Benefits to Having the Holy SpiritSample

He Champions You

In John 14:16–17, Jesus says, “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.”  

It’s easy to ignore the Holy Spirit when we’ve been told, or have just assumed, that He isn’t all that relevant or necessary to a thriving faith. “Why do I need the Holy Spirit when I have Jesus?” is a fair question a lot of Christians ask. But today’s passage will help ensure that’s a question none of us will ask again.

The Greek word translated “helper” in this verse is parakletos; which literally means “called to one’s side.” But this wasn’t just any helper. See, even more exciting is how Jesus said the Holy Spirit would be “another Helper.” The Greek word translated “another” in this verse is allon; which, in this context, translates as “another of the same kind.”

Jesus is assuring the disciples, and us, that the Holy Spirit isn’t “less than” Him or even “similar” to Him, but just like Him! 

God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit coexist as the eternal (no beginning and no end), omnipresent (existing everywhere at all times), omniscient (knowing everything), omnipotent (all-powerful) Godhead.

The Spirit’s presence is the manifestation of the Trinity among us today, and though He carries the same authority and shares the same attributes as God the Father and God the Son, He performs distinct functions. This is important and speaks to the tragedy of the Spirit often being neglected and forgotten. God the Holy Spirit does specific work in us that differs from that of God the Father and God the Son. 

In the ESV translation, we just read that the Holy Spirit is called “another Helper” by Jesus, but in other translations—because parakletos is too full of meaning to translate into just one word—the Holy Spirit is also called our “Comforter,” “Counselor,” “Advocate,” “Strengthener,” “Intercessor,” “Standby,” and “Champion.”

What will make a dramatic difference in how you live is knowing that God Almighty dwells inside you by His Spirit, and then believing that everything that is His is yours. His power. His wisdom. His strength and joy. His peace and comfort. His love. God manifests all of Himself, in His people, through His Spirit.

If you’re struggling to love an unlovable person, or forgive an offense that the world tells you is unforgivable, or heal from a devastating heartbreak, the Holy Spirit wants to help you. He is able to help you. How do we know? Because the Holy Spirit’s role is to make us more like Jesus, and this is who Jesus is. He loves His enemies, forgives His accusers and killers, and brings wholeness and healing to brokenness.

Where there are strongholds of sin that need to be broken. Where there is spiritual warfare that needs to be won. Where there is toxic thinking that needs breakthrough. This is where the Spirit of God is desperately needed and more than capable.

Do we believe this? Everything we need is inside of us—all and only—because the Holy Spirit inside us is all-sufficient. This doesn’t mean we don’t need community or friendship or help from outside sources. It means we can have confidence because the God inside us wholly equips us for what’s before us.