00:00Hello, my name is Marjorie and I am a Baptist Minister at the Well Church in Sheffield.
00:13Shortly before Jesus Christ goes to the cross, he takes time to explain matters to his closest
00:19friends and he tells of his forthcoming trial and crucifixion and resurrection. He is foretelling
00:27what is about to happen to his followers and friends and these are the people who would
00:32go on to start the greatest movement the world has ever known. Recorded in John's Gospel
00:39in chapters 15, 16 and 17, he tells them that they are to love God. They are instructed to
00:45love each other and very importantly to receive a gift, the gift of the Holy Spirit. I will
00:53send you the advocate, the spirit of truth, he says.
00:58Many people today are not very sure who and what the Holy Spirit is, but the giving of
01:04the Holy Spirit that will soon be celebrated at Pentecost is the greatest gift possible
01:10to our world. Holy Spirit, one of the three persons of God, the Trinity, is very simply
01:17God's empowering presence on earth.
01:21One of the ancient Greek words used to describe the Holy Spirit in the Bible is parakletos, which
01:27means one who comes alongside. I find great comfort and encouragement in this description
01:34of God, who is willing to journey alongside us towards a better future.
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