The Holy Spirit: Our Friend
I didn’t always know the Holy Spirit; I never knew that He was the one living inside me. I used to think the Holy Spirit was this magical, intangible thing, definitely not a person.
But when I started studying the Word of God,
intensely over the past 2 decades, my thinking has changed. I now understand the Holy Spirit is not an "it,” but a person.
When Jesus spoke to His disciples about the Holy Spirit before His departure, he referred to the Holy Spirit as a helper, comforter, or advocate who would come to be with them after He left. This is mentioned in the Gospel of John, particularly in chapters 14 to 16.
Jesus assured His disciples that although He was leaving them physically, He would send the Holy Spirit to be with them and in them.
In John 14:16–17, Jesus said, “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.”
This promise was fulfilled on the day of Pentecost, as recorded in Acts chapter 2, when the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples, empowering them to boldly proclaim the message of Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit continues to dwell within us as born-again believers, guiding, empowering, and comforting us in our walk of faith.
I’m extremely grateful for the sacrifice Jesus made for us on the cross, to reconcile mankind back to the Heavenly Father. We have the greatest gift given to us, the person of the Holy Spirit. He is our constant Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate and Strengthener.
“ And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby), that He may remain with you forever-“ John 14:16 AMPC
Who is the Holy Spirit, and what exactly does He do? These questions that countless believers struggle with answering. Most don’t realise the Holy Spirit is a person who thinks, feels and has desires
The Holy Spirit is considered the third person of the Holy Trinity, alongside God the Father and God the Son (Jesus Christ).
John the Baptist described the Holy Spirit as someone who would guide them into all truth, remind them of his teachings, and empower them to bear witness about him.
The Holy Spirit is a divine and eternal being, possessing attributes of God.
The Holy Spirit is actively involved in the lives of believers, providing guidance, comfort, and empowerment.
The Holy Spirit illuminates the minds of people, makes us yearn for God, and takes spiritual truth and makes it understandable to us.
The Holy Spirit is the quiet and gentle guest of our soul.
The Holy Spirit is the power of God, the presence of God, and the revealer of God.
The Holy Spirit leads us into truth and reminds us of Jesus' words.
In this season we need to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit. When the spirit of God and the Word of God is united, working together, we will see new things happening.
Let’s have a look at what is the Function of the Holy Spirit.
1. Comforter / Counsellor.
In II Corinthians 1:3, ” Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, ”.
God cares deeply about everything which concerns His children. When we are hurting, many times we will look to other people to help us feel better and often, we find they don’t have everything we need. but the Holy Spirit, who dwells on the inside of us, knows us better than anyone else. The Holy Spirit knows exactly how to bring the strength, healing and comfort we need.
The Holy Spirit is our counsellor, He teaches us everything and reminds us of God’s Word. The Bible tells us there is safety in seeking wise counsel. But if we seek first the Holy Spirit, He will guide us, whether by giving us the answer directly or leading us to the right counsel.
2. Holy Spirit is our Helper.
This one sure thing I know is that the Lord will never leave us nor forsake us. He knows how to take care of us when we face trouble. We can confidently trust in Him. Deuteronomy 31:6 NKJV. “Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”
Hebrews 13:6 NKJV. “So, we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”
The Holy Spirit wants to help us with every single detail of our lives. I think the most spiritual prayer we can pray sometimes is simply, “Help me, Lord”. All we have to do is ask! He is the real-life superhero who always shows up and is always available when we call upon Him.
3. INTERCESSOR.
Romans 8:26 NLT. “And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with a groaning that cannot be expressed in words.
We learn in this portion of scripture that the Holy Spirit prays on our behalf, especially when we can utter into words what our need is. The Holy Spirit makes our requests clear to the Heavenly Father. Here is the good news: the Holy Spirit lives in us, fostering a personal relationship between us and God.
4. Advocate.
John 14:26 NLT. “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. ”This verse portrays the Holy Spirit as the Advocate sent by God to guide, teach, and remind believers of the teachings of Jesus Christ.
5. STRENGTHENER:
The Holy Spirit is often seen as the source of strength and empowerment for believers. This belief stems from various passages in the Bible, such as Acts 1:8 NLT, where Jesus tells His disciples, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you.”
Ephesians 3:16 AMPC May He grant you out of the rich treasury of His glory to be strengthened and reinforced with mighty power in the inner man by the [Holy] Spirit [Himself indwelling your innermost being and personality].“
This power or strength from the Holy Spirit is seen as enabling believers to live out their faith, overcome challenges, and fulfil their purpose.
I pray that you will have a new fresh infilling of the Holy Spirit. May the Holy Spirit be so present in your life that you will become a light-bearer for Jesus Christ. To help others see Jesus clearly as He shines through you.
Forgive quickly
Love deeply
Ps.Lil ❤