In the Gospel of John Jesus speaks of the promise of the Holy Spirit. In John 14:15- 16 Jesus states,
“If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever."
The word, “advocate,” comes from the Greek word, paraclete; it means helper, advocate with the Father, stand-by, intercessor. So Jesus describes both the Holy Spirit and himself with this word. In the original language, it means another Helper of the same kind, implying that the one Father will send will be just like Jesus. In his first letter, John clarified this for us; he said that Jesus was, and indeed still is, our helper, or advocate:
(1 John 2:1) “My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate before the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.”
So what is the importance of this having a helper exactly like Jesus as believers? Well, All you have to do is look at the ministry of Jesus. What did He do for them? He did everything for them. He answered every question they ever had. He provided everything they needed. He supplied all their protection, all their provision, all their instruction, all their wisdom, all their knowledge. Everything came from Him. He interpreted all their experiences. He not only told them the meaning of what had happened and was happening. He explained to them what was coming ahead and what was going to happen.
Here's we have to be careful though. While it should be staggering, that he same power that raised Jesus from the dead is in us, and is a personal helper, illuminating, encouraging, and guiding our lives, we have to be careful that the Holy Spirit doesn’t merely become a personal life coach.
If we look to the book of Acts Jesus tells his disciples, ”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(Acts`:8-9).” We see here that through the Holy Spirit, as their advocate and helper, they would be witnesses to the truth of Christ in Jerusalem, and all of Judea, and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. With the Holy Spirit, these disciples become a part of God’s mission in the world, as witnesses of Gospel truth to many.
While the Holy spirit may be an encourager, illuminator, and comforter to each of us, we should see ourselves as credible witnesses to the Gospel truth. We should see the Holy Spirit as one we submit to, as we testify about Christ to the world. While the fruit of the Spirit is joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, self-control, we should ask ourselves, is the fruit I’m bearing having an effect on the world around me? Am I bringing the joy of the Lord to those in my community? Am I bringing peace to my community? Am I having displaying patience, kindness, and goodness to those in my community? Am I submitting to the Holy Spirit and having an effect, allowing the Holy Spirit through my life, be on God’s mission to be a living testimony for the Gospel?
Today, I encourage you to get to know the Helper that Jesus sent to replicate him in and see our lives as the living testimony that we are God’s Children.
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