TEXT:
‘And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever, the Spirit of Truth’ (John 14:16-17).
Jesus promised He wouldn’t leave His disciples like orphans, without anyone to take care of them. The Holy Spirit would assume the role vacated by Jesus, by teaching and training the disciples in the work of the ministry, as well as influencing their personal lives.
Jesus promised the Holy Spirit would, ‘Glorify Me, for He will take of what is mine and declare it to you’ (John 16:14).
In Part 1 of this study, we focussed on The Holy Spirit and Transition, Salvation and Instruction. Now we will consider three more aspects about how the Holy Spirit helps us.
4. The Holy Spirit and Direction – ‘I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye’ (Psalm 32:8)
The Book of Revelation confirms this is the work of the Holy Spirit, ‘Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God’ (Revelation 4:5).
‘And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth’ (Revelation 5:6).
Jesus didn’t have a haphazard ministry, He was led by the Spirit, in order to do His Father’s will. When He had to travel from Judea to Galilee, He went via Samaria, (normally a route to avoid because of the hostility between Jews and Samaritans), because there was a harvest waiting (See John Chapter 4).
Many times over the years, the Holy Spirit has shown me the reason why I took a certain route on a particular day and specific time, because I came across someone I was able to share the gospel with. Nothing is more thrilling when that happens!
God who knows the end from the beginning, was able to ensure our paths crossed and it was up to me to ensure I didn’t waste that opportunity. There are several Biblical encounters that illustrate this.
- Abraham’s servant sent to find a bride for Isaac – Genesis 24:34-49
- Philip and the Ethiopian – Acts 8:26-40
- Peter being sent to Cornelius’ house – Acts 10:1-48
- Paul’s Missionary Journeys – Acts 13:2, 16:6-7
‘For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God’ (Romans 8:14). The Holy Spirit is ready to do the leading, are you willing to follow?
5. The Holy Spirit and Intercession – ‘Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God’ (Romans 8:26-27)
- The Problem – ‘For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought’
There can be various reasons why we do not know what we should pray for – fear, unbelief, ignorance, indifference or uncertainty, particularly when it concerns an area where it is not clear what the will of God should be. We don’t know the future, nor even the whole picture, but that does not have to stop us praying, thanks to the Holy Spirit.
- The Solution – ‘The Spirit Himself makes intercession for us’
If we don’t know what to pray for, the Holy Spirit can pray through us. When we receive the Baptism with the Holy Spirit, we have a new tongue to praise and pray with. With our natural mind we don’t understand what we’re saying, but God does. ‘For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries’ (1 Corinthians 14:2).
What we are saying is a mystery, but we can pray into situations beyond our understanding because the Holy Spirit is helping us. This kind of praying is part of the Christian’s armour, ‘Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit’ (Ephesians 6:18).
Another benefit of speaking with other tongues is it edifies or builds us up spiritually. ‘But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit’ (Jude v20). ‘A person who speaks in tongues is strengthened personally’ (1 Corinthians 14:2 NLT). Paul wrote, ‘I speak in tongues more than you all’ (1 Corinthians 14:18). He had learnt the secret of building himself up!
The way some Christians talk negatively or derisively about the baptism in the Holy Spirit and speaking with other tongues, even avoiding Christians who do, implies that they think this experience is a curse, not a blessing.
The Bible says, ‘Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith’ (Galatians 3:13-14).
If you would like to receive the Baptism in the Holy Spirit, in faith just ask God. Then submit your tongue to the Holy Spirit’s influence. As you begin to pray and praise, you will find yourself experiencing the same infilling that happened to the disciples on the Day of Pentecost. ‘And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability’ (Acts 2:4 NLT).
6. The Holy Spirit and Compassion – ‘Meanwhile, the church had peace throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria, and grew in strength and numbers. The believers learned how to walk in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit’ (Acts 9:31 TLB)
After Saul of Tarsus’ conversion, persecution eased and the church, walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, saw tremendous growth.
Jesus promised the Holy Spirit would be another comforter, one exactly like Jesus had been. Jesus was moved with compassion as the following scriptures make clear.
- For those who were distressed – ‘When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless’ (Matthew 9:36)
- For those who had experienced death of a loved one – ‘When the Lord saw her, his heart overflowed with compassion’ (Luke 7:13 NLT)
- For those suffering from sickness and disease – ‘Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick’ (Matthew 14:14 NLT)
- For those who had been deserted – ‘Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd’ (Mark 6:34 NLT)
- For those who were demon-possessed – ‘But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us’ (Mark 9:22). Jesus did have compassion and the son was set free.
By the Holy Spirit, God is moved with compassion to help us. By the Holy Spirit, we are moved with the same compassion towards others to help them!
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