Weekly Reflection 5/8/23

“Fellowship With the Holy Spirit-Another Helper” Gospel reflection to go along with message from 5/7/23

Fellowship With the Holy Spirit – Another Helper

• “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper (counselor, comforter), to be with you forever.” – John 14:16 (John 14:25, John 15:26, John 16:7)
• That word helper, or counselor or comforter in the original Greek language is the word paraklētos..
•  Paraklētos is from two Greek words. Para, meaning near, beside, around or with and kletos, meaning to call. 
• Thayer’s Greek Definitions – summoned, called to one’s side, especially called to one’s aid.

What Is He Like?

• “He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.” John‬ 16‬:14‬ ESV‬
• Being that the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Jesus, the Holy Spirit is like Jesus.
• Jesus was the most loving, compassionate, gentle, meek, powerful, wise person who ever has lived.
• And that’s the way the Holy Spirit is.
• When you think of the Holy Spirit, think of Him just like our Lord Jesus Christ Himself.

Roles of the Holy Spirit

1. Christ Glorifying Role – John 16:13-15
   • The Holy Spirit will do nothing that does not glorify Jesus.

2. Teaching Role – John 14:26
   • The Holy Spirit helps us to comprehend the Word of God and helps us to remember these things. 
   • 1 Corinthians 2:11-14

3. Testifying Role – John 15:26
   • The very ability to testify or bear witness to people about Jesus comes from the Holy Spirit. 
   • Luke 12:11-12, Acts 1:8
   • It’s the Holy Spirit who testifies about who Jesus is, and then we as the vessels inhabited by the Spirit of God, are then going to be used by Him to testify of Him. 

4. Convicting Role – John 16:7-8
   • Sin is the truth about man, righteousness is the truth about God, judgment is the inevitable combination of these two truths.
   • The Holy Spirit helps us to understand our sinful condition, and the righteous nature of God. And because God is righteous, and we’re sinners, the Holy Spirit helps us to understand why we need a Savior, why we need the gospel. 
   • Conviction is a wonderful thing. It’s the Father saying to you, that’s not right. I want you to turn from that and come back to me. 
   • No conviction then no repentance. No repentance then no salvation or sanctification.
   • And that’s the work of the Holy Spirit to bring conviction. 

5. Guiding Role – John 16:13
   • I think it is no mystery that we are living at a time when there is an assault on truth and a war on common sense. 
   • People are being deceived in our world, they’re being deceived into believing lies, and it’s not just that the culture is perpetrating the lies, they’re also normalizing the lies, celebrating the lies and shaming you if you do not embrace the lies. 
   • Which is why we need the Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth. 

The Great Commission

• “And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”” Matthew‬ 28‬:18‬-20‬ ESV‬‬
• Knowing who the Holy Spirit is and what His roles or purposes are enables and equips us to step into the Great Commission with confidence.
• Knowing that the very Spirit of Jesus literally dwells within us forever.
• Knowing that we have been called to partner WITH the Holy Spirit should eliminate fear and doubt.
• Our vision at Living Hope is: “To share the Good News of our Living Hope from hearts of love and lives of service.”
• Another way to say that would be: “To fellowship with or partner with the Holy Spirit and join Him in testifying to the glory of Jesus by sharing the Gospel with our mouths and our actions out of hearts overflowing with the love of God.”