Empowered By the Holy Spirit
John 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—
This is one of my favorite pictures the Bible gives of the promised Holy Spirit. Jesus says, “I will pray (ask) The Father, and He will give you, “another Helper.” The word “another” in the Greek text is the word, allos. This “another” He is speaking of is not just one that replaces. If you have a teacher in school and your teacher is absent, they get a substitute teacher; another teacher. However, the teacher is different from your regular teacher, they are not the same but they are both teachers. The reference here of another is different from this. The Greek is a very exact language and “allos” used here is to be interpreted as, “one exactly the same.” In other words, if you didn’t know better you couldn’t tell us apart. Everything you have seen Me (Jesus) do the Holy Spirit will be and do just the same. However, there is a unique difference and that is the Holy Spirit is “Spirit” so you don’t see Him, thus the name, Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost. He is equally part of the Godhead or Trinity.
Next is the word, Helper, Comforter or Teacher. The Greek word is, “paraklete.” The word, paraklete expresses so much more than what we think of as, helper, comforter, or teacher. Paraklete describes, “The intercessor who comes alongside you with all of the power, strength and ability of God, to help, comfort, teach, assists, and guide you.” Further, “He comes alongside and upon you and speaks encouraging words to you, cheerfully, and promises to never leave, abandon, or forsake you.” Now isn’t that an extraordinary picture Jesus paints for us? This is the reason that Jesus will later say in John 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.
The Holy Spirit has been sent for every believer to receive. As we begin to see or grasp what Jesus is saying we have a greater understanding of His words in John 14:12 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.” Believers are empowered by the Holy Spirit, the same Holy Spirit that empowered Jesus on earth, to fulfill the God’s mission on earth; “Your kingdom come and Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” The Holy Spirit is the “person” of the Godhead who comes among believers to bring to grand conclusion everything Jesus died and rose again to achieve.
Believer, you are the body of Christ. You have a calling. You have a destiny. The Holy Spirit has been sent to lead and empower you into this destiny, The Will of The Father. You are called. You are empowered. He is here!
God bless,
Pastor Kit
