Who is the Holy Spirit? - With Us
The blessing that comes from a life in the Spirit should never be taken for granted. That blessing seems to come with a qualifying condition.
John 14:15–18 (NLT) “If you love me, obey my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you.”
Notice a few things that John reveals about the Holy Spirit living with us.
- You don’t work to receive the Holy Spirit; you welcome Him. You welcome Him through your obedience.
v.15 (NLT) “If you love me, obey my commandments.”
Christ wants us to have the Holy Spirit. Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit
. . . but obedience is the key to receiving.
- You receive an Advocate, not an Assistant, in the Holy Spirit.
What’s the difference? An assistant helps you with your agenda. An advocate instructs and sticks up for you.
John 15:26 (NIV) “When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me.”
The Advocate speaks truth and testifies about Jesus.
- You have a divine reminder of important information.
John 14:26 (NLT) “But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative— that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.”
Jesus promised the Holy Spirit to help the disciples remember what Jesus had said. He did this so they could record it accurately in Scripture for our benefit. The Spirit still reminds God’s people about His Word and makes it come alive to us.
- You have a godly conviction in regard to sin.
John 16:8 (NLT) “And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment.”
The Holy Spirit, working as our Advocate, gives us power, love, and perspective.
THE SPIRIT ENERGIZES YOU WITH POWER
There are a lot of people who are anxious about the future. But the psalms encourage us.
Psalm 27:1 (NLT) “The LORD is my light and my salvation—so why should I be afraid? he LORD is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble?”
But the Holy Spirit brings hope, power, and confidence in the midst of uncertainty.
God speaks through ideas from the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit will bring God’s truth to your mind and that truth gives you power.
Jesus said in John 14:26 (Phillips) “But the one who is coming to stand by you, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in my name, will be your teacher and will bring to your minds all that I have said to you.”
The Holy Spirit speaks directly to your mind. He doesn’t need to speak in an audible voice. He doesn’t need to go through your ears. He goes directly to your mind.
When you read, study, and fill your mind with God’s Word, you are storing the truth in your mind, and then the Holy Spirit can bring it to mind at just the right time.
THE HOLY SPIRIT ENRICHES YOU WITH LOVE
Love is a great force in overcoming fear.
The differences between love and fear:
What is love? How do you define it?
Affection—takes delight in affirming others.
Friendship—Deep and deeply felt; togetherness; a sense of joy when two people are together. Golf buds or shopping partners.
Eros—A Greek word—a romantic, passionate kind of love; a love between lovers, those who are “in love.
Agape—Highest form of love; gift love. Agape love longs to give what’s best unconditionally and regardless of the cost; selfless; seeking the highest good for the other person! Agape love finds its fullest expression in God’s love toward us. And it’s His desire for us to love each other the same way. It’s the kind of love Paul urged the church in Corinth to have love for one another.
1 Corinthians 13:1–8, 13 (NLT) If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing. Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever!
v.13 Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.
- The Holy Spirit enriches our hearts with this kind of love for one another.
1 Corinthians 13:1–3 (NLT) “If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.”
If you remove love from interpersonal relationships, you remove life. Some people say, “Yeah, but I’m not really the demonstrative type.” Thankfully, that isn’t the attitude God has toward us. He demonstrated His love.
Ephesians 2:4–5 (NIV) “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.”
Here’s a good strategy for loving others well:
THE HOLY SPIRIT ENLIGHTENS YOU WITH A PROPER PERSPECTIVE
The Holy Spirit helps our perspective because His job is to magnify Jesus.
Perspective shapes how we see things. In many ways, it influences our actions, shapes our thinking, and ultimately impacts our life. The Holy Spirit helps you keep life in perspective by bringing the truth of God’s Word to your mind.
If circumstances have you . . .
If you’re not careful, circumstances can skew your perspective, and you start questioning if God is anywhere near. But like David, you have to remind yourself. . .
Psalm 116:7–10 (GNT) “Be confident, my heart, because the LORD has been good to me. The LORD saved me from death; he stopped my tears and kept me from defeat. And so I walk in the presence of the LORD in the world of the living. I kept on believing, even when I said, ‘I am completely crushed.’”
APPLY IT
Welcome the Holy Spirit into our lives and allow Him to help us in the following areas:
Psalm 46:1 (NLT)
John 14:15–18 (NLT) “If you love me, obey my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you.”
Notice a few things that John reveals about the Holy Spirit living with us.
- You don’t work to receive the Holy Spirit; you welcome Him. You welcome Him through your obedience.
v.15 (NLT) “If you love me, obey my commandments.”
Christ wants us to have the Holy Spirit. Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit
. . . but obedience is the key to receiving.
- You receive an Advocate, not an Assistant, in the Holy Spirit.
What’s the difference? An assistant helps you with your agenda. An advocate instructs and sticks up for you.
John 15:26 (NIV) “When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me.”
The Advocate speaks truth and testifies about Jesus.
- You have a divine reminder of important information.
John 14:26 (NLT) “But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative— that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.”
Jesus promised the Holy Spirit to help the disciples remember what Jesus had said. He did this so they could record it accurately in Scripture for our benefit. The Spirit still reminds God’s people about His Word and makes it come alive to us.
- You have a godly conviction in regard to sin.
John 16:8 (NLT) “And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment.”
The Holy Spirit, working as our Advocate, gives us power, love, and perspective.
THE SPIRIT ENERGIZES YOU WITH POWER
There are a lot of people who are anxious about the future. But the psalms encourage us.
Psalm 27:1 (NLT) “The LORD is my light and my salvation—so why should I be afraid? he LORD is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble?”
But the Holy Spirit brings hope, power, and confidence in the midst of uncertainty.
God speaks through ideas from the Holy Spirit.
- He gives you thoughts.
- He gives you suggestions.
- He puts impressions in your mind.
The Holy Spirit will bring God’s truth to your mind and that truth gives you power.
Jesus said in John 14:26 (Phillips) “But the one who is coming to stand by you, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in my name, will be your teacher and will bring to your minds all that I have said to you.”
The Holy Spirit speaks directly to your mind. He doesn’t need to speak in an audible voice. He doesn’t need to go through your ears. He goes directly to your mind.
When you read, study, and fill your mind with God’s Word, you are storing the truth in your mind, and then the Holy Spirit can bring it to mind at just the right time.
THE HOLY SPIRIT ENRICHES YOU WITH LOVE
Love is a great force in overcoming fear.
The differences between love and fear:
- Love looks for opportunities to give; fear is self-protecting.
- Love causes us to move toward other people; fear causes us to withdraw from others.
- Love is a sign of trust; fear is a sign of doubt.
- Love has lost some of its distinction and true definition in today’s culture.
What is love? How do you define it?
Affection—takes delight in affirming others.
Friendship—Deep and deeply felt; togetherness; a sense of joy when two people are together. Golf buds or shopping partners.
Eros—A Greek word—a romantic, passionate kind of love; a love between lovers, those who are “in love.
Agape—Highest form of love; gift love. Agape love longs to give what’s best unconditionally and regardless of the cost; selfless; seeking the highest good for the other person! Agape love finds its fullest expression in God’s love toward us. And it’s His desire for us to love each other the same way. It’s the kind of love Paul urged the church in Corinth to have love for one another.
1 Corinthians 13:1–8, 13 (NLT) If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing. Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever!
v.13 Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.
- The Holy Spirit enriches our hearts with this kind of love for one another.
1 Corinthians 13:1–3 (NLT) “If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.”
If you remove love from interpersonal relationships, you remove life. Some people say, “Yeah, but I’m not really the demonstrative type.” Thankfully, that isn’t the attitude God has toward us. He demonstrated His love.
Ephesians 2:4–5 (NIV) “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.”
Here’s a good strategy for loving others well:
- Accept others for who they are, not who you want them to be.
- Love shouldn’t break down when the other person doesn’t live up to your expectations.
- Aren’t you glad God’s love doesn’t break down when you don’t live up to His expectations?
- Be patient with people’s progress.
- To enjoy people, you need to allow for growth, development, and maturity in their lives.
- Philippians 1:6 (NIV) “Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
- Connect with others when they hurt.
- There is nothing more comforting than to have someone else to be present when you hurt.
- Romans 12:15 (NIV) “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.”
- Desire what is best for others
- It’s not about what you can get; it’s what you can give. This is the kind of love Paul had for the Philippians.
- Philippians 1:8 (NIV) “God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.”
- I don’t have the capacity to love that way, but God’s Spirit helps me to love.Romans 5:5 (GNT) “This hope does not disappoint us, for God has poured out his love into our hearts by means of the Holy Spirit, who is God’s gift to us.”
- Erase all offenses.
- Learn how to let go of the bad things people have done to you. Don’t keep a list of offenses.
THE HOLY SPIRIT ENLIGHTENS YOU WITH A PROPER PERSPECTIVE
The Holy Spirit helps our perspective because His job is to magnify Jesus.
Perspective shapes how we see things. In many ways, it influences our actions, shapes our thinking, and ultimately impacts our life. The Holy Spirit helps you keep life in perspective by bringing the truth of God’s Word to your mind.
If circumstances have you . . .
- Feeling lonely, the Holy Spirit reminds you that God is with you.
- Hebrews 13:5 (NIV) “For God has said, ‘I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.’”
- Feeling insecure, the Holy Spirit reminds you that God is your confidence.
- Psalm 16:8–9 (GNT) “I am always aware of the LORD’s presence; he is near, and nothing can shake me. And so I am thankful and glad, and I feel completely secure.”
- Isaiah 43:2 (NIV) “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.
- Feeling uncertain, the Holy Spirit reminds you that He is your Counselor.
- Job 13:27 (GNT) “You watch every step I take, and even examine my footprints.”
- Isaiah 43:2 (NIV) “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.
- Feeling depressed, the Holy Spirit reminds you that He is your Comforter.
- Psalm 34:18 (GNT) “The LORD is near to those who are discouraged; he saves those who have lost all hope.”
If you’re not careful, circumstances can skew your perspective, and you start questioning if God is anywhere near. But like David, you have to remind yourself. . .
Psalm 116:7–10 (GNT) “Be confident, my heart, because the LORD has been good to me. The LORD saved me from death; he stopped my tears and kept me from defeat. And so I walk in the presence of the LORD in the world of the living. I kept on believing, even when I said, ‘I am completely crushed.’”
APPLY IT
Welcome the Holy Spirit into our lives and allow Him to help us in the following areas:
- To energize us with power when we feel we have no strength left.
Psalm 46:1 (NLT)
- To enrich us with love when everyone around us is getting under our skin.
- To enlighten us with a proper perspective to grasp life.
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