Introduction

Good morning, my dear brothers and sisters in Christ. It is indeed a blessing to gather together in this place of worship and fellowship, to lift our voices in praise and bow our hearts in prayer. We are here in the presence of our mighty God, ready to receive His word and to be transformed by it.

Our focus today is on a passage from the book of Daniel, a book that provides us with profound insights into the character of God and the nature of His interaction with His people. In Daniel 10:10-19, we find a remarkable encounter between Daniel and a heavenly being. This passage is a testament to the power and presence of the Holy Spirit, and it brings to light the healing and hope that we can find in God's strength and power.

Allow me to read the passage for us: "Suddenly, a hand touched me, which made me tremble on my knees and on the palms of my hands. And he said to me, 'O Daniel, man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for I have now been sent to you.' While he was speaking this word to me, I stood trembling. Then he said to me, 'Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia. Now I have come to make you understand what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision refers to many days yet to come.' When he had spoken such words to me, I turned my face toward the ground and became speechless. And suddenly, one having the likeness of the sons of men touched my lips; then I opened my mouth and spoke, saying to him who stood before me, 'My lord, because of the vision my sorrows have overwhelmed me, and I have retained no strength. For how can this servant of my lord talk with you, my lord? As for me, no strength remains in me now, nor is any breath left in me.' Then again, the one having the likeness of a man touched me and strengthened me. And he said, 'O man greatly beloved, fear not! Peace be to you; be strong, yes, be strong!' So when he spoke to me I was strengthened, and said, 'Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.'"

Harnessing the Holy Spirit's Help

The Holy Spirit is often referred to as the Helper in the Bible. Jesus promised His disciples that He would send the Helper to be with them after He ascended to heaven. The Holy Spirit is God's presence with us, guiding us, comforting us, and strengthening us in our daily lives. When we find ourselves in situations where we feel weak, overwhelmed, or afraid, we can call on the Holy Spirit for help.

Daniel was touched by the heavenly being and immediately he felt strengthened. This is a picture of the immediate help that the Holy Spirit can provide. We don't have to wait for a certain time or place to receive the Holy Spirit's help. We can call on Him at any time, in any situation, and He will be there to help us.

The Holy Spirit doesn't just provide immediate help, He also provides lasting strength. After Daniel was touched by the heavenly being, he was able to stand up and speak. He was given the strength to face his situation and to carry on. This is the kind of lasting strength that the Holy Spirit provides. He gives us the strength to endure and to overcome.

The Holy Spirit also provides us with comfort. In the passage, the heavenly being spoke words of comfort to Daniel. He told him not to fear and to be at peace. This is the kind of comfort that the Holy Spirit provides. He reassures us of God's love and presence, and He gives us peace in the midst of our trials and tribulations.

Finally, the Holy Spirit provides us with hope. The heavenly being told Daniel that he was greatly loved and that he should be strong. This gave Daniel hope for the future. The Holy Spirit does the same for us. He reminds us of God's love for us and His promises for our future, giving us hope in the midst of our struggles.

Transition. In all these ways, the Holy Spirit is our Helper. He is always there to provide us with help, strength, comfort, and hope. We can call on Him at any time, in any situation, and He will be there to help us. This is the promise that we have in the Holy Spirit, and it is a promise that we can hold on to in our daily lives.