We will continue looking at God’s Word to learn more about the Third Person of the Godhead, the Helper, the Holy Spirit.
As we have already learned, the Helper, the Holy Spirit, has been sent to aid us in our walk with the Lord. He is the One who baptizes us in Christ when we accept the Lordship of Jesus Christ. He is the One who seals us as a down payment of our inheritance in Christ.
In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory. Ephesians 1:13-14
We have been sealed by God when we turn to Christ. God’s seal, the Holy Spirit, is our guarantee of our everlasting relationship with Him as sons and daughters, royal family, and heirs of eternal life.
However, the Helper is not just a seal of God’s faithfulness for the future, ages but He is a very present help today. Let’s examine more passages that reveal His important role in our lives.
He speaks, leads, shows and guides.
Jesus said the Holy Spirit will not only speak to us, but also lead and guide us. We must learn to be sensitive to how He speaks, leads, and guides, otherwise we will miss out on what the Father and the Lord Jesus wants to do in our lives.
But when the Spirit of truth shall come, he will lead you into all the truth. For he will not speak from his own mind; but whatever he heareth, that will he speak: and he will make known to you things to come. He will glorify me; because he will receive of what is mine, and will show it to you. John 16:13-14 Murdock
Notice, Jesus implied the Helper would speak part of the time, lead part of the time, and make known or show part of the time. We must train ourselves to learn, listen, and become sensitive to His leading, guidance, and directives.
The Murdock translation above gives us a clear revelation of how the Holy Spirit works in our lives. We are the ones who must adapt ourselves to heaven’s ways, and not the other way around.
There are times we may hear the Holy Spirit speak in our hearts a clear word that will resonate with His life and peace. Other times we will sense His guidance through gentle promptings in our spirit.
Again, there are times we will receive a direct knowing about some future event or a greater understanding of God’s will for our lives. This is when the Holy Spirit shows us something through a vision, dream, word of knowledge, word of wisdom, or revelation.
The Father has not left us as orphans. He sent His Holy Spirit to abide with us forever. He comes to make His home within our hearts. How wonderful and amazing!
Know ye not, that ye are the temple of God? and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 1 Corinthians 3:16
And I will ask of my Father, and he will give you another Comforter, that he may be with you forever, John 14:16
If you have ever led a blind person shopping or walking on the street, you have most likely spoken to assist them. At other times you may have gently nudged their arm a certain direction to let them know you are turning left, right, or dodging something in the way.
At other times you’ve taken their hand to let them feel something you were trying to show them, so they could learn how to use or avoid it. It might have been putting their hand near a hot stove, so they’d learn not to get too close. Or if you were teaching them how to play an instrument, like the piano, you probably spoke, showed, and guided them at various times. All these methods of communication were necessary for them to learn.
The same spiritual parallel is true with us. Without revelation and help from God we are left to our own understanding, knowledge, and abilities, which as we mentioned in our previous post, are so limited.
The Helper has been sent to help us, but I am convinced we have ignored Him more times than we would like to admit. He is gentle and will never force Himself on anyone. He wants us to welcome His participation and partnership. He wants us to cooperate with Him. He wants us to truly desire His ways over our own ways. Then, and only then, can we become sensitive to His leading, voice, promptings, and directions to carry out God’s purpose in our lives.
When the apostle Paul wrote about walking and abiding in the Spirit he stated; “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.” Romans 8:14
This is a lifetime experience and exercise, and we must continually learn to adapt ourselves to the Holy Spirit’s leading, instruction, warnings, guidance, and revelations. This comes by reason of use or practice.
But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. Hebrews 5:14
We will discuss this more in our next post. Until then, may God our Heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus Christ richly bless and keep you.
James Brown
CST 12/06/2023