The Holy Spirit as the Helper

May 26, 2021

The Holy Spirit as the Helper

“But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning.” – John 15:26-27

Jesus continues to prepare the disciples for what is ahead of them. He anticipates their grief at his betrayal, death, and then his ascension to the Father. Life will certainly be changing for these disciples who have lived so intimately with Jesus. While their experience with Jesus will change, Jesus longs for them to understand that he will still be with them. Instead of dwelling with them through his physical being, Jesus will dwell within them through his Holy Spirit.

Jesus refers to this Spirit as the Helper. The Spirit will enable these disciples to remember the words of Jesus perfectly. As his Apostles, these men will be entrusted with the writing of Scripture. That writing will not be through their power but through the power of the Holy Spirit working within them. Instead of being taught by Jesus, these men will now become the teachers. They will be the ones to testify to who Jesus was, what he did, and to what the Spirit can do within the lives of those who put their trust in Jesus Christ.

Through the power of the Holy Spirit, the disciples are to become co-workers with God. They are to build the kingdom of God through their witness and testimony. Again, this work will be done through the Holy Spirit and not through their flesh. Like us, the disciples were powerless without the Spirit. The power and the illumination would only come as the disciples learned to surrender and trust the Helper.

Power comes from God – power to believe, power to testify, and power to obey. The triune God models this authority. The Father sent the Son. The Son perfectly obeyed his Father. Now, the Father and the Son will send the Holy Spirit. This Holy Spirit will reveal the truth of the triune God as he will bear witness to all that Jesus has said and done. There is perfect unity and submission within the Trinity. Through the Holy Spirit’s work within the life of the believer, there can be this experience of unity through submission.

God is with you. He will remain with you through each and every day of your life, each and every triumph and trial, joy and sorrow. Not only is he with you, but he will help you through his Spirit. Your invitation is to receive, surrender, and obey.

Reflect & Respond:

How are you experiencing the Holy Spirit as your helper? How could you experience this help even more? We would love to hear your thoughts in the comments.

Related Resources:

Jesus calls the Holy Spirit a "gift" who will guide us, lead us, and empower us. Yet many believers don't experience the power and presence of the Holy Spirit in their lives. This unique Christian Bible study provides a space in which we can explore what it truly means to "walk in the Spirit" on a daily basis. The Spirit-Filled Life small-group curriculum centers on a 6-part video teaching series examining the life-giving and creative work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Begin to experience the gift today!