Wednesday, January 11, 2023
I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you. John 14:16-17
The Holy Spirit - Our Helper
Why do you believe what you believe? If you haven’t been asked that question, there is a good chance that someday you will be asked. It is important to know what we believe and why, instead of just going through the motions. It makes our testimony more effective, and it makes our faith and service more meaningful. Yesterday we looked at what we believe about God the Father and God the Son, and today we will look at God the Holy Spirit.
In John 14, Jesus has been crucified and resurrected and is preparing His disciples for His ascension to heaven. He was physically leaving them for good and He wanted them to know what to do, and He wanted them to know they would not have to do it alone. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever - the Spirit of truth. John 14:16-17 This is Jesus telling them about the promise of His Father - the Holy Spirit. When they received the Holy Spirit, they would receive power from the Holy Spirit right away. Not in 10 years, or 5 years, but right away. With this power, they were to be witnesses for Jesus. In the power of the Holy Spirit they would spread the news of the gospel in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
There are some specific things the Holy Spirit does. Some of them are:
Exalts Christ - He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said that He takes of Mine and will disclose it to you. John 16:14-15 His role is to glorify Christ, not reveal or promote Himself.
Convicts of sin - And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment… John 16:8 The initial conviction comes for the means of salvation. The Spirit continues to convict once we are Christ's. When we sin, the Spirit convicts and brings us to a place of confession to receive God's forgiveness.
Declares God’s righteousness and judgment, and calls men to the Savior - When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify about Me… John 15:26
Effects regeneration - Jesus answered, Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. John 3:5-6
Inspired holy men of old to write the Scriptures and through illumination He enables men to understand truth.
He regenerates, sanctifies and comforts believers, and bestows the spiritual gifts by which they serve God though His church. He seals the believer unto the day of final redemption.
He is the Divine Teacher, who guides us into all truth, and by His filling He strengthens us. He gives us wisdom by which we can understand God.
These are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 1 Corinthians 2:10-11
As we receive Christ as our Savior, we receive that power immediately. Just as the disciples were given the Holy Spirit as a helper, we are also given this helper and we never have to do anything alone. He is always with us, by our side, helping us through everything with the power of the resurrection.
