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Member Comments
Member
Date
Helen Carr
09/25/11
You know, I've never thought about 'naming' the Holy Spirit before, but what a great idea! When I read that, it seemed to take him from 'ethereal being' to 'friend'! And the reason for the name you chose is wonderful!

This is such an encouraging entry. I love the examples you give of what Jesus did for his disciples, and how we can share those exact same things today, through "GUS".

I liked the ending in that it clearly states only those who are friends of Jesus received such care; would it be possible to continue this by showing that anyone can be a friend of Jesus, and how they do this - perhaps the John 3:16 verse teased out would work well?

This is a great entry and a wonderful reminder of all that Jesus is and can be for us while we live in this broken world. Well done.
Linda Goergen
09/26/11
Wow, lot of spiritual truth and food for thought here bundled up in few words! As one of the ways the Holy Spirit is referred to in the bible is Spirit of Understanding, GUS certainly fits as a friendly nickname, I would have never thought of doing that, interesting! Well done article.
Shann Hall-LochmannVanBennekom 
09/27/11
This is short but right to the point. I smiled at the name Gus, it was quite clever.
Mildred Sheldon
09/27/11
Thank you for an interesting article and I love the title. Short and sweet.