Do you have the Paraclete in you? See
Who is the Paraclete?
I have a rather different understanding of the Paraclete and its role in the life of a Christian to the mainstream churches.
To my understanding of the scriptures, the holy spirit is
not a person, but the means by which God accomplishes his will and purpose. He can give holy spirit to whomever he chooses, and he can send the holy spirit to do his bidding as he did in creation. The holy spirit is God's power, and it is given in a measured response to any situation. e.g. when Moses was finding the the role he had been given in guiding God's people to the Promised Land, very taxing because of their stiff-necked attitude and complaining spirit at times, his father-in-law, Terah suggest delegating some of the responsibility to others who could lighten the load for him. God agreed, but interestingly, he took "some of the spirit" that was given to Moses and shared it among the 70 who were chosen as assistants. This was no person, but a distribution of God's power in a measured response to that situation. (Numbers 11:10-17)
Fast forward to the first century, and we see that God's spirit was instrumental in all that Jesus and his apostles did. Jesus gave holy spirit to those who preached and healed and performed miracles in his name, revealing the important role that Jesus played as our only mediator.
John the Baptist baptized with water, but Jesus said he would baptize with holy spirit and fire. (Matt 3:11; Mark 1:8; Acts 1:5) You can baptize a person with water or fire by immersing them in those two things, but you cannot baptize a person with another person.
Also, the Bible speaks of people as being “filled with” holy spirit, and of the spirit’s being “poured out,” which obviously rules out its being a divine person. (Eph 5:18; Luke 1:6)
Acts 2:33 is also interesting....speaking of Jesus....
"Therefore, because he was exalted to the right hand of God and received the promised holy spirit from the Father, he has poured out what you see and hear."
The miracles performed by the disciples who received the holy spirit at Pentecost came from the Father who first granted it to his son and then on to those to whom it was promised by Jesus before he left....
"After he had suffered, he showed himself alive to them by many convincing proofs. He was seen by them throughout 40 days, and he was speaking about the Kingdom of God. 4 While he was meeting with them, he ordered them: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but keep waiting for what the Father has promised, about which you heard from me; 5 for John, indeed, baptized with water, but you will be baptized with holy spirit not many days after this.” (Acts 1:3-5)
How is one "baptized" with holy spirit? Since it is baptized "with" and not "by" the holy spirit, it is obvious to me that God's spirit is not a person, but the power granted at God's will and discretion.
We know that the priesthood in Israel was pictorial, as was the Temple of something much grander in heaven. The Christians had no earthly Temple or priesthood because they would serve redeemed mankind once God's Kingdom was established over the earth as man's only ruling authority.....at last a true "Theocracy"....government by God in the hands of his most trusted servant, Jesus Christ. (Acts 4:27)
So in answer to your question, "do I have the Paraclete within me"....my answer would be NO. I am guided by holy spirit, but those granted a "heavenly calling" ("saints" Hebrews 3:1) are the ones who are anointed with holy spirit, to give them the 'calling" that they must receive. It will give them the power and the means to rule redeemed mankind in heaven. It requires a "new birth" as spirit beings upon their resurrection.....the "first" of two different ones. Those anointed with God's spirit in the flesh, have a heavenly hope, whereas those who will be ruled by this perfect government, are more than happy to have them as our guides and priests along with our King Christ Jesus for his thousand year reign as the "Prince of peace".
Revelation 21:2-4 will see its fulfillment.....
"I also saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God and prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 With that I heard a loud voice from the throne say: “Look! The tent of God is with mankind, and he will reside with them, and they will be his people. And God himself will be with them. 4 And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.”
I hope to be among the blessed ruled rather than the rulers and priests whom God himself has chosen. (Revelation 20:6)
What a wonderful life we will finally have, when the devil and his cronies will have been dealt with forever....never again to cause harm or ruin. Isaiah foresaw it and wrote about that hope....
"For look! I am creating new heavens and a new earth;
And the former things will not be called to mind,
Nor will they come up into the heart. . . . .
No more will there be heard in her the sound of weeping or a cry of distress.”
“No more will there be an infant from that place who lives but a few days,
Nor an old man who fails to live out his days. . . . .
For the days of my people will be like the days of a tree,
And the work of their hands my chosen ones will enjoy to the full.
They will not toil for nothing,
Nor will they bear children for distress,
Because they are the offspring made up of those blessed by Jehovah".
That is how I picture my future.....I do not have "the heavenly calling" and that is fine by me.....I will serve my God wherever he wants me.
