“And I will ask the Father, and he will give
you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the
world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him,
for he dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I
will come to you.” (John 14:16-18 ESV)
Jesus
promised to send another Helper in His place. The Greek word Paraclete means “One called alongside to
help.”
High School
graduation was a major milestone in my life. During the Vietnam War a young man
moved quickly into the threshold of adulthood.
The end of High School came with an
element of excitement and adventure. The excitement was anticipating a
success-filled future. What new risks would be achieved? The adventure was the actual
quest. What undertakings would be passionately pursued?
During High
School did you believe things would be different when the classroom regiment
was over? You probably discovered you were right, but maybe not the way you
originally thought. Some discover how it feels to be lacking funds, skipping a
meal. Most everyone experience needs greater than supply.
When I was
sick with strep throat in a military barracks near San Antonio, Texas, my mom in
Seattle, Washington was not there to give comfort. Celebrating Christmas without
family on a small Asian island was just another day, nothing out of the
ordinary.
In
adulthood a person experiences new forms of competitiveness and witnesses greater
levels of deceitfulness. You become fully exposed to bigotry and injustice.
Without the protective covering of parents come higher levels of pain,
loneliness and possibly depression.
The world
imagined in mom and dad’s home is not always the world experienced afterwards.
Parents keep children from harm, under their roof various actions are banned or
restricted. Younger people can easily get caught up in the many delusions of
life. Everyone has the potential of ending up a miserable mess.
In the
midst of numerous risks Jesus sent a Helper. You are never without the
parentage of the Heavenly Father. You are not orphans.
The coming of the Helper
Jesus fully
experienced the pressures of life. He knew the power of temptation. He was
continually aware and on guard against the impure motives of others. Religious
leaders constantly tried to trick Him, trip Him up with His own words. He
underwent rejection and scorn. He personally went through the worst this world
can do to anyone. To everyday pressures Jesus promised His followers the same
reliable help, an always with them Helper.
Believers
are to rely upon and be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit. With His
dependable aid you can confidently see the light at the end of numerous dark
tunnels, regularly encountered.
When a
teenager leaves home a parent cannot help them as they once did. Mom and dad
want to help but not like before, doing so would be crippling not helping.
A story was
written about an African king who thought himself great, wonderful and very
important, so important he believed someone of his stature should never have to
walk but be carried by servants.
For years he
was hauled everywhere. One day his servants were transporting him down a jungle
path when a lion leaped upon the trail. The servants dropped the king and fled.
The king’s legs were useless. He could not walk, let alone run. He became the supper
of the lion.
Young
adults must use their own legs and flee the various lions seeking to devour,
they cannot always be carried by their parents. A transition must occur when
mom and dad cheer from the sidelines but no longer play in the game.
When a person
becomes a follower of Jesus nothing in their past can cause them to fail. Born
into poverty does not doom someone to live an impoverish life. A victim of
abuse need not remain imprisoned to the wounds of cruelty and exploitation.
You have a
Helper who gives accurate and genuine help. You are not an orphan without
divine parental aid and encouragement.
The work of the Helper
“I am the
true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not
bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that
it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have
spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by
itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.
I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it
is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does
not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches
are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my
words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this
my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my
disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.
If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my
Father's commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you,
that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” (John 15:1-11 ESV)
The Holy Spirit helps you have an abundant
life. “…every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more
fruit.” (V.2)
The Helper
comes to your efforts, streamlines and tightens them up, and the same energy becomes
more productive. Yet God does not bless idleness. Bearing fruit starts with
you, making more fruit possible.
A popular
saying is “You cannot steer a motionless vehicle, it must be moving.”Abundant
life is not discovered just sitting around but by doing what can be done with
what you have, with assurance the Helper will make it better.
The Holy Spirit helps you have a meaningful
life. “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in
him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” (V.
5)
Life without
Jesus is meaningless, a pathway to nothingness. He is the Vine. He gives purpose
to your day and activities. Your life has eternal value and activities done in
Christ reap wonder-filled dividends. Careers and professions may not be church
related but everything done with reliance on Jesus is fruitful.
The Holy Spirit helps you have a righteous
life. You may never have an article written about you in Fortune 500 but your
name is inscribed in the Book of Life.
Proverbs
10-12 reveals the life of the righteous is delivered from harmful ways. They are
firmly rooted and bearing life-giving fruit. They also rest on everlasting
foundations and are not easily shaken. In a world on shaky ground politically,
economically and socially, the Holy Spirit helps you righteously stand on steady
heavenly footings.
The Holy Spirit helps you have a joyful
life. “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and
that your joy may be full.” (V.11)
Sports fans
always express excessive exuberant when their team ends up in the championship
match. This is nothing in comparison to the constant joy of a Spirit-filled
life.
Life can be
awfully miserable when attempts are made to live independently. Jesus offers
His joy, discovered in the Holy Spirit. Connect with the Vine. The Helper gives
the nutrients that yield joyful abundance, a branch bearing fruit supernaturally.
The results of the Helper
The
emphasis so far has been the personal help of the Holy Spirit. His help is not
just for you. Jesus clearly declares, “It is more blessed to give than to
receive.”
The coming
of the Helper is for disclosing Jesus to others. The results of His activities
are the nations giving glory to God. “He will glorify me, for he will take what
is mine and declare it to you.” (John 16:14 ESV) Take what is His and fully declare
Him to others.
What the
Holy Spirit does in you is to reveal Jesus to others.
How contrary to the mindset of contemporary cultures! Currently people are conditioned
to watch out for themselves and prompted to pursue self-gratification. The God
who created you has designed fulfillment to be connected to the benefits of one another.
If what you
do with your life is in Christ, you have the assurance of the divine Helper leading
you to greater fulfillment.
You have help
Gain
sensitivity to the leading of the Spirit and always lean on the counsel of the Helper.
Acquire an ability to know His voice above all others. He will help you in ways
people and possessions cannot. You are not an orphan. The Holy Spirit helps you
be a blessing to others, rendering glory to God.
Develop a
spiritual ear to the beckoning call of the Spirit. Learn of Him in Scripture. Faithfully
and earnestly depend on Him in prayer. Ask the Lord for the ongoing ability to
recognize the promptings of the Spirit. Faithfully live out His plan for your
life.
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