A Helper for Hard Times

Message: A Helper for Hard Times
Scripture: John 14-16)

“Life is too lonely, and the journey is too treacherous to travel without a Helper - the Holy Spirit.” (Jerry Vines)

• The Helper’s Identity

And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— the Spirit of truth…(John 14:16-17a)

• Personal Nature - Another Helper

“For within us dwells infinite comfort and care in the person of the Holy Spirit.” (Chuck Swindoll)

• Perfect Character - Spirit of Truth

“As God the Holy Spirit has all attributes of deity, one of which is truth.  He does not have the capacity to lie and is therefore absolutely trustworthy in all He says.” (Bill Crowder)

• The Helper’s Indwelling

 … whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. 

I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. (John 14:17b-18)

• Present Relationship – The Holy Spirit is with and in you forever

“The Holy Spirit is God’s personal presence at work in my life.” (David Jeremiah)

• Permanent Relationship – The Holy Spirit will not leave you

“Once the Holy Spirit moves in, He never moves out.  He is not a renter, but an owner. Wherever you go, whatever you go through, He is there with you.” (James Merritt)

• The Helper’s Impact

But the Helper, 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. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.   (John 14:26-27)

• Purposeful – He Instructs and Illuminates

“It is the business of the Holy Spirit to lift the veil Satan has put over our minds and to illuminate so that we can understand the things of God.” (Billy Graham)

• Peaceful – He Gives and Leaves Peace 

“We have the Spirit within us, the Savior above us, and the Word before us! What tremendous resources for peace!” (Warren Wiersbe)

• The Helper’s Intent

“When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me.  And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning.  (John 15:26-27) 

• Points to Christ – Testifies about Jesus

“The Holy Spirit makes real in me what Jesus did for me.” (D. L. Moody)

• Powers Believers to Witness – Gives ability to share Christ

“The Holy Spirit enables and empowers us to “be” witnesses of Christ Jesus to a lost and dying world.” (Charles Stanley)

• The Helper’s Involvement

But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment… But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.  He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. (John 16:7-8, 13-14)

• Promotes Truth – Proves the world wrong about sin, righteousness, and judgment

“The Holy Spirit does not rest content with a mere revelation of Christ.  His objective is a reproduction of Christ in the life of the believer.” (J. Oswald Sanders)

• Provides Spiritual Direction – He guides the saints and glorifies the Son

“The Holy Spirit does not speak of Himself; He reveals Christ. He uses His Word to guide us into the will and work of God.” (Herschel Hobbs)

Closing Quote

“All we need to live the Christian life has been deposited within us. At no point since trusting Jesus as our Savior, have we ever been alone or helpless. He is always present and actively working in our lives. Our divine Helper is always there to attend to us in our need.”  (Charles Stanley)

Making It Personal:

• How dependent are you upon the Holy Spirit? How obedient are you to Him?
• Do you have a personal relationship with the Holy Spirit? Are you certain that He is living inside you?
• There is no need to have a troubled heart when you have the very Spirit of God dwelling within you! Who can you share this truth with?