The Third One
We refer to our God as the Trinity. We’ve seen the Father God throughout the Old Testament. The son, Jesus, came to the earth to live a sinless life to die as a sacrifice for our sins. The Holy Spirit isn’t discussed very much in society today. At times, the Holy Spirit has been the subject of arguments within the church. We should celebrate Pentecost as the day God endowed us with His Spirit that helps, guides, teaches, give us power, wisdom, and strength. The form that we receive His Spirit shouldn’t be a cause for division. Let’s never forget that it was during a time of great unity and cleansing that God blessed the disciples with a mighty visit from the spirit. Jesus taught a lot about the Holy Spirit; I will list a few of those scriptures to remind us of the blessing.
The Helper
Jesus said that he had to leave before the Holy Spirit could come. In Greek, “Helper” is defined as a comforter, intercessor, counselor, strengthener, and advocate. God desires to help us in every way. His Holy Spirit is readily available for us when we seek Him. We don’t have to be in a specific location in the presence of Jesus on earth. Jesus could only be there for a few people at a time, but with the Holy Spirit, no distance or time can hinder his presence or help.
But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the [a]Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby) will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him (the Holy Spirit) to you [to be in close fellowship with you].
John 16:7
Deep Prayer
One of my favorite things right now is that God even gives us help to pray. I ask his Holy Spirit to help and guide me in my prayers for people and myself. Even though I have my own idea of what everyone and every situation needs but God knows. I love that words don’t hinder the spirit. Any time in my life, the problem, the pain, or the trouble can’t be capsulized in verbiage. I’ve prayed in my tears and with groans too deep for words.
Likewise, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.
Romans 8:28
Teacher & Reminder
One of my favorite roles of the Holy Spirit is that of a teacher. I can flip through the Bible and make myself open to hearing from the Spirit of God, and I will find myself in the passage that I really need, or I find something that’s just so super cool that I’ve never seen before. I just found in John 14:26; he is a reminder. He’s so much better than Alexa or Siri. He reminds us everything about what Jesus has taught us. There are times where I’m going through something, or I’m praying for somebody or talking with them, and they’re struggling. A scripture or a principle in God’s word will come to me just out of the blue; that is the Holy Spirit giving me the perfect word for the situation. It comes at the ideal time for the other person or me. That is a gift from the Holy Spirit.
But the [a]Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will help you remember everything that I have told you.
John 14:26
Spiritual Guide
This world is full of angry, insulting contradictions right now. Each side claims to know the exact truth. There are fact-checkers, there are fact-finders, but there’s a lot of deception out there right now. God is the God of truth, and through him, we can know the truth. John 16:13 says that he will send his Spirit to us that will help guide us in the truth. In an age of pain and violence, we harden our hearts to keep ourselves from hurting so bad. Maybe we are the perpetrators, and we harden our hearts and blame the victim so we don’t feel guilt. Either way, our hearts become hardened. Through God’s spirit, he can guide us to having a soft, spiritually intuned heart.
But when He, the Spirit of Truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth [full and complete truth]. For He will not speak on His own initiative, but He will speak whatever He hears [from the Father—the message regarding the Son], and He will disclose to you what is to come [in the future].
John 16:13
And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
Ezekiel 36:26
Companion
I love the name Emmanuel. It means God is with us. One way he can be with us through his Holy Spirit can be with me at the same time he can be with a young girl far away in China, somebody else in New Zealand. It says that he remains continually with us. We aren’t orphans, helpless, and sometimes we feel powerless, but the Holy Spirit is with us, and we can receive comfort in those times.
17 the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive [and take to its heart] because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He (the Holy Spirit) remains with you continually and will be in you. 18 “I will not leave you as orphans [comfortless, bereaved, and helpless]; I will come [back] to you. 19 After a little while the world will no longer see Me, but you will see Me; because I live, you will live also.
John 14:17-19
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
Romans 15:13
Judge
No one likes to be judged, but society today is all about judging people. So many people feel at liberty to judge others and be the jury, and punisher as well. If we are Christians, we need to stop it and allow the Holy Spirit to take over that job. We need to pray for these people, and yes, we can confront them sometimes. We need to pray before we protest, ask God to guide us in what to say and how to say it. Imagine if every person would ask what needs to be changed within us first and ask him how to confront others. Our world, our society would look very different if we let the Holy Spirit be the judge.
And He, when He comes, will convict the world about [the guilt of] sin [and the need for a Savior], and about righteousness, and about judgment:
John 16:8
Benefactor
Many scriptures about the Holy Spirit’s actual work in the early church in the book of acts. Most churches are teaching about that today. But I ask for 4:31; they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with boldness and courage. God has given me bravery and courage at times beyond what I had on my own that comes from being filled with the Holy Spirit. Another thing that comes from the Holy Spirit is freedom. In second Corinthians 3, verse 17 says that where his spirit is, there is freedom. We all have areas where we are bound, and I don’t know how to get free, but when we invite the Holy Spirit into those areas to speak to us to convict us of guiding us, he comes powerfully and gives us freedom.
And when they had prayed, the place where they were meeting together was shaken [a sign of God’s presence]; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness and courage.
Acts 4:31
Now the Lord[a] is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
2 Corinthians 3:17
Our Gift
God has given the gift of the Holy Spirit to help us lead us, guide us, teachers convict us, and give us what we need to live this life for him. The more open we are to receiving this help from God, the more he will provide us with it. This day as we celebrate Pentecost, it’s the perfect opportunity to give over an area of our life to his spirit so we can experience that freedom, guidance, that help and comfort, and companionship from God. Take one moment and open the door for his spirit right now. He’s waiting for you on the other side of the door.
Behold, I stand at the door [of the church] and continually knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him (restore him), and he with Me.
Revelation 3:20
Today’s Poem about Pentecost.
