Monday, February 22, 2016

A Little Help, Please!

"And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you." John 14:16-17

The Holy Spirit is given two names by our Lord in this passage: “another Helper” and “the Spirit of truth.”  The Greek word translated “Helper” is parakletos and means “called alongside to help.” The word is generic and covers a wide range of meanings, such as...
  • helper
  • encourager
  • mediator
  • assistant
  • comforter
Some translations use "Comforter", but if the Holy Spirit is only the Comforter, what is His role? He comforts.  There is no doubt He comforts perfectly, but His role is greater.  Now, going back to the description of the word parakletos above, what is the role of the Holy Spirit?
The Holy Spirit works cooperatively (alongside) in us and through us to accomplish that which God desires. Aren't you grateful God did not set us up for failure? Yes, His standards are unattainable by our personal efforts, but He gave us "another Helper" to bring Himself glory. That is a beautiful truth that should encourage us greatly.

BUT, (To make this a little more personal) if we are not living as God expects, it is because WE are not yielding to the Holy Spirit whom He sent to dwell within us to help us live according to His expectations!  There is much "chatter" about being filled with the Holy Spirit. If you have been saved by the grace of God, you have all the Holy Spirit you are going to get (and He will "be with you forever")! Being filled is not more, as in volume. Being filled with the Holy Spirit is to be under more of His control.  The Spirit of Truth uses the Word of Truth to guide us into all truth - which brings God glory in our lives.

So. Who is going to be in control today? Who is going to receive glory in your life? I can tell you who deserves to have control and receive glory... And He gave you the Holy Spirit to help you do it. (I realize we will not live perfectly, but I can see areas for improvement in my life, today, if I would lean on my Helper.)

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