The Holy Spirit - Our Heavenly Counselor

The Holy Spirit - Our Heavenly Counselor

Genesis 40-42 | Psalm 14 | John 14

The 14th, 15th and 16th chapters of the Gospel According to John uniquely contain Jesus' most distinctive and extensive teaching on the Holy Spirit. For this reason, today's and the next few days' message will be devoted to exploring the Biblical teaching regarding the Spirit. (In the passages from John, Jesus is speaking to His disciples about the Spirit who will come on them, but it is safe to apply this teaching to all believers for, among other reasons, 'all receive the one Spirit' [1 Cor. 12:13].)

First we see that, according to Jesus' words in verse sixteen of today's reading of John, the Spirit to come is "another Counselor" - i.e., the Spirit is to in some way replace Jesus. He is to come as a representative of Jesus, and in many ways His substitue, enabling the disciples to carry on effective ministry without Jesus' immediate physical presence.

We also see that the Spirit's presence is permanent (v.16) and inward (v.17) - the Spirit lives in us, enabling and helping us to lead a Christian life, pleasing to God and glorifying to His name. Generally speaking, the Spirit provides guidance and instruction to believers, 'teaching us all things and reminding us of all that Jesus said' (v.26), but also helps in more specific ways.

The Apostle Paul tells us in his Letter to the Romans that the Spirit helps us when we pray: "...the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will." (Rom. 8:26-27). The unique position of the Spirit as God within us allows His perfect understanding of our thoughts and feelings to be passed on to God the Father. F.F. Bruce exclaims: 'Those longings and aspirations which well up from the depths of our spirit and cannot be imprisoned within the confines of everyday words are instead prayed by the Spirit within us, whose mind is understood immediately by the Father to whom the prayer is addressed.'

The Spirit also works within us to sanctify us - that is, to constantly help us change ourselves and become more like God - more holy. This is a life-long task, and it is often frustrating knowing that purity (perfect accordance with God's Will) will not come until we are in Heaven with God. Nevertheless, to counter the sinful nature within us while on Earth, the fruit of the Spirit is "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control" (Gal. 5:22-23).

Finally, the Spirit's impact in our lives can be said to include the "making real" of God to us. In prayer, spirituality and worship, the Spirit makes the presence of God felt and helps us to remain focussed on Him at all times.

Pray for the continued working of the Spirit within you, molding your life to the Will of God; and praise God for His gift of the Spirit, our helper and guide, our True Counselor.