The Holy Spirit our Helper
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March 17, 2008 |
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 "I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever" (John 14:16).
God has given to us a gift that cannot be compared with anything in this world. As written in Acts 2:38, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit," God has sent to us the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is a vital and real being without whom no Christian can live. Yet, as many people lack sufficient understanding of the Holy Spirit, they are not led by Him. Therefore, each of us needs to make sure we have proper understanding of the Holy Spirit, apply that understanding in our daily lives, and be placed on the path to blessings.
1.God and the Holy Spirit: One and the Same
The Holy Spirit is the spirit and the heart of God. In addition, as one of the Trinity who fulfills the sacred providence, the "Holy Spirit" refers to God the Holy Spirit. Although the way in which each part of the Trinity – God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit – functions is different, they are one and the same.
Maintaining the same attributes as God the Father, God the Holy Spirit operates in spirit to accomplish the providence. Having been with God the Father since before time began, the Holy Spirit has done much work in the cultivation of mankind. In the Bible, the Holy Spirit has been engaged in the cultivation of mankind as "the Spirit of the LORD GOD," "the Spirit of God," "the Spirit" and "the Holy Spirit." In Old Testament times He worked outwardly because the people did not receive the Holy Spirit into their hearts, and in New Testament times He dwells in the hearts of believers and works within them, and thus, He will be at work to everlasting.
During the Creation of God, He worked as the 'Spirit of God' as written in Genesis 1:1-2, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters."
Throughout the history of Israel, the Holy Spirit was at work and fulfilled God's providence as He was with the priests, prophets, and kings. In Genesis 41:38, we find Pharaoh speaking of Joseph as "a man like this, in whom is a divine spirit" while in Exodus 31:3-5, God called by name Bezalel, filled him with "the Spirit of God in wisdom," and allowed the construction of the tabernacle. During the period of judges, God established judges and delivered Israel when "the Spirit of the LORD" came upon them (Judges 3:7-10, 6:34). "The Spirit of God" and "the Spirit of the LORD" came upon Samuel, the last judge who was also called upon as a prophet; Saul, the first king of Israel; and his successor King David (1 Samuel 10:10, 16:13). In addition, the Holy Spirit prophesied through the lips of many prophets and led Israel according to God's providence.
In New Testament times, God allowed His holy people anticipating the birth of Jesus to recognize by "the Holy Spirit" Jesus, who came into this world as the Messiah (Luke 2:25-38). Jesus the Son of God was conceived and born by the Holy Spirit (Matthew 1:18, 20) and He accomplished God's will and fulfilled the providence of salvation by the power of the Holy Spirit.
During Old Testament times, God the Holy Spirit could not dwell within people on account of their sins and they were thus limited to being inspired by Him outwardly. In New Testament times, however, through the redemption by Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit dwells in each of us and we are now empowered to receive help directly from God (1 John 2:27).
Before His ascension, the resurrected Jesus commanded His disciples, "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:19-20). We can gather here that God and the Holy Spirit are one and the same.
2.The Holy Spirit Comes to the World as the Counselor
God sent into this world His One and Only Son Jesus and opened the door to salvation. By the blood of Jesus Christ, mankind has received forgiveness of their sins.
As we find in Romans 6:16, "Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness?" people who go on to live their lives filled with sin without repentance will become slaves of sin and drive themselves away from salvation. The enemy devil and Satan will employ every method available to bring back to sin even those who believe in Jesus Christ and whose sins have been forgiven. Knowing this in advance, God had established a secret plan: the Holy Spirit the Counselor.
The term "Counselor" refers to the "one that gives advice in law and manages cases for clients" and refers to the Holy Spirit. In John 14:16-17, Jesus tells us, "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." After perfecting the path to salvation, Jesus ascended into heaven. We were in need of another Counselor and after Jesus asked God following His resurrection and ascension, the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of the Truth, came.
1 Corinthians 6:11 tells us, "Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God." Salvation is only found in Jesus Christ who has delivered us from sin, and in the Holy Spirit the Counselor who leads to eternal life those who have been born again in the name of the Lord.
3.The Holy Spirit as the Helper
The Holy Spirit convinces God's children of His love (Romans 5:5), empowers them to resist sin to the point of shedding blood (Hebrews 12:4), and helps them to live by God's will.
No matter what trials one may face during his life in this world, he can overcome all the torment and agony if he is sure of God's love for him. On this, Romans 8:37 reminds us, "But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us."
By assuring us of God's love, the Holy Spirit enables us to get back on our feet no matter how difficult and agonizing life may be. As the Holy Spirit "searches all things, even the depths of God" (1 Corinthians 2:10), He can fathom God's heart directed at us. With attributes that make us human, we will come to learn that when we live according to the desires of the Holy Spirit, our hearts rejoice and we become filled with the Holy Spirit; these are two signs that tell us God is pleased with us. However, the desires of the flesh – committing of sin – "grieve the Holy Spirit" (Ephesians 4:30), depriving us of joy and peace as a sense of emptiness is felt and we know that God is not delighted with us.
As "the Helper," the Holy Spirit may teach each of us as a personal tutor or give instructions from time to time (John 14:26; Luke 12:11-12). In Acts 6:10, we read that people with whom Stephen argued "were unable to cope with the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking." When filled with and obedient to the Holy Spirit, even those who are not as well educated or eloquent are not overcome by others.
Moreover, in kindness and warmth the Holy Spirit leads us to the truth (John 16:13) as He helps our weakness and intercedes for us (Romans 8:26), comforts us (Acts 9:31), and tells us what we have to do (Acts 20:28).
Brothers and sisters in Christ, God the Holy Spirit leads all God's children to the truth so that not one of them will fall away from the grace of salvation. May each of you come to understand and be grateful of that love, and by that love lead a joyous life in Christ, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ I pray!
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