If someone asked you Who the Holy Spirit was, what would you say? This devotion looks at several of the attributes that the Holy Spirit has.
Nuggets
- The Holy Spirit is involved in our total being and life, not just the areas in which we need comfort.
- The Spirit works individually with us — specifically with whatever issues we are dealing with at the time.
- There are things that the Holy Spirit needs to teach us that aren’t in the Bible.
- The Holy Spirit is going to interpret Scriptures so that we can understand what God is telling us.
- One aspect of the peace Jesus was leaving for us was the Helper.
- The Holy Spirit is a replacement for Jesus.
- Just because the Holy Spirit is listed last doesn’t mean that He is the weakest One of the Trinity.
This year, we are looking at self-discipline. We are using Vincent’s The Lesson of Ripeness sermon to look at the need to grow in our relationship with God. We morphed learning enough to be a teacher into determining some areas we need to grow so we can be mature disciples.
Resource
Currently, we are looking into solidifying what we believe. When we witness, we need to be prepared to explain what we believe and why we believe it.
We’re starting to look at the category focusing on the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit has an important job to perform. However, many of us feel we know the least about Him.
Let's Put It into Context
I had never heard the term Paraclete before. Well, if I did, I don’t remember. According to the Holman Bible Dictionary, Paraclete is usually translated as advocate or comforter. It carries the concept of coming alongside.
That is one of the roles that Jesus played for His disciples, but now He was going away. So, they — and we — needed a Paraclete.
Brown detailed what the Paraclete accomplished:
- How to approach God.
- How to pray
- Defend them
- Help and instruct them
The disciples definitely would need a Paraclete. These ordinary men were fixing to change the world.
But they would face persecution for that. They would need a substitute since Jesus wasn’t going to be there.
Enter the Holy Spirit. We’ve talked about the Spirit before.
We know the Holy Spirit is much more than just a comforter or an advocate. In fact, Clemance noted this: “Hence the word comes to mean — one by whose grace and love the entire case and cause of men are undertaken …” The Holy Spirit is involved in our total being and life, not just the areas in which we need comfort.
Let’s take an overview look at who the Holy Spirit is.
Helper
“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you” (Jn. 14: 26 ESV)
When I see the Holy Spirit called the Helper, I usually think that is such a broad, general term. But then I think, good. Life is so complex; we need a broad Helper.
But I don’t usually see the Holy Spirit as more than a general Helper. The Spirit works individually with us — specifically with whatever issues we are dealing with at the time.
Teacher
“… he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you” (Jn. 14: 26 ESV)
One of the things the Holy Spirit will help us with is increasing our knowledge. This is a normal step in the sanctification process.
The Holy Spirit is instructed to teach us about God and His Will for our lives. His Will is that we submit to Him and change our lives so that we imitate Him.
There are things that the Holy Spirit needs to teach us that aren’t in the Bible. We are just given a glimpse into the character of God in His Word. We need to get specific instructions through the Spirit.
But that isn’t all of the Spirit’s job. He needs to help us remember.
Yes, memorization is one of the ways we are supposed to seek God. Many people, though, struggle with that.
Searching for and Seeking God
Hearing His Word (Rom. 10: 17).
Reading His Word (Rev. 1: 3).
Praying to Him (Heb. 4: 16).
Studying His Word (Ac. 17: 11).
Meditating on His Word (Ps. 1: 1-2).
Memorizing His Word (Ps. 119: 11).
It is important we remember and that the Holy Spirit helps us to remember. Once we get in the middle of a trial, we need to fall back on those instructions so we remain faithful to God.
We may or may not get a lot of instructions during the trial. What are we told? Teachers are usually quiet during the test.
The Holy Spirit may be quiet because He is giving us the room to exercise our free will. We have to consciously choose to make God our Sovereign Lord.
Interpreter
“This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words” (I Cor. 2: 13 NIV)
I wonder how many of us felt our heart race when we read “… explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words” (I Cor. 2: 13 NIV). I know mine did.
My mind immediately went to, “Spiritual reality is a hard-enough concept to grasp sometimes. And You are going to teach me in something that is not my first language?” Ooo, baby. Good luck with that.
But there is this one word buried in the sentence: “… explaining …” (I Cor. 2: 13 NIV). He is going to interpret the Scriptures for us.
In some instances, the Holy Spirit might give us an ah-ha moment. Or an example may come to mind.
Yes, some Bible verses are confusing and may seem to look like they contradict another verse.
Look what Spurgeon thought. He wrote, “We can, so far as the letter goes, learn from the Scriptures the words of Jesus for ourselves; but to understand them is the gift of the Spirit of God.”
The Holy Spirit is going to interpret Scriptures so that we can understand what God is telling us.
Peace Giver
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (I Jn. 14: 27 NIV)
One aspect of the peace Jesus was leaving for us was the Helper. We can find peace in reading a book. Thinking about someone can give us peace. Those work.
But think about the peace we get when we actually spend time talking with Someone. Being in His Presence gives us the deepest peace.
What the Holy Spirit teaches us also gives us peace.
- Our sins are forgiven.
- God will never leave us.
- Jesus is preparing for His return to take us home.
Strengthener and Advocate
“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you” (Jn. 14: 16 NLT)
Did you catch that? Back in Who Is Jesus?, we said that Jesus was our Advocate. The Holy Spirit is, also.
Well, that is logical. Maclaren reminded us that the Holy Spirit is a replacement for Jesus.
But this Advocate is permanent — unless we evict Him from our hearts.
As Important as Jesus
“But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate won’t come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you” (Jn. 16: 7 NLT)
Sometimes, I think we may have the tendency to look at the Holy Spirit as a second-class citizen of the Trinity. He isn’t.
Just because the Holy Spirit is listed last doesn’t mean that He is the weakest One of the Trinity. The opposite is the case.
The Holy Spirit is Jesus’ equal. No, the Spirit cannot save us from our sins.
Spurgeon put it this way. “Now, all that Jesus was, the Spirit of God is now.” This is logical. The Holy Spirit is to be Jesus’ replacement, the Spirit had to be like Jesus.
That is why some the attributes we listed for Jesus are good to describe the Holy Spirit. The Spirit has to give through impulses the same level as Jesus did face-to-face.
Making the Connections
We have to realize that the Spirit wouldn’t have a mission if Jesus hadn’t completed His. The Spirit’s mission is an extension of Jesus’.
Jesus may have done the heavy lifting in the plan of salvation by being the One to die on the cross, but the Holy Spirit is in it for the long haul. The Spirit is the One who convicts us and leads us down the road of sanctification.
But look at it this way. Jesus had The Twelve plus whoever showed up to follow Him for the day. His ministry was limited.
The Holy Spirit has had to convict every person since then as well as help, teach, advocate, etc. with every disciple since ascension. That has been a lot of people for individual attention!
Making the Connections to Self-Discipline
We are also considering what we would say if a non-believer asked us. Here is the worksheet again. What would you tell someone about God forgiving and forgetting sins?
- What does the Scriptures say?
- What do I believe?
- Why do I believe the same/differently than the Scriptures?
- What are the talking points when witnessing to a non-believer?
Related Links
I have created a worksheet of the questions above. Click on the button below to access it.
How Do We Apply This?
Titus 3: 5-6 says, “He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior” (ESV emphasis added). We need to follow the promptings of the Holy Spirit. We need to follow His instructions so that we grow in grace and knowledge.
Did you catch that I didn’t talk about the Spirit being our Comforter? That is going to be the topic of the next devotion.
Father God. We thank You that sent Your Son to pay the penalty for our sins. We thank You that You sent the Holy Spirit first to convict us and then to guide us. May we grow in grace and knowledge of You. Amen.
What do you think?
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