Holy Spirit Gifts Part 4 of 5

©Lightwritingmatters 2015

Theme

 ^“Jesus answered, And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—¹⁷ the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.” – John 14:16,17

Can you allow your thoughts to just hover over the scripture above? Jesus is sharing with us what the Holy Spirit will be for us and how HE will live WITH us and IN us.

First, check out what Jesus said up front: ‘I will ask the Father, and he will give you ANOTHER ADVOCATE to help you and be with you forever…’ What is an advocate in this sense? The Advocate is summoned or called to one’s side, or aid according to Strong’s Lexicon for the Greek word used “paraklētos”. The general services for the Advocate are as follows:

In general, the word signifies:

(1) a legal advocate, or counsel for defense,

(2) an intercessor,

(3) a helper, generally.

Second, vs 17 lays out a reality check:

          Who is the additional Advocate? SPIRIT of TRUTH

          Is this Advocate [like the first Advocate, Jesus Christ] fully acceptable to all at all times? Apparently not to the world in general.

          Why: Because the world neither sees this Advocate nor knows this Advocate.

          How do we know this Advocate? Because this Advocate is with us and IN us! Ever present.

Back Story:

John wrote the words in John 14 as he recalled the events of his life as an apostle of Jesus. At this time in John’s account Jesus is trying to specifically prepare them for the time when he would no longer be physically with them. In fact, later in the same chapter Jesus reiterates the nature of the Holy Spirit when HE arrives: “ But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” John 14:26 ß Yet another set of benefits having the paraklētos is as a Comforter.  

Now that we understand the role of the Holy Spirit WITH us and IN us let’s review some of the benefits.

 The benefits of Holy Spirit Baptism

1.      John 16:6-15

“Rather, you are filled with grief because I have said these things. ⁷ But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. ⁸ When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment:⁹ about sin, because people do not believe in me; ¹⁰ about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer;¹¹ and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned. ¹² “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. ¹³ 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. ¹⁴ He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. ¹⁵ All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.”

This is a clear articulation of the reason for the Holy Spirit; it is clear articulation of the function of the Holy Spirit; it is clear articulation of the authority in which the Holy Spirit operates with and in the Christian.

2.     Rom 8:1-17

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, ² because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. ³ For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, ⁴ in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. ⁵ Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. ⁶ The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. ⁷ The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. ⁸ Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God. ⁹ You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. ¹⁰ But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. ¹¹ And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you. ¹² Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. ¹³ For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. ¹⁴ For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.¹⁵ The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” ¹⁶ The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. ¹⁷ Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.”

As you read through this you begin to understand the scope of benefits of Holy Spirit presence with and in our lives.

 through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death

those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires

the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you

But if Christ is in you, … the Spirit gives life because of righteousness

And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.

those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father. 

          Finally, with the benefits comes responsibilities:

Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

3.     Gal 5:16-18

“So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. ¹⁷ For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. ¹⁸ But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.”

          Paul points out the contrast between living life for one’s self [in the flesh] vs living life as spirit anointed.

You may be overwhelmed in your Spirit right now because the Holy Spirit has brought you some great knowledge. You have learned who HE is. You have learned HE is both with you and in you as a Christian. You have learned the benefits of your Spirit directed life. But if you thought this was a lot to take in check out what is next: The GIFTS of the Holy Spirit. You may feel just the Holy Spirit is an unimaginable and awesome gift in and of Himself. And rightly so. However, there are actual spiritual gifts bestowed upon you that you will be able to identify and may be manifest to others.

For now, if you are feeling overwhelmed, pause for a bit. Reflect, meditate, pray about what you have learned. Request spiritual illumination on what you have just read and learned from your advocate. Be comfortable with this before you continue into the Gifts of the Spirit for it is yet another revelation of wonderment.  †

©Lightwritingmatters 2015