One of my favorites (among many) is in the Old Testament.
I Kings 19:11-13
11. And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake:
12. And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.
13. And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?
That still small voice that speaks from within can guide and direct us, if we will not drown it out with the cares of the world and other stupendous expectations.
Christ taught the disciples about the comforter He would send them in the spirit. In John 14-16 there are great insights into it. I like those in John 14:
John 14: 15-17, 26-27Also, all of Christ's great intercessory prayer for His disciples is great, and Christ himself answers and defines what He and the Father being one is all about.
15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you
John 15:26
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.
The Gift of the Holy Ghost is perhaps the greatest gift we can have in this life, after the Atonement. It is a witness to our hearts and soul about Christ Jesus, and about His love for us. He guides us through those thoughts, impressions, and revelations He gives us through the Spirit.
It is a comforting spirit, a loving spirit, it testifies of Christ, it leas us to do good and to keep Christ's commandments, particularly about loving one another, treating others as we would be treated, and letting us know, despite all else, that Christ is with us, knows our lamentations and difficulties, and will be with us through all of it...because He has already taken all of it upon His worthy shoulders.
I testify that this is true. I have experienced it countelss times through life, and particularly was blessed with it as I faced the ravages and difficulties of cancer. Faith, prayer, and love...and God's will...spared me at that time, though it has left me disabled. But through the Spirit I was allowed to know that everything would be fine. I was comforted, I was let know od yet had work for me to do for a season...and so I have been able to come through better than I was before those difficult experiences.
This is the type of thing, in my experience, that the Spirit, the Holy Ghost, can do for us.
Jeff,
Thank you for sharing excellent scripture references.
Thank you so much Jeff for this clearer understanding I pray many will this coming 2014 have the Lord’s Spirit of discernment.