If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and He will give
you another Counsellor to be with you forever – the Spirit of truth. The world cannot
accept Him because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you know Him, for He lives
with you and will be in you – John 14:15-17
INTRODUCTION
The Holy Spirit is absolutely central to our coming to faith in Jesus Christ and sustaining this
faith. Indeed, He is central to all that pertains to our relationship with God. We therefore
need to really know all about the Holy Spirit as He is revealed in the Bible. Let us in humility
invite the Holy Spirit to teach us about who He is and what He does.
Key Scriptures
John 14:15-17 & 26; 6:7-15; & 2 Cor. 3:12-18
Today, we will look at the Overview of the Holy Spirit and His Work. God’s plan for every
Christian is that we be transformed in our character to become like Jesus as we read in
Romans 8:29 – For God knew His people in advance, and He chose them to become like His
Son, so that His Son would be the firstborn, with many brothers and sisters. This is
reiterated in 2 Corinthians 3:18 where we read in the latter part of the verse. … And as the
Spirit of the Lord works within us we become more and more like Him and reflect His glory
even more. Please go back to this 2 Corinthians 3 passage later and read from verses 12 – 18.
As believers it is essential that we know the reality and power of the Holy Spirit,
recognizing His importance in God’s redemptive purpose. It is the Holy Spirit who brings life
right into the centre of the believer’s being and strength into our lives.
Indeed, without the Holy Spirit we would never be able to live in the power of God or know
God’s strength in our daily lives. The full enjoyment and fulfilment in our existence as
human beings depends on the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
Let us now find out what Jesus, the Son of God who reveals the Father to us, has to say
about the Holy Spirit in John 14:15-17; 26 and 16:7-15.
In this passage, Jesus links obedience directly to love. He recognizes that real love to Him
which is shown only in true obedience is not easy and so He assures us that He would ask
the Father to give us a Counsellor, that is, One who will help us to live the Christian life by
guiding us and advising us about the right things to do. This Helper or Comforter or
Counsellor, is the One who comes from God Himself. That means that God Himself will be
our Helper, but this time He will come in the essence of His Spirit. For example, when
someone has a court case, an advocate is called in to assist him with the case. You can say
that you and I definitely need such a Counsellor to stand alongside us and help us in the
courtroom of God. We need the Holy Spirit to help us in time of trouble or need.
He is the One who lives in us and with us turning our inadequacies into strengths that
enable us to cope with the struggles in the Christian life. Indeed, Jesus has not left us as
orphans without hope but has given us His Spirit to help us, guide us and enable us to live to
please God.
Significantly, Jesus says that those who live as if there is no God will not recognize the
presence and power of the Holy Spirit. This indicates that the Holy Spirit reveals Himself
only to those who are willing to believe in and receive Jesus Christ into their lives as Saviour
and Lord. Only then can they experience God’s presence with them: helping, guiding,
comforting and advising. Our success in life, from God’s perspective, depends on how much
we obey Him. Obedience only comes when we allow the Holy Spirit to come alongside us to
help us.
In John 14:26 Jesus says that the Holy Spirit will teach us all things. The more we know, the
more revelation we have and it is the Holy Spirit who leads us deeper and deeper into the
Truth of God.
Also, the Holy Spirit will help us to understand the truths taught by Jesus, thus enabling us
to apply these truths in our daily lives. Think of the many times we have been tempted to
do something wrong when in comes for the Holy Spirit to remind us about the right
conduct. Many times we say “I was going to do so and so and something told me not to.”
Well is it not something but Someone – the Holy Spirit.
In the John 16:7-15 passage Jesus says that the Holy Spirit will convince people about sin –
the sin of unbelief. Not only will the Holy Spirit convince people about sin but will also let
them know that God’s righteousness is in Christ Jesus. He will also convince people that on
the Cross at Calvary evil stands condemned and defeated.
Jesus calls us to get to know Him better so that in that knowledge we will understand how
much God loves us and the wonderful plans He has for our lives. The Holy Spirit has been
given to help us so that we can come into the fullness of our abundant life.
In closing, let us ponder over Methodist Hymn number 293 on the Person, Mission and
Work of the Holy Spirit:
CREATOR Spirit; by whose aid O Source of uncreated heat,
The world’s foundations first were laid; The Father’s promised Paraclete,
Come, visit every waiting mind. Thrice holy Fount, thrice holy Fire,
Come, pour Thy joys on human kind; Our hearts with heavenly love inspire;
From sin and sorrow set us free, Come, and Thy sacred unction bring
And make Thy temples worthy Thee. To sanctify us while we sing.
Create all new; our wills control, Immortal honour, endless fame,
Subdue the rebel in our soul; Attend the Almighty Father’s name
Make us eternal truths receive, The Saviour Son be glorified,
And practise all that we believe; Who for lost man’s redemption died;
Give us Thyself, that we may see And equal adoration be,
The Father and he Son by Thee. Eternal Comforter, to Thee.
Stay blessed!
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Website: saltandlightministriesgh.org