John 14:26 (Amplified) says, "But the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Stand-by) the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My Name (in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf). He will teach you all things. And He will cause you to recall (will remind you of, bring to your remembrance) everything I have told you."
There are so very many parts of the Holy Spirit's ministry and works that have gone unnoticed in today's Church. Jesus said that, "He, the Holy Spirit, was sent in His Name, in His place, to represent Him, and act on His behalf." We cannot receive and understand the full representation of Jesus in our walk, without receiving the Holy Spirit. Only the Holy Spirit can reveal Jesus in all His power, glory and Lordship in our lives today. He will not only reveal Jesus in His earthly walk, but the Holy Spirit will reveal Jesus in His Heavenly Kingdom too. We miss most of what was paid for on Calvary with Jesus' Sacrifice without the Holy Spirit's revelation. Many people just plan to "live right and go to heaven." Although, both things are correct and should be observed, they are far from representing what Jesus said He would do. Without the Holy Spirit's conveying this truth into our heart, we fail in the first goal of "living right." Good works aren't "being right with God," but being righteous in God brings forth good works.
As Christians, our goal of course is "going to heaven." Although this is to be our destination through Jesus, the Holy Spirit will teach us to bring heaven to earth on the behalf of others and ourselves. The Holy Spirit is also our Counselor and according to John 14:26 (Amplified), when we wisdom and counsel in our walk with God, then He is the One Who will provide it. Remember that He has come to "Act on behalf of Jesus." Isaiah 9:6 (Amplified) says, "His Name shall be called Wonderful Counselor." In this place of representation, it's the same as Jesus speaking wisdom and counsel to us through the Holy Spirit.
In John 14:27 Jesus said He would give us, "His Peace." Isaiah 9:6 calls Jesus "The Prince of Peace." This peace is distributed to our hearts by the presence of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is also our "Helper." He is our "Ever present help in our time of need." He is also our Intercessor, according to Romans 8:26-27 (Amplified) which says, "So too the Holy Spirit comes to our aid and bears us up in our weakness; for we do not know what prayer to offer, nor how to offer it worthily as we ought, but the Spirit Himself goes to meet our supplication and pleads in our behalf with unspeakable yearnings and groanings too deep for utterance." [He is also called our "Advocate," in John 14:26]. Verse 27 goes on, "And He Who searches the hearts of men knows what is in the mind of the Holy Spirit (what His intent is) because the Holy Spirit intercedes and pleads (before God) in behalf of the saints according to and in harmony with God's will."
1Corinthians 14:2 (Amplified) tells us, "For one who speaks in an (unknown) tongue speaks not to men but to God, for no one understands or catches his meaning, because in the Holy Spirit he utters secret truths and hidden things (not obvious to the understanding)." 1Corinthians 2:12-13 (Amplified) says, "Now we have not received the Spirit (that belongs to) the world, but the Holy Spirit Who is from God (given to us), that we might realize and comprehend and appreciate the gifts (of divine favor and blessing so freely and lavishly) bestowed on us by God. And we are setting these truths forth in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Holy Spirit combining and interpreting spiritual truths with spiritual language (to those who possess the Holy Spirit)."
We see from these scriptures that the Holy Spirit interprets the Word of God in spiritual "Truth." Men, in their wisdom, cannot interpret the truth or revelation of the "Life" in the Word, but can only define the Word in carnal understanding.
John 14:26 says that the Holy Spirit is our "Strengthener." Paul writes to the Church in Ephesians 6:18 (Amplified) saying, "Be strong in the Lord (be empowered through your union with Him) draw your strength from Him (that Strength which His boundless might provides)." Paul admonishes in Ephesians 6:18 (Amplified), "Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all (manner of) prayer and entreaty, To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints (God's consecrated people)."
Without the Holy Spirit standing in His place on behalf of Jesus and the Church, we have very little to hold us together. Many Christ think of Jesus as being seated in heaven and not really available here on earth like we want Him to be. Jesus said that the Holy Spirit came, "In [My] Name, in My place, to represent Me, and act on My behalf." The Holy Spirit is the One Who lives in us and moves through us and glorifies the Father and the Son by manifesting Himself through us.
We fail and fall short in too many areas of our Christian walk when we don't acknowledge the Holy Spirit. We mostly fail to think of the Holy Spirit in the terms Jesus spoke of Him. We mostly think of the Holy Spirit when speaking about the Gifts of the Spirit and speaking in tongues. Many dismiss the Holy Spirit as not "being for everyone" or as being "restricted." But, He is the One Who is sent to embody and empower and teach the family of God. This is a job that all of heaven has placed in the capable hands of the Holy Spirit to perform.
No comments:
Post a Comment