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.”
Jesus’ promise to send the Holy Spirit tells us about our need.
If you have not figured it out yet, we can’t make it on our own. We are in desperate need of help!
Let me ask you a few questions — (Advance)
• Have you ever made a dumb decision? (Advance)
• Have you ever stayed up late worrying about a situation you couldn’t control? (Advance)
• Have you ever had problems with other people? (Do you ever feel like the cartoon of the lady with the frazzled hair, haggard expression, dark circles under her eyes … her face is lined with care and the caption reads — "When I woke up this morning, I had one nerve left, and now you’re getting on it!") (Advance)
• Do you ever struggle with your anger? (Advance)
• Have you ever had a hard time getting along with … yourself? (Advance)
• Have you ever caved when it really counted? (Advance)
• Have you ever blown your witness as a Christian? (Advance)
• Have you ever had an opportunity to tell someone to Jesus or to pray with them, but you were too nervous and afraid to say anything?
Jesus promised His disciples the Holy Spirit—a Counselor, a Helper because He knew they couldn’t handle life successfully without help … and neither can we! Jesus’ promise to send the Holy Spirit tells us about our need for a Helper!
Remember Jesus promise to His disciples in John 14:16-17? Notice what Jesus says next:
John 14:18 I will not leave you as orphans. . . (NIV)
Jesus is telling His disciples and us, “I will not leave you helpless or abandoned and alone!” Jesus knows our need; He knows we can’t make it on our own, so He has sent the Holy Spirit as our Helper.
Jesus’ promise also shows us the Holy Spirits nature.
The Holy Spirit has come as our helper—and so much more! Jesus says He will send another “Counselor” (NIV), “Comforter” (KJV), or “Friend” (MsgB).
The Greek word used is “Parakletos;” this is why you may sometimes hear the Holy Spirit referred to as THE PARAKLETE. This word is rich in meaning. No single English word captures the meaning of the word “parakletos.”
• “Parakletos” was used in the legal arena to describe a defense attorney, or a character witness in a trial.
• “Parakletos” was used to describe a specialist in any field who could come in and supply the missing knowledge or insight needed to solve a perplexing problem.
• “Parakletos” was an encourager who knew the right thing to say or do when a person was suffering or discouraged.
Jesus has given us the Holy Spirit, the “Parakletos” literally, ONE WHO COMES ALONG SIDE TO AID OR HELP. How many of you need a Helper like that? A Helper who is always by your side and knows exactly what to do no matter what may come along!
Note carefully that a Parakletos wasn’t something … a Parakletos was someone … and so is the Holy Spirit! When Jesus spoke of the Holy Spirit he used personal pronouns like — "he and him!" The Holy Spirit is not an “it” or an impersonal force.
The Holy Spirit is the SPIRIT OF JESUS! Jesus said He would send “another Counselor” literally another of the same kind! When you study the way Jesus interacted with His disciples, you will also discover the way in which the Holy Spirit will interact in our lives today.
2. The Priorities of the Helper. (Advance)
The Holy Spirit has 3 great priorities for every one of us:
First, the Holy Spirit wants to help us GET RIGHT. The Holy Spirit brings us to the place where we are aware of our need for salvation. Without the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives none of us would be saved! The Holy Spirit does the work of SALVATION!
Notice what Jesus said about the work of the Holy Spirit.
John 16:8 When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: (NIV)
The Holy Spirit works in our hearts to show us of what’s wrong and what’s right, and more important, the Holy Spirit shows us what we need to do about the condition of our lives!
Jesus told Nicodemus about this work of the Holy Spirit to make us right with God.
John 3:5-6 5Jesus replied, "The truth is, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. 6Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives new life from heaven. (NLT)
The second priority of the Holy Spirit is to help us GROW RIGHT. The Holy Spirit brings us to Christ, that’s salvation. But the work of the Spirit does not stop there. The Holy Spirit also enables us to grow up to be like Christ, that’s the work of SANCTIFICATION.
Healthy babies grow. If our child isn’t growing we take him/her to the doctor to find out what’s wrong! Likewise, healthy believers grow! Becoming a Christian is not an end; it’s a new birth into Christ, a beginning not an end!
Physical growth is a process. Over time the body grows. (We were asked last night by someone who hasn’t seen Greggy for about 9 months “What have you been feeding him?”)
Spiritual growth is a process too. The Holy Spirit is the power (or the enabler) of the process of growth. Greggy didn’t just make himself grow any more than we can make ourselves grow in Christ. We need the power of the Spirit to help us grow.
Romans 8:13 For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. (NIV)
Growing up in God isn’t a matter of me trying harder … it’s a matter of me working with a partner — the Holy Spirit who gives me sovereign strength!
The third priority of the Holy Spirit is to help us GO RIGHT. The Holy Spirit is given to empower and equip us for every good work With out the Spirit we can do nothing. This is the work of SUPPLY!
Zechariah 4:6 This is the word of the Lord . . . ’Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty. (NIV)
Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." (NIV)
The Holy Spirit gives us power. The Greek word used here is “dunimous” from which we get our English words “dynamic” and “dynamite.” “Dunimous” power is more than just explosiveness. It is ability; the Spirit gives us the ability to deal with whatever situation or circumstance we are faced with. The Spirit supplies what we need when we need it.
We need the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives, BUT HE WON’T CONTINUE TO WORK WHERE HE IS NOT WELCOME. We must be willing to receive the work of the Helper in our lives.
3. Our Part to Receive the Helper. (Advance)
The work of the Holy Spirit begins with Salvation. The Holy Spirit will not force anyone to be saved. We are all given a choice, but we can resist God and say no to His offer of Salvation.
The first thing we need to do is OPEN OUR HEART. God sees and knows the condition of our heart; we can’t hide it from Him. The Holy Spirit will show us the sinful condition of our lives and we will either conceal and deny the truth, or we will open our hearts to God to let Him cleanse us from our sin.
Stephen, a man who experienced the fullness of the work of God’s Holy Spirit within his life, spoke to a group of religious people. These folks thought they had their act together, but the Holy Spirit showed Stephen the real condition of their hearts.
Acts 7:51 "You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just like your fathers: You always resist the Holy Spirit! (NIV)
Their religious dedication and devotion was not good enough. Their hearts were unchanged; they were still calloused with sin because they had resisted the Holy Spirit.
YOU CANNOT BYPASS THE STARTING POINT. You can receive nothing else from God until you first bow at the cross of Christ and accept Him as your Savior. You must agree with the Holy Spirit confessing your sin and receiving God’s forgiveness.
Secondly, after opening our heart to Christ at salvation, THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT CONTINUES THROUGH OUR OBEDIENCE. The Holy Spirit will not force us to do anything. We must choose by an act of our will to follow the leading and guiding of the Spirit. Obedience is the key.
Before ascending back into heaven Jesus gave His disciples this command.
Acts 1:4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. (NIV)
What would the disciples do with what Jesus told them to do?
Acts 1:12-14 12Then they returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk from the city. 13When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying . . . 14They all joined together constantly in prayer. . . (NIV)
If you didn’t know already they obeyed the Lord. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2 was made possible because a group of people were willing to obey the instructions given to them by Jesus.
What has the Lord asked of you? Are you ready and willing to obey? The good news is YOU DON’T HAVE TO GO IT ALONE. The Holy Spirit is right by your side. HE IS YOUR HELPER!
1. The Promise of the Helper.
The promise of a helper shows us our need and reveals the nature of the Holy Spirit.
2. The Priorities of the Helper.
The Holy Spirit has three priorities in our lives. He wants to help us GET RIGHT, the work of Salvation. The Spirit wants to help us GROW RIGHT, the work of Sanctification. And The Holy Spirit wants to enable us to GO RIGHT, the work of Supply.
3. Our Part to Receive the Helper.
The Holy Spirit won’t force His way upon us. We need to have an OPEN HEART, and we need to continue walk in OBEDIENCE.
