You Don't Have To Go It Alone Series

Introducing Your Helper

Have you ever disagreed with your parents? What child hasn’t at one time or another said, “That’s not fair!” In other words, “I’m sorry mom and dad, but in my opinion you are handling this all wrong; here’s what I would suggest you do instead. . .”

One time kids are sure to disagree with a parent is just before a spanking. How many of us as children ever heard our parents say, “This is going to hurt me far more than it hurts you.” How many parents are guilty of saying that to your children? Were you ever tempted to respond to your parents “this hurts me more speech” by saying, “Well gee dad if that’s the case let’s spank you instead and I’ll suffer the greater pain for you.”

In John 16:7 Jesus says to his disciples, “It is for your good that I am going away…” I can hear the disciples saying, “Yeah right, Jesus … did you ever hear the one about how the spanker feels worse than the spankee?” “Jesus … how in the world can you say we’ll be better off with you gone.”

The disciples only heard the first part of what Jesus said, just like our children sometimes stop listening when they hear us say, “This will hurt me more than it hurts you.” For the kids listening, if you haven’t figured out how that’s true sit down this afternoon and have a talk with your parents.

This morning we begin a series of messages called LIVING WITH POWER. You and I daily need the power of the Holy Spirit within our lives. As we saw last week the word of the Lord says, “Not by might nor by power but by my Spirit!” As the old American Express commercials said “Don’t leave home without it” we are dependant upon the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives—don’t leave home without Him!

Jesus wanted His disciples to meet and know the Holy Spirit in an intimate and personal way. His desire is the same for us today. However, the Holy Spirit is often the least known or understood person of the Trinity. The disciples certainly had a hard time understanding who the Holy Spirit was at first too.

Therefore, in preparation for Pentecost Sunday next week I want to introduce you to the Holy Spirit. On the day of Pentecost the church was born as the Holy Spirit was poured out upon those gathered in the upper room. We are Pentecostals meaning among other things that we anticipate the help of the Holy Spirit in our daily lives. If we are going to live with the power of the Holy Spirit, then we must understand who our Helper is.

Let’s look at what Jesus told His disciples. Don’t just hear Jesus say, “It’s good for you that I’m going away.” Listen to why Jesus said it was to our benefit for Him to leave.

John 16:7 But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. (NIV)

Jesus said the only way for the Holy Spirit to come was for Him to go away first. In other words Jesus was saying, “As long as I’m hanging around, the Holy Spirit won’t be here to help you.” The disciples were fearful of the thought Jesus would leave them and missed Jesus’ introduction of the Holy Spirit.

This was not the first time Jesus had introduced the disciples to the Holy Spirit to His disciples. Jesus wanted these guys to be ready for the coming of the Spirit.

John 14:16-17 16And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever—17the 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. (NIV)

Read that last part again; “You know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.” Jesus told His followers they would know the Holy Spirit in a personal and intimate way. Likewise we too should know the Holy Spirit in the same way. But do we? Do we have a personal and intimate relationship with the Sprit? Or is the Holy Spirit only an acquaintance, or worse a stranger to us?

Let’s meet the Holy Spirit, “Introducing our Helper.”

We will focus on three things this morning:

1. The Promise of the Helper.

2. The Priorities of the Helper.

3. Our Part to Receive the Helper.

1. The Promise of the Helper. (Advance)

Jesus promised His disciples He would send the Holy Spirit to them. Jesus made an absolute promise: “IF I GO I WILL SEND HIM TO YOU.”