You have the Helper!

Do you strive in the midst of difficult circumstances or when you need wisdom about something, or maybe in the midst of anxiety regarding a situation? Today we are faced with many challenges. It may seem impossible to live successfully as Jesus instructed us to live in the midst of these challenges. The disciples faced many trials. Jesus had started a revolution which they were to continue in the midst of a hostile government and resistant religious leaders. This was a tall order which may have seemed impossible when leaning to human understanding. But our thoughtful God, who always provided for man, equipping him for whatever task He called him to, once again provided. What did He provide? The Holy Spirit!

Notice the importance of the Holy Spirit. Just before Jesus was about to suffer and die, He makes a point of telling the apostles that He will give them another Comforter, the Spirit of Truth (John 14:16,17). The Amplified version details the Comforter as Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby. Jesus explains to the apostles in John 14:17 (Amplified) that the Holy Spirit was “with them and but would be in them”. John 7:38 and 39 describes the Spirit as a “river of living water”; “He who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water” (John 7:38).

The coming of the Holy Spirit was essential. Jesus “commanded” his apostles not to leave Jerusalem but to wait for what the Father had promised, confirming what He had spoken previously as noted in John 14 (Acts 1:4). But what is so important about the Holy Spirit? Acts 1:8 (Amplified) says “you shall receive power (ability, efficiency, and might) when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be witnesses…to the ends of the earth”. “…you shall be baptized with (placed in, introduced into) the Holy Spirit (Amplified Acts: 1:5). Jesus tells His apostles don’t do anything without this empowerment as it is of the utmost importance. Through His Word, Jesus is telling us the same thing; we are empowered when the Holy Spirit comes upon us! And like He told His disciples; you can’t do anything without the Holy Spirit; it is critical for your success! What does it mean to be empowered by the Holy Spirit?

We learn from 1 Corinthians 2:12 that as believers in Jesus, we have received the “Spirit Who is from God” and that “we know things that have been freely given to us by God”. The Father has prepared things for those who love Him and He has revealed them to us through His Spirit which we possess (1 Corinthians 2:9,10). Think about this; prior to receiving the Holy Spirit, “eye had not seen, nor ear heard, nor had entered into the heart of man the things which God had prepared (1 Corinthians 2:9). But we, as believers now know the things of God. How do we know them? By His Word, by His wisdom and through revelation knowledge. James 1:5 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach (without resistance because of sin), and it will be given to him.” But we are instructed to ask in faith, without doubting; if we doubt, we are told that we will not receive it (James 1:6,7). We do not have a spirit of this world, but the Spirit of God! Because of the Holy Spirit which we possess, we have the mind of Christ (in our spirit) (1 Corinthians 2:16)! Galatians 4:6 says that the Father has given us the Holy Spirit of His Son Jesus!

The empowerment by the Holy Spirit was evidenced in the lives of the disciples of Jesus. “Filled with the Holy Spirit they began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:4). Peter under the influence of the Holy Spirit immediately begins to preach. About three thousand people received the Word of God and were baptized (Acts 2:41). This is the power of the Holy Spirit. And many signs and wonders were done through the apostles (Acts 2:43). Ephesians 1:19 (Amplified) describes God’s power by the Holy Spirit as immeasurable and unlimited; such power as raised Jesus from the dead.

Stephen and Philip were “full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom” (Acts 6:3). Verse 5 specifically notes about Stephen that he was a “man full of faith and the Holy Spirit”. Empowered by the Holy Spirit Stephen did “great wonders and signs among the people” (Acts 6:8). People “were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke” (Acts 6:10). Philip “preached Christ” (Acts 8:5) and performed miracles; he cast out unclean spirits and the paralyzed and lame were healed (Acts 8:6). These men were bold, not in themselves, but bold in the Holy Spirit!

Now this will challenge you; you too are filled with the Holy Spirit of Jesus Christ the moment that you believed! The Spirit of Truth (John 14:17; John 16:13) has taken residence in you! You have the opportunity to experience all the ability of the Spirit as your Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby. By His ability you have the opportunity to be steadfast in every situation, to endure with patience, to experience God’s wisdom, to fully accomplish the will of God and receive and enjoy to the full, all of His promises (Hebrews 10:35,36; Colossians 1:11).

All believers receive the Holy Spirit when they believe in Jesus as God’s Son Who lived, died and rose to new life for us. To be baptized or immersed in the Holy Spirit is the empowering part as noted in Acts. At the time of my Baptism in the Spirit, I did not have understanding of what it was. Simply put, it seemed like a good idea. Even in the midst of lack of understanding, something happened! Scripture seemed to come alive with greater clarity! I explained to someone, that I felt like I was going 100 mph in the Lord! I experienced a hunger for Him that I had not had before. I began to speak in tongues. As I learned more about the Holy Spirit, I realized that my experience was directly related to Him! I became bolder in my faith. I was experiencing an equipping that was beyond myself. It allowed me to share God’s Word with others, be obedient to His instruction both personally to me and by Biblical truth, and to know by faith and believing before I saw manifestation. My life has been and remains filled with the glory of God; my boast is in Him!